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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
The Elementary Portable Levitation Flaw…
“If this is real Magic… why must you hide the transformation under a handkerchief?” --Henry Hay I want to impossible… granted. I wish to perform what appears to be flawless and true MAGIC! We Magicians tend to have flawed vision…. major blind-spots if you will. We tend to see what we wish, sometimes forsaking all logic, because we know the ‘method’, we see only as we must, thus what is ridiculous to an audience, makes perfect sense to us. In this case I am referring too all the variations, of what are now commonly called “Portable Levitations” I am a dyed-in-the-wool “packs-light-packs-small but plays-huge” fan. By necessity as well as choice as I go about in this profession. So what’s my problem? The BOX. That ***ed box, or platform, or mini-stage, or whatever you want to call it! That’s by problem… my pet-peeve. Yes, we ALL know, the secret of the Portable Levitations must be contained “somewhere”… However, our spectators DON’T know that. If we are “Magicians” If we wish to astonish and amaze- We must be theatrically viable in our premise and performance. A table upon which the lady-assistant will recline, makes sense. Even a board supported by sawhorses or stools, makes sense. But, why is there that raised platform or box, which the magician stands on to work his magic… that does not make any sense to any audience. And, spectators are far from dumb, if they notice something amiss, or even unusual, they are jarred from the realm of make-believe and magic, to the other side of the brain, which puzzles, logics, and solves. See “the emperor has no clothes”, but out audiences are just too polite to tell us poor saps, so they grin and applaud (and snicker at what fools the fool-ers can be). More than anyone performing magic on this planet, I’d love to have a Levitation that: -will pack in a crate small enough for a taxi’s backseat -will weigh under 80lbs in total -will not require a backdrop -will not require the assistant be covered -will be silent in operation -will support 150 lbs. -will be able to be performed on 3/4 or thrust stage -will be totally portable and can be set-up on any stage But most importantly, will NOT require anything unusual on the stage. -No box resembling a conductor’s podium -No platforms -No ground-covers -No alterations to the stage or floors -No special lighting or drops Nothing but the board (which is removed during the levitation). No odd covers or masking cloths. Supports of some sort to hope the board up. ….And a lovely assistant to rise. This is, of course, impossible! Or else someone would have built and marketed it. What they’ve all built and marketed…. if frankly, COMPROMISE. And here is where my stance becomes a dangerous opinion… I truly believe- all the owners and dealers are going to hate this: We Magical Performers should not perform flawed Illusions. …If we can’t do it right, do it perfectly, don’t attempt to do it at all. Forsake what’s commercially available and aim for perfect illusion. With the limitations of method available under given circumstances, These popular and user-friendly levitations, will not amaze, nor astound, not even fool anyone over the age of ten. So, let’s give in, say what we want is not possible, and compromise is deadly to our Art, if it is to be Art. If anyone (Santa? Toothfairy? Steinmeyer?) Is ever able to invent and design such a perfect-portable-levitation, I’ll be the first in line, Visa Card in hand. So, you say: “What’s the harm in a little box?” “Who’s going to notice that?” “Spectator’s won’t put two-and-two together.” Wrong, We magicians are as good, or even better, at deceiving ourselves, at closing our eyes to design imperfections, than we are a deceiving or mystifying our audiences. Inventors? Designers? Builders? Are you up to the challenge? Is it even feasible in any reality we live in? If not, please, lets stick with what does work, even stay with our cards-and-ropes-and-coins-and-doves, and not put mediocrity upon our stages to sooth our egos. My two-cents on one-man levitations. Magically, Walt |
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Keith Jozsef Loyal user 212 Posts |
Walt,
I understand and appreciate your viewpoint, but I respectfully disagree. To me, your major flaw comes in the opening quotation "If this is real Magic…" And that's just it--it's not--it's theater. If our quest was to perform real magic, dare I say miracles, we wouldn't be charging admission at the door, we'd be inviting everyone in for free to begin forming a cult. Thus, we ask our audiences to suspend their disbelief for the sake of momentary departure from the everyday world--entertainment, if you will. With regard methods, I refer you to illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, as I cannot say it better than him. "Every magic illusion has a flaw, some inconsistancy or error in the handling, the staging, the routine. If it didn't have a flaw, it wouldn't be a magic trick, I guess. It'd be a principle of science. Those flaws need to be identified and accomodated, because they're going to be there." Now, here is where I can agree with you...Many performers fail to identify these flaws, let alone, accomodate for them--justify them, if you will, through their presentation. But as the late Tommy Wonder proclaimed, "Don't blame the piano for the music being played!" Further, I do agree that magicians are good at deceiving themselves. However, if the audience is so hell-bent on figuring out the method of the levitation (or any illusion for that matter) I would suggest that the respective performer has failed to inrapture them with any sort of presentation--silent or verbal--thus leaving them with nothing but the experience of witnessing a puzzle. But again, this fault is not that of the prop, but rather the performer. Respectfully, Keith Jozsef |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Thanks for your comments Keith.
