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MattWayne Special user Manhattan, NY | Studio City, CA 624 Posts |
I'm surprised noone mentioned the Walter Blaney Ladder Lev. A tad expensive yes, but practical- very much so. Why suspend your trained assistant- when one could levitate an audience member. One man illusion at it's best. You pay for the quality of the product; and well this is the best I've seen. I would recommend it. Only if your a stage performer though. You could do it- only if your willing to work within the guidelines and performance areas alotted.
Best always, Matt Tomasko
Matt Wayne
The Celebrity Magicianâ„¢ www.CelebrityMagician.com / youtube.com/celebritymagician / twitter.com/RealMattWayne / Facebook.com/CelebrityMagician Creator of, 'Got a Light?' and others. Spokesperson behind, TouchTricks |
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sethman Regular user 145 Posts |
Thanks for the advice Matt. Do you have one? How do you like it? How are the angles?
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Isn't Balney Ladder Illusion a Suspension? Here is a video of it:
Balney Ladder Suspension which he calles a levitation. Quite impressive
Dennis Michael
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MattWayne Special user Manhattan, NY | Studio City, CA 624 Posts |
Den is correct- it is a suspension. I suppose that when one refers to a levitation they want it to be capable of going up and down. Blaney Ladder Lev equals no movement; just suspended in the air; on a board. Do I own one? Hmm, no- but it's on my Christmas wish list! Perhaps some day I will. I've wanted one for many years now. Check the price tag, and you'll see why. Can't argue the price though- it is of great quality. I'd buy one.
Matt
Matt Wayne
The Celebrity Magicianâ„¢ www.CelebrityMagician.com / youtube.com/celebritymagician / twitter.com/RealMattWayne / Facebook.com/CelebrityMagician Creator of, 'Got a Light?' and others. Spokesperson behind, TouchTricks |
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Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
I have never once heard a sour review on Walter or his products. From what I understand they are amazing pieces.
If both Lance Burton and Copperfield have used it you know it's probably worth the money. (They have the cash of have anything on the market they want)
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
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The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
Walter is the first to admit the Ladder Levi is not cheap in price.
If you ever get the chance to visit him in his workshop or see just how much time he puts into each and every levitation, you'd understand the price. For years now ...he has been approached by illusion builders who offer to manufacture the prop for him at a cheaper price. He always refuses because ..as he says... "nobody else will put the detail and time into each one that I do." Each one is a work of art for him and he will not rest until each one is flawless in operation. He is very proud of the fact that his very first levi works as it did when it was new 40 years ago. Walters favourite joke regarding the ladder levi is........" Its a good thing that my original is still working so well because I couldn't afford a new one." With the number of hrs he puts into every one (and its an awful lot ) ...the price IS justified. Best, Tim Speaking of levis and affordability...... when I finish my christmas gigs I'll be back into the shop and will finish building the Multipurpose Levitation. This thing rocks for the price or any price for that matter. |
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parsimagic New user 97 Posts |
I am developing a new concept to create a stage levitation effect. With this concept almost any super X or similar suspension can be transformed into a levitation. But the levitation will only be about 10 inches vertical. Is 8 to 10 inches dramatic enough? I am curious to hear responses.
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kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
The most practical levitation I ever devised was like a teeter totter. It was problem free and it was made out of scrap wood.
POOF!
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Bairefoot Inner circle 1097 Posts |
Why does Blaney call it a levitation instead of a suspension? It does not go up and down right?
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Farrell Veteran user 371 Posts |
Because ladder levitation is an alliteration.
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sethman Regular user 145 Posts |
To answer Den questions:
I would like to float my assistant on a stage. I would prefer to do it without a back drop, but I am open to any ideas that you guys might have. I am fairly new when it comes to levitations, so that is why I am here asking. I would not want to spend more money then I have to. Are there plans that I can buy for the gamolo or the multipurpose levitations. I know Osbourne has some like the Aga, and others. Can they be performed on any stage with out major rigging? |
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ChadFindlay New user South Africa 8 Posts |
Does anybody have any more info on Milan Forzetting's Simplex Levitation? I've found some references on the actual plans, but has anybody actually built it, or seen it in action? Is it much the same in operation as the Gamolo with a similar levitation distance? Any info would be much appreciated!
Thanks! Chad |
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ChadFindlay New user South Africa 8 Posts |
Any one have contact details for Milan?
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
I have the Simplex Levitation plans. It calls for an electrical powered screw-type actuator that is found on heavy camping trailers and pull trailers that lift them up for leveling. I searched around for them went to junk yards, and camping stores. The one's described in the plans do not exist, at least in my area.
