Day 9 - 16. 6. 2015

[Ondřej Pšenička]

Today we started with a warmup held by Martin.

Then we had a lecture with Tom on Slydini’s theory who added to Ramsay’s “…unless you don’t want them to look at something, then look at something else.” He didn’t have a name for it, but Juan Tamariz later called it crossing the gaze. Ideally the gaze and movement should both go in different directions. And the motion of both should start and end at the same time. Then we got an assignment to use that in a routine with creepy attitude. In one hour. This time it was me, Joni and David S. And it was great. No rejections in the brainstorm process, just ideas pouring in. I should say that mostly David’s. He would always add something to the effect that would make it a little more special. Then we were supposed to perform the same routine right after, just with a wrong application of the gaze. That, we didn’t rehearse at all. It was great fun.

Then we had lunch. We went to Don Corleone which we found out is actually cheaper than the university restaurant. I think I’ll be going there more often. On the way back I stopped by Baracken and packed my costume and props so I could go to the Magic Bar directly from school.

The afternoon time was scheduled for our individual work on the projects of the week and I spent it entirely preparing for tonight’s and tomorrow’s show at the Magic Bar. I didn’t go to see the student lectures today. I went to the bar right when it started because I didn’t want any stress on my first day.

I got there at about 5pm, just catching the bartender Anna writing my name on a blackboard on the stage. Then she took me to the kitchen where was Arne - the owner, who took me to the dressing room. I got ready, got something to eat, and then the first guests arrived. Anna took orders and I went ahead to perform some magic for them.
Later Tom Stone, Fredrik and Astrid came, and Fredrik had an interesting note to the ninja rings routine. It appears that when I’m connecting a ring on another one that a spectator holds in their hands, failure enhances the effect.
Another fantastic discovery of that night was power of the promystic app. Arne said that it was the best trick he has ever seen. And more people liked it a lot. David Acer’s triumph was also a lot of fun to perform.
Then later, when Stefan and Hanah came, I did a little impromptu close-up show for the magicians where I performed my chaos and triathlon which I had a lot of trouble with. In chaos I misplaced some cards, in triathlon I forgot to add the chosen cards to the clocking sequence and then I had to go through the deck several times. So I learned my lesson and it’s going to be great tomorrow. There were about 5 groups that came that evening and everything went great and I had a lot of fun.

I went home with Lionel and Hans. Hans told me about his minilecture about branding I missed. And when he talked about John-Henry being an amazing character, his hair so easy to remember, it struck me that I could use my glasses in the logo. I sent my picture with glasses to Linda that evening.
He also talked about his chips and magnets and website and that he puts one quarter of his revenue into his marketing. It inspired me as something I could learn a little more about.

Then back home I got into a long conversation with slightly drunk David S. We would talk about FISM, Merlin Awards, Tony Hassini, Helder, Alana, and Adriana. It was a very nice and personal conversation. Then I went to sleep. Tomorrow’s my close-up show.

(Hans also told me about this idea of a breast badge for walkaround magic which lets everyone know that you’re working and here for them.)