Topic: Any feather flower act videos?

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 14, 2012 11:58pm)

Are there any videos of anyone doing a flower act? I am learning more about feather flowers myself. Following is a link of me starting a flower act last year: http://bloomfield-mi.patch.com/articles/photo-gallery-labor-day-picnic-at-temple-israel#photo-7631233 There were a lot of oohs and aahs. Look at the little girl covering up her face on the left of me wearing purple in the front row when I made the Botania appear. :)

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Posted by: Darkwing (Jan 15, 2012 12:37am)

Dynamike,

That is a great pic. Richard Hughes has said for years that the audience loves flash and it looks as if you delivered my friend.

Richard has a great video of a lecture he did at the Magic Castle where he goes over feather flower productions which I highly recommend.

Check out some of David and Dania's act on YouTube. Some great flower work on with that act.

David

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Posted by: Bill Hegbli (Jan 15, 2012 6:00am)

Feather Flowers have the same drawback as many kinds of acts, they are very expensive to acquire, maintain, transport and present. Plus the belief that they are not real flowers thus other magicians dismiss them.

If you are truly interested in creating a flower act, here is what I would do. The remaining flower producers in the U.S are Richard Hughes, Abbott's Magic and Owen's Magic. Richard Hughes has a trick catalog on disc. Send for it, it is a demo of his flower effects, not a show. Check out Abbott's Catalog and/or contact Greg Bordner at Abbott's and see what they still offer. Owen's magic sells a Garden of Flowers act, and Abbott's use to have a version as well. These were built around a Trellis as the center piece.

As you are a fully functioning company, I see not reason why you should not take a business trip or two to meet with Richard Hughes and Abbott's to research what they can offer in this regard.

As far as Acts go in my era, I only remember seeing Harry Blackstone Jr. present his flower act while I was at some magic conventions. I also seen a very young magician present an act of several Botania's. It was very effective and has stood out in my memory all these years.

I agree that audiences love color and action in the props. Some of the success of Feather Flower acts is that every production is an applause cue for the audience.

Goldfinger and Dove use to do a single flower production in their act, ending with only a bouquet of spring flowers at the end. Very nice routine.

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Posted by: Jimmy Joza (Jan 15, 2012 3:17pm)

I will also recommend Richard Hughes for feather flowers. I have had a couple of his bouquets for about 8 or 9 years and they are still almost as good as new. They also present as fuller bouquets as tends to use a lot of green feathers for leaves and the flowers themselves (depending on the flower) can be 6 or 7 inches wide. BTW, Richard sells a simple routine called (Flower) Hoopla which I sometimes use to produce a flower bouquet.... I usually alternate between that and Patrick Page's Barehanded Flower Production.

You can see an online video of Richard Hughes Products demo at
http://www.hughesmagic.com/video.html

Marc Gilday has recreated a version of Blackstone's Enchanted Garden quick glimpse of this can be seen on his production video at times 3:20 and 3:53
http://gildaymagic.com/iPad/productionfootage.html

A flower act with basically only one or two flowers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iMQcE0ERN0

Have fun with it Dinamike. Eye candy does tend to play well with an audience.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 15, 2012 8:35pm)

Wow. Great info guys.

I have seen Richard's DVD on You Tube. I like his 16 bloom from the sleeve the most. He also gave me a DVD of his products when I seen him at Abbotts Get Together last year.

I did go to Abbotts a couple of times within 60 days to talk Greg about the flowers. I just ordered another one from him last week when I was there. It should be ready in about 4 weeks.

I am working on a flower act theme. All the flowers are not feathered. The Dancing Lit Rose will be part of it.

Especially thanks for all the information dealing with videos.

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Posted by: Larry Barnowsky (Jan 16, 2012 3:57pm)

I saw Harry Blackstone Jr. on Broadway and besides vanishing an elephant, he did a beautiful production of feather flowers including botanias. In the Playbill, Abbott Magic was given credit for the flower props.
Classic magic act.

Larry

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jan 17, 2012 8:16am)

I am sorry but Abbott's did not make the flower props for Blackstone. The original set was made by Owens. Later and long before Broadway, Marie Marshall and myself redid the entire flower sequence.
I have recently recreated the entire act for Marc Gilday of Rhode Island.
Richard

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Posted by: magicians (Jan 17, 2012 8:34am)

I have a local act who does flowers, and I am amazed at the reaction to a simple botania.

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Posted by: Lars (Jan 17, 2012 8:58am)

Have a look at this act.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQIr9XGb5Bw

It was done by a friend of mine, who is sadly not long with us, Jorgen Samson from Denmark.

