Hey, has anyone heard anything about the Zombie they do without the foulard. It's not the only thumb thing, it actually dances around in front of you. I hear it's really difficult, but worth it. Anyone ever heard of it.



Sable

Are you referring to Stratosphere? A ball that flosts in front of you but not by Zombie means.

Cheers,

Tom

No, but I'm interested. What is Stratosphere? I thought it was a stage trick with tube and a flip box.

Sable

That would be "Stratospheres."

Ah. The difference is boggling, eh? I wonder if there's a trick called "The Zombies". Hmmmmmm.

Sable

I have been doing a one man floating ball bit for about 15 years. If you keep looking around you will find what you are looking for.

Magical Dimensions,
Oh, there's a few out there, but I'm looking for one that actually uses the Zombie and normal gimmick. I've heard it's been done.

Sable

That does sound interesting. I'm usually using the Zombie on stage, and without the foulard!!... that would be cool!

I believe you're talking about the stage illusion known as "Okito's Floating Ball."

The methodology has been adapted by several magicians, most notably by Blackstone in his "Floating Lightbulb." It is also used by Lance Burton for his "Floating Birdcage."

It does require some intensive set-up, plus full control of your stage and lighting conditions. And while you could technically perform it solo, an assistant really helps with this one.

How are you doing Mr. Philemon?

What you talked about in your post is the method that I was refering to. I do it solo, because I like to have full control of all movement.

A few years back - about 1992ish - I messed about with a floating lightbulb worked on the zombie principle.

I used a semi-transparent foulard and the effect went over nicely. It was based on application of zombie, black art and blinder principles. Given a suitable environment the foulard could be dispensed with entirely.

I did think a dancing flame version of this would be workable too though I never tried it.

Cheers,

Matthew Blackwell

Hi,

Okito's ball can be done alone, it is related to the dancing handkerchief (probably invented by Anna Eva Fay).

Yours faithfully

:devilish: Dan Kirsch

I've heard of Astrosphere, but that uses a foulard and a gimmick which is not like a zombie gimmick. The ball can float behind and in front of the foulard.

I was tinkering around with my zombie one day, ( o.k. that sounds wierd ) and I noticed that If I lost the foulard and did the trick ala black art ( against a black backdrop and blah blah blah ) It actually looked neat. mind you, the routine was different but I guess It had potential. Just a thought.

The Okito Floating Ball does, as Philemon says, “require some intensive set-up, plus full control of your stage and lighting conditions.” Add intensive practice, and a large enough place to rehearse. But it is worth every bit of that. To see if this effect is for you, look over the explanation in David P. Abbott’s “Book of Mysteries”. It is very detailed with many photos. (This is the guy who introduced the routine to Thurston and Okito.) There are more wonderful moves and additions to this routine in a few different books. For a list, simply e-mail me.

For the ball itself, the Don Wayne Floating Ball can be used. The instructions with the Don Wayne Ball are for multiple people. There is a small “Bonus Insert” that gives the bare bones of the solo method.

There is another solo routine that similarly uses three points - in a much more compact area - offering its own advantages to the staging and lighting requirements. It is completely uncovered. Very nice … the ball openly travels along an arm. Among the moves in the routine, the ball slowly crosses from one arm to the other uncovered. I wish I could remember the book. It was a small (blue) book devoted to Floating. In its USA release, it was written in French plus English. If anyone can recall the name of that book, I would love know it … plus, where to get it. It was on the shelves maybe 15 years ago.

The Astrosphere is pretty if you don’t need a very long routine. To be fair - I messed around with one only a couple of times. Maybe it is not as limited or as easy as it seemed to me. But, since the foulard is sheer, your audience can see the ball rising, dropping and traveling, whether the ball is in front of the foulard, or behind it. If the cloth has a few sparkles in its weave, then the lighting can be fairly bright.

Happy Floating!
Paula

[quote]On 2002-02-03 18:22, Jeb Sherrill wrote:
Ah. The difference is boggling, eh? I wonder if there's a trick called "The Zombies".

This is actually giving me ideas... hence: the siamese twins! could be interesting to have two zombies working the same foulard. Yes I know it sounds bad, but its better than calling it the Zombie balls!

MMMM... I'm going to bed now.

Perhaps you guys should try Braco floating ball.........

Jeb,

I remember YOU telling me that you were working on that idea a few months after we met. That was AGES ago!

Jimmagic - on this and other boards I hear only bad things about the Braco ball, can you tell us about it from hands on experience?

I have seen a foulard-less zombie once. It was b this guy in Dallas. It was insane. I'm pretty sure it used the zombie prinicple. He must be a genius to do what he did with it.

Bizzaro.
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