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Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
OK, I've posted this elsewhere with little success; now that I've discovered this thread I am hoping that the readers here will be a little more specific in their replies and suggestions.
Here goes: I am working of a routine where I float a life size real looking Monarch Butterfly in my hand using Peki's hook up, that to me results in a more realistic animation for these types of effects. The problem is the ending, it is anticlimactic the butterfly just comes to rest in the palm of my hand; instead I would like to end with a flurry of those varied colored tissue butterflies used with the Chinese Fan routine. I have thousands of the butterflies but need a fool proof method of total disbursement that will send them afloat, perferable all around me. Since I do not expect to do this on stage, I am thinking that a couple dozen of these are all that are necessary. It has been suggested that I use a strong fan and have it turned on at the end to float the tissues. What I am looking for is explicit instructions on how I might accomplish this. In my minds eye I can see a professional on stage with accompanying music doing this effect then at the end spinning around amidst a flurry of the varied colored tissues floating all about him and slowly drifting to the ground; it is a dreamy effect but I do not see myself in the picture, it is someone else. How can I substitute myself for this stranger?
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
muzicman Special user LaCenter, Wa 989 Posts |
Why not just use the Chinese Folding Fan? You are only moving about a dozen of those butterflies. Another suggestion would be an electric "squirel cage" type fans mounted inside a box (so it's quiet)and have some sort of duct or tube (like a dryer vent tube) come from the box to your performance area and the output be near your upper body so you could just place the butterflies into the current of air. The fan could be triggered off and on with a footswitch that you can get from Radio Shack for about a buck. Something that turns on when you step on it, and turns off as you remove your weight from that foot. The on/off would be undetectable by the audience. Having music would help hide the fan sounds. Another less fowerful type would be one of those hand help battery operated fans. The kind with exposed soft blades. These are fairly inexpensive and maybe it could be mounted on a table, in a hat, or even concealed in your hand if you found one small enough. Making air move is noisy....getting that air to move at a certain speed to move objects (even paper butterflies)is a challenge but not impossible. What are your performance conditions? Do you use music? Do you always have access to electricity? How far do you want the butterflies to travel? How long? A minds eye is a great thing to have, but sometimes it's hard to convey that image to someone else.
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Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
Thanks. The problem with the fan is it is another appliance and will interfere with the hook-up for the main butterfly that is approximately 3 times the size of the tissues. As I see it, the butterflies will need to be released as the one I am floating starts its decent.
I am also looking for music for this and the D'Lites routine. If anyone can recommend a source I'd appreciate it. I did find one source but they offered perhaps hundreds of CD's, I found that confusing and deleted.
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
screenman New user 20 Posts |
I’m not familiar with this butterfly flotation (is it the elastic IT one that uses two playing cards?). I noticed you said you are floating it in your hand, so depending on the set up you may or may not be able to use this method for floating the tissue.
Conceal/steal the butterfly tissues in your hand by nipping them with the corner of your thumb – almost in a sort of thumb palm position. When your main butterfly is descending, sort of cup your hands to receive it (with the hand holding the tissue on top of the other). Release the tissue with your thumb so that it drops to a position just above the center of your hand. When the main butterfly gets just above your hand, blow on your hand at a point below the center. If you practice this you can get the butterflies to sort of rattle around until they swarm from your hand (like how the ball rattles around in the cup of a whistle). Since you are only using about a dozen tissues your breath will be sufficient to make them fly, but will not disrupt the main butterfly so much – it will probably just swarm a little bit like the others. Although the tissues obviously won’t fly as far or high as with another air source, they will still fly above your head. Whether or not this will be sufficient for your routine is up to you. You can also decide whether to make it obvious you are blowing or not depending on how high you can get the butterflies using each method. The main butterfly descending may be sufficient misdirection from your breath. I’ve tried this with a torn up Kleenex and it works well if done just right. Hope it helps!
If you claimed to have stopped time, I would ask you for how long you stopped it.
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screenman New user 20 Posts |
Here’s another idea that may be more fool proof -
Why not end by putting (or floating) the butterfly into your mouth then producing a mouth coil? Then as you pull the ribbon out with one hand turn to the side and grab a load of butterfly tissues with the hand that’s out of view. Then turn to the other side and pull more ribbon out with the loaded hand, simultaneously stealing more butterflies with the other hand. Then, when you wish you can produce the butterflies in this fashion: in the pulling motion, your hands alternately grab the ribbon near your mouth. When you start the pull, simply blow through the fist closest to your face to make it appear like butterflies are coming out with the ribbon!
If you claimed to have stopped time, I would ask you for how long you stopped it.
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Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
I think I like using the hand, I have an aversion to any trick that uses the mouth. Nothing personal and definitely not meant to demean your other suggestion it is just one of my quirks. I appreciate all suggestions, and think that none are bad.
I just tried blowing them out of the hand and it will work; if I have the added support of a fan along the side it should float them very well. And......I could use more that 2 dozen, they are so thin that 4 dozen would not be make a sizeable difference in the pack but could dramatically increase the effect.
