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Merlyn of 8 Regular user Massachusetts U.S.A. 147 Posts |
In looking for a "Flashy" end to my Zombie routine, I ran across "Fire Finale for Zombie". I was wondering if anyone knows about this; not how it works, just can it be used alone or does it depend on the "ball" for its effect? Is there enough misdirection to cover ditching the cloth, gimmick and ball? Any feedback will help. I wish to spice up the routine a bit.
Cheers,
Thomas Cleveland "Life is a jurney,enjoy the jurney" |
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malini Loyal user 219 Posts |
The general "flash finish" for the zombie was to end the routine with flames pouring out of the zombie. This was accomplished by a gimmicked ball.
I haven't seen this for sale in a long time but it could be easily made. |
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Merlyn of 8 Regular user Massachusetts U.S.A. 147 Posts |
Thank you malini,
This input is great. It does depend on the ball. I'll follow up on this then, it sounds as if it will add the spice that I am looking for, for the ending of the routine and it should "kick it up a notch." Thank you again. :bunny2:
Cheers,
Thomas Cleveland "Life is a jurney,enjoy the jurney" |
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Jeb Sherrill Inner circle Elsewhere 1161 Posts |
It is a very cool effect, but I do warn you: the gimmicks inside will add a great deal of weight to your handling and you'll have to compensate quite a bit depending on how much you like to move it around. Mine flies about so much that I can't use the fire gimmick, but I do like the effect.
Sable
I don't believe in reincarnation, but I may have in another life.
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Merlyn of 8 Regular user Massachusetts U.S.A. 147 Posts |
Thanks Sable, I will take that useful advice!
:wavey:
Cheers,
Thomas Cleveland "Life is a jurney,enjoy the jurney" |
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SloMo150 Regular user Speedway, Indiana 121 Posts |
I recieved a zombie ball and gimmick for Christmas. It was used but still in good shape. One problem, no instructions, routines or anything. Not having a good magic shop close at hand I want to purchase a book or video in working with this effect. Any and all advice will be looked at. I don't want to buy junk. Also, is the cloth used special or can I use anything???
Hey wanna see me pull a rabbit from my hat, (lion appears). I gotta get a new Hat.
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
Any opaque cloth of the right size will do.
For a video, get Tim Wright's Zombie video—it's excellent. Merlyn Shute has a book on the Zombie, as does Abbott's. Both are very good.
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
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Hal Weaver New user 56 Posts |
Quote: Friends,
On 2002-02-01 08:19, Merlyn of 8 wrote: I still have one of the original Zombies. I bought it in 1944. Since then, the various attempts to be "creative" with the effect has debased it. The original conception was to fold a cloth back to reveal a silver ball sitting on a little pedestal on the table. A cloth was spread back over it and the ball began to come to life. It was spooky to see it rise in the air under the cloth. Although the cloth gave the magician some semblance of control, the ball moved with a mind of its own. The magician was following it. At times the ball would disappear, briefly come up and ride on the top edge of the cloth and duck back down again. The magician would try to coax it to return to its pedestal. It looked as if he were going to succeed, when the ball rose again, high in the air. The magician continued to coax it down, and finally, in stages, it come to rest again on its pedestal. The cloth was taken off to reveal the ball. The effect is that of a floating ball, only under partial control of the magician. The cloth has a purpose. It allows the ball to come to life and to control it at the same time. When done with music this effect can be beautiful and spooky. Today it has become a juggling act. We have everything under the sun "floated". Performers drape the cloth over their arms and balance something on the crook of their elbows. What the hell sense does this make? There is no reason for the foulard. This is why people think there is no finish and have to come up with silly things such as having the ball split revealing spring flowers or fire or something. A ball that splits or spouts fire is clearly a trick. The illusion of coming to life is gone, if it ever was there in this approach. I think even making the ball vanish changes the feel of the effect. People are not left with the spooky (I love the word) effect of having seen a ball float, but are torn away by "flash" of the vanish. Some people, not understanding the effect, will dance (see Melinda), in effect dragging the ball around with them (how else explain dance) instead of having the ball come to life and force them to follow it. Too much novelty for its own sake! Back to basics. Hal |
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Jeb Sherrill Inner circle Elsewhere 1161 Posts |
The Zombie itself is not an effect, it is a piece apparatus like any other. What you seem to be describing is not an "effect" anyway, but a routine, and routines should change from magician to magician. The "effect" is that the ball floats.
While I agree that many attempts to "add" things to the Zombie are not very good, my opinion might change if I saw it routined well. I have never seen a good reason for a Zombie to burst into flame, but that is the fault of the magician's routining, not the gimmick. Whether or not a Zombie vanishes, or burns, or simply returns to the pedestal is a matter of taste and routining, not one of right or wrong, new versus classic. And the role of the Zombie; be it dance partner, or friendly spirit, or disobedient floating ball is another routining choice we must make. A good, aspiring Zombie worker must make those decisions for himself. Sable
I don't believe in reincarnation, but I may have in another life.