It's just that it is not a tiny design flaw. It's a darn big black crate that the magician is standing on! It can't be missed, and it looks out of place. It does not take rocket-science for any spectator to get the method without even trying. And we performers (theatrically aware or not) stand on the box and pretend it does not even exist. That's not really even a flaw, it's major denial <grin> That piano is w-a-y out’a tune… Magically, Walt |
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Keith Jozsef Loyal user 212 Posts |
Okay Walt,
Clearly, the levitation unit you're referring to (and I'd love to know specifically which one) has some serious design flaws. However, I would encourage you to check out the video of Dave Womack's levitation unit, just a thread or two below this one. Very stylistic...Thin as can be. I mean seriously, what laymen (hell, magician for that matter) is going to look at that wafer thin table/platform, and believe that it is housing the neccessary lifting mechanisms needed to levitate someone. Not portable, you say? Take a look at its precursor--Splashes Ultimate Levitation--viewable on the website. Not cheap...but it shouldn't be for what it is accomplishing. Now, whatever unit you're referring to may indeed have some big issues in its design, but I could name several other levitation props that (even though I'm aware of the method) still leave me scratching my head. So I would still contend, that unless all of these laymen have a significant knowledge of magic secrets, there would be no visible clue as to the method, IF you were watching a well-built levitation. Again, please let me know which type you're making reference to, as there is certainly a lot of crap out there. It makes your frustration understandable. Keith Jozsef |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Dave Womack's levitation is a thing of beauty!
NO question! However, is does not fit into the Portable Levitation category. It really takes a stage, a van or truck to haul, etc. If you go back to my first "rant" you'll read the criteria. Dave’s is a full-out stage-show illusion piece. His solution is wonderful, one of the best I've seen, just not for the "on the road" commando show that the others supposedly address (but don't). Email me and I’ll be happy to name the top “brands” of levitations-in-a-box, on-a-box. Thanks! Walt |
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Keith Jozsef Loyal user 212 Posts |
Again, my reference to Dave's was to note that it's precursor, the Ultimate Levitation, is meant to be portable. And for the effect it accomplishes (height, smoothness, etc...) it does a wonderful job. It even tilts on it's side, so as to not take up much room off-stage.
If we're looking for the packs small, no tables, no black art, no wires, nothing attached to the girl before, during or after, no noise, smooth, silent, portable, fits in the back of a Honda Civic-type of a levitation. Good luck. Even technology has limits...at least to the application of magical illusions. Even if some great technology came to be in the future, that could be applied to levitations to meet all of the above requirements, its price would beyond comprehension. Keith Jozsef Posted: Nov 14, 2006 6:33pm -------------------------------------------------- P.s. Define "portable". In my illusion show, if 3 people can lift and move it around, it's portable. For Copperfield, if a crew of 30 can move it and set it up, it's portable....it's all relative. Keith Jozsef |
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Vendette New user Montreal, QC 5 Posts |
Wow! I love these posts that make us think and evaluate our art form. Yes, a lot of time, magicians will accept a compromise when choosing an effect based on price, effect, size of prop, weight, etc... (that sometimes infamous "pack small - play big" feature!)
A visible box may seem out of place. However, a nice platform such as the Ultimate Levitation does not seem out of place to me. In fact, by allowing the spectators to see under the "effect", it can even make the illusion stronger because it shows that no equipment under the stage could contribute to the effect. I guess that the Yogano Saturn levitation may meet many of Walt's requests (small weight, no apparent prop on stage at some point in the routine) but it doesn't make this levitation perfect! The arm holding the ring having to stand still for quite a long time looks as suspicious to me as a podium! Compromises, compromises.... |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Portable (in the ideal levitation) is:
I’d love to have a Levitation that: -will pack in a crate small enough for a taxi’s backseat -will weigh under 80lbs in total -will not require a backdrop -will not require the assistant be covered -will be silent in operation -will support 150 lbs. -will be able to be performed on 3/4 or thrust stage -will be totally portable and can be set-up on any stage -No box resembling a conductor’s podium -No platforms -No ground-covers -No alterations to the stage or floors -No special lighting or drops ---this same list could also define "unrealistic" and "impossible" Walt |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Today's "unrealistic" and "impossible" is tomorrow's challenge. David Copperfield's "Flying" was unrealistic and impossible... before he did it.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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Keith Jozsef Loyal user 212 Posts |
Spellbinder--Point well taken. But will we see the next advancement in our lifetime? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it could happen...but follow my next point...
