Northern Magician Case Study
Three Months of Magic in Arctic Conditions
I performed for three months at the Arcandia experience park in Levi. In this in-depth blog post, I’ll walk you through the entire process of how the Northern Magician Show came to life. At the end, I’ll share my thoughts on what it was like to carry out the project in the cold and darkness of Lapland — and what I took away from the experience.
What Was This Production All About?
The Project in a Nutshell
1. The Journey Begins
First Contact
Morning Coffee Down the Wrong Pipe
What would it feel like to perform for three months under the glow of the Northern Lights, in the heart of a magical forest in Lapland?
That was the question on my mind in early April 2024, when I received an unexpected call from an adventure park called Arcandia, located in Levi. It’s an atmospheric and intimate experience park nestled in one of Finland’s most popular travel destinations. The clientele consists mainly of international tourists who come to Lapland to admire the Northern Lights and seek out unique adventures.
Arcandia offers a range of outdoor activities, including laser tag, axe throwing, slides, and snowmobiling. Indoors, guests can enjoy atmospheric dinners or even sit down for a reading with an astrologer. Elves and Santa Claus are also part of the program — as the spirit of Lapland naturally calls for. Simply walking through the park is an experience in itself: elegantly placed lights reflect in the dark forest, creating the feeling of a winter fantasy world.
Arcandia was now looking for a performer for a three-month run — someone who could fit into an international setting, appeal to the whole family, and provide tourists with a memorable entertainment experience as part of their Lapland adventure. During the call, I told the entrepreneur that I had been toying with the idea of an international magician persona called the Northern Magician for years. Our conversation progressed quickly, and we both felt that the pieces fell into place almost too perfectly.
2. Shaman's Cave
A Strange Place to Perform
A Party Venue in the Middle of the Forest
During the call, I learned that the performances would take place in Arcandia’s shaman village. At the heart of the village stands a restaurant called Shaman’s Cave — this would serve as the Northern Magician’s home for the next three months. It’s a massive earth lodge with a large fire pit in the center. The space includes a bar counter and seating for up to 60 guests. The atmosphere is intimate, mystical, and in many ways unlike any other venue I’ve performed in before.
Shaman’s Cave had rarely been used for performances before — let alone for a production of this scale. The venue had no stage, no lighting system, and no sound equipment. From a magician’s perspective, the space presented several challenges: numerous visual obstructions, seating areas at varying heights, and a large central fire pit that limited visibility toward the center. To add to the complexity, the ambient lights hanging from the ceiling were conveniently about the size of a human head. And in the circular space, the first rows of the audience would be positioned immediately to the performer’s left and right — up close and personal.
In addition to designing and delivering a show suited for the park, I was also asked to independently manage guest reception and ticket checks before each performance. During the show, I would be alone in the space — responsible not only for the performance itself but also for handling the tech, sound, lighting, maintaining the central fire, and guiding the audience out afterward. It became clear during the call that taking on this project would require a significant amount of work. But at the same time, it was a rare opportunity to create something completely new — not just for my own career, but for the Finnish magic scene as a whole.
A Deal Is Made
3. Planning Phase
3.1 What Is the Character About?
The Northern Magician Comes to Life
One of the most important skills of a professional performer is the ability to adapt to the client’s needs. This ability to meet expectations isn’t just an advantage — it’s a necessity for anyone aiming to stand out and succeed as a professional magician. From the very beginning of the project, it was clear that performing as the Northern Magician would require far more than just adaptation. What I usually offer my clients wouldn’t suit Arcandia. The Northern Magician would have to be something entirely new — something that didn’t exist yet.
When the Northern Magician steps in front of an international audience — what exactly is being presented? Strong creative direction for the character came from Arcandia’s own story and the name of the performance venue: Shaman’s Cave. I spent hours researching Northern mysticism, ancient tales of Lapland’s witches, and Sámi shamans. Eventually, the journey led me deep into esoteric traditions, mediumistic practices — even stories from the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Those inspiring research journeys took on new depth in the most unexpected moment — a casual catch-up conversation with my mother. While talking about the project, she casually remarked that the Shaman’s Cave sounded like the perfect place for me — after all, one of my ancestors, some 200 years ago, had been an ancient Sámi shaman.