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
I still think a Zombie should sprout blades for a finale, a la the horror movie Phantasm.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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Brad Jeffers Veteran user 377 Posts |
The first magic convention I ever attended, was Abbotts 1974. There I had the pleasure of seeing the performance of both Neil Foster and Norm Neilsen. The Zombie was a trademark effect for both of them (and of course still is for Neilsen) and each had his own unique presentation. I will just point out, that Foster finished his routine by transforming the ball into two bouquets of flowers, and Neilsen of course, replaced the ball with a floating violin (in keeping with the theme of his act, "Musical Magic").
Hal states, "...the various attempts to be 'creative' with the effect have debased it." I doubt that anyone would seriously think that the creative interpretations of both Foster and Neilsen have in any way "debased" this effect. Quite the contrary! Your personal beliefs about what constitutes the "correct" handling of the Zombie effect, will of course be reflected in your own presentation of this classic piece of magic. That is how it should be. But don't knock the creative efforts of others. |
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joshmagic New user 3 Posts |
The Zombie has got to be one of my favourite effects to perform, as it looks INCREDIBLE. I perform my routine to music and I got parts of my routine from Jeff McBrides Magic on Stage. Great videos. He teaches how to begin, end and piece together a routine.
If anyone is having problems trying to show the ball is unsuspended, a behind the head or around the body move looks great. This involves having the ball go partly behind you, then quickly back in front, disguised by the foulard, and then make it appear from the other side of your body. That's a really bad explanation but see Jeff McBride do it and you'll understand. It's fantastic. The main secret to a successful zombie routine is acting and miming. Make the audience believe the ball is floating away from you or that you actually have to struggle to get the ball to float back to you. As for finishing a routine, if you have a Zombie that pops in half, fill it with large spring flowers. At the end of your routine ditch the foulard and cloth, pop the ball in half and slowly slide the two pieces around so the flowers start to come out. From the front it will appear as though you are simply holding the ball. Then quickly let all the flowers spring out of the ball and cover the two halves of the ball. You need big flowers for this but it's an excellent surprise finish.
keep up the magic
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repairman36 New user Tunkhannock, PA 13 Posts |
I have done the Zombie for a show recently. I did it to new music, a la Backstreet Boys. I made it disapear once during the routine. At the end for the finale of the routine I was able to show the ball completely free all around by the way I held the ball. This was for an adult dinner magic theater and I received a large applause.
The book I have on the Zombie is The How To Book on the Zombie by Merlyn T. Shute, published by Morrissey, copyright 1983. It gives a lot of good suggestions on manipulating the Zombie. I think a flashy finish sounds like a good idea but it would be nice if right after it flashes it would completely disappear. If someone has an idea of how to do this I would appreciate any help. |
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magicalmischief Loyal user Massachusetts 239 Posts |
I have purchased the Zombie and have been having a terrible time with the gimmick that came with it. No control at all...Anyone have any information on any other gimmicks? Can they be made or where can you get them?
Seems to me that death is just natures way of telling us to SLOW DOWN!
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Magicalmischief: The Zombie gimmick takes some getting used to. Make sure you adjust the end to fit you finger. Practice is really the only solution. There are a multitude of gimmicks available however they all operate basically the same. If you want to give me a PM, I'll give you some ideas as this isn't the forum to discuss methods.
Dave
Where the magic begins
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Kendrix Loyal user 229 Posts |
When Melinda did the Zombie (one of her better effects) I watched more than the apparatus. She had a nice flashy way to ditch the ball.
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zaubern Veteran user Seattle, Wa 335 Posts |
I have seen a Zombie gimmick with a flash pot on it but I can't remember who makes it.
Zaubern
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ufo Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 1185 Posts |
As to the handling of the zombie gimmick, there is a two finger gimmick which, of course, gives you more control than one finger alone. I don't care for it myself, but it may be helpful if you are struggling with controlling the ball.
In addition to Jeff McBride's section on zombie in the Magic On Stage videos, and Tim Wright's video, I would really recommend reading what Tommy Wonder has put out on the subject. He gets to the heart of the matter.
"What's your drug?" she asked. "Hope" he said, "The most addicting one of all."
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
To me personally I only agree with vanishing the Zombie. The reason I don't want anything to come out of it is because I want the audience to always picture it solid and heavy.
Jeff McBride's and Tim Wright's videos are great. But neither speaks about bending the original gimmick. I found great info about that in AL Schneider On Zombie. Tommy Wonder's Zombie is excellent. But you won't be able to get rid of it or give it any other special ending. I don't like the flash Zombie gimmick too much. It could of been made better. I thought of an invention for a Zombie. The only problem is the cost on making it. I already have the blueprints together. I should have it on the market next year. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Tannen's first produced the Flash Zombie gimmick, then Gen Grant made one. I have recently seen it at Daytona Magic site.
It is a mini Flash pot, set off with batteries. Uses a glow plug. It is attached to the gimmick not the ball. The only other Flash finale was put out by Dicky Dean in Canada, just a manuscript. You had to pull the Zombie apart to produce the flash with flash paper. It was a very simple set up. The Flash on the gimmick is worth every cent, if that is what you want. You have to ditch the ball first. Bill |
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