Day 18 - 25. 6. 2015

[Ondřej Pšenička]

We started at 9:45 today with setting up the rules for the exams. There is a rehearsal starting at 10:00 in tomorrow’s running order. It got delayed but it caught up later on.

In the meanwhile, because it’s 26 of us and I am number 14 or so, I worked on my new ending a little and the load of the rattles in the beginning, showed it to some others and it seems to be working well. The misdirection of striking a match seems to be very strong.

Then it was my turn, Johan was giving me feedback. It was slow, which I totally agree with and since I stumbled with my words and slightly struggled with some stuff, I just need to practice. He didn’t have any notes on the methods or the procedure.

He then asked me to perform a little thing for camera for a trailer that Thomas - camera guy was doing to attract people - new magicians to the magic courses at the university.
Later he recorded some things in the workshop and took still introductions of all of us.

Later when the rehearsals were done, the day continued with the last ted talks.
Balazs talked about art. Main points being avoid entertainment, conventions to make it more complex, not understandable for everyone, to stand on the shoulders of others also in the allied arts, that we should educate our audience, let them know how it’s different and declare it an art, and declare ourselves artists.
Lauri talked about scrim curtains and how to use them. His favorite is Tulle Gobelin or it’s also called Shark’s tooth scrim. Another very interesting should be chameleon scrim. Black is the best for the highest contrast but you really need a powerful projector to project on it.
Carl had a talk on how to make your audience more comfortable. Rich Bloch’s tip on how to make them welcome you nicely - When you come on stage, stand next to the microphone to give them space to applaud, then make three steps behind the mic which cues them to stop. You should also say something funny in the first 30 seconds. If that is your style of course.

After that I would set up my routine in studio 10, practicing a little and then I went to take a shower and when I got back, I had the studio for myself so I would go through the routine 4 times with lights and all and even recorded it to see if it all works.

Then of course I went to the Magic Bar where Joni was doing his act that night. First table-hopping and then he did a close-up show, closed by Jakob’s FISM routine.
Amanda and Guille came so they saw them and were totally blown away especially by Joni’s Rubik’s cube and the whole Jakob’s act.
Micke Askernas was there as well who I haven’t seen since Head Hacking workshop in London. He told me about his show he’s done in the largest theatre in Stockholm, described the closer and told me that the method for it is crazy complex and difficult, but it was worth it. I hope I’ll see him again before I leave Stockholm.