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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
I just got my Steven's Merchandise Magalog and he had a new 360 levitation advertized. Below is a link to his website and this new
Hallucination Levitation http://www.stevensmagic.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=6804 It reads well and appears to be similar to the AC electric Gamolo with the added ability to do a 360 around the body. Has anyone seen this in action?
Dennis Michael
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haywire Special user Philadelphia 760 Posts |
That's way beyond my budget, but it looks awesome to me.
I've never seen that done before for any floating lady presentation. It certainly adds a nice twist. Steven |
MikeDes Inner circle Montreal 1174 Posts |
Has anyone seen this thing in action yet? It looks really cool on paper.
Mike |
Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
The only concern I have is the stability of the thing.
I've seen a couple of 360 spins that wobbled around as she went. There she was bouncing up and down as she went around his body. The worst of course is when she returns to the front and goes, "Boingy boingy" when she stops. If it's a sturdy spin, then it's totally worth it. -Chris.
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Yeah wobbling would be a real downer for me. I wouldn't mind the cost if it's a reasonably sturdy spin but really need to see the thing in action. With that price tag, leaving it out of my act would bother me unlike anything else that sits in the closet.
I hope someone will come forward with a review or performance clip. |
Dutch illusionist New user The Netherlands 96 Posts |
I also hope that someone will post a performance clip.
Magical greetings,
Dutch illusionist |
Laszlo Csizmadi Special user From Hell 868 Posts |
Well for $3000.00 they should show something like a demo video. The question is why the audience member can go around only 180 while yor assistant 360. How is the assistant goes? #1.Goes 180 then come back to front then goes the other way 180 again that's give you the 360 #2. or goes all around 360 in the same way? It said with the 360 you need an assistant which mean you need her help. The stop should looks natural but you don't know that because you never saw a demo with this effect. If you look at the photos they are not real photos just wonder why? I think we have to wait for a while for a review becouse who will buy a piece of paper for $3000.00
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Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
For those who have worked with 360 levitations, or at least those who are aware of the method and it's workings, the reason for an assistant is simple. With an audience member, once they go any further than 180, the method is clear to them. An assistant can go around 360 because they already know the method. There is no risk of exposure. I'm sure if you blindfolded the spectator, this problem could be eliminated.
To be perfectly honest, I was never a fan of most 360 levs out there. Even when Copperfield did the Brazilian Water Leviation it just looked...well...odd. She swings around, screeches to a hault, and then swings BACK the other way to end up in front again. If we could truly do a 360 levitation, she wouldn't need to go back around again. It's one of the small drawbacks with an around the body, gamalo style floatation.
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
magicurt Loyal user alabama 222 Posts |
Very true Chris. Pick a levitation because it makes sense to your audience, fits nicely into your show and enhances your magic. Don't pick one because it is a neat, new method for a cheap price. This is not to say it isn't the right illusion for you. I don't know, I've never seen your show. But I do know that the going around and back never made sense to me and I've heard a few unsolicitated lay opinions the agree.
Curt |
Laszlo Csizmadi Special user From Hell 868 Posts |
Chris of course the assistant knows the secret. That is the help for the performer. That's why he can't do the 360 with audience member. I'm sure if lay people see this illusion a couple times (because isn't smoot) they will not know the method but they will find out this levi working with electric and mechanic system and that's makes the performer bad. You know this so you are not a fan for this illusion.
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Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
What I dislike about the 30 levitation is that it looks often so very mechanical. It's just not smooth in my opinion.
Also as a spectator I would hate to be able to spin 360 only to look back where I have been and have a clear view at the method.