I saw this act live on several occasions and it was amazing how much “stuff” was left on the stage when he had finished.

Lars

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Posted by: Harry Murphy (Jan 17, 2012 9:51am)

Richard has said it several times here on the Café that the production of flowers gets strong reactions from lay audiences. Ian’s reaction is pretty typical of magicians watching those reactions for the first time.

I took a bunch of (non magic) friends to see the Blackstone Jr. show in Washington D.C. a couple of decades ago. They remarked to two segments/tricks after the show. The first was the floating light bulb segment/trick and the other was the flower segment. Of the two the flower segment of his show got the most discussion and seemed to be appreciated the most. I started using the Pat Page double bouquet production in every family show from that time. It pretty much became my opener.

I have an old Abbott’s “Junior Garden of Flowers” (four bouquets from a foulard) that I bought in the early 70s. I used it whenever I need to lengthen a show and it always amazes me how strongly it plays. The dang thing is pretty much self-working.

This past Holiday season I was hired to perform at a company banquet. They wanted a 45-minute stand-up act. I included the Garden of Flowers and got a great round of applause.

I saw Richard do his flower act at MAES convention several years ago. It was a highlight of the show for me. He filled the stage to overflowing with flowers!

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Posted by: Rainboguy (Jan 17, 2012 10:58am)

Richard:

Gilday's act is beautiful and reminds me of Harry Blackstone, Jr.'s stage persona minus the floating lightbulb, Casadega Cabinet, and, of course, Gay.

Richard, since you're a modest guy, and I don't mind one bit being a cheerleader for you, my friend, please allow me to say that the feather flowers you manufactured for Marc Gilday are simply spectacular and are unequalled in magic history, in my opinion.

Quick question: Isn't there a vid around somewhere of Harry Blackstone Jr'.s PBS Performance from Minneapolis? If my memory serves me correctly, that video also contained the complete Blackstone Garden of Flowers routine.....magnificent routine........it's BIG and the Ultimate Closer!!!

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jan 17, 2012 11:44am)

Yes, there are two different videos of the act. One was the HBO magic special "Blackstone on Tour", That version of the Enchanted Garden was not exactly what was usually performed. It was reblocked for the special. The PBS video is version of the act most are familiar with. Gilday's tribute is loosely based on Harry's act with some subtle differences.

Harry, thanks for your kind words.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 17, 2012 5:51pm)

Quote:

On 2012-01-15 20:35, Dynamike wrote:
I have seen Richard's DVD on You Tube. I like his 16 bloom from the sleeve the most.

My bad. I meant his 18 bloom from sleeve.

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Posted by: Scott Alexander (Jan 24, 2012 8:47pm)

Richard made all the props for this act I did a few years back.

http://youtu.be/AVXZ7Vd8UEc

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Posted by: Darkwing (Jan 24, 2012 8:52pm)

Very nice Scott. Good job to you and Richard. I want one.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 24, 2012 10:44pm)

Wow! How wonderful! I never seen such a beautiful act before. Thanks for the link.

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Posted by: JamesinLA (Jan 25, 2012 12:27am)

The video act reminds me of the Banana Man in concept. Very fun. I too have noticed the strong reaction with producing a bontania. I plan on getting a nice one when I can afford it.

Jim

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 25, 2012 5:15am)

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On 2012-01-25 00:27, JamesinLA wrote:
I plan on getting a nice one when I can afford it.

Doesn't everyone, James?

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jan 25, 2012 8:20am)

Banana Man in concept...really? Obviously, you did not understand the concept of the Banana Man act (which was imitating musical instruments) or Blackstone's flower act.

I know the flowers are a dated act in some ways but properly presented, it still gets a heck of a reaction. The problem is the guys who 1} don't know how to pace and present the flowers and 2}They try to go the cheap route with lousy props. Unfortunately in the later, there are far too many of these guys using cheap props and knockoffs.

Scott did a great job with the flowers in his show. It consistently got great reviews. One of the reasons he put it in was he knew the value of the flower act from having seen Raymonde perform his act years ago.

I will be the first to admit that flowers don't really fool anyone for the most part. It is a flash act with lots of color that is just pretty for an audience to look at. "How did you get it all in there?" is the basic question in most laymen's mind when looking at a feather act. And when you use cheap feather dusters, there isn't much of an impact there.

Richard

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 25, 2012 9:34am)

The flowers you made look realistic in Scott's act.

