AI-Magic.org

Project Plan & Budget

A weekly online community at the Embassy of the Free Mind — teaching AI tools and performing live magic. Every Tuesday, open to all.

Vision

AI is the most transformative technology of our era, but most people experience it passively — as a product, not as a creative medium. Meanwhile, magic has always been the art of making the impossible feel real. These two traditions share a deep root: the desire to extend what the human mind can do.

AI-Magic is a weekly online gathering that brings these together. Every Tuesday, a community of learners and performers meets to:

  • Learn AI tools hands-on — starting with Claude Code, the most powerful AI coding assistant available, and expanding to generative art, voice synthesis, and agent frameworks
  • Experience live magic — performances that use AI as a creative medium, exploring what's possible when ancient stagecraft meets modern intelligence
  • Build a community — connecting curious people across the world who want to create with these tools, not just consume them

The Embassy of the Free Mind in Amsterdam — a living library of the Hermetic tradition — is our spiritual and eventual physical home. For centuries, this tradition has explored the boundaries of human knowledge. AI is the newest chapter in that story.

Event Format

Weekly Tuesday Show (90 min)

0:00 – 0:10
Opening & Welcome
Community check-in, what's new in AI this week, introduce the session theme
0:10 – 0:50
AI Workshop
Hands-on tutorial: building something real with Claude Code, exploring a new tool, or a community member demo. Screen share, live coding, Q&A
0:50 – 1:00
Intermission
Break, chat, ambient music
1:00 – 1:20
Magic Show
Live close-up magic performance — card magic, mentalism, and AI-augmented effects. A different performer or routine each week
1:20 – 1:30
Close & Community
Recap, next week's preview, open discussion

Platforms

Live on YouTube and Discord Stage simultaneously. All sessions recorded and published as both video (YouTube) and audio-only (podcast feed).

Community Hub

Discord server for async discussion, project sharing, and coordination between sessions. Free and open to join.

Budget

Three phases of investment, each independently valuable. Total ask: $4,800 for a full year of weekly professional-quality broadcasts.

ItemDetailCostPhase
MicrophoneShure MV7+ — broadcast-quality USB/XLR dynamic mic$270Phase 1
Streaming SoftwareStreamYard Pro — remote guests, overlays, multi-platform ($20/mo × 12)$240Phase 1
Stream ControllerElgato Stream Deck MK.2 — one-touch scene switching$150Phase 1
Key LightElgato Key Light — adjustable desk-mount studio light$200Phase 1
CameraSony ZV-E10 II — mirrorless, clean HDMI, great autofocus for close-up magic$900Phase 2
Capture CardElgato Cam Link 4K — camera to computer via HDMI$100Phase 2
Audio MixerRodecaster Pro II — all-in-one mixer, multi-track recording, sound pads$700Phase 2
AccessoriesCables, mic arm, camera tripod, acoustic treatment, performance mat$300Phase 2
Portable KitTravel cases, backup cables, portable LED panel for Embassy venue events$250Phase 3
Second CameraOverhead angle for close-up magic (used or budget cam + mount)$400Phase 3
Domain & Hostingai-magic.org domain + Vercel hosting (free tier)$20Phase 1
Phase 1
$880
Launch quality — go live immediately with professional audio and lighting
Phase 2
$2,000
Studio quality — dedicated camera, multi-track audio, production polish
Phase 3
$650
Venue & multi-cam — portable setup for Embassy events, overhead magic camera
Total Investment — Full Year
$3,530
equipment + $240 streaming software + $20 domain = $3,790 all-in
52 episodes at ~$73/episode

Execution Timeline

Phase 1Weeks 1–2

Launch

  • - Purchase Phase 1 equipment (mic, light, Stream Deck)
  • - Set up YouTube channel, Discord server, and StreamYard account
  • - Configure OBS scenes: talking head, screen share, intro card
  • - Record a test episode solo — full 90-min run-through, don't publish
  • - Announce launch date to community, open Discord invites
Phase 1Weeks 3–6

First Four Episodes

  • - Episode 1: What is Claude Code? Live setup from scratch, build a project
  • - Episode 2: Prompt engineering — getting the most out of AI assistants
  • - Episode 3: Guest episode — invite a community member to co-build
  • - Episode 4: First magic show — classic close-up routine + AI-generated patter
  • - Gather feedback after each episode, iterate on format and pacing
  • - Publish all recordings to YouTube, start podcast feed
Phase 2Weeks 7–12

Production Upgrade

  • - Purchase camera, capture card, Rodecaster, accessories
  • - Set up dedicated studio space — camera angles, lighting, acoustic treatment
  • - Add multi-track recording workflow (clean audio for podcast)
  • - Introduce overhead camera angle for magic segments
  • - Begin alternating format: teaching weeks and performance weeks
  • - Invite first guest magician for a remote performance
Phase 3Months 4–6

Embassy & Community Growth

  • - First live event at the Embassy of the Free Mind — hybrid stream
  • - Assemble portable production kit for venue use
  • - Launch community showcase: members present what they've built with AI
  • - Establish monthly "AI Magic Night" at the Embassy as a recurring event
  • - Reach 500+ Discord members, consistent weekly viewership
OngoingMonths 6–12

Sustain & Expand

  • - Weekly episodes continue — mix of tutorials, guest interviews, and magic
  • - Build a library of beginner-friendly AI tutorial content
  • - Develop original AI-magic performance pieces for live shows
  • - Explore partnerships with other Amsterdam cultural venues
  • - Document and open-source the show production workflow for other communities

Impact & Outcomes

52
Episodes per year

Weekly content — tutorials, performances, and interviews — all freely available on YouTube and as a podcast.

Open
Free and accessible

No paywalls, no subscriptions. Every session is free to attend and every recording is free to watch. The community Discord is open to all.

Bridge
Art meets technology

Magic gives people an emotional, wonder-driven entry point into AI — not fear, not hype, but genuine curiosity about what's possible.

Hands-on
Creators, not consumers

Every workshop produces something real. Attendees leave each session with a project they built, not just a lecture they watched.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

— Arthur C. Clarke

We're building the community where people learn to be the magicians.

Support This Project

Your contribution funds equipment, software, and venue access for a full year of free weekly community events.

Get in Touch

derek@ai-magic.org