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
Mike Ching Regular user Honolulu, Hawaii 192 Posts |
True Guys;
The 360 revolve is a very neat idea, though not the ultimate levi. It is not a true "FLOAT around the body", it is actually more of a float clinging TO the body. As long as you keep in mind THAT is what it truly "reads" as, you will not be distracted by loose words and descriptive spin. For Copperfields Water Levi (first performed by Doug Henning without the revolve) it made sense because it was meant to be a sensual presentation with the body contact. I'm not completely sure but I think the revolve-around was introduced by Jonathan Pendragon. Smoothness is always an issue. A floating lady should not "hitch" or jerk about in space to be sure, in fact it seems to me she should never be stock-still, but tend to "hover" when she is at rest. Frankly I think we've become too lazy in settling for less. I am looking to buy a true levi, but smoothness is my #1 concern. Am very interested in your experiences with Levi rigs you have bought. I kind of specialize in floating/animations, here are mine. CHUS GIRL ON 3 SWORDS: (1/4 Star) Boy, I'm so sorry I bought that thing. It was advertised as a special many years ago. (I am not sure the company is still in existence). If someone tells you they got a great performance out of this, open your hand and ask for a Video. It took forever to get here from China, the KEY sword was noticeably 5 times thicker than the others. It also had a hugely noticeable chunky point difference. The harness came without straps of any kind and no guide to make them. Spent $ getting a leather maker to make them for me and had no clue as to where to attache them. the harness appeared made for a hunchbacked old man with osteoperosis (sadly, this is not sarcasm). With the unit as it came, you had to have 3 men lifting the girl nearly 45 degrees head down to actually lock her into the KEY sword, It was difficult and scary. I actually had an assistant quit because she hated it so much. Performed 2-3 times and that was it. The swords initially looked great chromed, but rusted within 2 years and had to be rechromed (don't ask me why I bothered). Not reliable. A waste of several hundred dollars and years of experimentation time. Taught me a valuable lesson. Stay away from cheap Levis you haven't tried, or don't know anything about. BROOM SUSPENSION (Bill Smith) **** (4 stars) Probably the best single pro levi investment for me to date. Travels small, Came with Stan Allens excellent manual with great advice. Complete and ready to go, save costume. You must be strong enough to Lever the girl up so she should be petite. The mechanics on mine have held up well. I have never had the mechanism fail. It is stressful to the girl (something we tend to forget about) since she is really "up there", relying on your judgement, setting strength and mechanical apparatus for her safety. Suspensions will never be levitations for sure, but it is without extreme angles and can look very beautiful. My Assistants usually wore Tshirts under costumes, both for ease in open changing, and because the mechanics only very rarely could pinch without it. Do-able anywhere for PR shots. I would probably buy it again. Purchase from a pro and you get what you pay for. GRANTS FLYING CARPET (PLANS)***1/2 (three and a half stars) ...Maybe the best "Small" suspension. This has been done and built badly all over the world, but has been featured by Pros, and has the ability to elicit gasps when done well and seriously. A great "First" Illusion to build, but have the gimmick done by an experienced metal worker. Should not be handled by very young performers without adult supervision since the gimmick can be quite heavy to be effective. Back casters on the base should be the "Locking" type to avoid unintentional "drifting" during perfomance which could be disastrous. Relatively inexpensive to create. Real challenge is in Art direction and routining. And belief. Are you just pulling out that support, or are you riveted because that girl is now floating on nothing? Not for the dramatically challenged. EUROPEAN ASRAH GIMMICK *** Interesting though I haven't actually used it yet. Have yet to see this type of collapse read super beautifully as a wondrous "Vanish" in my lifetime, but I'm hopefull a way will be found. Also believe there are Asrah "getaways" superior to the usual table, which I suspect is no longer as amazing as it once was, what with "Base" gimmicks being tipped to the public by masked morons and the like. Made of Aluminum, this can still be fairly heavy under the wrong cloth. Cloth must be Opaque, yet light, and have its own shape so as not to be too 'clingy and reveal the nature of the form. that is the major task on reciept. after a few days of practice, one of the rivet pivot joints came off. Suggest you purchase a pop-rivet gun as backup tool on this one. Looking forward to your reviews and feedback; -Mike |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Doesn't everyone know the secret of the Thumb Tip? They can see it? I get this often when I teach new students of the art TT magic. The point is, "It is hard for a Magician to think like a lay person when viewing the magic. They don't see the TT, or even really undrestand it's power to magicians. You know it because you are self-concious of it existance."
This hold true with most of the secrets of magic. And the Mask Magician did not ruin it for everyone. Good Deceptive bases, and well as good presentations of illusion is extremely important. I watched Denny Haney do the Chu Sword Suspension, and it was really good. I rated it a 5 star, and I do know how it's done. My Neon suspension looks good but the previous owner's assistant fell off of it. (I found this out before I bought it and I believe it was beccause the harness was home made. At least it looks that way.) Until I get a quality harness I won't use it. Quality workanship is the lesson I learned when buying an illusion. Go with the best and pay that top dollar because, in the end it will be worth it. Also do you homework. See before you buy and you will understand. By the way Mike, there are problems to over come with the Chu Suspension, such as placing the girl on the swords, and others I fully haven't worked out with my Sword Suspension. What makes it valuable to me is the removal of the third sword using the Multi-Purpose Levitation. (Combining two illusion, one being unkown and unseen, make for a very powerful visual illusion)
Dennis Michael
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Mike Ching Regular user Honolulu, Hawaii 192 Posts |
Doesn't everyone know the secret of the Thumb Tip? They can see it? I get this often when I teach new students of the art TT magic. The point is, "It is hard for a Magician to think like a lay person when viewing the magic. They don't see the TT, or even really undrestand it's power to magicians. You know it because you are self-concious of it existance."