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Posted by: JamesinLA (Jan 25, 2012 2:18pm)

Richard,
I'm talking about the Banana Man who was on the Sullivan show. He walked out with a big coat on and just kept pulling stuff out of his clothes, finally culminating in a small train that all the other stuff was piled into. I think the "concept" was a massive production from just what he could wear. That's what the video posted above reminded me of.

Jim

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Posted by: TommyJ (Jan 26, 2012 7:16am)

Quote:

On 2012-01-17 08:58, Lars wrote:
Have a look at this act.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQIr9XGb5Bw

It was done by a friend of mine, who is sadly not long with us, Jorgen Samson from Denmark.

I saw this act live on several occasions and it was amazing how much “stuff” was left on the stage when he had finished.

Lars

Now THAT was entertaining!

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jan 28, 2012 7:38am)

Here is the Link to the 2009 IBM convention in which Marc Gilday did his tribute to Blackstone's Enchanted Garden the first time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQpCaDF4ctg.

There was less than 30 days to put this act together thus the Girl to Botania could not be finished in time. Marc and I were in PA looking at the original large Blackstone props. It had been many years since I remade them and I needed to check a few things out. We drove to my house and got in very late. We woke the next morning and went out to get some breakfast. When we got back on my phone was a missed call with the caller ID....H. Blackstone Jr... Talk about eriee. I callled Gay and she explained what was going on in Reno. Marc said he would do it and I quickly worked on finishing up the items needed for the act. The flowers were done for the Girl to Botania but we could not get the big botania cones finished in time.

If you ask about the durability of flowers, look at the four big bouquets Marc produces from the shawl. I did not have time to make up new ones so I found a set of bouquets made by Horace and Marie Marshall in 1960's and they were used. Even 40 year old bouquets look better than 90% of the junk being imported into this country right now.

I wrote the rough script on the plane on the way out. Marc did a great job learning and deliverying it in such a short time.

Richard

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Posted by: JamesinLA (Jan 28, 2012 12:35pm)

Thanks for sharing that, Richard. That water bowl/foutain was yours as well wasn't it?

Jim

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jan 28, 2012 1:15pm)

Yes, it was a special one that was made larger with a higher spray.

Richard

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Posted by: JamesinLA (Jan 28, 2012 5:37pm)

I did notice that it sprayed a lot higher than the one you made for Lance Burton.

Jim

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jan 31, 2012 1:19pm)

What brand flowers are being used in the following? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-U-gNxLOWg&feature=related

At first when I saw him doing the Dancing Rose, I was afraid our acts were going to be similar because I have the Dancing Rose in the new act I am putting together.

When I fist saw him take out the first feather flowers I told myself his act will be lousy with cheap flowers. I see I was wrong.

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On 2012-01-28 13:15, hugmagic wrote:
Yes, it was a special one that was made larger with a higher spray.

Richard

Looks excellent. I was not thinking about using one in my act until I saw yours. If I purchase yours to use in my future award winning magic act of flowers, will that make me a copy cat? :kitty: :kitty:

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Posted by: Bill Hegbli (Jan 31, 2012 2:39pm)

There are feather flower makers in England. Those look like the others I have seen used by other English performers. There has never been a name related to the flowers from Europe. When Supreme Magic Company was in business, they sold their brand of feather flowers, which looked very much like the ones in the video. They seem to skimp on the flower part of the petals for some reason.

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jan 31, 2012 8:57pm)

You are only a copy cat if you do exactly as others do. Put your own originality it to it and it will be yours. It is how you move, the music and blocking, that makes the act or routine entertaining.

Richard

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 1, 2012 3:07am)

Great. I will put your Water Bowl Production on my wish list.

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Posted by: Sealegs (Feb 1, 2012 12:29pm)

I can't believe that Rolf Dinardi hasn't had a mention in this thread yet. He is surely is the top banana when it comes to this kind of act.

I have to admit that the act doesn't do a lot for me but it does make a colourful ending to a first half and actually the production of the flowers from the chest can eventually become quaintly comical due to the sheer volume of the production. One things for sure... if you're going to do this sort of act you might as well go for it in a big way like Dinardi does as.

The 'chest' production finale starts around the 1.55 mark on his clip

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 1, 2012 1:31pm)

That was similiar to Peki's act. But there is a difference. Good look'n out, Neal.

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Posted by: TommyJ (Feb 1, 2012 10:28pm)

I have always had a flower act in my shows. I ordered this and it JUST arrived today and the quality is great. Can't wait to choreograph it into a performance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUgnysLHLCs&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL4B33D5F41F1F73F2

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 2, 2012 12:12am)

I have the single one from the silks. The quality is alright to me. I wish it was made in America, it would have excellent quality. I am planning to purchase the several that come from the cape soon.

