Jeroen de Jong: mechanical illusionist
Jeroen de Jong: mechanical illusionist
Meet Jeroen de Jong, an alumnus who has transformed his passion for magic into a lifelong career as an illusionist. Jeroen studied Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Energy Technology. Despite being deeply engrossed in his studies, he was simultaneously practicing and performing magic. He nearly abandoned his studies to pursue his passion full-time but ultimately decided to complete his degree.
Jeroen's career path highlights the importance of maintaining a critical and curious mindset. He worked at Tata Steel after graduation, dealing with complex problems where initial assumptions often proved incorrect. This critical approach has been invaluable in his current full-time role as an illusionist.
"Do what you love, then it will never feel like work"
One significant lesson Jeroen has learned is the power of silence. In negotiations, whether for shows or other agreements, he finds that saying nothing after making an offer is often the best strategy.
Jeroen values the alumni network for transforming cold contacts into warm connections. Sharing a common educational background helps build rapport and opens doors.
His advice to fellow alumni and students is simple yet profound: "Do what you love, and it will never feel like work." Today, Jeroen performs across Europe, especially in the Netherlands, breaking the ice at corporate events and weddings, and drawing crowds at trade shows with his interactive and humorous performances. For more, visit .