Learning Objectives • Bonus • Course Design • Challenges • Safe space • Workload • Contributions • Venue • Satisfaction • Extra events • Teachers • Expectations • Value • Changes • Future • Final comments
Expectations & reality
When comparing my expectations beforehand with what the course actually consisted of… what was different and what was as I expected?
Comments
I think this was pretty much very close to what I was expecting. I didn’t know there was going to be so many group performances, and collaborative efforts in this, and that was a pleasant surprise.
Jag visste inte så mycket om kursen mer än att en person under SM 2022 rekommenderade mig att söka. Jag så att säga nollställde mig innan för att ta mig an vad som än skulle komma min väg.
Det var mycket fint att vi hade olika grader av erfarenhet, att som nybörjare få se, lära och umgås med de mycket erfarenhet och från olika länder. Jag har lång erfarenhet av konstnärliga processer vilket gav mig en grundtrygghet. Idealt sett skulle jag haft några fler trick i bagaget när jag kom till kursen men thumb tip och buddha paper räckte en bit.
De finska magikernas ofta vilda ingång lockar mig att undersöka mer absurditet blandat med poetiska inslag.
I did expect at some point to learn new tricks, or routines that use the theories that were taught, however it was more of a “make one yourself” type of thing, which was still very enjoyable but i think it would have been nice to give, show and be able to practice examples that had already been worked on and perfected as a better example rather than ones made in the last 40 minutes
I was expecting something like what it actually was but it gave me even a bit more when it comes to the lessons.
The spirit and the people gave me so much more than I was expecting. I really felt like magic has a wonderful community full of so fantastic people. I gained new friends and inspiration, much more than I would have thought.
Far more practical work and group exercises than had I expected. More breaks between lectures than I thought which I think was great as it helped to maintain my focus. The teaching was a lot better and more interesting than I had hoped.
It was what I expected, but I was more tired by the end of the day than I expected to be.
I hoped the course was what it turned out to be, however my experience and expectations said it would not be. In recent classes, I have found a lot of promises and very few deliveries. Most classes are simply sales pitches.
In the case of Tom’s class I was wrong. It far exceeded my expectations. It is a class I would consider taking again, to make sure I got everything.
I really came in with no expectations. I didnt know what to expect…I just knew of Tom’s work and knew I liked it and he was a respected magician. So in that respect, it exceeded my expectations. Now that I “know” what to expect…I would still come in with no expectations for next year (if I’m invited back) and have my mind blown again in ways I didnt know possible.
I only had 9 days to think about what I was expecting and as I had to be in work for most of that week I probably had the least time to think about what I had just signed up for. I did have a few impostor syndrome moments but realised that I too have strengths which might not be in the magical department but could still be important to magic. I did not expect to come home, make a Facebook page announcing to everyone that I was a Magician for Hire and have a full page spread in the local paper ( including a picture), but due to the confidence from the course that what happened!
I wasn’t awaiting to come up with a whole show or anything huge. I knew i wouldn’t learn a single trick. But i did. Even in the time pressured exercises we came up with a routine i will be working on further on.
I had some ideas of the themes and the kinds of exercises to be expected in the course, and I feel that my expectations were fully met. I knew the course would push the creative muscle and it absolutely did so. What I didn’t necessarily expect as much was the fact that we gained methods for approaching creativity. Rules such as “follow the obvious” steered us to be able to work in the strict time limit given.
I didn’t expect to learn hands on prop making skills, which was really a welcome bonus. On top of that the silent knowledge about the kinds of multipurpose tools beneficial for magic was very useful to learn about. I will definitely start using my dremel more for propmaking and I’ve already bought a soldering iron. The knowledge on the state of 3D printing was really beneficial as well.
I thought it would be group discussions only, but the group exercises and presentations were beyond my expectation. I learn much from others as well.
I expected to learn some magic in a new setting and perhaps meet folks outside my circle. The reality was so much more than that. I gained new skills, new found confidence, and made some amazing friends. I’ve never fully felt comfortable in all-magician settings, as there’s always an element of competition. The tone of this course was freeing and I’ve expanded my circle!
