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MagicByUriel Veteran user Johnathan Townsend has a lot more than 358 Posts |
I recently bought the Growing and Shrinking Head Illusion from Bruce Kalver, and I tried it out on my family. At a distance of about 10 feet, it worked on my mother and father for the growing but failed to work for my sister. In reverse (shrinking) it did very little for all three of them. I made sure they were looking for at least 30 seconds and they were directly in front of me.
Am I just too close? Or have you had problems with certain people regarding the effectiveness of the illusion?
"Magic is the only art that the audience wants the performer to screw up" - Daniel Garcia
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Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
It works for about 80% of people. That's why it's good to do it for a crowd, because you're guaranteed to get a good reaction.
Also, I found that it doesn't work very well for many senior's, as their eyes aren't what they used to be. I did it at a senior's show one time, and never got a reaction at all. Well, I knew the trick wasn't broken, so there had to be another explanation. Brian |
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Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
I have found the more distance the better. (At least 15 or 20 feet) ...And Brian's right, it doesn't work on everyone, but for those it does work on, it always gets an awesome reaction!
Lyndel |
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Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
It also requires the appropriate time and intense focus. This weakens the eye muscles and makes the affect work. So, make sure in your patter you allow enough time and consistent motion / speed in the spin. Other than that, I agree with Lyndel and Brian.
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itsmagic Inner circle middle earth 1117 Posts |
It NEVER works on my wife. I did it for a mixed group of children and adults (about 15) and there was no reaction - so I had to ask if anyone saw anything unusual. A couple of hands went up. I think it's much better to play for a larger crowd, because then you'll have more reaction.
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Rodney Palmer Inner circle 1317 Posts |
Make sure that your BATTERIES are Fully Charged or you are using new ones. I tend to talk and have them concentrate for approx. 45 seconds. I play an eerie music in the background that I purchased from Barry Mitchell. At 45 seconds I then count down from 10 to 1 and then tell them to look at my head or a spectators head. In order to succeed you must keep talking to your audience to make sure that they are keeping their eyes on the CENTER of the Disc. If they take their eyes off for even a second it will not work.
Rodney
"Creating Memories That Last A Lifetime"
In order to keep "MAGIC ALIVE" Please become a Mentor to a Young Person. |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
It never worked for me. Got absolutely no reaction the several times I tried it which is why I sold it on eBay shortly after buying it.
A trick that only works occasionally is not a trick worth doing for me. Its my job to entertain everyone, and if it doesn't work on even just one person, then most likely that is the person that starts talking instead and ruins the momentum of the show. Too high a risk for such a limited trick. Then the transportation of such a flimsy piece of cardboard was always a problem, and having to carry a drill everywhere which got a few worried looks, and having to recharge the battery all the time... There are better tricks with a higher success rate that have far fewer problems associated with them. Steve |
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jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
I don't consider this a "high risk" effect at all. If you have an audience, and present it properly, this really rocks. From experience, I don't do it on older audences, and don't do it for children's shows, but for a mixed crowd this gets fantastic reactions.
jim |
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Scott O. Inner circle Midwest 1143 Posts |
I've been doing this for about 1 and 1/2 years now, and have had terrific luck with it. Audiences NOT to do it for include small children (8 and under) and Nursing Homes. The very young just don't concentrate or enough to "get it" and the few times I've performed it in nursing homes, several people SHUT their eyes! I don't think they like the busines of the spinning disk.
However if the audience is at least 10-15' away, and mostly tweens and older, this never fails to get a great reaction.
Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up. Galatians 6:9
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Larry Bean Inner circle I'm digging enough holes for 2016 Posts |
I've had great success using this. I would not do it for an all seniors audience for reasons mentioned in the above posts. With the proper distance and people following your instructions I think it will work for almost everyone. It has worked well enough that on several repeat bookings they specifically asked that I perform this effect.
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MAGICBYTIM Special user Louisiana 531 Posts |
What do you use to spin it? I bought a drill but it would spin the disc extremely fast. Does the speed of the spinning have anything to do with it? I did not have a variable speed drill. It was an on/off drill.
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Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
I use a small battery operated Black and Decker screwdriver. The bolt that extends out the back of the disk will fit perfectly in the slot where the screwdriver bits normally go. No bulky drills; no re-charging.
Oh, and here's a tip -- go to a local pizza place and ask to have a pizza box. I got one free from a pizza place by telling them that wherever I perform this trick (yes, I told them what it was for), I would be advertising for them. The box works great to protect the disk and the screwdriver. Brian |
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Larry Bean Inner circle I'm digging enough holes for 2016 Posts |
I use a variable speed battery operated drill and that seems to work well - I even vary the speed a little during the presentation. I have a pizza box too - it does work very well.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-12-18 12:56, ku7uk3 wrote: I purchased one also. I tried two shows. I did not get the reaction I expected. So I agree with you, Steve. |
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magicmanfrank Inner circle 1127 Posts |
Dynamike & Steve-
So very sorry for you two! I don't know what kind of audiences you guys play to but I have been using this for the last TWO SEASONS to open my County Fair Shows, (that's Approx. 450+ Shows!), and I have had TREMENDOUS REACTIONS!!! I don't know how you guys were doing yours, as I NEVER FAIL to get Phenomenal Responses! =Frank=
The Early Bird may get the Worm, but it's the SECOND Mouse that gets the CHEESE!!!
Frank Thurston www.FrankThurstonMagic.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-of-Frank-Thurston/116625117910?ref=nf |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
I tried it on my friends one evening and it didn't work but I think they where too close/drunk.
I want to do it with a hand drill because I think it will look more comical and interesting before I use it. Any reasons why I shouldn't? George |
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TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
I agree with Frank, I get awesome reactions. If you are in a smaller than desirable room, stand as far away from the audience as possible, even if you have to move away from your performing area to distance yourself to get the maximum effect. If you are on a stage, it works perfect. I have been using it now for about 6 years.
Scott is right, not for small kids and definitely not for nursing homes where the average age is . . . deceased!
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
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konjurer Veteran user Iowa 395 Posts |
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On 2008-12-19 07:57, magicgeorge wrote: I use a cordless, variable speed hand drill. I ask for a victim, err...I mean a wizard's apprentice and then pull out the drill (with no drill bit) and hit the trigger a few times. That creates a little comic tension. The only issue with my drill is that it is challenging to keep it at a constant speed. However, after a practicing a few times it isn't a big deal. This is a new effect for me but I've gotten some great reactions (do it again, do it again). I first saw a local magician do it about a year ago at a charity event and it blew me away. It is sooo visual and hilarious.
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Cheer KJ,
By cordless do you mean battery operated? I was thinking of one of these jobbies: http://www.grendle.co.uk/pics/handdrill.gif G |
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konjurer Veteran user Iowa 395 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-12-19 10:44, magicgeorge wrote: I meant battery powered. That hand-crank version looks hilarious but you may have trouble keeping it held steady and that may diminish the effectiveness. The disk needs to be very steady to feel that tunnel effect.
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