MC: True Dennis, and good advice. For me personally that is not the issue. I do Magic for Lay audiences for a living. I always look at it from their viewpoint. This hold true with most of the secrets of magic. And the Mask Magician did not ruin it for everyone. MC: Absolutely true. Those of us who've been in it awhile have seen exposure in many ways in many forms. it has never killed the art and has sometimes boosted interest. He didn't particularly bother me. Just some levity. What I've learned from a lifetime in magic is that Magicians WANT that thrill of being "amazed again for the first time". Those who are doing the most effective innovations are often those getting the best notice from Lay and magi alike. That is what I want for my act. It is kind of a lofty goal, but it gives a guy something to shoot for. * * * Good Deceptive bases, and well as good presentations of illusion is extremely important. * I Guess that IS my point, there are so many fair and mediocre bases out there. I look at it as the audience is fairly intelligent. Unless we give the whole audience including experienced adults the thrill of complete wonder we will not get our strongest reaction and they will not get their greatest emotional release. I just can't believe we can't come up with much more deceptive base designs or Hybrid concealment designs that make the effect fresh again and much more deceptive and thrilling. Started a thread a few months ago called SEEKING NEW DECEPTIVE ASRAH GETAWAYS. Point is, standard Asrah is GOOD but no longer GREAT. We can find better ways for the getaway. I just don't believe we can't. * * * I watched Denny Haney do the Chu Sword Suspension, and it was really good. I rated it a 5 star, and I do know how it's done. MC: that's great. I would really love to see a video. I'm sure he did a great deal of work on it and didn't present it in recieved form. I was very young when I got mine and have since heard similar complaints from many others. I very much hope he will share his story here of what it took to make that Illusion behave so well. * * * My Neon suspension looks good but the previous owner's assistant fell off of it. (I found this out before I bought it and I believe it was beccause the harness was home made. At least it looks that way.) Until I get a quality harness I won't use it. Quality workanship is the lesson I learned when buying an illusion. Go with the best and pay that top dollar because, in the end it will be worth it. Also do you homework. See before you buy and you will understand. MC: True. That is exactly my point here. To share info so others will have the best understanding of what others have gone through. "See before you buy" is best certainly, but "Gain knowledge and feedback before you buy" may be second best. That is the whole intention of the post. Have a good day. -Mike |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Mike,
My post was not directed at you, however, your comments in the previous post were perfect for things that, like you, related to illusions are on my mind too, that I wanted to share with the readers of this tread. There is much about illusions that many would like to know, and there is much to be said. Somethimes these posting triggers thoughts on this topic. I believe what made Denny Haney's sword suspension so powerful was time appropriate: Indiana Jones movies were popular, and Comedy. He was dressed as Jones and the swords were weilding by Puck (his first show with Denny) as the turban sword master. Mistakes happened, puck broke one of the sword, Denny's recovery, and continued action was funny, and it went well. I also like the three applause poses, one when she is on the swords, two when she is held by one sword, and three when she is off.. I just wanted others to know the Sword Suspension (IMHO) didn't rate a 1/4 star, from my perspective. I also wanted readers to know, like you, we learned some expensive lessons we would like to share. As for the Asrah, I am trying out the black art perspective. It is a deceptive avenue that is not normally a path a magician takes. Even though many Illusionettes, Illusionettes, and close-up magic have it as part of the effect. We seem to get off the topic here focusing on theory, deception and away from the topic of the Hallucination Levitation. (I love the subject and it should be a topic in itself.) As for the 360 around the body. I saw a very young Lance Burton do an around the body lowering move on a Walt Disney special, many, many years ago. I fell in love with that move. I wish I could see it again now I'm much older and see if it has the same impact on me. (It isn't the same on his "The Secrets of Magic" video.) Dennis
Dennis Michael
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