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wonderbob New user 94 Posts |
Hi Guys,
I was wondering what are some good tricks to make the birthday kid float? |
Loual4 Special user Montreal, Canada 670 Posts |
Chair suspension, or magic carpet if you don't mind angles... if you are in a house, the kids might see you set up... I prefer the chair suspension .
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wonderbob New user 94 Posts |
But is the Chair suspension dangerous. beacuse I have seen lots of magicains fail at this.
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Loual4 Special user Montreal, Canada 670 Posts |
If you use it properly, no it is not dangerous. The magicians you see fail at this are just not paying proper attention to the "mechanics" of how it works. They are not placing things properly ( assistant, board...), using someone who is too heavy for the model they have... If you know the limits of your equipment and the proper usage, there is no danger.
Just my opinion. |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Back in my early days, I used a Flying Carpet with great success. I would bill by show one price and would charge an extra $50 if they wanted me to levitate the birthday child (what a marketing genius I was back then!).
Nobody ever saw me set it up! Why? Because I had made a box that was the perfect fit for the illusion and I would have it wrapped up in the box. So when I brought it in, it just looked like a giant present. Also, in my contract I have it written that I need privacy as I set up the show...that nobody can enter the room or even be in the room until after my set up occurs. This clause is still in my contract to this day. Just take a few precautions and you'll have a winner with The Magic Carpet. Christopher
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Loual4 Special user Montreal, Canada 670 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-06-09 09:52, Christopher Lyle wrote: I like the big box "birthday present" idea! How difficult was it to get through the doors? Louis |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I never had any issue with it...
The carpet was all set up (minus the shield and swords) so it was just a matter of pulling off the lid once the coast was clear, setting it on the floor and sliding the shield and swords in place!
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
jackturk Elite user 463 Posts |
I used to do the Carpet too, and instead of a box carried it in under cover of a nice velvet cloth.
The downsides to the effect for in-home shows are: -- Angles matter big time, so you have to be careful. -- The dang thing is just a boat anchor to haul. I'll be honest, I really didn't sell the thing as a huge "MYSTERY" to the mom. Instead, I pitched it as a great photo op for her kid. And it is indeed a great photo ... so focus more on that element than worrying whether some rug rat will sneak over to the side to figure out what's happening. The other key to doing this (besides a strong back) is having a really fun routine to go with the bit. Do some interaction with the kid to prepare them for flight. I would say, "you need some special protective headgear first!" and then do a little routine blowing up a balloon hat and fitting it on the kid. That provided some laughs and made for a better picture with the kid in the air. --Jack Turk
"59 Ways To Recession Proof Your Entertainment Business -- FREE!"
http://www.GetLeadsLikeCrazy.com "How To Make $25,000 a Year Doing Birthday Parties Part-Time" http://www.magicmarketingcenter.com/birthdayPT |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
As Jack and others have mentioned, angles are a big issue with this...especially in a home show, but there is a simple solution.
Not sure what your "set" is like, but back when I was doing this, I had two suitcase tables on each side of my "area" with a Eureka Table Base/Top in the center. The Carpet was behind all of this in the back. For the finale, I would move the center table and move the carpet into position. The two suitcase tables took care of blocking the bad angles on each side forcing everyone to watch it from dead on. As long as nobody jumped up and tried to rush the area I was performing in, it all worked out just fine! If you have good audience management skills and are good at blocking, then you won't have an issue...but be mindful of your surroundings! Christopher
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Run Rabbit Run New user 13 Posts |
"Float me alone" is excellent. Used to be available from Hank Lee.
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Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
If you're really in the market for a great "do anywhere" levitation, I would HIGHLY SUGGEST Jimmy Fingers offering called "The Magellan Levitation." It was created as a SELF levitation, however, you could very easily adapt it to use with an assistant if you desired!
Be ready to shell out some scratch for it, but it's the BEST MONEY you'll ever spend. In my opinion...it's "almost" completely angle proof (not from the back) but from any extreme angle, nobody can see what's going on! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCMghdmnzHg
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Hi all,
I am not here to force anyone into buying a chair suspension and I hope people do not rush out to get one just because I am saying how much I love mine. I guess what I am saying is that IF it fits YOUR show and IF you want a great illusion to perform at a B-day party and IF you are willing to REALLY study and learn the illusion, it can be one of the best investments you make. For myself, I love it for the sheer fact that it is portable. sets-up fast and breaks down fast and it is an illusion that can really make a child a star of the show. It is also a great selling point to the client I am selling my show to. However, with this great illusion comes great responsibility. DO NOT GET THIS ILLUSION IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO STUDY IT AND DO IT RIGHT!!! I have seen too many magicians get this illusion but forget that safety of the child comes first every single time. You must be willing NOT to perform it if you feel any of the safety checks you do in the show fail to meet the requirements. You must also be willing to learn how to structure your routine in such a way that you build trust and confidence in the child long before you place them on the board. When you gain this trust, you must also be willing to ASK them if you can help them on the board. You ASK them if you can help move them into position. You never ever touch the child without asking their permission first. I know these sound like common sense issues, but you would be surprised at how many times a magician forgets these things just for the love of the illusion. They take the illusion over the child helping, and that can be a very dangerous thing. If you are willing to do this illusion the right way, then it will not only work for you 100% of the time, but you will get great results from it. I have used mine time and time again for shows ranging from a small b-day party to a large festival and I have even performed it in my stage and theater show. It is one of those routines and illusions, if done well, really capture an audience’s sense of wonder. I know the feeling of wondering how this illusion can ever fool anyone. Well for starters, I feel my job is really not solely based on fooling anyone. I am there to entertain them the best I can. And you know what? The chair suspension does just that. It entertains in a HUGE way...it also fools the pants off people if done correctly. Any true magician will never rely on just one mere effect to be dependent on whether the show is good or not. If you have to rely on it that much, then you really need to rethink your show. The idea of the chairs is that you are adding a nice effect as an ending to a great show. It is just one more ingredient that makes for a complete experience. Certainly if you have a suspension you want to be able to market it. Yes, b-day parents eat it up when you tell them their own son or daughter will float in the air in their home. It is a big selling point that they get excited about. It certainly does help complete the sale. It takes time to really understand this illusion, so I really say to PLEASE practice and rehearse a lot before ever doing it to a volunteer. There are ways in my routine, and the way it is structured that ensures the child feels comfortable and safe and wants to perform it. This is critical for me, and I only learned this from constant practice and revamping the routine I now use. It is also nice to note that the chair suspension looks more natural to the audience watching it. What can be more common then two folding chairs and a board? All items they can associate with. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Havens Veteran user UK 340 Posts |
I've seen the chair suspension a quite few times now. I saw a well known pro do it and the girl he suspended was really uncomfortable, which made it uncomfortable to watch. She had no idea what was happening but she repeatedly complained about the position her neck was in. I've seen an amateur perform it who was struggling to get the balance right, which made him flustered - though with more confidence and practice I'm sure he'd nail it. When I was a kid though, a local pro did it at a children's summer center and he was great, he performed it smoothly and comfortably, so with practice and confidence it can be expertly delivered.
I'm not sure Magellan's ideal for a young child, as you'd really need to work with him before hand and he'd also be in on the secret, which I guess wouldn't be ideal. There's lots of great levitations out there, I also like the Paul Daniels Box Levitation but again this won't work so well with a child and it's really helped by Paul's presentation brilliance, which in lesser hands may not be as impressive. I feel Peter Loughran's One Levitation is great, it's a self levitation but you can see right under your feet and the clean up and set-up are very smooth. Some shoe modification is required, though I've since learned some excellent temporary alternatives, which unfortunately I can't share as they're borrowed from another creator's effect. It's great street effect and will work excellently on a raised stage, otherwise people won't be able to see your feet as the height is only a few inches. At the moment it's still my favourite leviation, unfortunately I just haven't been able to use it due to the performance spaces I work in. It doesn't really answer your original question but I hope that's food for thought and I always love discussing levitation effects, as for me they really are the holy grail. |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-06-12 08:34, Havens wrote: That's why I use an old Abbott's Chair Suspension. Because the child is on a board, their neck is well supported. I'd be in pain, if my head was hanging back like it does on some versions. The only time that I had a problem, was when the client allowed too little room to present the show. People were packed into the room like sardines and you really need room and good lighting in order to present the illusion successfully. Now, I allow for plenty of room, and if I can't get it, the suspension is out of the show. You need to be able to see, without shadows being cast over the props, so that you'll know for sure when the gimmick is engaged. |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Two scoops of birthday child and fill with rootbeer, leave room for foam.
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Havens: I am sorry you had to see that. Clearly, it is a case of the magician not knowing how to properly perform the illusion as well as not knowing the proper placement and routining that is needed to perform is successfully. There is simply so many folks who do not understand the wya the illusion should be performed and the intricacies that makes it a success. It can and does go over very well if done properly.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Yes Havens, use a sleeping child with no sense of feel, they'll never catch on.
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