Walt-- I think I understand your desires now. One question though: Why? Certainly, in our free-market economy, supply and demand rules the day. But where is the demand? Why do you feel there is a need in the magic community for a prop that you described? Is this need simply so that underqualified, no-talent hacks can destroy one of the most primal, ethereal, effects in our art? (And I am not suggesting you are one of them!) By making such an effect so readily available to the masses, something that was once (and still is!) showcased in the most glorious of theaters the world over, will be reduced to a bungled "up-charge" for underqualified birthday performers, to make an extra $75 for floating little Timmy in the backyard. In my opinion, the many suspensions and similar effects that are on the market, more than fill that need. This reminds me of a quote by Max Maven, that magicians have managed "To take something that is inherently profound and turn it into something trivial." This is exactly the case that I am conjuring up in my imagination as I type. The only way to protect such a remarkable prop would be to price it so high, that none of the dabblers could afford it. (That still wouldn't stop the trust-fund babies from ponying up the cash, only to run it into the ground with an horrendous presentation--ever seen Steve Wyrick? But I digress.) So to sum up, I simply feel there is no active market that could afford to benefit from this type of prop, as there are more than enough cost-effective suspensions, and the like for the close-up/parlor guys that like to up-charge for special events; while at the same time, illusionists have several different stage levitation effects at their disposal, to meet their respective needs. Does all this mean that we stop trying to innovate? Absolutley not. But I feel the demand will drive this process, as it always has. Agree or disagree, this is just my opinon Keith Jozsef |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Lets look at the possible design concepts.
Levitate: The rising or floating up and down. Center of Gravity: Point where Earth’s Gravity is pulling an object downward. Fulcrum: A Pivotal point (Like a see-saw) where the opposite end must have a counter balance to stabilize/equalize a balance. To levitate 150 lbs requires 150 lbs counter weight (Basic physics) This can only be done by mechanical means and stay under 80 lbs based on the above requirements (No wires). Counter balancing requires the use of an assistant equal to or heavier... Nope... (Will requires a backdrop and requires a stagehand) Must say under 80 lbs. This can be done using a liner actuator. Now here is the difficult part. Gravity and center of balance point. The fulcrum point either has to be directly below or offset with a counter balance to avoid the platform. A principle applied to most levitations The Magician can act as a counter balance and fulcrum but then he can't move. (Not on the above list) Plate base metal to counter center of gravity pull may meet the requirement but will be heavier than 80 lbs. Assumption: No bolting to stage, or using the stage as a permanent grounding point. No covers eliminate frames, but not shells but the assistant is stiff lifeless. (Not good) Looking over Stage Flying and Levitations book and other ancient methods in books to do what you want requires a mechanical method which must be concealed by some inconspicuous means such as a stage prop. This is not exposure because any 10 year old will tell you floating is done with wires, most magicians can't tell you what a linier actuator is, or how it works. Let alone a lay person. Basic Physics prohibits the dream levitation without sacrifices. This does require some thinking. Combining different principles and then removing the box might work. Take the conspicuous and eliminate it. When I did the chair suspension and the flying carpet suspension, both give a conspicuous solution. Then I removed both chairs and I removed the flying carpet base unit and caught the “mind” off guard. The solution was obvious until it was removed. That firmly placed solution interferes with the normal an-alytical methods and makes for a fantastic illusion. Then the person rises adding more confusion to the “mind”. This principle is sound, but it doesn’t meet the requirements. I’ll think on it more… Love these creative juices to flow…
Dennis Michael
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Lou Hilario Inner circle 2235 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-11-14 21:04, SpellbinderEntertainment wrote: What you need then is a Yogano Jr. levitation. It is self contained, very light (about 10 pounds). Girl rises from ANY floor till waist height and magician turns her in a standing position then walks away. Can be performed surrounded. I'm not sure if he makes this anymore. I saw his son perform this years ago.
Magic, Illusions, Juggling, Puppet & Parrot Show ^0^
http://www.louhilario.net |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
You need to look at this like an unscrupulous magic dealer advertising the latest levitation innovation. Here's the advertisement:
-packs in a crate small enough for a taxi’s backseat -weighs under 80 lbs in total -does not require a backdrop -does not require the assistant be covered -is silent in operation -supports 150 lbs. -able to be performed on 3/4 or thrust stage -totally portable and can be set-up on any stage -No box resembling a conductor’s podium -No platforms -No ground-covers -No alterations to the stage or floors -No special lighting or drops Dennis assumed that the list specified no stagehand... it does not, so as an unscrupulous magic dealer, feel free to require as many assistants as you can cram into a taxicab... more, if you need them, but three people to lift one little girl should be a snap. No backdrop allowed, but that doesn't eliminate using either another assistant in a long flowing costume, or the wizard himself in a long flowing costume in place of a backdrop... or a combination of the two: both wizard and apprentice. That should provide plenty of cover. A simple lever and fulcrum could weigh 80 pounds and still be strong enough to lift 150 lbs- and you don't HAVE to pick the fat kid in the party, so figure under 100 lbs a more realistic weight. The specifications just reguire that it be TESTED to lift 150 in a desperate situation. Heck, I'm almost ready to publish this new leviation in The Wizards' Journal right now, given those openings. No fair adding new restrictions on me- like everyone has to dress in tights, no assistants allowed, no more than four in a taxicab and so on! That would be unscrupulous and leave me no wiggling room!
