Learning Objectives • Bonus • Course Design • Challenges • Safe space • Workload • Contributions • Venue • Satisfaction • Extra events • Teachers • Expectations • Value • Changes • Future • Final comments
Changes
What in the course is important to keep, and what is important to change?
Comments
Keep: The trainers, structure and timetable, location Change: I had problems knowing and remembering all the names, maybe name plates are an option?
If you have another big name come for a video chat, like Steinmeyer, have an objective in mind for their presentation. I wouldn’t change anything from Tom or Leif’s classes. While I think ethics in magic is an important subject to go in to, I would rather had Peter lecture on creating an act. If you were in the room when Peter led the discussion on ethics, I think some students tried to participate but about half the class quietly tuned out. I’ve thought a lot about the prop making class. I enjoyed it, but I’m not sure I will use anything from it. I won’t ever create molds because I don’t have any sculpting skills. I might make a double out envelope. I might use the concept of the tarot card. However, I can’t think of what I would suggest to make for props instead. Maybe a topit? A method for torn and restored paper? A box with a false bottom? I think if I were to change anything, I would drop prop making. I would have a class on creating an act or how take our current tricks and what we’ve learned to create a better act. Maybe a class learning sleights.
Important to keep: safe space and atmosphere of trust.
The location , extra activities and the structured lessons. I cannot think of any changes needed.
Maybe you could add a little more performances that we could from.
Keep the fika! Maybe have a short version of Leifs “how to enter the stage” day one. To learn each others names and then again later in the course to se development.
Keep everything. Nothing specific to change – Ok, maybe I did not like much the workshop to learn how to build objects, but you can easily keep it 🙂
For me, and overseas students, I will change … Not arrive on Sunday, but before in order to rest from the flight and jetlag. My main concerns is to be so tired in some moments. I can quit classes, every things is important. Maybe some extra days and spacing a little some activities. The final performace in front of our peers is also important, but it could be so long. It is necessary to delimit individual performance time
Overall, the course was extremely well-structured and valuable. However, based on my experience, there are a few areas where minor adjustments could enhance the experience for future participants:
Important to Keep:
The high caliber of instructors and their diverse areas of expertise
The intensive, immersive nature of the course
The balance between theoretical knowledge and practical application
The opportunity for peer interaction and networking
The focus on fundamental principles of performance rather than just individual tricks
Suggestions for Changes:Pre-Course Information Package:
It would be beneficial to provide a clearer, more detailed information package to participants before the course begins. This could include:
A more specific outline of what to expect from each session
Clearer guidelines on what (if anything) participants should prepare or bring
An overview of the course philosophy and approach
While I understand it might be challenging to convey the full scope of the course without experiencing it, even a bit more detail could help participants arrive better prepared and with more accurate expectations.Restructure the Honesty Discussion:
The discussion about honesty in magic, while important, felt somewhat redundant to me. However, I noticed that others seemed to enjoy and benefit from it. Perhaps this topic could be integrated into other parts of the course rather than standing alone as a separate session. For example, it could be woven into discussions about ethics in performance or audience interaction.
Increase Open Stage Opportunities:
The Open Stage event was extremely popular and valuable. It provided a great opportunity to see fellow participants perform and to practice in front of a supportive audience. Consider having this event twice during the week – perhaps once mid-week and once near the end. This would allow participants to showcase their growth over the course of the week and provide more opportunities for performance practice.
Tailor Craft Sessions:
While Oskar’s craft sessions were excellent, they might not be suitable for all participants, especially those lacking crafting skills. Consider offering an alternative session running parallel to the craft workshop for those who might benefit more from a different type of learning experience.
More Structured Networking Time:
While there were plenty of informal opportunities to network, consider adding some structured networking sessions. These could be in the form of small group discussions, pair-and-share activities, or even a “speed networking” event.
Follow-up Resources:
Provide a comprehensive list of resources, reading materials, and follow-up exercises at the end of the course. This would help participants continue their learning and development after the intense week of training.
In conclusion, while the course was excellent overall, these minor adjustments could help to make it even more accessible, engaging, and valuable for all participants. The core elements of expert instruction, intensive learning, and peer interaction should definitely be maintained, as they form the foundation of this unique and powerful learning experience.
