Ben Seidman

Ben Seidman
Born 1 December 1984
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Occupation Magician
Website
http://www.benseidman.com

Ben Seidman (born December 1, 1984) is an American sleight-of-hand performer, actor, comedian, and creative consultant who has won the entertainer of the year award for princess cruises . He is the only person in history to be named the Resident Magician at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.[1][2] In 2013, Seidman co-starred in Magic Outlaws on Travel Channel.[3][4][5] Following the debut of his TV specials, Ben taught Johnny Knoxville magic tricks for his film Bad Grandpa.[6] Seidman’s performances are notable for featuring original magic effects. Examples of his inventions can be seen on A&E’s Mindfreak, starring Criss Angel, where Seidman was a writer and adviser for three seasons.[7][8][9] As a performer, Seidman travels the world, bringing his live show—a combination of sleight-of-hand, pickpocketing, and comedy—to colleges, parties and various functions. He is currently based in Los Angeles, where he performs at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and The Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach.[10][11]

Performances/TV Specials

In 2011, Seidman starred in a series of hidden camera videos using his pick-pocketing skills to slip computers into people’s handbags without them knowing. The “I Was Framed” project, directed by Jamie Kennedy and Michael Addis, and also featuring Bob Arno, gained online popularity and quickly reached over 900,000 views.[12][13][14]

In 2013, Seidman co-starred in Magic Outlaws on Travel Channel.[15] The two TV specials, High Noon in Austin and "3:10 to Vegas", follow Seidman and fellow Los Angeles-based magicians Chris Korn and David Minkin, as they travel across the country performing close up magic for onlookers.[16][17]

Seidman was featured on two national comedy tours produced by Just For Laughs in 2010 and 2013. The 2013 tour spanned 21 cities throughout Canada and is the subject of an upcoming documentary being produced for The Comedy Network. The documentary also features tour-mates Tom Papa, Alonzo Bodden, Jeremy Hotz, Robert Kelly, Orny Adams, and Darrin Rose.[18][19][20]

In his performance career, Seidman has headlined the Atlantis Casino in the Bahamas, performed 120 Shows at The Venetian in Macau, China, and was featured in a four month run at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.[21] He has performed for a number of celebrities including Robin Williams, Christina Hendricks, Stephen Merchant, and Carrot Top.[22][23] Seidman, along with Marcus Monroe and Luke Jermay is a founding member of The Optical Delusions, a 2008 touring show that billed itself as "an evening of new-school variety."[24]

Creative Consulting

In 2006, Seidman was hired as a magic consultant for Mindfreak on A&E starring Criss Angel. Seidman created content, invented magic effects, and served as a creative/technical advisor to the show for three seasons.[25]

Seidman spent the summer of 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden writing and directing Helt Magiskt for SVT, the prime television channel in Sweden.[26] Helt Magiskt, the Swedish adaptation of the BBC show The Magicians, followed Charlie Caper, winner of Sweden's Got Talent, Michael Halvorsen, Star of Cirque du Soleil’s Koozå, and large-scale illusionist Joe Labero, as they performed alongside celebrities.[27] Shortly after, Seidman returned to Stockholm to work with Charlie Caper creating a performance piece using iPads.[28] The video has over 3.36 million hits on YouTube.[29]

In 2013, Seidman taught actor Johnny Knoxville magic tricks for his role in Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, an Academy Award nominated hidden-camera comedy film written by Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville, and Jeff Tremaine. Seidman taught Knoxville a number of tricks and gags for the film, most notably, how to pull flowers out of his pants.[30][31]

References

  1. ↑ "Barry Ball Artists". Barry Ball Artists.
  2. ↑ "Summit Comedy Inc.". Summit Comedy Inc.
  3. ↑ "Travel Channel: Magic Outlaws". Travel Channel: Magic Outlaws.
  4. ↑ "Internet Movie Database". Internet Movie Database: Ben Seidman.
  5. ↑ "OnMilwaukee". Milwaukee native runs with "Magic Outlaws".
  6. ↑ "Showcase Talent Agency". Showcase Talent Agency: Ben Seidman.
  7. ↑ "OnMilwaukee". Milwaukee native runs with "Magic Outlaws".
  8. ↑ "Showcase Talent Agency". Showcase Talent Agency: Ben Seidman.
  9. ↑ "Summit Comedy Inc.". Summit Comedy Inc.
  10. ↑ "Showcase Talent Agency". Showcase Talent Agency: Ben Seidman.
  11. ↑ "A to D Magazine". Magic and Mixed Drinks.
  12. ↑ "Little Black Book Online". Toshiba Launches Portégé Z830 Ultrabook.
  13. ↑ "First Wave TV". Kennedy & Addis helm “I Was Framed” campaign for launch of Toshiba & Intel’s Portégé Z830 Ultrabook.
  14. ↑ "YouTube". "I Was Framed" The Ryan Setup.
  15. ↑ "OnMilwaukee". Milwaukee native runs with "Magic Outlaws".
  16. ↑ "TV Guide". Magic Outlaws on Travel Channel.
  17. ↑ "YouTube". Magic Outlaws: Ben's Broken Beer Bottle.
  18. ↑ "Just For Laughs". Comedy Tour '13.
  19. ↑ "Canada's National Arts Centre". Just For Laughs Comedy Tour.
  20. ↑ "Ben Seidman".
  21. ↑ "Barry Ball Artists". Barry Ball Artists.
  22. ↑ "Ben Seidman".
  23. ↑ "Ben Seidman". Strolling Magic.
  24. ↑ "VolumeOne". Optical Delusions Magician Mini-Trio hits Grand Little Theatre.
  25. ↑ "OnMilwaukee". Milwaukee native runs with "Magic Outlaws".
  26. ↑ "Theory 11". Artist Diary: Ben Seidman in Stockholm.
  27. ↑ "Swedish language Wikipedia".
  28. ↑ "d1gits".
  29. ↑ "YouTube". New iPad Act - Stockholm with Charlie Caper and Erik Rosales.
  30. ↑ "Internet Movie Database". Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
  31. ↑ "The Oscars". Nominees for the 86th Oscars.

External links