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Posted by: hugmagic (Feb 2, 2012 7:17am)

I just do not understand how our government is asking for further sanctions against Iran and yet magicians continue to buy this products that are illegal to import into this country.
I suppose that the justice department investigating SAM, IBM, Genii and Magic magazine, had no basis for illegal activities of supporting countries which support terrorist activities. SAM no longer runs any ads from this firm because of these actions.
A shell company in Thailand does not change the fact that most of these products are made in Iran and are often drop shipped from there directly. Return address labels do not lie.
Richard

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Posted by: Bill Hegbli (Feb 2, 2012 8:13am)

Richard Hughes, I agree, but this is America, and it the old, Americans want - what they want - when the want it. They don't care if the country goes down the drain. And they have no loyalty to the U.S.A. It is not effecting them directly, just as long as they get want they want. But actually, how can you blame them when the government deals with a communist country like China. Many a past president is turning over in their graves.

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Posted by: hugmagic (Feb 2, 2012 11:36am)

Thanks for the understanding. I just listened to the morning news saying how Iran has definitely support terrorism. I just don't understand.

Richard

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Posted by: Bill Hegbli (Feb 2, 2012 11:49am)

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On 2012-02-02 11:36, hugmagic wrote:
Thanks for the understanding. I just listened to the morning news saying how Iran has definitely support terrorism. I just don't understand.

Richard

Richard, I was shocked when I heard Hillary Clinton say that dealing with China was good business, anything for the tycoons of business and keeping higher and higher profits.

I see the U.S. as collapsing just as the Roman Empire did, remember the saying, "History does repeat itself". The collapse of the U.S. is very near, unless something is done to change the tide.

As far as my opinion of Tora Magic, they make nothing but junk, magic that is not magic, and methods that do not work.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 2, 2012 2:31pm)

Richard, I just found out Tora is not the only one. I ran into another one today. On the contact page it reads it is in Iran. I discovered it because I looked up the title of a new flower trick at the Hocus Pocus Magic Shop. The search took me to its website built in Iran. (I will list the name or link to the shop because I do not want to give them any publicity. If you want it, send me a PM). That place makes a lot of flowers. I will not order from them period. Why is Hocus Pocus doing business with them?

The only reason I am buying a couple more of Tora's flowers is because no one else is making the effect they are producing. The effects are great, but the quality is below average. If someone in America would duplicate their effects using high quality such as yours, I would buy it here only. But that is the problem, no one else is making those effects.

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Posted by: TommyJ (Feb 2, 2012 4:11pm)

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On 2012-02-02 00:12, Dynamike wrote:
I have the single one from the silks. The quality is alright to me. I wish it was made in America, it would have excellent quality. I am planning to purchase the several that come from the cape soon.

I had the flower cape ten years ago. The quality of the flowers was not that great, looked like a lot of the flowers from the videos from above posts. It always got great reactions when those huge pots appeared under the cape though. I ended up selling it as I wasn't too enthusiastic about entering with a cape. But they have really advanced on their feather flower products and I can attest the ones that just arrived are very high quality.

Doesn't matter what country they come from, Tora is a brotherhood of magic and was awarded the Merlin award from the IBM a few years back for the quality of their products they offer to magicians world wide.

Its too bad a flower thread was locked a few years back here on the Café' due to the ranting as in the above posts.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 2, 2012 4:27pm)

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On 2012-02-02 16:11, TommyJ wrote:
Its too bad a flower thread was locked a few years back here on the Café' due to the ranting as in the above posts.

Can you supply a link to the thread?

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Posted by: TommyJ (Feb 2, 2012 4:35pm)

It is probably still somewhere here on the Café' but you will have to do a search. If I find it first I will post it for you Mike :)

Tommy

Posted: Feb 2, 2012 4:45pm
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=292914&forum=8

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 2, 2012 5:04pm)

Thank you.

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Posted by: hugmagic (Feb 2, 2012 10:25pm)

The Merlin award was not from the IBM. It was from the International Magic Society (Tony Hassini) and can be had for a price. Not a real prestige award by any means.

As for duplicating the effect, no thank you. They have copied enough of my effects even tried to buy them from me to "add to their collection". Yeh right. They are copying my exclusive flower styles and designs. I am exploring the possibilities of litigation for infringement at this time. If I pursue it I will not only go after the makers but the sellers.

It does matter the country when it specifically banned by the United States government for aiding terrorist factions. I do not think I am ranting but I am clearly stated fact that may not be in evidence to people who only look at the price of items.