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
Steve Dusheck New user Hazleton, PA 46 Posts |
Richard,
I used to sell a trick called the illusive butterfly. It was a real looking butterfly attached to a waltzing matilda gimmick attached to a TT. It was easy to use and looked very realistic. It sold out at most conventions. I also made a double one so two butterflies could flutter from the same TT. It was made originally to be a bit of business for my blooming orange bush routine. I also made a modified floating butterfly for a musician who played piano at a piano bar. He told me the customers enjoyed watching it flutter around as he played. You should be able to put something like this together. Perhaps the tissue butterflies can be in the TT and released at the end of the routine. You won't have to worry about the fan breaking the hookup. I also used to sell a floating buttery that used IT and was kept afloat by a fan. That method makes it very easy to add the tissue load for the finale. This is not a plug to sell magic. I no longer sell these items. Best wishes, Steve
Steve Dusheck
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Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
Well posh! Now that you've wet my appettite the question is: Where's the beef?"
Any idea where I can find these tools? I wish people would not post comments like: "I have this great method to vanish ...., but I can't talk about it." "I bought this great XXXXXXXXXX 29 years ago (and it is no longer available.)" "I just invented this gimmick that is great for what you are trying to do but it is not for sale." These are pointless and smack of self aggrandizement. What is the purpose of useless information? It is at best a thinly veiled attempt to create envy. To these posters I say Put up or shut up.
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
Steve Dusheck New user Hazleton, PA 46 Posts |
Richard,
Sorry for not being more specific. I thought I told you enough details so you could make the gimmicks. The materials are available at most craft shops. I often assume magicians remember all the tricks I put out 35 and 40 years ago. Either I'm too old or you are too young. You didn't say if you wanted the effect for close-up or club work so I'm not sure if my versions are what you want. If you want more details send me a PM. By the way there are feather, cloth and real butterflies available at craft stores for effects like this. Ed Mishell asked me if I could invent a floating butterfly for him in the early 1970s. I made the two different versions described. He was very pleased. I was just trying to be helpful. Best wishes, Steve
Steve Dusheck
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Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
Steve,
I sincerely appreciate your comments and thank you for replying. I am not too young, more like too old, I just recently returned after a 30 year hiatus. Originally, I stuck to cards and a few coins tricks, but now the Internet has introduced me to a different world and I am expanding my skills. In reading this thread you saw that I am soliciting information on how best to accomplish and end the floating butterfly. Please tell me if you think I am on the right track by using Peki's hookup? I would also like your help, if you will, about your floating ideas. I didn't mean to rail at you but just meant to express a pet peeve. I hope that you understand. DickLucas
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
Steve Dusheck New user Hazleton, PA 46 Posts |
Dick,
If the Peki hookup will allow you to do what you want it to do then it is perfect. I am not familiar with it so I can't help you there. A local magic shop or one of the guys at the local magic club should have A Waltzing Matilda trick or one of the many copies to show you. It is a floating silk effect. If you remove the silk and attach the butterfly you may like the way the butterfly flutters around. If it is too heavy you my have to shorten the gimmick to make it fly higher. Best wishes, Steve
Steve Dusheck
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Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
Thanks for the tip, I'll try to find the Matilda. Peki uses the an almost identical hookup as Penguin's floating dollar.
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
I was not successful in my search for Waltzing Matilda.
Does anyone here have any idea where this can be found?
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
keeper New user Kissimmee, FL 57 Posts |
Bob Little in PA has been selling these for years. I don't know if he has a web presense though.
Make every day a magicial adventure
Al |
Richard Lucas Special user TX fornow- MemberMagicCastle'65-'88 737 Posts |
Wow! That is amazing!! I will PM you my address. I would also like your address so that I can express my appreciation.
All the best, DickLucas
"The only difference between a Card Cheat and a Magician is that the Magician shows off.".......... Jay Ose 1965
Dicklucas |
RBerteig Regular user Monrovia, California 146 Posts |
You might also want to check out these folks: Elegant Aliforms. They make an extremely lifelike butterfly reproduction that moves its wings. It can't fly, and does have a power cord, but if placed with cover for the wiring it is an impressive object.
Ross Berteig
Wizards in my Parlor |
BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
I like the butterfly ideas and do a version of the coloring book that I got from Steve Hart, http://www.magic2motivate.com and then have some butterflys actually fly out of the book at the end. I also got the flying butterflies from him. And they really fly! I had three of them in my book last time I did it, and they all went in differetn directions, one going up, down and away about 15 feet from where I was standing.
But I like the idea of floating one, and then I will release a few of the flying ones BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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Daniel Faith Inner circle Neenah, Wisconsin 1526 Posts |
Richard
Why not do your butterfly levitation as you plan but then take the butterfly cupped in your hands (break your hook up) and suddenly they change to your snowstorm butterflies. You will need to work out the when to steal your load. You could use one of the arm rigs for the air flow. No fan needed. I think it would be far more magicial to have the one butterfly turn into hundreds.
Daniel Faith
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magicshift New user 68 Posts |
I bet you could modify the david Copperfield snow gimmick to spit out butterflies instead of the snow.
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