As a fan of levitations, even before the Blaine-Balducci levitation phenomena, I was very excited to hear that Peter Loughran was releasing a brand new method of self-levitation. I waited in anticipation for my chance to take a look at what I thought, judging by the demo, was going to be an awesome effect to add to the world of self-levitation.

Well, today was the day -- I came home and waiting in my mailbox was the orange slip saying that my Elevator was waiting at the Post Office. I anxiously awaited until I could pick it up, and when I finally got home I practically tore the box open...

What I saw was one amazing piece of apparatus, to say the least. I immediately noticed that The Elevator is an extremely well-made mechanical marvel. The components that make up the gimmick are very heavy duty and very durable -- don't worry about this ever breaking down on you, NO way. It's simple in concept, but believe me, I doubt that ANYONE would ever think of this -- it is so clever!

Aside from the initial excitement of the gimmick itself, I popped the instructional CD in to learn about this new effect. I must say that Peter does an amazing job of explaining how to perform the Elevator. He breaks each part down, step by step, so that you don't ever have to rewind the tape to take another look. He teaches, in detail, the minor subtleties and the major moves so that you can be doing The Elevator minutes after watching the CD. Of course, it will take practice to perform it like Peter, but the practice pays off in the end.

The manuscript included is also an essential learning resource. There are certain issues regarding The Elevator, as well as a presentation very suitable for stage work, included in the manuscript. It also has a section that tells how to register your Elevator with Peter and L2 Illusions, which gives you complete performing rights of the effect. I thought that this was another great idea as well.

In conclusion, I was extremely satisfied with my purchase, and I'm sure that everyone who buys one will be. It's simple in concept, built to last, looks amazing, and is pretty darn clever, to say the least. I think it would be a great follow-up to King Rising, too (OK, shameless plug!).

One last note -- Peter worked extremely hard to create the method for The Elevator, and of course to get them manufactured. Let's keep it a secret!

Great job, Peter! It's one heck of an effect...

Corey thanks for the great comments!

As most of you know, Corey was the creater of the infamous King's Rising, so this really makes us feel great here at L2ILLUSIONS! Corey has stood by my effect since day one. A personal thanks to you from all of us here at the workshop, and behind the scenes of L2ILLUSIONS.

P.

Accurate and honest review Corey. As for me, Peter's Elevator is probably gonna end up being my mainstay for performing street levitations. I've only been practicing with it since Saturday, and I'm feeling very comfortable with it.

However Corey, I also feel I need to throw some kudos your way as well, as King Rising has recently become my favorite stage levitation (utilizing my box variation of which you are aware). It went over great before a group of about 15 (adults this time) this last Friday and I'm now convinced more than ever that you under-priced this levitation. I'm seriously having a tremendous amount of fun with it.

So I have to say thanks to both you and Peter for having added greatly to my repertoire.

Leo Martin

I ordered mine Sunday, and I'm anxiously waiting. How long did you guys wait?!!

I ordered from Hocus Pocus. Peter, you should really try to take credit cards online from your site. It's much faster than sending payments through the mail. That's why I decided to use Hocus Pocus.

yoey-

I believe that they are completely sold out, so you may have to wait a couple more weeks to get your unit. Don't quote me on that, but I'm 99% positive.

I'm very happy to read here that "competitors" support each others' creativity. It's nice to see such professionalism and honest reviews that come from the heart.

How many of you pros out there are asked on a daily basis, "Hey, dude! Can you levitate like David Blaine?" Like him or hate him, David Blaine has made the Balducci levitation the most-talked-about illusion of the beginning 21st Century.

I hate the Balducci itself because of its restrictions. That's why I don't perform it.

I dislike the current levitation gimmicks on the market because I do not like the fact that I have to alter or tear-apart my clothes, and the gimmicks that do not require the above are not convincing enough for my tastes.

Now I can finally to a levitation about which I am pleased! Almost every angle restriction has been solved, no worries about tearing apart your wardrobe, and now I can stop worrying about selling myself out to Beelzebub again and taking out two mortgages on my soul!

This thing is smart, self-contained, priced just right, and all the kudos go to Peter Loughran for thinking this thing up! Heck with the kudos, a standing-O is in order.

I'm PO'd about one thing, though: I didn't think of it first. Great job, Peter. You are to be commended.

One last thing: if you haven't purchased this or even seen it done, you gotta see Peter in Action with it! The video itself is fairly large but worth the wait. It's up on Hocus Pocus' site at:

http://www.hocus-pocus.com/static/clips/elevatoxr.mpg

You can either click on it and watch or right-click on the link itself and "Save Target As" to your computer. I hope I'm not stepping on any toes by posting the link. If so, let me know, and I'll remove it.

Hi,

Number 93!

