I've been playing around with a manipulation act that involves a cloak... primarily it's for the aesthetic, but I'd like to involve it in some way... I know I've seen people use cloaks as zombie foulards and I believe is was Shawn Farquhuar (I'm positive I didn't spell that right) who performed a Silk Fountain-to-Cloak at some point... does anybody have any other ideas of what might be done with a cloak?

TX!

-Covernton

James Dimmare does a blendo cloak. Magic Hands when they were in business in Germany sold a Bag to Cloak.

Never seen anything else with a cloak.

An idea for use with a zombie is to have a cloak with an image on it. Perhaps the image is of a ball. You then shake the cloak and the image of the ball vanishes only to become a real ball that floats up to the top.

Kyle

Random claok Ideas:
*Seance third hand effect holding it
*produce assistant from behind it
*fire bowls
*big feather flower bouquets
*self levitation seeing the cloak leave the ground and no feet beneath it
*put cloak on spectator to make them a magician
*quick change costume under the cloak
*Learn flag or staff spinning and spin the cloak
----all kinds of stuff that could be cool----

How about a color changing cloak?

Use the Leopart Silk principle.

Arsene Lupin used to produce his assistant from behind it at the end of his manipulation act and it was very nice. Toreno had some ideas on scarf to cloak and performed it on Wonderful world of Magic in 1973.

A cloak was sold a while back which used the black art principle in the same way a backdrop is used for black art. Marvin Roy (Mr. Electric) used two different cloaks in two of his acts which are on the Stevens Magic videos. Lance Burton has used it as a production aid in one effect that I don't want to mention in the open forum and he also did an effect where I believe he either changed to a number of doves or his assistant did with only the cover of the cloak. The last effect I've never seen or heard of anyone else doing. Those are some ideas. I hope they're helpful.
Cheers,

Steve

Walk on wearing a cloak... take it off and it stands on its own and becomes your table.

Walk to the footlights, take it off, it stand on its own, leave the stage and a human shape take form within the cloak. After a brief moment, it is thrown off and you have reappeared.

Wow very nice idea, where can you buy capes, I did try to make one a while back but couldn't think up the right shape for it, Any ideas?

Tom

Hello All

Nice idea Pete Except it has already been done , by Fellow NY magi James Brandon!

I do a version in my Show where I am in a cloke & a mask Only to transform into my assistant . I then appear at the back of the House/Audiance.

I have also seen the '3rd hand gaff "incorporated in to an act using a cloke ...So give it some thought & possibly you can come up with something that is 'your very Own;


Michael Lee

Yes, I too have seen Shawn Farquhar do a blendo to cape, as a finish to his manipulation routine.

Somewhere, I have him on videotape doing his whole routine, from back in the early '80s on a telethon. "The early days"... potential blackmail material. Hehehe!

Shawn is amazing! Lori is more amazing! Hannah is even more amazing (but wasn't even a twinkle in their eye way back then).

Another idea for a cape is this. Walk out on stage, your cape is draped on the floor. You pick it up, and as you move it out of the way, there is a 5' tall card castle, standing on the floor. Mine is made from jumbo playing cards, and has a base width of about 36". Of course, card castles can be made from other things (CDs, etc) if your act is themed in another way.

I've used appearing jumbo card castle with success, and its a great way to open your act.

However, everything needs to be placed before the performance. This is not something you typically set up or tear down in front of your audience. It's more of a stage effect when you have proper curtains.

- Donald.

Thanks all for the ideas and the input! It's set me to thinking along some different lines than I'd originally envisioned... I think I've worked out a finale with the seance cloth gimmick that should be surprising!

BTW... can anyone point me to a resource for building collapsible castles?

Thanks again!

-Covernton

Hank lee used to stock a card book that had instructions on building a miniature card castle.

while I cant recall the name, I do remenber the last time I saw it was about 2 years ago. hank will be able to tell you I'm sure if you mail or call - even if he no longer stocks it.

Michael... ah yes, James Brandon... haven't seen him for years and years... What a great performer he is. Thanks for bringing his name forward.

Theres a magician here in the UK called Christian. As his finale he produces two white poodles from a black cape, looks really great.

Tom

Hi

Have a toppit and inside pockets made into your cape.

Paula

I have also been also looking for an effect with a cloak/cape. Lots of the ideas posted have been great!

My sister-in-law is great at sewing, and is going to be sewing a cape/cloak for me. Do you know where I can find plans/dimensions for a cape, and what materials are they usually made out of?

Thanks.
Sam

Go to a material shop, and look for a pattern for a cape. This might not be the best season to get it, wait till nearer halloween. A cloak can be made from any material, but more commonly it is silk/satin material.

Just for the record: Toreno (Norwegian manipulator) was the originator of the blendo cloak. I think Dimmare will be glad to give him credit for it, in fact.

Bjørn