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the answer to this conundrum is in Physics books , not magic books.

Streetking wrote:Wow, I feel kind of embarresed. I guess your right I am pretty excited but what if I actually could pull it off?

Actually, I have a theory that could prove applicable to this idea of yours... a concept I'd forgotten all about that could actually work though it would take some experimenting and again, careful control of the audience's point of view. But it could be done live, in broad daylight.

Adding to this... my thoughts are that the instant you hit the water there's a brief gush of "fog" that rolls across the water's surface from where you have entered. When this fog clears a large "silk" representing the chosen card is seen (and actually retrieved by a crew member) but you are nowhere to be found.

THE TRICKY PART... is getting you back. Unless this is a finale routine and you know that your audience will be "gone" within 15 minutes time, you'll be stuck at the bottom of the pool with a very limited air resource (a little gadget used in stunt work that was originally developed by Pro SCUBA in the L.A. area... it's a mini-rebreather worn under your shirt)

My thoughts involve a rather expensive set-up (mainly due to the materials used) but it would certainly prove unique... basically, the water in the area that you vanished at will begin to boil and ultimately turn into a cascading fountain from which you rise up through and then walk on top of the water to the pool's edge.

But I will make sure this will work and not end up being a terrible disgrace to magic. I found a local public swimming pool that said they are looking for entertainment but I need to test it a few times because I can be hot headed.

Well, there are those of us whose reputation around such syndromes oft time precede them...

And thanks to you guys I realize that the water may not help the effect of catching the card, so anyone have any ideas of a different element? Thank you so much for helping me!

I may be a hardass at times but it's because I love magic and too, I love seeing people reach their potential rather than accepting half-measures in life. Those that honestly know me will tell you that I genuinely love helping people that are sincere about cultivating their magic so feel free to ask away, just be realistic and expect to be told to STUDY.

I sent a PM to you, but just so everyone here can read it...

I have a method that will work. Live, surrounded, the works. And all you would have to do is pay a couple of construction workers...

In one word: Tunnel.

Yes, there are many more aspects to it, which I have considered and thought about to the extent of how to seal the part that connect the pool to the tunnel...but in one word...Tunnel.

If you have the means to build it, go ahead.

~David

David R. wrote:I sent a PM to you, but just so everyone here can read it...

I have a method that will work. Live, surrounded, the works. And all you would have to do is pay a couple of construction workers...

In one word: Tunnel.

Yes, there are many more aspects to it, which I have considered and thought about to the extent of how to seal the part that connect the pool to the tunnel...but in one word...Tunnel.

If you have the means to build it, go ahead.

~David

Like I said earlier... some things just aren't practical or viable, just a magician's wet dream.

Sadly, we live in an era in which some folks believe it is perfectly logical to go to such an extreme expense and action for a one shot bit... thanks to David Lame & Company who've modified storefront windows and even presented the DeKolta Chair in the middle of a dance club by making extreme modifications (infringements) upon the facility. Not what I (nor most of the people I know in the real world of pro magic) would consider practical, logical, viable or even remotely realistic for the majority of us.... something less that .01% of us would ever find ourselves in the position to even ask for.

Streetking, if you can pull this trick off, I'd suggest going down to the Vegas strip and start demanding showtimes.

Mage Tyler wrote:I think the whole thing is impractical, but giant kudos to you if you think you can pull it off.

Plot wise I think it might interesting as a challenge-type effect/stunt.

The magician states that he is going to demonstrate his quick abilities with cards. Normal card-selection bit on the ground. Magician states he will jump from a high-dive and before reaching the bottom he will have found the card.

Up he goes, flurry of cards, down he comes. Splash. Gone.

Drawn out pause... is he hurt? drowning?

Magician emerges (wet) from rear of theatre holding spectator's card.

The pause is a little more dramatic than other vanishes because the water, while clear, still obscures view, then people wonder if he might be drowning - an interesting element.

Theatrically interesting, I fear it's probably as Craig suggests: a "magician's wet dream"

Actually, I think your version might be possible. It'll involve a variation on a classic illusion technique (the same one used whenever a magician vanishes from point A and immediately pops up a long way away). What if the performer puts on some goggles and a swim cap as he makes his way towards the concrete stairs up to the diving board?

The only problem is timing. Water slows movement down so much, the idea I have for the vanish might not be practical. It might depend on angles (i.e. the spectators have to walk forward to check the bottom of the pool, giving time to do the necessary).

Part-Timer wrote:Actually, I think your version might be possible. It'll involve a variation on a classic illusion technique (the same one used whenever a magician vanishes from point A and immediately pops up a long way away). What if the performer puts on some goggles and a swim cap as he makes his way towards the concrete stairs up to the diving board?

I think I know what you're referring to, and I considered it, but in the end I didn't think it possible.

Before the dive I couldn't think of a way that wouldn't look blatently obvious. The point is for him to be standing out where everyone can see, fairly climbing up the board, etc.

Afterward, I couldn't think of a way that would necessiatate a rescue or fast response by scuba clad divers (unless he hit his head on the board on the way down, but that seems like too much trouble). Further, I couldn't think of any reason at all to have more bodies in the pool.

I'd be more than interesting hearing any alternate ideas, or anything I may be missing. If I've missed your point completely, just kick me and maybe that'll jar something loose

Hopefully I've made myself clear enough, but not too clear Mods, feel free to edit me if you feel I've errored.

Mage Tyler wrote:Before the dive I couldn't think of a way that wouldn't look blatantly obvious. The point is for him to be standing out where everyone can see, fairly climbing up the board, etc.

(Are you allowed to quote yourself?... anyway...)

I gave it some more thought and if this was used as a closer after a longer show there may be a way.

Magician is going about the show, audience always aware that they are, for some inexplicable reason, near a pool. Finally the magician says he will be demonstrating his quick reflexes and will use the pool.

A small changing booth is brought on stage, the magician steps inside briefly and changes. The magician emerges in swimwear with cap and goggles in tow. Magician begins card trick.

After regular selection procedure magician takes pack of cards, dons cap and goggles, and walks to diving board, due to placement of the changing booth, he must walk behind it. He climbs up the board... *splash*... etc.

Still not sure about the vanish, but the reappearance may be possible anyway.

Any other ideas?

Hmm, if it doesn't require a disappearance, why not while diving down, the audience throws the pack of cards at you, you end up climbing out of the pool with a sword and the chosen card run through it? *force ahem force lol*

Just something that is quite possible.

Just a thought, If you are going to vanish while diving into a pool. Why would you need to be doing a card trick? There may be a good reason, I'm not arguing the effect but if I am looking at it from audience perspective I'm really not going to give a hoot if you managed to get my card or possibly even remember there was a card trick involved. What I'm going to be thinking about is that some guy vanished while diving into a pool.

Then there is still the other question on how to reveal the card. Perhaps Craig's method of the card being on the water or how about a banner coming down from the diving board like on a blind of some sort.

OR take on a comic type venue and you splash into the pool, the water settles and all that is left is your bating suit. Somebody fishes it out and there on the suit is the selected card? Again however I fail to see the need for the card effect.

But thats just me. It can easily be argued if your doing a killer card effect why bother vanishing?