Hey guys,

Can anyone give me any goss on a levitation that can be done on the street, with an audience? I'm not talking about the Balducci, or any of those things where your feet rise 2 inches above the floor. I'm talking a real looking levitation, where you can float an assistant horizontally, 3 or 4 feet above the ground. I saw Criss Angel do a great looking one on his website, where he levitated a female audience member after "putting her in a trance". Chances are she was a stooge though, right? Still looked great. Here's the video:

http://www.crissangel.com/criss_angel_mindfreak/video_2.htm

It's called the 'NYC Times Square Levitation'

Anyway, I really liked this concept. Is it possible to perform this kind of stage style illusion on the street without the use of audience plants?

Thanks guys!

-- Topher

Back in the 90s, I saw a levitation like that. I think it was from Mephisto's Magic Studio over in Belgum. The phone number I have for them is:
Int - 32 56 213053 fax: int- 32 56 214259. I got these numbers from their 1994 book. With this one, she is a stooge.

Emmett

Here is the website:
http://www.mephisto-magic.com/default.asp?lang=fr

I think this is where they use to sell that kind of levitation. E-mail them.

Emmett

Just seen the video you refered to. I am sure you would not almost break the neck of a person off the street. These were all his helpers/stooges, I am sure. Remember, she knew to put her hands on her chest and cross her ankles, as well as make herself rigid. Also they were all the same type of people as the magician. Meaning no suits.

The illusion does look good. But remember that the streets and sidewalks are hollow underneath the city. Meaning there is a number of different ways this illusion could be performed. It does look like a covering on the ground around the performing area.

You are assuming alot, in your question. As this is only a small clip. We have no evidence that they just stopped along any part of a street and performed the floating.

The only good simple illusion you can use for outdoors is Super-X by Abbott's. The spectator is on a board. You can use spectators to lift her. It does require some ground covering also. The chair suspension is also an excellent way to do a levitation anywhere any time.

So did you ever buy the Chriss Angel DVD's? It would be nice if you reviewed them for us.

I'm still waiting on an e-mail from the Criss Angel merchandise website. I'm feeling a bit apprehensvie about buying DVD's from overseas at the moment. Last DVD I ordered from a well known illusionist, who shall remain nameless (cough! cough! david Copperfield! cough!), never arrived. I e-mailed them to get some info about their shipping speeds, etc. If I do decide to purchase them, I will gladly review them for the rest of the Café.

-- Topher

Do a search. This subject has been hashed out a few times.

I have a Super-X, I don't know what type of "street" act your trying to do, but I don't use my Super-X on the street ... it is heavy and big and not really suited for a street performance - maybe a festival or something where you have a defined stage, but not somewhere where the audience is free to walk up to the illusion and sneak a peek. If you wanted to do a Super-X outdoors, you would also hafta do something about the ground covering - don't want the silk blowing away in a gust of wind.

Hi guys,

A levitation that is SIMILAR to the one being discussed here is "The Madrid" from Yogano Magic. It might be classified as a suspension though and an assistant must be used, rather than a spectator. Take a look anyways, here's a link to the site (in french):

http://www.yogano.fr.st

Click on 'La Madrid' on the left menu bar, theres a pic and a description in french. From memory this illusion was selling at around the $12,000 mark.

Good luck in your search,

Mike

PS: I'm in the process of developing a fully surroundable/street SELF & ASSISTANT levitation at the moment. It's a tough project though, wish me luck .

Hi!
the video under the link http://www.crissangel.com/criss_angel_mindfreak/video_2.htm doesn't work on my computer! do I need any programm to play it???

Andl, you need to down load Quick Time Player. It's on the bottom of that site.

Thanks!

The bulducci levitation is goo.But it has some problems with its angels.Can anybody tell me about a levitation that does not have as much angel problem as the bulducci???

What do you guys think about the Andruzzi levitation?I've learnt it But didn't performed it anywhere yet.If anybody has performed it,please tell me about your experience.

What do you guys think about the Andruzzi levitation?I've learnt it But didn't performed it anywhere yet.If anybody has performed it,please tell me about your experience.

I have yet to fail with the balducci... it seems risky, but once you can pull it off, it works. Stick with it.

Criss angels is a special one with some twists put in...............not useful for live audience...

The Balducci is excellent, but I'm also very impressed with the King Rising levitation. It's generally more impactful than the Balducci because you see both sets of toes coming off the ground, and the shoes are examinable afterwards, unlike with the Andruzzi levitation.

I you go there to this site, you will see in the menu, an item called Diablo. Now that is something that is similar to the way Criss Angel held his feet when performing that levitation on the street. Obviously there is something to the technique and it looks very similar. How much for the Diablo?

I really like the balduuci. I'ts not for busking, but it's still good. But I've never seen Kings Rising...

Isn't balduuci the method that David Blaine uses?
Not asking you to tell how it is done, just a Yes or No?

Yuk! Sounds pretty sticky to me!

Go with either King Rising or Wild Levi. Each has its own merits but both clearly show your audience that both your feet are rising above the ground. With Wild Levi and King Rising, you can left either one of your foot to show that there was nothing under your shoes. And by you waving your jacket around you, you also demonstrated that you have no strings around or above you.

I'd really love to know where I can geta book on KR. could someone tell me a reliable site?