The Genii Forum

Looking for something suitable for banquet performances that in some way works as a levitation or floating effect.

I do NOT have the temper, rythemic skills, or acting chops, etc for something like Zombie, or The Thing,

I'm thinking more along the lines of floating cigarette..but, the float has to occur at face level for it to have any choance of being seen...which implies an IT hookup at least that high.

No Hair, so I'm guessing no Fearson.

Any hints, thoughts, advice, etc.as I'm pretty much a noob at IT.

Thanks

Brody

The behind the ear hook up and a floating bill?

When it comes to "floating" effects the methodology is less important than your performance and movements since the first method the audience instinctively thinks of "there's invisible string holding it up" is almost always the right answer. This means you've got to come up with a kick-ass performance full of convincers and subtleties to persuade viewers that there couldn't possibly be anything holding the object up other than magic.

If you don't have the time/inclination/skill to master the performance elements then don't waste your time trying to add "floating" something in to your show as you'll be called out on the method immediately.

Michael Ammar's "Easy To Master Thread Miracles" is a great starting point for the basic techniques and theory behind thread levitation but michael himself will also tell you that you can't just start floating objects and that your routining and performance is considerably more important than the trick itself

Steve Dusheck's Wunderbar might interest you. The included routine meets the parameters that Tom described (IMHO).

By coincidence, there is on on eBay right now:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281321543222?redirect=mobile
(I have nothing to do with this listing, BTW.)

You'll need a small ring (like a 6" single linking ring) for the routine.

Don't get a copy. Some years ago I misplaced my real Wunderbar, & ordered a replacement from Hank Lee that he advertised as the real deal (even using Steve's illustration & advertisement copy) & I received a cheap copy made in India. It was complete crap.

JMD

Tom Moore:

If you don't have the time/inclination/skill to master the performance elements

I think we have a disconnect on what I'm talking about. I don't have the temper/etc. for something like ZOMBIE...or the THING. I said nothing about time or inclination or skill about anything else.

Zombie, to me, is as much about the graceful motions and the ability to not feel like a complete buffoon while doing it. (And, I imagine the THING follows this also).

Neil Foster's ZOMBIE was beautiful....which is not an adjective I would use about anything I do. I'm 60, slightly pudgy, bald....comedy and talking fits me....not interpretive dance.

I can't imagine EVER feeling comfortable doing *any* trick that required this type of handling, movements, etc.

Just as I would feel foolish and exposed doing a manipulation act. Just not my thang!

Sorry if I confused you on this.




John M. Dale: WUNDERBAR....forgot all about that. I actually owned this way back when. That is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks!

You possibly want John Kennedy's Animated Cigarette featuring:

A cigarette slowly floats out of its pack and up to your mouth. Suddenly the pack changes into a box of matches. The drawer slides open by itself and a match floats out, strikes itself, then floats up and lights the cigarette!
You don't need to be a smoker to perform the Animated Cigarette because no tobacco smoke is used - none! The Animated Cigarette does not use any thread or body hook-ups either.

You do need practice to master the handling, and you need to wear a shirt or coat with a dark pattern to hide the gimmick during your performance.

NOTE: If you prefer to learn by video, we offer a separate CD-ROM in the Accessories column above. An extra, newly improved "Float Gimmick" comes with it, essentially updating any older version of the Animated Cigarette.

Watch a video here:

http://www.johnkennedymagic.com/scripts ... dproduct=1

Kennedy's routine is great as long as you don't get nervous. If you do, then it's bouncy-bouncy rather than elegant floating.

Given the banquet situation, you might also want something as simple as an Airborne Glass.

I believe something like the floating dollar bill taught by Losander on his Animate Me DVD would work well in a banquet situation. This is not the standard floating bill that is crumpled into a ball, but an effect where a spectator causes the bill to float between the magicians hands by providing "wind."

Some really gret ideas. Thanks.

Brody

Your welcome. Glad to be of service, brody. Bid is only 10 bucks at the moment.

Wunderbar has served me well. I have a friend that is absolutely convinced that it has to be done with magnets. I've done it literally inches from him at least 6 times & it blows him away every time.

Best money I've ever spent on a trick.

JMD

U.F. Grant's "Rising, Dancing, Floating Silk" which you can find in Gen Grant's Manual of Magic published by Magic Inc. A very simple idea, but excellent in all respects given the present availability of really invisible thread. I used it as a kid. Looks great, packs small, plays really big.

http://www.lybrary.com/gen-grants-manua ... 81227.html

Bob Farmer:

Didn't even cpnsider silks....hmmmm...cool. Thanks!


Brody

Don't laugh, I am serious, but an effect you might consider is a Glorpy. I know it's an animation not a levitation, but at dinner table an animated dinner napkin makes sense and done correctly creates a great effect. Your self-ascribed skill set makes IT work seem risky. The Glorpy doesn't flash and is always under your control.

Magicians tend to pass this trick by until the see somebody who knows what they are doing and then they are shocked by how good a trick it is.

Johnathan Pendragon:

Glorpy isn't easy to see in a banquet style setting by a hundred or so people, I don't think, which keeps me from doing it.

But you're right about it being effective. I remember Gene Anderson nailed me with the version of the Haunted hank that he does.

And I agree that my IT skill set is lacking...which means that I'll probably have a 6 month or so learning curve before I even consider putting anything in a show.

Kevin James's floating rose? the Andre Kole block levitation? Floating table - Losander OR Owen/Wellington methods. I'm fat and I've managed to make that work convincingly - played it as more of a seance/table tipping piece than an actual levitation routine. Steinmeyer's Hot Air is a great levitation which is great for many banquet settings. Sean Begonia's Dancing hanks. Heck, even wand in bottle or ring on wand could be played as levitation especially if you led into things with the Leipzig magnetized cane or the Malini knives!

Combine Jonathan's idea of using Glorpy with the U.F. Grant trick. The silk moves on the table then floats into the air.

Dang, you guys are good. Thx.

Brody