Hey guys,

I was just wondering if any of you have any creative ways of switching people on stage?... anything from costume to walk-around the prop switches. I was just wondering if you hav ne neat ideas which you would think is effective or have worked for you in the past. I'm looking for something which you can secretly get off stage, or remain on stage but as someone else (like under a costume)

the illusion it's performed to could be any of many illusions... nothing specific just wanting to hear your 2 cents on the topic.

NBz

I like the switch in this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn1v1FEUHS8

Switches or double exchanges are pretty common in magic, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in magic has several, any one could be modified to use for any number of illusions.

WOW best switch I have seen yet.

Thanx for the link lance .... any more man? lol

Photius,
yer I've actually got mark wilsons course, and this was one section I just wanted to explore further after readin' it. Do you have any other sources like wilsons course which share ideas of 2 person switches?

I would recommend looking at Tim CLothier's book "Advanced Illusion Projects". He has a cool switch illusion with an alien theme to it.

Check out : http://www.illusionprojects.com

-Bryan

I have always loved lance Burtons when he has the sword fight with the masked phantom. It could be very versital and fixed to do in any situation. But this is one of my favorites by lance Burton also.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qKQXpvgECRg

Best
Brandon

Yer lance has done some awsome stuff in regards to stage switches... I needed to watch it the second time to catch it.. pure brilliance!!!!!

A very simple one is the Mummy Wrap. See Tarbell

Tarbell has another one I can't recall the name of, (something Arab???) in which the magician puts his assitant behind a screen and then walks around to the front of the screen and puts on a Arab robe type costume. He then walks around the back to check on the assistant. He never pauses, he just makes a quick circle around the screen. He then peels of his cosutme and it turns out to be the assistant, and the magician is found behind the screen.

While it's not exactly a switch in the sense of what we've already discussed, Andrew Mayne's The Secret Illusion Show details an escape along the same lines. It's a metamorphisis style effect w/o the sub trunk.

Darwin's Inexpensive Illusions DVD shows the mummy wrap as well if you would rather learn from a DVD.

I've done the one in Andrew Mayne's The Secret Illusion Show as well as the Mummy wrap. They both work great.

I can't recall right now what the illusion is called (it may be "The Burglar"), but you build a small cardboard house with 4 sides and a roof. A switch can be made getting and carrying the roof.

I like the switch that David Copperfield uses when he performs "The Fan".

Totally agreed. One of the most convincing/smartest switch I ever know. Great thinking.

What about the switch that DC uses when he makes the motorcycle vanish or you could try somthing like things that go bump in the night (you know with a modern cabinet). Just my 2 cnts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aVXRn1SV9I

Wow I didn't catch the switch!.. did it occur during one of the cuts since it was on tv?

I don't think it did. Regardless, this switch, along with Rudy's puppet boy switch, are both well presented and great effects. Inspiring.

As BYUDAD suggested :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzAOdHQ3_......;search=
That there too is a great effect, performed by Lance Burton. I'd be more then glad to perform this, but I've only a limited amount of assistants(3).

Chrix

Just as an aside to this topic. I had a magical moment last summer at a magic show. It was a pretty run of the mill show at a theme park. You know, the revue kind of show with 3 dancers, the usual illusions done the usual way, etc. It was fine and the magician was good. I enjoyed the show and the audience responded to him very well. It just wasnt showing me anything new or unusual...which, of course, I like to see when I can.
Then...in my lulled state, it happened. This guy started another box trick, he ran up the stairs and the assistants shut him in the box and 1 second later the box dropped open, he was gone and was standing about 3 feet from me in the audience.
It was totally refreshing because I had a magic moment. He fried me. I was at a loss. It felt ...wonderful!!!!!!!!!! The next day I reconstructed the sequence and I knew that it was the misdirection of his presentation that took me down the path to amazement. Not the box, not the dancers, not the pyros.
It was a powerful reminder to me that misdirection is the true tool of the magician and I am very grateful for that moment! Go and do likewise.

Hey guys,

thanks for all your contributions, the links were great, and yes inspiring!.. if you have anymore "switch" ideas let us know... I love this type of ending to effects!... that either changing into another costume, or teleporting to the back of a theatre without the aid of B**** or S****

thanks again all, keep em cumin if you can!

NBz