Learning Objectives • Bonus • Course Design • Challenges • Safe space • Workload • Contributions • Venue • Satisfaction • Extra events • Teachers • Expectations • Value • Changes • Future • Final comments
Value
What is the most important things I brought with me home from this course?
Comments
1. Getting to know you and the other participants. 2. Concepts: Think face, crossing the gaze, motion vectors and foreshadowing & callbacks 3. Confidence in my capabilities
I think the most important thing is I have a better idea how to create something new. Before I would just learn a trick and try to figure out some scripting that was unique to me. Now I think I have a pathway to try either create something new or take old tricks into really new directions. These skills were gained from a typical lesson: here’s a concept (like crossing the gaze), here’s a theme (the grass is greener) now make something…
Really hard to name one. But now when I have to, it would be motion vectors. That’s what I was looking for to learn more about.
And also the new friendships made there.
Crossing the gaze and the use of the eyes to accentuate the performance. Having a structure and a script is important. I have learnt that Teamwork is really useful and productive.
“Look out!”
Take an Idea an run with it.
The atmosphere and valuable friendships created.
Team work, brainstorming, to set an odd theme and create a small routine with that. To perform in team, not just in excercises, but an actual performance.
As a newcomer to the magic scene, this course provided an incredible wealth of knowledge and experiences. Upon reflection, I can distill the most important takeaways into two main categories:
Fundamental Principles of Stage Presence and Interaction:
One of the most valuable lessons I brought home relates to the principles of how to interact with people and props on stage. This includes knowing when and who to look at, and how to handle and regard props during a performance. While these might seem like small details when written down, they are actually the crucial fundamentals that differentiate a great show from a mere sequence of effects.
These principles encompass:The timing and direction of eye contact with the audience and assistants
The way to handle props to build suspense or direct attention
How to move and position oneself on stage for maximum impact
The subtle art of misdirection through body language and focus
Understanding and implementing these principles will elevate my performances from simply showcasing tricks to creating a captivating, immersive experience for the audience. They provide the framework for building a cohesive, engaging show rather than presenting a disjointed series of effects.Valuable Professional and Personal Connections:
The second major takeaway from this course is the network of contacts I established during the week. These connections have already proven to be extremely valuable, not just in my development as a magician, but also on a personal level.
These relationships offer:A support system of peers who understand the unique challenges of magic performance
Opportunities for collaboration and idea-sharing
Mentorship possibilities from more experienced performers
A sense of community within the magic world
The value of these connections extends beyond the realm of magic. They have enriched my life on a personal level, providing friendships and interactions that are rewarding in their own right.In conclusion, while the course provided a wealth of technical knowledge and skill development, these two aspects – the fundamental principles of performance and the network of relationships – stand out as the most important things I’ve brought home. They form a foundation upon which I can continue to build and grow, both as a performer and as an individual in the magic community. The combination of these practical skills and personal connections has not only improved my capability as a magician but has also opened up new avenues for growth and exploration in this field.
Being more creative than you think, coming up with solutions in a short time is not at all impossible. Which gives even more self-confidence, you can do more than you think. AND working in groups and helping each other can do wonders for creativity.
A different version of what a show could be and how to think about putting a performance together.
Friends and the desire to work on my magic
Being able to brainstorm and come up with something quick. General knowledge about misdirection and being comfortable in executing it. Making fully advantage of imagination and challenging my imagination and know how to use it in making an act. Building a network. Being more confident.
Jag lämnade kursen med en stor glöd för att kämpa hårt med trolleri. När jag kom till kursen hade jag även en ide till en akt och tack vare samtal och diskussioner med både instruktörer och deltagare så kunde jag lämna kursen med en mer genomtänkt ide.
Friends, renewed creative energy, friends, new principles and ideas and concepts, friends.
Not needing to have a perfect idea, perfect technique, perfect trick…. just start somewhere with it and create from there.
Many tools and techniques I can use to improve my routines, many friendships and resources for current and future discoveries. I also gained the knowledge that magic is for the audience, allowing them to glimpse into a magical world.
So fun meeting all other fellow magicians from other countries and I got so many new friends. As said I very much appreciated Leifs “acting classes” (Course B so I had Leif most)
Register, react, act. I’m really honing in on that for my close up.
For me, the lecture about the principles behind Object Permanence and Amodal Completion including Slydini’s paper balls was mindblowing. The next best to take home was friends and connections.
NEW FRIENDS! Tom’s and Leif’s enthusiasm for magic and teaching and learning! <3
The detailes behind paperballs over the head
Relationships. Being able to connect with artists from all over the world, with different skill sets, and points of view, is invaluable. I know I can reach out to anyone and vice-versa. It would take decades and lots of travel to reach the level of understanding this group provides. In addition to the creative boost, the additions to my act make the course well worth it!
I was really impressed with all the different methods for adding drama and interest in our performances (status, conflict etc.) and I’m really excited to explore these tools in my own work.
Theres always room for improvement and if you work on it it will come
what is actually seen vs what is actually show, and using the audiences lack of knowledge to your advantage. use of improve and practicing thinking on my feet.
Friendships. The difference in cultures/politics etc. can sometimes be very different and can be sometimes quite wide, but when everyone was doing magic we were all working together for an outcome.
Having come further with my short act which I worked on during the last day, as well as having gotten new perspectives such as movement, puppetry, False Solution as a presentation was of greatest value to me. Also finding out that I can make anything interesting and a good piece, by applying the techniques we’ve learned in this and previous courses.
The discussions with Peter Gröning, the puppeteering, prop building ideas, a few very good new methods and new friendships.
For me I think it is a feeling of “I can do this!”. I have tools to improve my performances and magic. I have friends I can reach out to and new insights together with some practical experience. It is an energy and confidence boosting course!
New friendships, tools to improve and advance my magic, and the ability to share the techniques with others.
The analytical approach we practice and the fact that I can pretend to perform a piece of art…
New, fresh state of mind that helps to continue my work with magic.
The act I showed on Saturday, it really grew during the week. I brought home great memories and the motivation to keep working on this act.
Confidence