I froze for a moment. “Could you repeat what you just said?” I asked.
The Northern Magician Begins to Take Shape
3.2 What Does the Northern Magician Aim to Do?
A Calling from the North
When it comes to Northern mysticism and magic, associations with shamans are inevitable. Throughout history, shamans have served as spiritual guides and bridges between this world and the unknown. Their influence isn’t limited to Northern traditions — similar figures have appeared in nearly every culture: village elders, mystics, and esoteric phenomena have shaped the course of human history since ancient times.
With this background in mind, it became clear that the Northern Magician’s appearance should be more than just an entertaining experience. Could it be possible to offer tourists something transformative — something that also feels meaningful? Not just a dreamlike atmosphere created by the setting of the Shaman’s Cave and the content of the show, but a performance that speaks to the audience’s psyche on a deeper level. My goal was to create a show that leaves a mark — just as an encounter with a shaman would have in ancient times.
3.3 How will the Goals be achieved?
About the Northern Magian's Material and Style
Perhaps the greatest challenge in creating the Northern Magician was the demand for versatility: the show needed to be suitable for the whole family. In addition to spanning various age groups, it had to entertain an international audience from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. At the same time, the magic effects needed to amaze even those with limited English skills. These different requirements turned the planning of the show into a complex puzzle.
Designing a magic show that works for all kinds of audiences is an exceptionally difficult task. When you bow in one direction, you risk turning your back on another. Magicians often have to make artistic choices that favor one group at the expense of another. That’s why it was especially challenging to account for all possible audience types in the planning process. Still, I believe I managed reasonably well — and after just a couple of months of development, I had already compiled a list of dozens of potential effects that could suit the production.
The Style and Magic of the Northern Magician Evolve
3.4 What Is the Show About?
The Story Behind the Northern Magician Show
Traditionally, magic shows don’t follow a single, cohesive storyline. The most common approach is this: the magician selects a set of effects they personally enjoy and arranges them in a smart, often progressively more impressive order. But that conventional structure wasn’t an option here. Arcandia’s unique atmosphere, the Northern Magician persona, and the goals of the show called for a more refined approach. A clear narrative thread was needed — not just tricks for the sake of tricks, but a deeper sense of meaning woven throughout the performance.
One evening, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, I had what felt like a vision. In it, the Northern Magician arrived in Lapland — not merely as an entertainer, but as a guide, someone who had come to awaken the spirit of Northern mysticism. Through the language of magic, he would teach the audience what Northern mysticism had always been about. I shot up from bed, eyes wide, and grabbed my list of tricks. Could each effect become a lesson in mysticism? Suddenly, the pieces began to fall into place.
Show’s Narrative Was Born
4. Stage Technology and Props
4.1 Lighting and Smoke Effects
How to Maintain a Mystical Atmosphere Without Losing Visibility?
Shaman’s Cave is a dimly lit and atmospheric venue where overly bright lighting instantly breaks the mood. Designing the show’s lighting became a constant balancing act — I wanted the stage to blend seamlessly into the space, while still ensuring that the effects were clearly visible to the audience. To say this was a challenge would be an understatement — I ended up ordering boxes of different lights online just to test what would work.
One of the major challenges with lighting was that I would need to control it myself during the show — without a dedicated lighting technician. I eventually solved this by connecting the stage lights to smart plugs, which I controlled with my phone. With a single tap, one light would turn on and another off. This setup allowed me to create dynamic lighting effects without needing a separate operator. During the show, the atmosphere was further enhanced by a fog machine, which automatically released mist at just the right moments.
4.2 Audio and Microphones
How to Keep the Sound System Compact Yet Powerful?
Shaman’s Cave didn’t have a built-in sound system, so I brought in my own tower speaker. Since the space is circular, a single tower was enough to fill it with even, balanced sound. I connected the speaker to a projector, microphone system, and music player, keeping the entire audio setup unified. Before the performance season began, I conducted a thorough soundcheck to ensure everything was dialed in — so the settings would remain optimal throughout the entire run without needing further adjustments.