I didnt think I would have to fail so much 🙂 It was good and bad 🙂
To be honest, I expected the instructors to be less available and the interaction with other students to be less. I found that the teachers were completely dedicated for the week and countless opportunities were created for students to get to know one another.
Based on what Ondřej told me, I thought that we are gonna actually develop new tricks. I also didn’t expected that is going to be an open stage. But it was great experience. I also didn’t expect that much food. Overall reality was better than expectations.
It surpassed my expectations. I came for more theatrical work and got it. Overall I got my moneys worth of material – and so much more.
My expectations were based off of last year’s experience, so a lot was of course similar. I am sad to see a few participants who were unavailable or for other reasons did not attend. I expected to have developed my own act further than I actually did — which was in practice very little.
I already attended last year so this time I knew better what to expect and how to prepare better for the course. Course met and exceeded my expectations again.
I would say that everything was as I expected. In difference to last year, where everything was far above my expectations, this time I was prepared for the high quality. I was not disappointed in the least.
I really had no expectations.
One thing that surprised me was the prop making class. I enjoyed it much more than I thought!
I came to the course with extremely fond memories from the Conjuring A, it was very hard to live up to. I felt it was harder in a sense, this year, and I felt less satisfaction with the outcome this year compared to last. What that comes form, I do not know. Perhaps the less concrete output of the many exercises from the acting? The fact that we produced, in my mind, less interesting pieces with weaker magic than last year..?
It was still a very good week and I am very happy I had the opportunity to be part of it!
Full satisfaction
Well the premises and the environment was something I didnt know anything beforehand. And couldn’t find any information about. The accomondation and food was a positive surprise. like many other things too, the atmosphere, the lessons and Tim Stars building workshop.
I took the previous course in 2016 and new about what the course would be like. Still I felt really overwhelmed. How well everything was put together, and planned so well that only 6 days was enough to learn so much. I couldn’t remember how big took this kind of group working was. That really surprised me again.
Everything was as I expected after last year’s experiences.
I was more struck after Conjuring A, than after B. I suppose that has to do with the stronger acting component in B, which is an area I’m more familiar with. That said, I enjoy covering familiar material, both for myself and to help others.
I expected the course to be similar to course A. The one thing I was really excited about was the Prop Making Class.
The prop making. I was a little bit afraid of it at first actually, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences there.
Jag förväntade mej teaterövningar, tekniker inom trolleri och propmaking.
Jag uppskattade voice training, all feedback och tiden att kunna jobba på sin akt,- detta var utöver min förväntan. Även djupet i maskteatern gjorde något med en då man kunde gå på djupet med sina egna känslor och sitt byggande av karaktären.
I tried to go there with no expectation and trying to live for the moment.
I think, there were some instances when I managed to do so with the creative flow and the help of the classmates.
It was much easier to come together and work in groups. It was like we continued this from yesterday
It was really close what I expected. Although I expected that we would have more time for our own work, do a bit more solo exercises (now there was basically just one). And I also expected that some of the themes we would research a bit more
No I knew from previous years what to expect. Though I was surprised at how fast our group were able to work with one another after completing two years together. When tasked with an exercise we were immediately able to get to work without discussion the work just happened. This surprised me greatly.
I have been to multiple of these courses so I kind of know what we get 🙂
There is of course the growth dilemma. The bigger the courses get the less personal it gets.
Det var det jag förväntade mig förutom tillverkning där jag trodde att man kunde få hjälp med att tillverka saker till det man jobbar med i sin egen föreställning.
Since I attended the course for the 3rd year, I more or less knew what to expect. This year was even more fun than I anticipated.
Jag hade trott att vi skulle arbeta med en egen allt mer genom veckan men jag hade tid att göra det näst sista dagen.
Jag är nöjd med hur det blev
It felt less hectic than the B course, and I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s just because I’m more used to the venue and the format.
I would like to have even more time to develop material to use in my shows. I love the challenges.