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
KEITH WROTE IN PART:
…“By making such an effect so readily available to the masses, something that was once (and still is!) showcased in the most glorious of theaters the world over, will be reduced to a bungled "up-charge" for under qualified birthday performers, to make an extra $75 for floating little Timmy in the backyard. In my opinion, the many suspensions and similar effects that are on the market, more than fill that need.”… Hello Keith! EXACTLY! That was a major point of my original post that has somehow gotten muddied. That is precisely what is happening… any guy with a two-grand to spare can buy a fairly unimpressive portable levitation with an obvious method, levitating his assistant maybe foot-and-a-half while standing on a meaningless little box! Would it not be WONDERFUL, if they’re going to do it anyway… to have a version that is deceptive (no conductor’s podium) OR… Stop doing the flawed illusions until (or if) a solution can be found???? (Of course ,it’s the dealers would loose money if they only carried quality merchandise that performed as it should.) I actually hope such a version would cost multiple-times MORE DOLLARS than these poor ones… just so it could be performed more judiciously by professionals. The major point of my post was about we magicians: “there are none so blind as those who will not see”. that’s the trap we fall into in our lust to do “the big time stuff”. Magically, Walt |
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Keith Jozsef Loyal user 212 Posts |
Walt,
I think we're on the same page. Yes, it would be wonderful to either have a more deceptive version or to have performers stop performing those junk units until a better solution is found. But sadly, who among us can turn back the hands of time? Pandora's box is already open. Even if this new prop came out, it wouldn't stop those who already own the junk from performing it, or for some other goober to go out and by what is left from the current stock. So I guess I'm not quite sure how the existance of this new prop would really solve anything. What are we going to do, send the magic police to stop them?:) Of course, I'm teasing here, but perhaps the focus should again be shifted from the prop, to the performer. I think it's more about trying to educate those who may not "get" what we're talking about. Through healthy dialogue, such as this, we are hopefully getting magicians to look more critically at the magic they are currently performing, as well as educating them about making "wise" future purchases. Keith Jozsef |
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Ireland Loyal user Regina, Sask. Canada 217 Posts |
Is anyone aware of a one person comedy levitation or one that spoofs levitations? I've done one that I've seen done by 'Men In Coats' but at least one helper is needed. The method is exposed at the end but it gets a laugh.
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makeupguy Inner circle 1411 Posts |
Ok.. let's get something out of the way here...
I'm a good friend of Walt. I think he's a really innovative thinker.. but.. my problem with levitations in magic don't revolve around the heinous black box that magicians have to stand on.. although that is a heinous black box.. and it's worse when it looks like a packing crate.. with the pre-requesite dings and scratches. My problem is that they up and down motion is so slow... and so limited in height. To make a magician wait for 45 seconds or so to have the assistant reach full height of only about 18 inches... I think that virtually all models have this drawback.. certainly the Gamalo (which also has the huge black box).. and any of the versions made from RV Lifts... I don't' have a good solution to the problem.. since we all use lifts used and designed for other industries... but if someone can find a way to speed up the lift.. that would solve a world of problems. |
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socalmagic Loyal user Los Angeles 267 Posts |
We know the flaw of the Gamolo and similar illusions is the black box, poor angles, and limited up-down motion. Now you have to make your presentation and stage setting compensate for the flaws. Why not theme the illusion so that the black box makes sense? If you can't do this yourself, then there are several people that are able to "art direct" your illusion and make it look fantastic.
The Gamolo and other such illusons are just starting points. You have to transform it from obvious and unimpressive to a miracle. That's your job, and not the illusion builders. I perform the Gamolo all the time with several other amazing illusions, and people always like the one where the girl from the audinece floats. Magically, Brock Edwards |
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Seeker Special user Chicago 578 Posts |
I feel the only solution would be to take the effect and make it truly portable. Make it a gimmick that you wear.
I've been training these cards since they were small.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
It is possible to do everything that Walt wants done, within a few limitations.
It all depends on how high you want the levitation to go. It is far easier to do in a two-person show than a one-person show. Wearing the gaffus is not the best solution, unless you are a bodybuilder. Bill Siros had such a suspension, as did Vernet. Vernet made two of them, one of which is owned by Bob Brown. It is not very convincing. Could have been the presentation. The "Box" can be done away with. It can be replaced by a carpet and other things that I cannot discuss in an open forum.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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