I finally introduced the Expanding/Shrinking Head Illusion for Birthday Parties to see how it was received. I first wanted to do just the expanding head. However, pro Ron Geoffries, who has been doing this for a long time, said, "Many don’t pay attention the first time, so it is best to do it a second time (Shrinking) for those that missed it." Chris Capehart does it twice (Expanding Head) because of the same point. People are unsure of what you are doing, so they really don't follow the instructions the first time. Do it at least two times.

Well, I got an unexpected applause from all the parents (a good applause). They were quite pleased with it, and so were the kids! It's a keeper for my birthday parties. It worked out very well. (The parents are the ones that hire you so that made me happy, and that applause meant something to the hostess!)

If you want to try something different and powerful, wear a scary Halloween mask that really looks cool and three dimensional (3D).

The Growing/Shrinking Head Illusion is fantastic, and it sure is lots of fun.

Thanks for the suggestion, Dennis. Great idea about using a mask!

Mark.

Thanks, Dennis, for sharing your experience and ideas. I must plead ignorant, as I am not familiar with this particular illusion. Where might I read up on it?

Thanks,
Dan.

The Shrinking and Growing Head Illusion was put out by Bruce Kalver. Here is a link to his site for more info. If you just get the illusion, it's only $25.

Mark.

https://manatee.site-secure.net/tophatpr......836.html

Mary and Brenda Hahne at Dazzling Magic have it:

http://www.dazzlingmagic.com/new_items.htm

The Illusion is a FANTASTIC one, and I cannot speak highly enough of the wonderful reactions you will get from it!

I added this to my routine during this past season's 6-month "County Fair Tour".

One bit of advice, though. Try not to be too close to your audience. For some reason, the effect works Stronger if there is a little distance involved.

On a stage, in front of a good size audience, this thing KILLS!

I also agree with doing it TWICE. The first time I do the "Shrinking" on myself, letting the audience see MY head shrink.

The second time, I use a young boy volunteer and have the audience watch his head "GROW!"

The First time, most of the audience sees it happen, but a few will not.
I then explain that we will do it again, but now that their eyes are "Pre-Conditioned" to see the illusion, the 2nd time will be a THOUSAND TIMES BETTER!

The 2nd go around, using the boy from the audience, gets a HUGE REACTION!

=Frank=

Mine has a motor on it.

The motor looks pretty fragile.

It's not something you throw in your case.

It's GREAT!!!

I usually do it for BIG family audiences.

Nez

And all this for $25 bucks? Wow...

You do realise it can, especially amongst sensitive kids, bring on a epileptic fit. I was told this by a well-respected specialist at the kids hospital I sometimes do shows for!

This is probably a good time to look for a cheap cordless screwdriver...there's probably something that is a Dremel knock-off out there that would work well and not take up too much space in your case.

I just use a cordless screwdriver with mine. Seems to work just fine, and I've not had any problems at all.

Mark.

I have found what works best for me is a Black & Decker, Battery-Operated, Cordless Screwdriver that you can get at WalMart for about 10 bucks!

It runs on 4 regular AA Batteries, has the forward AND reverse buttons needed, and is Silver & Grey to match the wheel!

=Frank=

Well, the DISC itself is $25 bucks, but then you need the powered-screwdriver to make it spin. As I stated in my post above, I found a great one for about $10.

=Frank=

I don't use this item (yet), but I have an idea to add to the routine. Make a balloon hat for a kid, but make it a fair bit too large. When you put it on his head, just squeeze the back of the hat so it appears to be too small. As you "measured" the kid's head when you made the hat, his head must have gotten bigger? So you now show your "head shrinker", and proceed to shrink the kid's head "back to it's proper size". Of course, now you put the hat on the kid's head, and it's too big! Oops! Must've over done the shrinking! Put the hat aside, out of view ready to switch for another identical one you made earlier, which is a "standard" size (most kids' heads are just a fraction smaller than an adult's head). Now make the head bigger again, and the regular sized hat fits perfectly!

I purchased the motor from Bruce Kalver the same time I got the disc.
It looks like a little fan motor. And you can sit it on the table, if you like.
I hold mine in front of my face as I talk. At the target time, I take it away, and they are already looking at my face.

Neznarf,

Some time ago, Bruce ran out of the motors and could not get more (this may have changed, but if it did, I'm not aware of it). He had received the suggestion on the electric screwdriver and passed it along to his customers.

Tony

I too use a Black and Decker, rechargeable, with a reverse power, screwdriver.

scientificsonline.com

...has several motors.

I took a look and didn't find anything.

But as most of you know, Edmund Scientific has a lot of other cool stuff.

So, you might want to take a look anyway.

Nez

I recently purchased this effect (with a nice quality cordless screwdriver) and was anxious to try it out on my daughters and wife (from a distance of about 12 feet). Only a slight giggle from the seven year old. I did it several more times and the reactions went downhill from there. Then I tried doing it to myself in a mirror - I did not experience the effect either. Needless to say I am now a bit hesitant to pull it out for a paying audience.

I saw this effect on a larger scale at a stage show several months ago and it worked great for me then. This magician's approach, though, was to have you look at your hand after staring at the spiraling disc ... and your skin seemed to "crawl".

I thought this effect was pretty much fool-proof ... what might I be doing wrong??

I have not tried this exact effect, but I have used Jerry Andrus's tri-zonal space warper, and the effect ususally doesn't work for me. I know that the effect is essentially the same, so I am curious, like The AstonsihingLarry, if anyone knows why this might be.