First off I wanted to thank everyone on this forum who offered
constructive input, suggestions, and kudos on Rachel's stage
magic act last year. (forum thread and video here)

Onwards....

Rachel (now in 5th grade, age 10) wants to try Steve Fearson's
Monkey Vanish (part of the GoodBye Vanish forum discussion here)
at her school's variety show in March.

1. The cage will be a cardboard box with the front cut
   so that there are thin columns appearing as jail bars.
   
2. For the costume, I'm going to try this child-size gorilla suit.

I can't seem to find any performance videos other than
this tv video which was mentioned in the forum discussion.

Has anyone here performed Monkey Vanish ??

Even if you haven't, Rachel and I would love to hear from
all you experts, including any performance tips
you might have.

thank you!
Mark (Rachel's dad)

This was my try at it, never really got it to work.
http://illusionman.8k.com/photo3.html

Although Fearson's Self-Vanish ebooks are on my wishlist, I haven't yet bought or performed them. The only real advice I can give is to encourage her to practice as often as possible. While the effect is probably easier than it looks, it no doubt takes practice to make it run smoothly. When is the show? If I get the books before that, I'll make sure to come back to offer any help I can.

If you have any questions, I would email Steve Fearson himself. Steve is a really nice guy and he is a family man now, I believe he would be more then willing to help you any way he can. Just send him an email

Fitz

Don't do it. Monkey Vanish like the Laser Illusion look easy simple on paper but is really is very hard to pull off. I don't think that costume will work, that is one of the problem with this illusion. If you do it PM me. I made the cage first then the costume,but I think you should make the costume first then the cage to fit the costume.

Best James

PS I don't think Fearson can help unless he has built the illusion.

Having said all this if you do it and pull it off you get a standing O from me.

MacGyverMagic:
Thanks for your offer to help. The school hasn't yet announced
the official show date but it looks like it's gonna be in April.

Fitz:
Awesome idea, I will indeed contact Steve Fearson.
If he himself has not performed it, perhaps he's gotten feedback
from his customers who've performed it.

James,

Getting a working costume is gonna be challenging,
but hopefully with some trial-and-error and a little tweaking
we'll come up with a good method.

I'll be ordering the costume a few sizes larger.
I think with good implementation of velcro or zippers,
and figuring out a good method for the backbone
support, we have a chance at making this work.

James, what are some of the costume gotcha's that
you have experienced?

(you can reply here in such as way as to not
be a spoiler, or, simply PM me, thanks!)

Mark

James, thanks for your great PMs with your suggestions and questions. I PM'd you back some answers to your q's. I'm going to post the questions/answers here, in a manner that doesn't give away the secret.

1. Question regarding arms being restricted during the "in" and "out" moves.
   Answer: I'm going to order the costume 2 sizes larger, we'll see how that works out.
   
   
2. Question regarding holding costume still, between "in" and "out" moves.
   Answer: Will try using magnets to hold costume against cage.
   
   
3. Question regarding backbone support.
   Answer: Following the instructions in the PDF, we'll need to come up with something solid; I'm thinking of perhaps a long flat metal strip. I believe it's called strapping; it has holes every inch or so. I'll try 1" wide (or wider) strapping, and if it's to bendable and no supportive then I'll have to double it over.
   
   
4. Question regarding having ample "but room" for squatting during the "in" move.
   Answer: Hopefully having a costume that is 2 sizes larger will suffice.
   
   
5. Question regarding padding in legs.
   Answer: Will try some of the suggestions mentioned in the PDF instructions.
   
   
6. Question regarding getting rid of items left in the cage.
   Answer: Will stuff them into a compartment in floor of the cage.
   
   
7. Question: Make sure the costume neck is wide enough to accomodate the "in" move.
   Answer: Hopefully having a costume that's 2 sizes larger will work. Otherwise I'll need to have a tailer widen the neck.
   

SnorkelMaui I think everyone here isn't looking at this the same way I'm looking at it. Rachel's 10 years old yes, and I've watched the video of her performance and I'm very proud of her, shes doing very well for such a young age, she could become the tiger woods of magic if she continues at this rate.
But now I'm looking at this and as a professional, so here's my honest opinion, its a very advance illusion to pull off and requires a lot of practice and I feel it would be to much for her at this time. I think what you want for her is great to be presenting something bigger and more magicial, so what I would suggest is you start a new thread on what other members may recommend as a good illusion that someone at her age could be presenting.
Oh and Mark were all proud of her here at the Café and were all looking forward to seeing her become one of the next great Female Magicians!

Just a thought for you to consider!

Rick Anderson

Mark I didn't want to leave you hanging on this so I decide to come back and suggest this as an idea instead and I'm sure she'll like it just as much. Its more practical for her, http://itricks.com/store/2007/05/bisection/ now that's just a thought but if you click any of the other illusions offered in his book I'm sure one might be more what I feel your looking for.
Hope this helps.

Rick Anderson

Rick,

Thanks for your kudos to Rachel and for
your trick recommendation!


Rick I totally respect your opinion, and if I may give my
take on Monkey Vanish... I'd say that the real difficulty lies in
making a working version. But, after constructing a
decent costume and cage, I don't see there being a high
level of difficulty in performing the trick. (but we may
soon find out otherwise!)

She loves this stuff, and whether or not we can produce
an acceptable final working version, we're gonna have
a blast building it and trying to work out the kinks.

Mark

.. > and I've watched the video of her performance

ps....

btw that was a year ago--here's Rachel hanging out
doing magic at Starbucks last Saturday morning, fun stuff!
.