4.3 Projector, Info & Intro Video
How to Create an Immersive Experience From the Very First Seconds?
I edited an informational video specifically for the stage, giving the audience key details about the show before it began. I also embedded a 30-minute countdown timer into the video — making it easy for guests to see exactly when the performance would start. And when only one minute remained, a ticking clock sound would begin playing through the speaker system, drawing even the last wandering gazes toward the stage.
I also wanted the beginning of the show to feel explosive and full of anticipation. So, right after the countdown, I added an intro video that would automatically start when there were 10 seconds left on the timer. This video would build excitement and set the tone — and as it ended, the Northern Magician would step onto the stage to the sound of applause. Not only did this create a high-quality launch for the show, but it also gave me a chance to communicate to the audience what the performance was about.
Feedback about the intro video
4.4 Music and Sound Design
How Can the Score Be Tailored to Support the Show’s Dramatic Arc?
I composed the show’s music from scratch with the help of AI tools. Later, my friend Jose Ahonen refined the tracks to the perfect length, ensuring that each piece supported the different segments of the show flawlessly. Since there was no sound technician on site, I used a remote control to trigger the music during the performance. This allowed me to ensure that every track started and ended at precisely the right moment.
4.5 Meet & Greet
5. AUDIENCE AND FEEDBACK
5.1 Different Audiences and Configurations
How Does the Performance Change When the Audience Varies Night After Night?
The audience at Arcandia was remarkably multicultural. Tourists came from all over the world — from Saudi Arabia to the UK, and from the United States to China. Audience sizes varied from day to day: sometimes there were just two people watching, other times 20, and occasionally Shaman’s Cave was filled to the brim. One evening, my audience consisted of just a mother and her small child — with only the mother speaking English. Another time, I performed for a cheerful group of eight Romanian men who had clearly enjoyed a few drinks. Some days, 75% of the audience were adults; the next day, the room would be filled mostly with young children.
An added layer of complexity came from how group sizes affected the way the audience was spread out in the space. This posed a challenge for a 60-minute show that relied heavily on interaction: how do you create an intimate atmosphere and engage everyone when guests are scattered throughout the venue? Because the size and type of audience changed constantly, the show had to change with it. The Northern Magician Show was almost never the same two nights in a row — both in tone and in content. Some nights, I skipped certain effects; other times, I left out specific stories. I always aimed to tailor the performance to best suit the audience in front of me.
“Now we are obsessed with the magician, brilliant!” – Alex Anderson
“This was a true northern experience.” – Yuni Yan
“Loved it, highly recommend!” – Louise Davies
“This was one of the main highlights of our trip to Lapland!” – Kate Smith
“This mystical show was absolutely incredible!” – Carly Young
“Just brilliant!” – Nikki Kearney
“My grandson summarized the show in one word: mesmerizing.” – Sheila Burscough
“This magician is incredible.” – Zoe Flashman
“Just left the show, that was so worth the wait!” – Caroline Millen
6. ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR ARCANDIA
6.1 Court of Wonders – Magic Workshops
Unusual Lessons and Deep Talks Under the Stars
I also designed Court of Wonders — a two-hour magic workshop where participants could learn the fundamentals of magic and practice tricks themselves. While I’m very familiar with teaching magic both in group settings and one-on-one, introducing the world of magic to such a diverse group presented its own challenges. Participants varied in age, background, and language ability. Some were complete beginners with no prior exposure to magic, while others had at least some keys to understanding the world behind the tricks.
I designed a detailed structure for the workshop in advance, but as expected, it wasn’t possible to apply the same format to every group. If the participants included young children with limited English skills, we focused on simple card tricks. But if the group was mostly adults interested in the psychological and philosophical aspects of magic, we explored the mechanics of illusions and discussed why magic works. An added twist was the high price of the workshop — up to €150 per participant. That meant the bar was set high, and I had to work hard to ensure each attendee left feeling truly satisfied.
