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Illusionart wrote:Hello Mark, well, I am thinking more along the lines of a classic floating ball,
The difference being the way I perform it, I different setup, I also want to cover the floating ball with a cloth.


Thank you for your advice though.

I think that ITRs and Loops suite much smaller less maneuverable illusions.

lf you are floating something small and light loops wont realy work, because the elastic nature will always pull it where you dont want it to go, IT Wouldnt do this

Sorry if I seem very particular, its one of those things, when you have a strong idea of something.

I will post back when i have some ideas, in case people are interested.


Thank you again


Kim Flores


IllusionArt

Craig Browning wrote:

LambertClan2006 wrote:look up astrosphere. Its the same as the zombie but it can be done without a cloth or with a transparent one.

Big D

It is wisest to not comment when you don't know what you are talking about; the Astrophere is nothing like a Zombie on any level.

Craig,

Sorry, I should have chosen better words. I know that Astrosphere isnt the same as the zombie. I was making the floating ball & cloth connection, I should have left out the word "same". I was merely trying to say that with the Astrosphere being a lot more visual this may suit his needs. The Astrosphere is a very nice effect and I cant wait until mine arrives.

I will try to word my future posts better as to avoid the confusion that I dont know what I am talking about.

Hi, Lambertclan2006, its fine, I think you made an obvious connection.

The things you can do with a zombie ball are different from the Astrosphere, but that does not matter.


What I am thinking of, is different to both, I want something free floating, using IT, then I want to be able to place a silk over the object and continue to float it, so this is different.

I do not really want what has been before, I am interested in something new.

Thank you all

You might be well advised to buy The String Book by Ralf Wichman(Braco). This was reprint ( could have been a pirated copy) by Tannens of his original work, 'Floating Routines For Table & Stage'.
It contains a number of Floating rigs and is cheaper than the original book.
I think Magic Books By Post still sell it.

Also the little & cheap book, Floating Ball Magic by Roy Fromer, which carries a variety of methods; mostly practical. Again MVBP

Then there is the Fu Manchu/Mohamed Bey little manuscript 'One
Man Floating Ball'

IF you must float in the open & covered the obvious order is covered first; creating mystery then out in the open.

The Silver Moon sounds like the version, Indian Moon, put out in the early 50's by Max Andrews' Vampire Magic Company. This was by Lenz and began, as Zombie, under a cloth then out in the open, via a circle of IT.
It cost in 1956, 55 shillings.

San Yen (Colin Hughes) featured it in his Chinese Act. He wrote part of it up in his Abra Series, describing & how to make, the open fronted box from which the ball arose using the Zombie method. Very simple but so effective.

I have performed, my favourite trick, The Floating Ball for over 30 years and have a file, some 3 inches thick on the various methods.
At one time I had 10 different makes of the FB but always go back to the 2 my wife constructed back in the early 70's
It took a year to rehearse with Barbara learning the routine, as well, so I could watch it and correct it. At one point in time she could perform it better than me!
She made, the Ball & other parts of the apparatus & her late father, made the table, out of which the Ball floats & returns to.

There is no stage rig. It takes about 3 minutes to set up.That is what took the most working out.

In July 2007 I showed it as the Finale to a 2 hour lecture on Tricks. I thought it was a tired performance but the watching magicians really enjoyed it.
I was quite amused by a long standing professional performer who said,
'I understand the principles of the Floating Ball but sitting 6 feet away from you, in a fully lit room; you bring in a table, set it on the floor in front of us & I cannot see, how you floated it over this side, then across to the other side, in front & behind the table and even over your head.!!'
I didn't reveal my method, based on the classical methods, because that 12 months was very hard, but very rewarding, work as was the 30 odd years that followed it.

We can spoon feed magicians too easily at times by giving them materail which has taken, in some cases, years to acquire & perfect.
Though, young Illusionart, I am prepared to discuss your possible version privately if you need help.


Allen Tipton

Wow, thank you Allen, that is great information.

Thank you so much, I will research those books.


All the best

Why do you want to place a silk over the object? I'm sorry if I'm missing something, I don't really have much experience with this sort of magic but surely the use of a silk is usually to hide something. If you're already floating the object openly then I don't see why you need the silk?

Magic is an art form to me, I hope it is to you.

The silk would do two things, prove to the audience that there are no strings and have a beautiful look, also you can take it many ways from that point.

It is merely an Idea at this moment in time.

Thank you for the interest Dirty Davey

Which is why Davey, I suggested that, IF he must float the Ball under the cloth then do it first to create mystery,& atmosphere, even suspicion. Then without the cloth, to obliterate the suspicion and create Magic.
Allen Tipton[/u]

There are many ways to perform an effect, it is indeed all about your comunication with the audience, floating the ball or object under the cloth is just one idea, it is just a simple idea.

I am just at the thinking stage, so I do not know what will come.
Thank you Allen, for your suggestion.

I will tell you what I find