Learning Objectives • Bonus • Course Design • Challenges • Safe space • Workload • Contributions • Venue • Satisfaction • Extra events • Teachers • Expectations • Value • Changes • Future • Final comments
Challenges and stimulation
The course’s design, content and implementation stimulated me and/or challenged my previous knowledge in a constructive manner, and have had a positive effect on my artistic research & explorations.
1: I do not agree at all / 10: I agree completely
Comments
Yes, I had came in with some knowledge on the exercises and techniques we were incorporating in our work through university theatre courses, books, and through my own exploration of techniques and movement. However, being in such an immersive and collaborative space was crucial in my understanding of just how important these techniques are to apply. Further, having fellow magicians watch my moves was vital in realizing when I was doing something right, and when I needed to fix my techniques. I also learned that these subtle elements in elevating your magic are fragile, and that one little subtlety within these subtle elements can hurt the effect. However, when done right, it can bring an effect up ten levels. I learned that these elements are to be taken seriously and that I must put this work at the forefront when designing new routines.
Absolut, direkt efter kursen började nya ideer snurra på basis av de olika verktyg vi fått genom kursen. Nu behövs för mig bara mer tid för trolleri samt vidare studier (egna och med andra) för att utveckla några akter.
Det känns bra att ha fått fler kontakter inom denna professions-värld.
The content did just that. I have started to think of the routines in such way that I think ”how do use what I have learned in this particular routine to adjust it for the better”.
I think there could have been few more examples that would show how this knowledge/technique is placed in to an actual trick. So for example show a trick without say ”look, think, look, action” and then the same trick with it. Just so that people will understand more clearly what does it benefit to do so.
I think the course was surprisingly challenging and demanding, but in a really good way – I was forced far beyond my comfort zone and that was the key to realizing that I am artistically capable of so much more than I would have believed. I learned that we have these tendencies of making assumptions of our own limits but once we learn to let go of them, we can accomplish so much more. This was probably one of my biggest takes from the entire course.
This course provided me the stimulation and opportunities to stretch far out of my comfort zone. The practical applications sessions were specific enough to understand what the goal was but sufficiently vague in terms of telling us “how to do it”. Instead of spoon feeding solutions, they encouraged exploration and examination of ideas and solutions through consensus with other participants.
Many sessions evoked frustration and concern that I did not understand what was being asked of me. Overcoming these issues (a critical part of the course objectives) became easier and easier with practice.
I will definitely be implementing the things I learned in the course into my close up show as well my show with Michaelann. I learned valuable lessons in slowing down, connecting with the audience in a stage situation…which has been my hesitation going into parlour. I love doing close up because I like connecting with the audience. I think with the tools we learned with Leif, I will be able to connect better with the audience in a stage / parlour situation. It’s something I have admired and talked about with others about Nikola, even before I met her in Sweden. She does that. I thought it wasn’t something you could “teach”. But maybe you can…I will implement it in September and let you know!
Before I came on the course I would think about an idea I would like to perform and then talk myself out of it and then perform a copy of someone elses’ work. This course allowed me to explore ideas and feel confident to perform them. It was an extremely safe space in which to perform and the feed back was encouraging. Rather than now linking effects I am going forward linking themes and ideas which can only be a positive outcome.
I feel that the course added a much needed layer to my magic knowledge. Magic is often about sleights and variations on a routine, but routine construction gets much less space. I feel that the knowledge learned from the course is very universal and can be applied to various kinds of magic acts I want to build in the future both alone and with colleagues.
Agreed, but it was more about the environment that was created. It made it safe to try new things and push past feeling uncomfortable to fail. I feel I’ve had tremendous growth because of this.
The teaching in this class changed the way I think about magic and my own show. I spent the entire week grappling with new ideas and rethinking old ideas, and my new understanding came together at the end of the week. I have carried these new ideas forward every day since the lecture and I likely will for the rest of my life.
The great thing about the course was that we were forced to think in short amount of time, and I realized I can come up with a lot of ideas if I limit myself to some amount of time
The last few days I’ve been more productive than in a long, long time. Gathering in a smaller Finnish group to discuss the contents afterwards have made my own ideas more clear. The new theories I learned have had an immediate impact on my magic and I’ve already applied many of them in my performances. Understanding the theory behind paper balls over the head and the angles opened a new world for me.
I agree completely! The course challenged me to do and try new things multiple times in a day.
I felt more stimulated and challenged the first year of attendance. But I think that mainly has to do with me being completely unprepared of what to expect the first time. But the second time, I understood the ways of how we work, collaborate and develop ideas. But that isn’t a bad thing. The course still had a huge positive effect on my artistic explorations.
I left the class inspired and a notebook full of new ideas I’ve been working hard to realize all of them!
I felt the challenge was appropriate for my skill level.
I took part to the previous course in 2016 and it was momentous. This course took my work and knowledge again to the next level and I really can see the benefits for my artistic work. I think there are no other courses like this and I can see the value for my career as for the future of our whole field of art extremely important.
It inspired me so much I no longer want to accept that I don’t have anything similar in Switzerland. I asked the members of my local magic club to implement some of the theory/challenges from Conjuring in our monthly gatherings. But they didn’t seem to be interested in any of my suggestions. Now I plan to reach out to other magicians in Switzerland.
As previously stated, I love workshopping and working under pressure. It is a hard thing to replicate during the year. I find the week in Sigtuna highly inspiring and educational. It fuels my artistic aspirations throughout the rest of the year.
Yes, course B challenged me to rethink my magic repertoire and it made me creative.
Jag vet inte om det utmanade min tidigare kunskap. Men i resterande punkter artistic research så som kroppsspråk (att göra sin alt med en mask till ex) har inspirerat mig , samt att “allt går att bygga” – inställningen från prop making class.
Everything stimulates me during the course.
I often tend to think of myself and my magic like I would play “B” class music at weddings.
These courses always remind you that magic is a joyful, creative process.
I did things I never would have done outside this course. Good to get a perspective.
Very much so. Although, Conjuring C’s course beginning was a bit haphazard in that we had to begin the week without a tutor present. And although we are very much capable of working on our own, it would have been good to have someone of authority help us through the first session to open the week and get us started properly.
“The university courses have greatly influenced me. The most recent course was crucial for collaborating with other professionals. Recapping what we had learned earlier was an excellent start to the course. The primary function of the course as it stands now is to inspire.”
Kunde inte hålla med mer. Det är jobbigt och strävsamt men nödvändigt att känna sig otillräcklig
Yes, there were several parts in the course that was challenging