Jack after that same experience, We now skid the ATAs if they are large enough.

Peter.

The heavy industrial company I worked for would put our technical cases on wood pallets suitable for lifting, strap them to it, and then shrink wrap (or plastic wrap) the whole d--n thing.

Finally I went out and bought some 20' containers which we would load ourselves and ship everything out that way to our work sites.

Blair Marshall
"ShaZzam!"

Note: If anyone has the space and needs some great, solid, storage space, check out buying some used cargo containers. Get it dropped in the spot you need it (don't plan to move it) and there you go. We paid about $200.00 for the things. Painted up they looked great.

The only solution I have for anyone moving illusions is, buy enough to fill a truck. (This would make Jack happy!!!) When I purchased "ShaZzam!" I sent a 53' trailer, that came in from River Dance, and sent it down from Canada to San Diego to pick up the show. They filled it and sent it back, all 53' worth. What a Christmas present for me (it was July though)! LOL

The problem with skids is weight and that puts the item in a different shipping class, which is more $$. My clients are yelling already about shipping costs:)

I know, that's life.

Just imagine what Melinda's Death Drill cost to ship!!!

Big show, big boys, big toys.............big $$$$$$$$$

BM

I'll stick to feathers, thank you.
Richard

And that, Jack, is just one of the reasons I chose to get out of the box pusher biz. "Get me Copperfield's latest illusion and have it here Thursday. And I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler... er, illusion!" Why would a big aluminum table on wheels that stands waist high when assembled cost a lot to ship... let alone build? My patience finally just ran out.

Sheesh!

I hear ya Dave!!

Feathers may be the way to go, Richard.

BM

I might take up silk juggling myself...

P.

I'm just going to invent teleporters

I WILL be your first customer!!

That is why I always have loved my chair suspension illusion. Yes I own a lot of other illusions for the shows we perform. but the chairs is one of those illusions which always plays BIG and is so much easier to carry, transport, set up and the cost does not have to break your bank in the process. It wa sa great first illusion for me and I have been using it for hundreds of shows every year. I still do. In fact I perform it so often that I get asked a zillion and one questions abiut how to perform it correctly. so much so I just decided to write all the notes and ideas in an e-book all about the chair suspension illusion. It was easier this way hehe. there just was never anything out there on the subject so I figured if I can help anyone else through my own experiences with the illusion, why not.

Kyle

Ok guys you all have a point but it is hard for a talented kid to start in illusions and pay those prices to have them built. I mean I can't even afford a lot of them at the moment but I have a clear plan of what I want to do and prove myself first as magician doing little miracles which don't cost as much.
My success formula is to astonish the right people (sponsors, tv) first with those 'little' miracles before I move on to bigger things. With the quality of a digital camcorder, a cameraman and a sound/boom operator you can just go out there and shoot a demo. If your style and magic is innovative some producer or tv station 'will' give you a chance and produce you. Then you can think about levitating Hollywood Blvd. up and down...

My two cents.