Mike, I think I know what company you are talking about but email me the name I can be sure.

Richard

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 2, 2012 10:37pm)

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On 2012-01-15 00:37, Darkwing wrote:

Richard has a great video of a lecture he did at the Magic Castle where he goes over feather flower productions which I highly recommend.

Is that video for sell Richard?

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On 2012-02-02 22:25, hugmagic wrote:
Mike, I think I know what company you are talking about but email me the name I can be sure.

Email sent.

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Posted by: hugmagic (Feb 3, 2012 6:18am)

Email received. Yes, it is the company I was aware of.

The video is listed on the website. Thanks.

Richard

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 3, 2012 8:34am)

I see it. How do I go about ordering the DVD for $20 through Pay Pal?

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Posted by: hugmagic (Feb 3, 2012 10:31am)

I will write you back via regular email.
Richard

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 3, 2012 11:23am)

Payment sent.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Feb 17, 2012 10:49am)

Quote:

On 2012-02-02 07:17, hugmagic wrote:
I just do not understand how our government is asking for further sanctions against Iran and yet magicians continue to buy this products that are illegal to import into this country.
I suppose that the justice department investigating SAM, IBM, Genii and Magic magazine, had no basis for illegal activities of supporting countries which support terrorist activities. SAM no longer runs any ads from this firm because of these actions.
A shell company in Thailand does not change the fact that most of these products are made in Iran and are often drop shipped from there directly. Return address labels do not lie.
Richard

Richard, you may enter the following thread when you like: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=454519&forum=27&0

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Posted by: Powermagic (Jun 19, 2012 11:38pm)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVXZ7Vd8UEc&feature=related Scott Alexander

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jun 20, 2012 10:48pm)

I made all the stuff for the Scott's show listed above.

Richard

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Posted by: Brad Lancaster (Jun 21, 2012 12:55pm)

I have never been that impressed by a "Flower Act". Scott's act was very energetic and engaging.

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Posted by: Bill Hegbli (Jun 21, 2012 1:17pm)

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On 2012-06-21 12:55, Brad Lancaster wrote:
I have never been that impressed by a "Flower Act". Scott's act was very energetic and engaging.

I think a lot has to do more with the energy of the performer and how he can gracefully move from one effect to the other, when it comes to Flower magic. Magician's are not impressed mainly, I believe, because the know the method and only want to be fooled. Lay audiences on the other hand are more impressed with the over all surprise and beauty of the flowers. In other words, more color then mystery, and surprise after surprise, is just as enjoyable for lay audiences. I also believe music is a major factor in this type of act.

You can be a magicians - magician, but it is the not who most magicians work for, and who pay him for putting on an entertaining show.

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Posted by: Brad Lancaster (Jun 21, 2012 3:30pm)

In most flower acts that I've witnessed the magician seems to be sleepwalking through his act. They totally rely on the fact that most of the productions are pretty much self-working. They add absolutely no sense of mystical flair.

And you are right, music is a major factor. Most acts I've seen tend to use music fit only for nursing homes.

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jun 29, 2012 5:06pm)

Great info guys. I will focus on your post while putting my flower act together.

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jun 30, 2012 7:25am)

Music and selling the act is a big part of making it work. I just had Opus 1 write some custom music for the act. I am still getting used to it but I know it will make the act stronger because of all the little bumps and such in it. Before this, I used "Everything is coming up roses" for final big sequence of the act.

One needs to remember to sell each production. You have to believe that you have done something special, a miracle. If you believe and sell it, the audience will respond. You have to figure out your blocking so you can efficiently clear the produced items before producing the next. If you work a single like I do, that can be real challenge. One should also learn to do the effects so you can make eye contact with the audience. Look the right, then center, then left. Make sure to cover the entire audience to make them feel like you are doing this just for them and bring them across the footlights.

A good flower act is hard work is so many ways. But the end result is well worth it for laymen.

Richard

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jun 30, 2012 10:05am)

Richard, how is that special Feather Plume we were talking about coming along?

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Posted by: hugmagic (Jul 1, 2012 6:53am)

I will try to get you a photo and price this week. Still getting caught up from the funeral and all.

Richard

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Posted by: tropicalillusions (Jul 1, 2012 11:37am)

All this complaing about where to get them, or more choices of where to get , when the only needed choice is right here in front of our face... that's right Richard Hughes. We are funny creatures the human being!

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Posted by: Dynamike (Jul 1, 2012 5:46pm)

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On 2012-07-01 06:53, hugmagic wrote:
Still getting caught up from the funeral and all.

I am sorry about that Richard.