In the Words of the Guests
6.2 Close-Up Magic at Hunter’s Hut Restaurant
Wandering Among Tourists With Pocket-Sized Wonders
As the schedule for the Northern Magician show eased slightly toward the end of the season — with only one performance per day — I had more time to move among the guests in the park. During the final month, I performed close-up magic for dozens of hours at Arcandia’s second restaurant, Hunter’s Hut. Unlike the stage show, which could follow a fairly structured script, close-up magic is entirely situational. It’s first and foremost about reading energy — and adapting your behavior to the personalities of the people in front of you.
Performing close-up magic at Arcandia was, in many ways, similar to doing it anywhere else. The biggest difference compared to my usual work was the multicultural nature of the audience — tourists from all over the world. Sometimes I was surrounded by 20 excited guests, other times just one or two curious onlookers. But by far the most rewarding part of close-up magic at Arcandia was the chance to casually interact with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Once again, I got to experience firsthand how magic truly is a universal language — creating human connection in ways that don’t always require words.
7. Moving to Levi Lapland
7.1 Joining the Arcandia Team
How Did Korkatti Adapt to the Commune?
Arcandia provided me with accommodation right next to the park in a shared cabin. I lived there alongside about ten other people. At first, it felt a bit strange — after all, I had spent the past 15 years working without a traditional team around me. Now I was surrounded by people from morning to night, every single day. But fitting in came surprisingly naturally, and I look back fondly on the many shared moments with the Arcandia crew. Maybe even with a hint of longing.
7.2 The Darkness and Cold of Lapland
Will You Freeze Where You Stand?
Levi isn’t just a postcard-perfect winter wonderland — it’s also a place of biting cold and deep darkness. At its worst, temperatures dropped below –30°C, and on my way to the Shaman’s Cave, my beard would freeze stiff. And then there was the polar night; I spent the entire Lapland trip in darkness — the only sources of light were the stars, the Northern Lights, and the candles inside the cave. My evening-focused work schedule also meant that even if there was a fleeting hint of daylight on the horizon in the morning, I was still dragging myself out of bed as it vanished again behind the trees.
7.3 A Rhythm of Work and Shared Moments
Hard Work and Laid-Back Evenings
Daily life in Levi settled into a familiar rhythm. With evening-oriented work, my nights often stretched well past midnight, and silence wouldn’t fall until around 2 a.m. Mornings began slowly, usually in the early afternoon, and the park didn’t open until 5 p.m., closing at 10 p.m. After that, the evenings continued with a steady routine of sauna, conversations, and shared downtime. Because of my role, I was always the last to leave and the first to return — which gave me rare, quiet moments of solitude in the cabin while it was still empty and calm.
8. FINAL THOUGHTS
8.1 Production Costs
What Did It Cost to Build This Experience?
The total production costs for the Northern Magician show eventually climbed to around €9,000 — a sum I paid out of my own pocket to bring the project to life. Thankfully, over time the performances did generate enough revenue for the venture to turn a profit. Beyond the financial investment, I dedicated hundreds of hours to planning, rehearsing, fine-tuning the technical setup, and developing the marketing. Projects like this are true time sinks — where endless tweaking and adjustments take far more time than expected. Sometimes you find yourself sitting beside a fog machine for hours, wondering why it’s spewing mist like a dragon having a seizure — and that’s when it hits you just how deep into the creative labyrinth you’ve wandered.
8.1 An Investment in the Future
What Did This Project Leave Behind?
I could have carried out the project on a smaller budget, with far simpler solutions. But it was the unique opportunity to create something new in the world of magic that kept me moving forward. I wanted to craft a show that wasn’t just entertaining, but artistically meaningful — a complete experience that would challenge both myself and my own ideas of what a magic performance can be. From a professional standpoint, The Northern Magician Show wasn’t just another gig — it was a transformative learning experience that pushed me to grow as a performer, a magician, and a creator. So if the old saying “you reap what you sow” holds true, then the future is one morning sun over Levi brighter.