Have you ever dreamed of going to a magic convention in a Costa Rican jungle? What about on a safari, Alaskan cruise, or in the Tuscan countryside? Gone are the days of banal hotel ballrooms–with The Retreat, VanishingInc has turned the magic convention on its head. But is it worth it? We’ve got all the details below:
How it Works:
Designed to accommodate both magicians and their partners/parents/siblings, The Retreat is part destination vacation, part magic convention, part hangout, all in a picturesque location. Each retreat is limited to a small number of people, usually averaging 30-40, and features two “headliners” who lecture and perform throughout the trip. VanishingInc pulls top talent, like Guy Hollingworth, Danny Garcia, Luke Jermay, David Williamson, and Jim Steinmeyer (just to name a few). They seem to be organizing one United States and one international (relative to the US) retreat per year.
What is the Magic Like?
While The Retreat doesn’t come close to matching the volume of a traditional magic convention, they make up for it in intimacy. And that’s the point. There are two headliners (plus VanishingInc co-founders Josh and Andi, who typically present something at each retreat), and you’re guaranteed hours of close-up access to all of them. They’re there for you, which means even if they don’t cover something you wanted in a lecture, you can ask them about it while on safari, or whale watching, or on a hike.
So much of the magic value comes from sharing meals and casually hanging out. It’s like being at summer camp–you have nothing else to do and no one else to talk to, so you bond very quickly.
Seriously? Should I bring my partner to a magic convention?
Magic can easily alienate people who don’t practice it. But Josh, Andi, and George specifically designed The Retreat so that everyone feels included. At least half the day is spent doing non-magic events that take advantage of the unique location (literally, we went on safari with Guy Hollingworth and Danny Garcia six times). And spouses and partners frequently sit in on the lectures. In fact, many partners walked away with a deeper appreciation for magic precisely because they were included so well.