You really should keep the creative challenges, both the magical and the theatrical. Keep the Fika!
Maybe one change could be that every participant bring one, or more, magic problems to one of the courses, where you get help brainstorming or come up with solutions, or something similar.
The most important thing is to maintain the atmosphere. It’s a great week. I think it’s worth reconsidering whether it makes sense for everyone to start in A. We could also rethink the structure of the magic-related aspects. Here, I would first like to see a clarification of the basic vocabulary (see Gabi Pareras/Ascanio) and only in a second step address the aspects of staging
Did not mentioned it yet, but the food was great, especially for vegetarians!
Jag tycker att allting var strålande. Kan inte komma på något som jag själv velat ändra på
I feel that the course itself is good enough to be kept more or less the same way.
This is a difficult question to answer in this evaluation format. I will give an example or two here and try to give a more detailed assessment at a later date.
I think the maker/crafts day is very important. I liked that it was moved to the second day, however it was a skills session in which we learned new skills for future use, but not for in class use. Tying the maker day to something we perform would make the day more valuable and show the sequence of building a prop and then using it. possibly something for an advanced class.
My opinion is that everything in this class was good and necessary. Even the Jim Steinmeier presentation should be a regular part of the class. It helps focus the performer on the audience as a whole.
Keep: It is a safe place. I never felt uncomfortable. Consider: Maybe I found the evening classes a little to long (~2 hrs) Did we have any breaks?
It’s important to keep Tim Star. It’s very important to keep Tim Star, even if it means he has to leave his wife. He was dearly missed. I think more exercises. I feel like this time we didnt do as many exercises it felt like.
Good question. Keep all.
keep: extra events, Change: schedule so that there is more time to work with own perfomance
Keep it all! We might need to think of a better way to execute the women’s roundtable, but that’s on us to address. I feel that the prop-making workshop needs more preparation. It felt a little thrown together.
I liked everything and it’s difficult to say what should be changed. I preferred Tim Star’s prop building class from last year as I found the things we built to be a bit more practical so if we go into prop building next year, I think he would be a good addition. That, of course, is likely a matter of taste and I was still really impressed with Oskar’s craftsmanship, although I didn’t find that much value for the techniques in my own work.
Keep the fika. Prop making was interesting, but not related to my performance
the main course content I feel was valuable and I feel should be kept, however the prop making class would need to be altered in some way as I have answered in the previous questions
Having arrived mid afternoon this year I think it was better for me to settle in and catch up with “old” friends. The event on the last day finds that not everyone can attend as there are flights to be caught etc. I’m not sure how this could be altered.
Keep: Puppetry, movement, False Solutions and creating a piece from something you hate. Change: I can’t think of anything.
I think there should be more free time and time to relax. The fikas and breaks are super important to keep everyone going and the length of the lessons is perfect. I would like to see more working on the material people are already doing but next year I will get a whole week of that! 😀 But maybe there could me more exercises to improve already existing material.
I think it is good to keep the overall structure: a mix of lectures (theatre / magic / crafting), keeping the schedule (90 min + break). Perhaps not important to change, but potential for improvements:
• A more equal gender representation among the teachers
• A combined lecture note with theory, references and exercises written down, like a hand-out after the course would be nice. It would be great aid also when taking notes ourselves so the focus can be on the applications and findings, instead of the e.g. theories or concepts presented.
I would recommend a crash course of how lights and music works in a show on day 1. The performer gets a much better understanding and appreciation to enhance an act with music and lighting. Important to keep the fika as that is the time to socialize and discuss. No change is necessary.
I would include 1 or 2 creative excercises in the first day. I think there is a great need for a crash course on how to use the soundboard. Similarly, a practical lesson on lighting technology would also be interesting.
Keep the location, the schedule, the july/august time frame. the people (Tom, Leif, + others),.. I cant see anything crucial to change.
Lose Jim Steinmeyer, bring in Carisa Hendrix as an instructor. She would be great; I would pay extra for her. (I know, school is free, but work isnt)
The open stage was better than last year. It’s really important that all of them make there performance short, which was good this year