The camping store had a new powered one which would need welding to make it look like the ones in the plan, but I refused to buy it because I did not know the noise factor, I did not want to expend $300 to find out, then additional money for a machinist/welder to alter the unit. There are other issues like how high it would go, and at what speed. I did do a search and found some liner actuators which work on a remote control and bought one. It worked but did not have enough power for a person over 100 lbs. Remember the lift is concealed and the father back it is concealed, the greater overall lifting power is required. For example a 600lb lift vertically centered is less than half that when moved backwards and an arm is extended. (It is a physic thing.) It is like moving a see-saw so a lighter and heavier person can operate it.
Dennis Michael
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JVHarrison Regular user 105 Posts |
I want to go back to the distinction between suspension and levitation. I take it from some of the previous posts that some folks consider something a levitation only if the person/object moves up or down. I have always thought of the distinction between a suspension and a levitation--at least in magical terms--as the difference between the person/object being partially supported, yet defying gravity, versus not supported at all and defying gravity. That is, the sword, boom and chair are all suspensions, but once you remove all support, you have a levitation. Different dictionaries define levitation differently. In some definitions, the act of rising is essential, in others, like this one, "to rise or float in the air, esp. as a result of a supernatural power that overcomes gravity," one levitates if they rise OR float. In any event, I think that Walter makes the same distinction I've always made between suspensions and levitations. Sorry for the semantical detour, but I became intrigued by the distinction.
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
On page "v" all by its self, in the Encyclopedia of Suspensions & Levitations is the following quote:
Quote:
DEFINITION Based on this definition, ff a persons moves, "floating up and down", it is a levitation. Like the chair suspension, the Super X, and many variations of it are suspensions.
Dennis Michael
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Dennis gave a credible source, which I also trust as my definition.
Quote:
On 2009-07-26 12:26, JVHarrison wrote: This debatable topic has also been raised on other threads, such as this one: --> Magic Café thread titled... Best......parties? (See page 6 and 7 of that thread.) - Donald P.S. Regarding your comment about Walter naming his illusion. Walter named one of his illusions a suspension ("Suspension 3001"), and the other a levitation ("Ladder Levitation"). In the case of both, you pull all supports away. As someone suggested earlier, he likely named the ladder illusion a levitation because of the illiteration.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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ChadFindlay New user South Africa 8 Posts |
Thanks for the info Dennis!
I personally think it makes life a lot easier in magical terms to define a suspension as having no movement, simply for the practicalities of methodology. In order to achieve movement, the apparatus required is much more complex, sight-lines are generally more limited, and so for a magician the distinction is important. FOr an audience, I'm not sure. Our performances with the broom suspension always gets a great response. This brings in my problem with most of the 'compact' levitations like the Gamolo where the actual distance of 'levitation' is relatively small - could you not achieve much the same effect with a Super-X (in the audiences' minds)? It's the final moment that matters most when all the supports are removed, the hoop is passed and you take your applause cue. Did it matter that there was 20" of movement in the process? |
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JVHarrison Regular user 105 Posts |
For years, I've had an idea that I thought would enhance the Super-X and give the illusion of "levitation" (as Dennis defines it). If the assistant first lies on a table and the table slowly lowers to the ground (accomplished by a scissor-like folding of the table legs), the gradual distancing of the assistant from the table top (even though the table is moving down and the assistant is not moving up) would give the illusion (especially in spectators' recollections) that the lady rose up into the air off the table. In terms of engineering, it's much easier to cause the table to slowly lower to the ground than to cause the assistant to slowly rise into the air. Just a thought.
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2607 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-07-26 12:31, Dennis Michael wrote: Boy, this is tricky. I had always said that a suspension involved some contact with an object of partial support while a levitation had no object touching the ground irrespective of movement. In this example a Broom Suspension has an object touching the ground, a Super X to me would be a levitation as there is nothing touching the ground. I believe Will Dexter's quote actually supports the first part of this. The term "disequilibrium" describes a state of unnatural balance, like the broom suspension where there is no visible means of support at the foot end, Like the magic wand with a heavy weight in one end so you can sit it at the very edge of a table with 3/4 of it off in space yet it remains "suspended" with no visible means of support at the far end. Even if it moved somehow... you wouldn't say it was levitating as long as one end had contact with the table. It is confusing as the quote, "sometimes without any visible means of support." I believe to be referring to the "floating" portion of the person or object. Yes, the term "raising" to denote a levitation definitely requests movement. I think the Super X is a B*****dized version of a true levitation (no, they wouldn't let me use the word even in the correct way!) so it to me is neither fish nor foul. I think we have to have our own terms that work for us...lol... Ultimately I'm a hermit so I just make up my own terms that work for me.
Ray Pierce
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