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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
I'm just wondering what is the biggest silk used in a performance. The common one seen and talked about are the 6 footers. Anything bigger than that? Has anyone performed with huge mammoth silks?
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Lucy and I use some 36" x 9 foot streamers/veils commonly. However, since the 80s the fabric suitable for magic is no longer made in widths wider than 90 cm. (That is really closer to 35.75" wide.) In order to make 6 foot silks two of these have to be seamed together and that seam adds bulk to the load and changes the "float and flow" of the silk as it moves.
However, even the seamed ones for backdrops and banners are certainly still very pretty. Movement is very restricted though. One of the things that is so pretty in Eastern stage magic is the artistic use of the "float and flow" of large silk productions. Westerners tend to not know how to make full use of a stage, dance (or move well) or match music to the act. Effective use of large silks would still help anyway. Expectations of paying audiences are quite different from those in "free show" audiences. On a grand scale, it certainly shows. Large silks are for paying audiences. Here in the West, we really need some hard work to get the image of magical entertainment away from being primarily for free to the public venues. American sponsors will be disappearing at even a faster rate in the future. Television programing will get even lower budget as the quality/commercial desirability of the viewer audiences available continue to diminish. Here we need to give importance to live performances again. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander PS --- Lucy and I have silks up to 3 feet x 30 feet. |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks, Bob.
Just wondering whether these large silks are usually produced from boxes, tubes, etc or are there other unique or special effects for them. I also heard that Tenkai ended his act with a very large silk. Any idea how big that silk is? What effect was that ending/finale? Thanks again. |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I have made several 90" x 90". It was used in Test Tube Bunny to produce a CEO.
I have completed a 12 x12 silks and am currently working on a 16 x 16 silk. Mac Birch used to use a huge silk that was lifted out by lines and suspended behind to make a full drop. Fantasio used a very large silk on the Ed Sullivan show. Marc Gilday is using a large tambour to produce a 90" x 90" for the Girl to Rosebush. I also made a 36" x 50' streamer for him. Jody Baran is using 22" x 60' streamers (two of them) from Kuma Tubes. Big Silks are and have been used for years. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
More big silks were used many years ago than are used now. Not all of that is due to lack of availability. As Richard says, they are almost always suspended by overhead lines. The facilities that make that possible are fewer than they were in the years before. Real theaters are decreasing in number. One of the simplest visual test is to check for multiple balconies. Today they are very rare in new theaters. Even one balcony is not the rule. Level floors are another reason to observe that stages are losing vertical height. In most cases, convention centers replace real theaters.
What we consider huge today is 12' high. Without overhead lines, one meter above and one meter below the human shoulder is about all we can control. That gets you back to the 6' size. Many of us still use the "Blanket Wrap" to produce humans (CEO, MC, Guest Speaker, etc.) but we don't use silk. When Lucy and I produce a horse on stage, it may look much like silk, but it is not. If we could depend on using overhead lines, we would have more options. Even breezes on stage matter with large silks. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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JNeal Inner circle I used to have 999 posts, now I have 1617 Posts |
While balconies in theatres may be rarer these days, they are in plentitude in the cruise ship market. Some ships have multiple balconies like a traditional Opera house and many have fly lofts for rigging. As to whether there is any available space in the flies on a ship...it may be dubious.
As Richard points out, Fantasio used a 24 foot by 24 foot silk: made up of four 6 foot Rice silks as I recall! What may not be as well known is that he had already appeared before on the Sullivan show and the reason for this particular booking was that they were promoting the show as NOW being in color...so he was asked to include as many color based effects as possible. I also agree with Bob...it's all about Live performance with me...and the magic looks more amazing as well.
visit me @ JNealShow.com
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks, Bob, Richard and JNeal. I didn't realize there are so many people working with those large silk. I can visualize that they look good, colorful and sensational.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
As the silk importer, I would actually have to admit that dancers are more likely to use them than magicians. But they have more skill at stage movement.
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I am surprised to not read the name Ade DuVal, his whole act was silks filling the stage. His book should be available from Magic Inc.
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Bill, may I know what the name of Ade DuVal's book is? Thanks!
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dsalley13 Elite user 465 Posts |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
The book is 'Rhapsody in Silk' published by Magic Inc. out of Chicago, IL, USA.
The use to the the leading book source in the magic society. Here is the link: http://shop.magicinc.net/index.asp?PageA......odID=721 |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
The demand for large solid color silk squares and streamer is good. The 12' streamers are about as large as an individual can circle and keep off the floor. The Line of Silks has the advantage over the streamers of not twisting.
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-11 20:01, wmhegbli wrote: Thanks, Bill. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Another Silk book is from our very own Rice's Studio.
The late Keith Clark found dead in France in his apartment after several weeks. His famous Nite Club acts are in print and available here: http://www.silkkingmagic.com/Keith%20Cla......0Act.htm Silks Supreme is an interesting study of Sympathetic Silks with a Multiplication of silks added. Buy from the original source as many dealers are coping these publications and not paying the source of all the work. |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
I will definitely support the original source, Bill. I have very high respect for all originators. May I know who the original sources are? Thanks!
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-11-12 04:27, JamesTong wrote: Magic Inc. and Silk King Studio's respectively, as noted in the post. They created and publish the books. |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks, Bill.
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Magic Inc. is the original source for the Duval act. I might add that David Carvett just published a book on Ade Duval that includes the entire routine. I am sure that David had the permission of Magic Inc. (Sandy Marshall) to include it. It might be out of print with Magic Inc.
Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Richard, it is on Magic Inc. web site as my posts directs you to their page.
WOW! Richard, it is really difficult to keep up with all the new books and tricks on the market today. The book looks very interesting and may be a great read and have some great information. Find out about it here: http://charvetmagic.com/ "Ade DuVale - Silken Sorcerer" It is to bad that the Las Vegas promoters do not consider silk magic as entertainment any longer. I guess it does put their set designers out of work and union stage hands left having feeling of inadequacy. DuVal was known to completely fill the stage with silk. |
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