I am currently designing a Vanishing Grand Piano illusion for a stage show I am doing in July.

Does anyone know if this has been done before? Pretty straightforward - the piano is covered by a cloth, surrounded by a group of spectators. On my command, the cloth falls flat to the floor and the piano has literally "dissolved" into thin air.

Love to hear some thoughts on this. PM me if you want to discuss specifics.

I'd like to see it!

Ill give you $3.00 for the method?

I remember seeing an illusion of a vanishing piano in an old book..Professional Magic for Amateurs I think. The idea of vanishing a piano has been done, but I doubt the concept or presentation is the same as yours... sounds good.
Mark

David Berglas did it once in the middle of a ball room. His method took a lot of work. Probably a totally different method to what you have come up with.

Would like to hear more about it. Sounds interesting.

I appreciate the pointers, guys. I'll see if I can find any of them online.

DJ Trix - I still have to iron out some of the finer details, but if you PM me I'd be happy to discuss it with you.

Check out WGM 3, I believe the Pendragons vanished 13 Vegas Dancers..I believe you could use the same method.
Best Regards,
James

I remember that illusion on WGM 3. That was pretty cool. I would probably use a similar method.

I had also been studying Copperfield's Train Car Vanish - I think the same method could be applied to the piano.

Magicfingers-

You are right. The train car vanish asrah would be the best to use and the most visual. If you are doing that, dramatize the illusion. Cause it to play by itself. Then levitate using the asrah curtain principle. Then to a crescendo whisk away the cloth. And walk away making it look like it was all a dream. Your idea is nice. And a piano naturally lends itself to a good asrah. And they typically psychologically look *** heavy. Which is good for you. Even if its a dummy piano. Hope you do well. Bye.

There's a plan for the vanishing piano and pianist in an old book... I believe its in Professional Magic for Amateurs. Search!

Indeed, that is the book. Though its just a piano, not a grand one.

It has been done before, even several times, but that doesn't mean that you can't do it.

Yes! Professional Magic for Amateurs! One of my first books on magic... Oh, I may be dating myself here... The vanish was both the piano and the player, who were playing right up until they vanished. I think it was done on a suspended platform (though it's been a while since I thumbed through that book.) Obviously only an upright, since a grand would be far too large for the method used. That was a fun book- had a few more illusions which had really unusual methods (and where completely dependant on having a full stage to perform them on.)

If you can do the piano completely surrounded, that would be really incredible, and a nice way to rejuvenate an old illusion. Good luck (and post a video if you can!)

And look again at the Copperfield's Spirit Table, the lighting setting is beautifull and could applied to your piece. Please don't place a grand piano in an aluminium truss structure. Keep it classic. Maybe have also a piano specialist to come and talk, explain something, inspect,... like the guns of Penn & Teller's Bullet Catch. Make the disappearing pianist a good one, a local "star", if your thing is a publicity stunt.

Merde!

S.O.A.B.