Ben Seidman on "Ring, Watch, Wonder"

To celebrate the release of Ben Seidman’s Ring, Watch, Wonder routine, we sat down with Ben to ask some questions.

What initially interested you in the Ring Watch Wallet plot, and what made you create your own version?

I honestly think it’s the best plot in magic. There’s nearly zero process, and there are 4 incredible, magical reveals in about 10 seconds. Where else can you find that? When it comes to impact and audience amazement, it’s already amazing, but then seconds later, there’s a twist ending that is a surprise yet completely inevitable? And all of this happens in just ten seconds?! It’s just so strong.

This has been in your show for over 18 years. How has it changed over that time?

The presentation has had several evolutions, but methodologically it has stayed almost exactly the same for 18 years. The method is really pretty easy. But I’ve written different premises for different situations.

When I first started performing the routine, it was about a man who claimed that his parents were eaten by pigeons. (It’s a long story.) But the presentation evolved, of course. It was always about religion in one way or another, but this eventually became the premise that most people have seen if they have seen me perform it.

However, my new RWW script in Con Man is very different from the script in my normal comedy magic set. If I’m performing a corporate show, then the script is similar to Fool Us, but with way more added tags.

In the trailer, you mention that this routine changed your life. Can you expand on that?

Performing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us taught me a lot. That’s certainly true. But prepping for Fool Us may have taught me even more.

When I first submitted for FU, the producers didn’t want me to do "Ring, Watch, Wonder"; they wanted me to do a different routine. I said no—that I would only do the show if I could perform RWW. By making that ultimatum, I knew I was putting my chance to be on the show in jeopardy. It was a risk. But they said yes, and that risk paid off.

It meant I got to perform a real working routine—one I had done many, many times. The Hold-Up effect is so freaking commercial. The method is mine, of course, but the plot has been around for nearly 100 years. I could have done something more unique-looking, something that felt more original, but I doubt it would have been as good. Why? This routine is just so damn good for laypeople. Magicians too, of course, but that wasn’t the focus. By choosing a strong routine that has so much strength built in, I ensured I’d be far more comfortable than I would have been with something less tested.

I was also able to showcase a performance that truly represented me as a performer. The amount of stand-up in the routine made me stand out from other acts on that show. I think I came across not as a comedy magician, but as a comedian and a magician. It’s a different vibe.

Lastly, I gained confidence in listening to my instincts in a new way—by taking that chance and proving to myself, and to the producers, that RWW was an absolute killer piece.

What can purchasers of the Deluxe Edition expect from the Live Zoom?

The Zoom will be a little Masterclass. One of my favorite comedians is teaching comedy writing. And one of my favorite magicians is discussing routining. There will be a Q&A and jam session. Mostly, the Zoom is meant for anyone who wants to level up their performance, and we’re using RWW as the springboard.

So, we will either do the itinerary I just described, or if the audience prefers, we’ll shift and instead do a salacious OnlyFans video, but in tribute to Tommy Wonder, I’ll speak Dutch.