Crazy. “No, I prefer nonchalant,” laughs Markobi, talking about the character he played in his first appearance on “France has an incredible talent”. It was Tuesday, November 7 on M6 and the magician shone with a card number as confusing as its author. So much so that the competition jurors simultaneously triggered the “platinum buzzer” to send him to the final.
A few weeks later, it’s almost there and it will be, a little novelty, live. Enough to add some pressure? “No, the hardest part was introducing myself the first time. Now we’re friends with the jury. I am not afraid ! I just arrive with this idea that we are going to have fun,” replies the 29-year-old from Strasbourg, also not stressed by the act he is going to present. This still needs to be done…
“There’s a chance I’ll decide at the last minute what I’m going to do. It will probably be with maps, even if they are just a vector. I focus more on the moment I have with people… But if I just have to say one thing to the spectators, it’s ”Have some chips”. You will find out live why,” says the man who was crowned 2022 cardmagic world champion last summer in Canada.
Since this title, his career has already taken on another dimension. “Before, I moved all over France. Since then, it has been all over the world, especially to give conferences and perform at magician conferences,” explains Markobi, who until then was more accustomed to corporate evenings, galas and other weddings. When the magician was not outside with his deck of cards in hand, calling out to everyone…
“At university, in the street, on transport, in the driving school room…”
“Around 7 or 8 years old, a cousin taught me the first tricks on a beach in Lebanon, where my father is from,” he rewinds. “Afterwards, I did it from time to time and it was when I was 18 that I really got into it. At university, in the street, on transport, in the driving school room, etc. Then I also went to towns arbitrarily and I did a series of tours. I sometimes ended up in the apartments of people I didn’t know or in the forest! » Obviously, his university career was affected a little, without preventing him from completing his degree in life sciences. “In four and a half years… I was relatively useless but I didn’t care, I planned my career and gave my business card everywhere. »
A move to “France has incredible talent” would then have been a real boost. But no, his application had not been accepted since 2015. Until the production asked him to come this year. “Like what… That’s why I was detached during my first visit. Falsely detached but detached all the same,” he laughs again, without saying if a victory in the final would change his life. “No doubt, but I like not to project myself. In a career, there is no point where you have to stop. We can always move forward. » Even without looking serious.
The almost thirty-year-old, as disconcerting on stage as on the phone, proves it. “If you can figure me out, it’s because my character is screwing up…” Answer this Friday evening.