I've been home a week now yet am still digesting the whole experience, including the vast amounts of bread and cheese consumed in 3 weeks. Mmmmm, I do miss the cheese. So, to the question, 'What have I learned?'
To talk less and do more. As soon as possible get up on your feet and play the damn thing.
Play, play, play.
Connect to audience more. Share everything with them. Look them in the eye, they want to play too.
When an idea is presented - try it. Don't sit and talk about it, play it for all it's worth - if it feels good, carry on doing it.
All of these things seem quite obvious, but it has been very useful indeed to be reminded of them. Working with Footsbarn has been like returning to the source. There is a purity about their way. For forty years they travelled across the world, into communities, presenting their madness before the assembled crowd. Their work is universal it seems because of this fundamental understanding of how to connect with an audience.
I learned a very important word there - disponible. It's not easily translated into English but it means something like available, unappropriated or open minded.