On March 4th we shared with you
that this season of
Canada's Got Talent
has quite a few Canadian magic acts.
Next in our series of short interviews with some
of the magical acts is Ben Kahan!
We're very pleased that Ben made time to answer our questions ahead of his appearance on the April 8th episode of Canada's Got Talent!
Who inspires you that is not a magician?
I love when artists do something completely new, and I'm also a film fan, so I have to say Charlie Kaufman. He's a brilliant writer who knows when to exposit and when to let visuals do the talking, which is the hallmark of a great storyteller. His movies are always offbeat and often unfold in unexpected, passionate ways. As artists, we can learn a lot by studying how he builds his stories.
I love when artists do something completely new, and I'm also a film fan, so I have to say Charlie Kaufman. He's a brilliant writer who knows when to exposit and when to let visuals do the talking, which is the hallmark of a great storyteller. His movies are always offbeat and often unfold in unexpected, passionate ways. As artists, we can learn a lot by studying how he builds his stories.
What is your first memory of magic?
I grew up in the UK at a time when David Blaine was hitting TV and making magic "cool." For a few years, magic sets were a common present for young boys (like me). Unlike my other friends, I just never grew out of it. My first memory was receiving a Marvin's Magic set, which had one of my all-time favourite effects, the Dynamic Coins. Seeing those coins appear and disappear for the first time felt like witnessing real magic.
Who from the magic community inspires you?
Mentalist Derren Brown was a huge influence on me growing up. His approach and presentation are timeless. He not only develops head-scratching effects that stump other magicians, but he also performs in a way that's completely accessible to lay audiences - often hiding his methods behind psychology and hypnosis. It's a fantastic example of how to make magic approachable and impactful, while totally misdirecting your audience about your methods.
Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?
Another magician introduced me to The Young Magician's Club, which is the youth initiative of London's Magic Circle. At their famous headquarters, I spent one Sunday each month surrounded by other talented young performers. We were mentored by some of the greats in British magic and learned from workshops and seminars led by Ali Bongo, Paul Daniels, David and Marvin Berglas, and Fay Presto, and many others. It was inspiring and opened my eyes to the entire magic world.
Ben Kahan
📸 : CGT
Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting
magic?
I did quit magic - for 6 years! I was working tables at events in London, but grew jaded, finding myself on autopilot and no longer having fun with it. After moving to Toronto in 2018, I lost touch with my magic community. Over time, I realized how much I missed it, so I joined Toronto’s Hat and Rabbit Club. I’ve re-found my people, and in the process, rediscovered my joy in performing magic.
I did quit magic - for 6 years! I was working tables at events in London, but grew jaded, finding myself on autopilot and no longer having fun with it. After moving to Toronto in 2018, I lost touch with my magic community. Over time, I realized how much I missed it, so I joined Toronto’s Hat and Rabbit Club. I’ve re-found my people, and in the process, rediscovered my joy in performing magic.
Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals you’d be willing to share
with our readers?
Before performing, I put myself in my audience’s shoes, remembering they’re about to see something impossible that they’ve never witnessed before. When I focus on how lucky I am to provide that experience - no matter how nervous I am - it fills me with energy and excitement that overcomes everything else.
After returning to performing for the first time in over six years, I want to prove to myself that I’ve still got what it takes to create something new - and actually perform it. Doing it on the biggest stage in Canada would be an incredible opportunity to share my passion with an even wider audience.
With how quickly technology is evolving, there’s no denying it’s transforming the way magicians approach magic. It’s a shame that for all the brilliant coin routines out there, hardly anyone carries coins these days. But technology has always driven innovation in magic, just as it has in any other art form. It’s exciting to imagine how today’s young magicians will harness tomorrow’s tools to create miracles.
Thank you Ben, for making the time to answer our
questions! Break a leg on CGT!
Don't blink or you'll miss it! Catch a sneak peek here in the April 5th Instagram post by
Canada's Got Talent:
