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geekster129 New user 18 Posts |
Hi there,
I would like to know from you all about what type of fabric do you normally use to perform the Asrah levitation and why? Which type of fabric do you think will make the performance look nicer, or is there really any relationship between them? I'm really curious. Thanks in advance. |
BondJames628 Regular user Alabama 110 Posts |
I use a gold sequin type fabric for my levitation. Simply because I believe it to be not as heavy as some other types of cloths. Cause you really don't want the cloth to weigh down the form and cause it to fall. Or combine the force of your pulling with the weight of the cloth. You could even use a large piece of silk (although I imagine it would be a little bit expensive, but it would also be light and could pull away easy from the form). But, I'd say your best bet is to go with a sequin. They're usually bright and glitty, making it a great magical type cloth. Good luck!
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I would second the sequin type fabric as a possiblity. I would also suggest metallic fabric. There are many variations of this available. If you find something that is striped, it will be more deceptive as it gives the appearance of being transparent.
Silk would work but you will need at least a couple of layers of 8 momme silk for it be opaque enough to work. There are other types of silk fabric that will also work that are heavy and more opaque. No matter what you use you are going to have a seam to keep flat so it does not snag on the form. The best way to handle this is to back the fancy side with a plain black fabric that is silky. Join your two hemmed pieces together by sewing them together face in except for a small peice. Turn it inside out and top stitch the whole thing you will have a nice smooth cloth that will slide off or can be pulled off easily.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
geekster129 New user 18 Posts |
How about cloth handling? I mean, when you cover the "assistant", do you do it alone or maybe have two people do the covering. I've seen different magicians to have different types of handling.
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
It works best with two people. Both assistants use the upstage hand to set the form on top of the table.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
BondJames628 Regular user Alabama 110 Posts |
I usually start of having the form already floating slightly above the table, so as I cover my assistant on the table from view while walking to the table with the cloth, the form is lowered into place. Hope this helps.
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geekster129 New user 18 Posts |
Thanks for the advice a lot. Is there any place/websites I can find more information about Asrah levitation?
p/s: BondJames628, how's your progress on your Asrah project? |
BondJames628 Regular user Alabama 110 Posts |
Going well. I'm experimenting with the form and girl without using a table right now. I talked to another illusionist a while back and I decided, maybe this illusion won't be one of the easiest to set up as of yet. I'm planning on building a portable stage, so that I can lift the asrah using my own equipment, but if I wanted to perform this in a big theatre, then I would have to deal with the theatre's fly lines and things of that nature. But, all in all, it's coming along quite nicely. Good luck with your presentation of the asrah!
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geekster129 New user 18 Posts |
I agree with you. It is not the easiest illusion to set up. Nice hearing about your progress.
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Mike Ching Regular user Honolulu, Hawaii 192 Posts |
Aloha;
Have a parrallel thread running called: "Seeking New Deceptive Asrah Getaways" and would like to hear your thoughts on doing the effect without the traditional table. I suspect the "Base" getaway has grown inneffective and it is time to reinvent the effect for modern audiences. Is there a way to make the vanish cleaner, and more practical? Please share your ideas. in earlier days is was possible to justify thick ornate "Furniture" look of many props and tables, today, unless the scene and decor compliment it there is little mystery and it seems to me the effect has been diminished. Re: standard floating rig for Asrah, suggest checking out PAUL OSBORNES Illusion Systems Book# 4, pg 12 by Greg Franklin, for a very simple and practical idea developed for amusement park use without elaborate overhead rigs and flys. The form is raised with a single line pull. As someone who specializes in floating effects it looks quite effective. Looking forward to brainstorming with you all! MikeC Author: "New Animations" The Dancing Handkerchief Book |
puckmagic Loyal user Orlando, Florida 260 Posts |
I used the asrah as finale to my illusion show and my thoughts on the cloth is this. I used a satin cloth that was very light in weight and color. I used a light blue so that it could be seen well even in darker light. The satin finish reflected the fleshtone lights and made it very visable even from the back of the house. I sewed the hem myself with a professional sewing machine and it was custom fitted to the size of my form. I also checked the form over and over for any sharp edges as to not snag the cloth when pulling it from the form.
A good tip that was mentioned already is to float the form over the couch during the illusion. If your lighting and backdrop are good it will be invisable. This allowed me to open the cloth myself while my assistant dropped into the couch and the form was dropped into place in one even natural movement. Using two people to me always looked like the magician was hiding something. Another tip that we used was to gently pull the cloth off of the form while leaving the form stationary. By not pulling the form up at the same time of pulling the cloth down makes the vanish slow and very magical. Once again if the form is lit right you don't have to get rid of it right away. As I came forward after the vanish the form would than be lifted as a spot light hit me and you never saw it go up. There was pleanty of misdirection and syncronized lighting. Anyway, good luck with it and I have to tell you nothing beats the audience reaction when that cloth is taken away to reaveal that the woman has vanished. It is worth all of the lights, curtains, and set up. I would suggest though if you use this illusion as a finale' that you bring her back some how. We brought her back instantly in a cyrstal box. You never want to finish your show with a vanish it will leave the audience empty and weaken your chances for a standing ovation. Puck |
hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I don't know if Mark Wilson reappeared Nani afterwards but Steve Dick told me Mark usually closed with the Asrah.
I do agree with you about ending with a vanish and the lighter colored cloth. Did any of you ever see Bob Higa do his Asrah. He starts out floating her facing upstage and then rotates with the form in air to face downstage before doing the traditional float and vanish. You can see it on an old special "Bare Touch of Magic." It is a mind blower to magicians. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Mike Ching Regular user Honolulu, Hawaii 192 Posts |
Richard Hughes: "Did any of you ever see Bob Higa do his Asrah. He starts out floating her facing upstage and then rotates with the form in air to face downstage before doing the traditional float and vanish."
Now THEREs' innovation and originality! The only way to move the craft forward is to try new things! the more I picture this, the more interesting it looks. Met Bob briefly here and seen him work in a show called NEW FACES OF MAGIC produced by Mike Goldberg, who gave David Copperfield his big break here also.. Like to hear more of what Bob is doing these days. Thx again Richard, floating seems to be one of your favorites. |
geekster129 New user 18 Posts |
Okay, cloth's aside. What type of storyline do you used for the illusion? Mind sharing your variations on Asrah?
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BondJames628 Regular user Alabama 110 Posts |
Love story between magician and assistant. Usually a love song involved, which pretty much tells the story. Magician seems sad that his love is gone, then reappears later. (That's what I've gotten so far.)
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John Tudor Loyal user Columbia, SC 209 Posts |
For a while I did a variation where I was the one floating, with two assistants opening the cloth as I slid into the base. For a TV appearance, I made my reappearance holding the hand held camera...
"Ars longa, vita brevis." (Life is short, the art so long to learn) -Hippocrates
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Not that floating is my favorite, it is just that I have been fortunate to have been around some of the very best..Blackstone, Calvert, Higa and know people who have worked with others. So when the time came to work backstage and do the Asrah, I asked the best sources I knew Bill Smith and Steve Dick. If you need to learn, it pays to search out the people who have trouped and done it in a variety of situations.
I have also been fortunate (sometimes I wonder) to work backstage with a lot of guys. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
geekster129 New user 18 Posts |
John Tudor:
For a while I did a variation where I was the one floating, with two assistants opening the cloth as I slid into the base. For a TV appearance, I made my reappearance holding the hand held camera... _____________________________________________________ I've checked out your website and your variation on Asrah is creative. Do you have the performance in the preview clip? What is the storyline behind your Asrah performance? |
Mike Ching Regular user Honolulu, Hawaii 192 Posts |
BUILDERS (Slightly off-topic, but Richard mentioned BILL SMITH, and I gotta tell you guys I am a FAN of his work!) I know he trouped w Blackstone Jr., saw him do a Great act at the Castle, and I bought his Broomstick suspension almost 20 years ago, and its STILL in great shape! I use it all the time. Surely one of the all time best Illusion builders in my book!
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Not only is Bill a great builder but one of my best friends in the business. I am blessed.
Actually, I could have possibly went on the road whe Bill got off the road but I decided against it. Sometimes, I regret the knowledge not learned but everything happens for a reason. H.B. taught me a lot and there was so much more I could have learned from him. The death of Jay Marshall reinforces my belief in learning all you can while you can from the oldtimers. There will never be another group like this. The training ground is gone. I thank God, I had the chance to learn from people like Jack Pyle, Jay Marshall, George Johnstone, Sid Lorraine, Gene Gordon, and so many, many more. Thank you to all. So you young bucks get out there and learn. There is no subsistute in a book or video. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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