I got mine yesterday. Looks very cool. Just need to practice a bit more.

Well done, Peter. Il have fun with this.

Lewis.

Peter, how about setting up a paypal account? It will take you about 5 minutes and will mean that those who want to order directly from you can do so with a credit/debit card. They will charge you about 3% but I am sure this is a lot lower than the discount you are having to give to the middle men. I have not seen the illusion in person but it sounds amazing. From what I read, you well deserve to keep every Penny paid. Cut out the middle man!

I am sure you know, but if not, Paypal can be found at http://www.paypal.com

Thanks

Duncan

If they were sold out, wouldn't they have told me that?

I am just wondering if there are any weight restrictions? I have looked at different sites to include: hocus-pocus and http://www.masterofillusions.ca. Neither site addresses it. Thank you, Michael

The weight issue has been mentioned earlier... somewhere in the original mega-thread on the Elevator at the link below:

Peter Loughran's New 'Elevator' Street Levitation

It's a huge thread and it'll probably take you a long time to find the answer, but it's in there. If memory serves, I believe Peter stated that weight was not an issue. And being an owner of the Elevator myself, I'm fairly certain that this is indeed the case. In my personal observation... once you've practiced with it a bit, it shouldn't matter how much you weigh.

Leo Martin

Weight limit is approximately 1000 lbs, so I think it is safe to say there are no weight limitations unless your neighbourhood elephant borrows the device. It can support this weight because of the way it has been designed, adding unbelievable strength to the device. We experimented with a lot of different options in physics in order to come to the final product.

P.

All right, Peter,

I have to give in and order your absolutely incredible levitation. This has nothing to do with the fact that you have been so open and honest about every single detail of it during the pre-release or the fact that everyone who owns it loves it! No, Peter, it comes down to the fact that your avatar has a pretty girl in it and that is good enough for me.

Mat

P.S. BTW can I get it quicker through you or should I just wait for Hocus Pocus to get it in stock?

P.P.S. I would rather get it as quick as possible, so if I can send you a check, from MA, sooner than you are shipping it to them please PM me so that I can have attractive girls in my avatar as well. LOL!!!!

Well Peter, RandomEffects may be an easy sell, but I'm still not convinced. Sure, most everyone who has one seems to love it, and most feel it's worth more than you're charging, and you've offered to fix it if it should ever need repair, and you've answered every question posed about it, from the reasonable to the asinine, in painstaking detail, going so far as to make a new online video clip tailored to people's requests, and you've even got an attractive girl in your avatar... BUT there's one thing you still haven't told us...

How the heck do you pronounce your last name?

Specifically, which "ough" sound is used? The one from tough? Trough? Though? Thought? Through? Plough?

The video claims we won't forget it. Well of course we won't, if we're not even told how to pronounce it in the first place! This is exactly the type of technically-true-yet-misleading wordplay typical of sleazy magic dealer ad copy. These other pushovers may have fallen for it, but I for one will not fork over my cash until you clarify this matter.

:)

Quinn

Just wondering, how much postage need to send it to Hong Kong?

Or should I ask Hocus Pocus?

How much postage to ship the girl? Will Hocus-Pocus do that?

Mike Giusti makes an excellent point that Blaine brought the Balducci to prominence. What's interesting is that before his first TV special, Blaine performed the levitation very sparingly. Reporters would request it, and he would demur until just the right moment and then spring it on them.

I think that the Elevator is potential "miracle man" stuff. I would hope that we all perform it sparingly and build it up for greatest effect. Doing it at the drop of a hat reduces it to just another trick. Self-levitation is a far cry from card tricks and making coins disappear. It puts you in a different category.

If you don't think that doing a signature piece sparingly and at the time when it plays to your greatest advantage is the way to go, see how readily you could get Uri Geller to bend a spoon or David Berglas to find your card at any number.
They don't perform these pieces often, but when they do, they kill.

Bob

Thank you, Bob. I couldn't agree more.

There are a lot of tricks out there; but this is one of those few illusions that could and should play like mentalism -- meaning that it should be done deliberately, seriously, and with a perceived chance of failure.

Performed correcty, it should be perceived as real. And such real powers can only be invoked when all the conditions are right. When that happens, it's a special occasion, and one that people should talk about for a very long time.

Remember: Yogis have been attempting levitation for thousands of years. Practitioners of Transcendental Meditation often envision themselves in a floating state, and some swear that while meditating they have left the ground. We now have the incredible power to help an entire audience experience this. I hope we'll use that power wisely.

I couldn't agree more with you guys!

Quinn, thanks for making me smile!

It's pronounced LOCK-RAN (Loughran) it's an Irish name.

P.

Man, six guesses and I still miss. Guess I won't be doing psychic readings anytime soon.

Quinn