We gave $100 to magician Kella Kruebbe of New Orleans, Louisiana, and asked him to buy any current trick or tricks that he might want to perform.
Kella is 19 years old and about to enter his sophomore year at Tulane University. He currently has a triple major: computer science, neuroscience, and cognitive studies. He’s interested in working in the medical field, but is aware that the combination of computer science is increasingly important in that area.
He doesn’t remember his first trick; he says that his interest in magic happened “before my first memories formed.” His parents bought him playsets when he was small, and he always gravitated toward magic tricks and toys.
Right now, he specializes in performing close-up and strolling magic, “because that’s where the market is.” He prefers card magic or mentalism, and finds it useful to be ready with some visual, “creepy mentalism.” In New Orleans, visitors always have an interest in voodoo or other ritual magic, so it’s good to have something that gives that feeling. “The locals, of course, have heard about that all their lives, so they’re not as interested, but you have to cater to the visitors,” he says.
Kella’s recently been working on developing some new stand-up material with local magician Michael Dardant.