Tim,

I guess this makes you hate the european asrah even more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwUkX3nEbso

It sure makes me appreciate the first video even more.. that's for sure. I don't think anyone is going to show me an European Asrah done better than the guy in the beginning of this thread. I won't hold my breath. LOL

Best,

Tim

You better not...it would be ghastly to find you next summer...you know, you wouldnt be blue! LOL

Actually, the last clip,
Eliseo and Jennifer -- Asral Levitacion--
Is almost straight out of an old, old, U.F. Grant booklet,
either "Six Levitations" or "Bodies in Orbit".

And for the limited technology used,
is not too bad a method for a homemade bargain unit <grin>.

The pools of smoke did get to me though, cough, chough....
Thanks for posting it,
Walt

Oh yes that's where it is from (I got both booklets, cant remember either) but the form in this case is the european one.

But it does lack some pizzazz, eh?

Hi Tim,
Since you've mentioned it a few times,
here's my top-ten list of what is not good in this particular performance.

If you contrast this with the care, thought, and showmanship you put into your own very good YouTube clips, you'll see why this is not a good video to have on the web.

1- Inappropriate music
2- Lets assistant struggle onto bench does not help her
3- Picks up bunched gimmick while it is in cloth
4- Opens gimmick in mid-air (assistant should handle these gimmick moves)
5- Same problem moves as with a "zombie" stick syndrome in floating
6- Bench never removed while floating happens (and not a deceptive bench)
7- Clumsy collapse of gimmick into cloth and onto couch (where on a stage?)
8- It was done in front of a real couch making bench look even more suspect
9- Attempted in a living room without space to work equipment properly
10- No theme, premise, style, costume, motivation, or even staging

This was showing off a new toy to me,
not a performance in any sense,
and not entertainment in any sense I know.

If it was a practice session, indeed,
it never should have been on YouTube for the world to watch, judge, and dissect.

As I said I'm not posting this to bash,
but as a strong example (if a negative one)
to instruct all us who attempt illusions,
most of us can do much better than we do,
if we have a critical eye or directors to help us grow.

And, this is maybe a lesson not to put a "work in progress" on the Internet for the public to watch.

Magically,
Walt

Hi Walt,

All of the above is true. My point is that for a "not very good effect" this is the best performance of it I have seen. If he took some pointers from you it'd be a decent effect. I don't think there is any help for the others I have seen.

Best,

Tim

As I wrote you privately Tim,
There seems to be a growing market for “budget” illusions.
Some work OK … and some just don’t.

It’s the old case of “making a silk purse from a sow’s ear”.
Can you have it all? No, you have to make compromises.

Can you present a $5,000 illusion in your show,
spending only $500 for the prop?
Probably not always.

In our desire to own it all, and perform it all,
there are now versions of many illusions for one-tenth the original price,
so something’s gotta give.

To make a “budget” illusion work,
you need to put in ten-times the
care, thought, creativity, and staging, you need to think ten-times harder,
OR you need to spend ten-times the money and get the professional model.

There are exceptions, Creative Magic’s B-Screens come to mind,
they are practical, wonderful looking, and work very well,
the same cannot be said for many other “under a thousand-dollar” illusions.

I think you need to compensate, with either money or time-and-effort,
you can’t take a $500 Asrah out of the box, and think you’re Mark Wilson.

OK, off my soap-box (again)
Walt

Hi Walt,

Now that you're off the soap box I'll hop back up on it for ya! LOL

Although there are some great illusions out there that can be done cheaply and done well...... going low budget on the greats isn't recommended.

There is a reason the good stuff costs a bit more. It works!

Best,

Tim

What all levitations lack is a motivation for being up in the air anyway. Why do you defy gravity? Is a helium balloon that has gone awry? A bird lands on you and lifts you up? What is the reason?

I have an idea for the ultimate reason. But its very controversial here in the 'sowth'.

Chad

Walt,

Just for the record, I have seen some silly videos on Youtube. They are good, bad, and ugly.

61Magic,

This performance shouldn't hurt you unless you are going out to buy an european asrah. Give the guy a break. For allweknow he could have uploaded the wrong video. Post like these are why I don't post videos on Youtube for other magicians to criticize. My videos are only for the potential client.

Helping is a valiant effort. Anyone can criticize. I would rather be a helper. You?

BYUDAD

It is a strong and good policy only to give video performances to potential clients.

It saves the world from having to watch the great, good, bad, or ugly and being humiliated.

If you do post your stuff for the world to see though, be ready to take honest heat.

I think the artist could profit from all that is being said here though, and do a better show.

Thoughts, Walt

I would agree, not the worst, but not the best either. Practice culd perfect that. (maybe they just didn't care how it looked.)

Joey911,

AMEN Brother. Well said.

BYUDAD

I just saw an email response from the performer in the original video,
who was sent the content of this thread,
his comment (sent from his Iphone) was:

"That was funny and true. LOL"

Cool that he agrees with what people have been saying.

Chad,
I live in the sowth....do tell.

Tim, Tim, Tim, I thought you loved the European Asrah. HA! I have to agree with my good friend Tim, I also hate the European Asrah, as a matter of fact, one was thrown in with several illusions I purchased in Ohio. It felt apart the same day. I believe I have it stashed away in the basement if anyone is interested and yes, I have seen it performed a lot better. Love the Asrah though, what a crowd pleaser.

Those video clips brought back memories of Jeffery Atkins performing at an IBM convention here in the UK a few years ago.

The head of the "floating lady" was lolling around as though he had broken the neck of his assistant, and the floating had less finesse than the first guy on the videos.

He followed up the Asrah with the Cremation illusion, with just a tad too much smoke powder. The auditorium was engulf in thick white smoke.

The ensuing raptous ovation was due to the audience wafting their hands around to clear the somke and inadvertantly slapping their neighbour in the face.

Jeff, you were one of a kind, God bless you wherever you are.

Good to see you posting Kevin. Don't take so long to do so next time eh??? LOL

Best,

Tim

I worked with a friend of mine in Canada for two days with his version of this piece of poo from it's most well known builder (with teh boxy red couch)...

After 2 full days of working with him and his assistant.. we finally decided that the best thing to do wiht his Crap-sra.. was to sell it and buy a new "rain" drape for a dancing tie routine we were also working on for his show.

The problem with this illusion.. is that even if it's performed as well as it can be performed.. it's still crap.

I give props to the one or two guys I've scene perform this where it doesn't look horrible.. by it's very nature it's not a good or deceptive illusion..