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I am planning on having a GRAND illusion in school.. and i was wondering what are some great illusions to work with?

So far, what i know i am performing is this:
Large Shadow Box --> presonally customized
Master Prediction Box --> Home made
Levitating rose
Be-headed ... cutting persons head --> home made
Asrah Levitation

My show has to be around 90min. long
and i got plenty of time, and lots of time to practice and set up.
but, my show is too short.. i need more ideas for my illusion show.

Nothing too expensive please!

I have assisstants and i can get a stage crew.

Ok... as I said in the post on your Looking for All the Big Builders list... you need to slow down.

There is much more to big illusions than most people ever want to consider (until its too late).

Your best bet is going to be to get a copy of the Mark Wilson Course and work with the bits he has in there so you can get a taste of things.

Ex. Never heard of it

Dekolta Chair Are you certain you will have a stage trap available or are you going to ruin it by sitting it on a table (that looks so "natural" and non-suspicious after all)... or, will you be smart and take a look at Gary Darwin's INEXPENSIVE ILLUSIONS book and consider his method???

Asrah Levitation Which version? I've personally owned and performed at least a half-dozen different versions to this effect. Do you know which one is going to be best for your performance situation? Do you have a girl that's willing to rehears for countless hours a day until it is picture perfect? What about your lighting cues and teaching the lighting guys to do what they need to do? Backdrop?

Shadow Box again... which version? Though this is far more realistic when it comes to what would be "practical" to your circumstance and certainly more affordable to make, it also has complications and requires some very long hours to practice in order for it to come off just right. The traditional version that most mis-label as the Bamberg version (actually a Thayer design -- Bambergs was far more ingenious... I've never seen another one work off of the same method) has some horrid angle issues which is why you see those big flared "wings" on most of them, but there are other issues.

Spike Escape I think you're talking about a Bed of Death... I believe Mark Wilson has a used one available for about $12,000.00 and that's a pretty good deal. Brand new I think they start at around $20,000.00 now days. They also weigh in at around 800 pounds or so and require two men and a small child to help assemble. It's about as impractical as trooping a Buzz Saw and I've done that too.

6 way Zig-Zag Don't know what this is... you may be giving something a wrong name again. A Multiple Cutting of this sort is very top end and usually retail for between $12,000.00 and as much as $35,000.00 depending on the source. You must also understand that systems such as Franz's Janet Box (Multiple Cutting) are controlled as to who can have it and where they are allowed to present it so that everyone gains advantages within their own market region.

If you want a cutting bit look for a used Zig Zag, Thin Model Sawing or Mismade Lady... they are all good "starter kits" so to speak. Realistically, given what I feel is probably your age group and performance arena, you might want to look at something along the line of the Harbin Bow Saw... Stinemeyer did a great improvement on it some years back so if you have about $4,000.00 to spare, give Jim a call.


NOW THAT I'VE BUSTED YOUR BUBBLE let me put a band-aid on the ouchey...

PM me and explain to me what your opportunity is, why you want to do a big effect, what your performance area is, etc. and maybe we can figure something out... after all, I've produced cars from a standard Squared Circle production set on a solid concrete stage, no back drop or lighting control in a city park...

i need help still...
need more ideas for some illusions

dont want to spend much.. Already spent plenty!


I got full control of lighting, sound, and lots of stage assistants...
its roughly the size of a medium sized theatre stage.
(Black back)

How much experience do you have with stage illusions?

Frymus wrote:i need help still...
need more ideas for some illusions

dont want to spend much.. Already spent plenty!


I got full control of lighting, sound, and lots of stage assistants...
its roughly the size of a medium sized theatre stage.
(Black back)

If you don't want to spend much, then hang it up... as I've already pointed out, major stage illusions cost big money even used!

You say you have "lots of stage assistants..." ok... but can these people you think you have available do the work that's required and are they willing to invest the amount of time needed to rehearse the routines. Finally, WILL THEY KEEP THEIR BIG MOUTHS SHUT or are they going to video tape the rehearsals and put them on YouTube next month?

Illusionists have ALL of their staff signed to a Secrecy & Non-Disclosure Agreement that IS LEGALLY BINDING and I know of more than a few ex-wives that found out just how binding when they threatened to publish their ex-husband (the magician)'s secrets. . . not pretty!

I have tried to spell things out for you as kindly as possible, but you need to wake up and smell the coffee my young friend, before you get yourself into some deep sheep dip.