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Happy New Year!

You have no idea how excited I am!

A year and a half in the making. A decade and a half in the creation.
The Thing Platinum Edition will be available worldwide from dealers as early as the middle of next week.
Here is the NEW video demo with all of the features and below is everything that's included.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ3u_lwYONc

The reputation-making one-man levitation that can be performed ANYWHERE...just got better!
Perform it in a living room, on a large theater stage, or in broad daylight on the street. The Thing can float in any performing situation with your audience viewing from any angle. No matter how close the spectators are, whether they're behind, on top or underneath you, they will not see how this THING works! Practical, one-man levitations are few and far between. After a decade and a half of research and development in front of real audiences, Bill is re-releasing the routine Genii magazine has called, "The most practical, portable, self-contained, angle proof levitation effect ever."

You show a box made of clear plastic completely empty. The box lid is opened and an empty cloth handkerchief is draped over the open box. Mysteriously a form rises slowly up from out of the box under the cloth continuing up until it is hovering suspended in mid-air. The audience can have a clear view of the levitation from any angle and can see is no support of any kind. You then lift a corner of the cloth up and over the levitating object only to have it suddenly disappear leaving the cloth hanging empty in your fingers!

By draping the cloth over the invisible object it slowly makes its reappearance in an unbelievably magical fashion. The object can then float up and out of your fingers, shoot on a horizontal plane away from you or out above the heads of the audience. Finally you push the cloth-covered object back down into the box, dramatically close the lid and bow to thunderous applause!

Points to consider:

No threads
No magnets
No assistants
No reset, perform it over and over again without any lighting or staging considerations to worry about.
The Thing Platinum Edition Package Includes:

Hand-Made Gimmicked and Ungimmicked Cloths - The new Platinum Edition Thing gimmick is hand-sewn, assembled and each one is personally inspected by creator Bill Abbott. The new light weight components and imported microfibre material make performing this mind-blowing levitation almost effortless and completely deceptive.

Solid Clear View Box - The solid clear view box is made of a lightweight, non-glare, high impact clear lucite and metal framing, manufactured for a lifetime of use.

The Pocket Thing - Bill Abbott has included a second portable box and an all-new handling so you'll be armed with everything you need to perform this angle-proof levitation directly under the noses of your audiences. The new handling enables you to place an clear foldable acrylic box on the open palm of a spectator and have the Thing rise up literally inches from the assisting volunteer. Walk-around at a party, table to table at a restaurant or out in the open on the street, The Pocket Thing is ready for any environment.

The Poster - Included with The Thing Platinum Edition is a glossy double-sided poster with the main routine in photographic sequence on one side taking you step-by-step through the entire performance and on the flip-side is The Pocket Thing handling. Just adhere it to a wall or your practice mirror and begin.

Music Themes On CD - The Thing Platinum Edition package features a compact disc with 14 music themes, so you can choose the right vibe for your show. Each theme has been carefully constructed and composed specifically for The Thing and is royalty-free so you can use it in any public or private space, on the web and on T.V.

Instructional DVD Includes:

Intensive Routine Training - Bill Abbott conducts an intensive training session unlike any other, to accomplish one goal - for you to perfect the routine! Whether you perform The Thing on stage or up close, the training sequences have been designed to straighten the learning curve so you can perform the world's most practical levitation with confidence and to perfection.

The Wildbaum Sessions - Cirque Du Soleil artist Paul Wildbaum takes The Thing in new directions in studio sessions that cover the illusion of emptiness, body isolation, point fix, resistance, breathing, stage movement, character development and motivation. The Wildbaum Sessions will provide you with the tools you need to take your routine to the next level.

The Conversation - Sit down with the creator Bill Abbott and Paul Wildbaum for an in-depth examination of how The Thing came to be and the history of it's development. Also revealed are the reasons for the new Platinum Edition, why simple is not always easy, originality, personality, live performance, improvisation, imitation and repetition, natural acting, character, back story, inner monologue, emotional segues and the real secrets of how to connect with any audience.

The Workshop Notes - Included on the DVD are Bill Abbott's Workshop Notes that were previously only available to those who attended Bill's exclusive Thing Workshop. The Workshop Notes PDF can be easily accessed by inserting the DVD into any computer (PC or MAC) and opening the DVD-ROM contents from the disc.

DVD Running Time Approximately 120 min
CD Running Time Approximately 35 min

Price $200 US dollars.

Impressive but a tad pricey for me!!

That's unfortunate Jordan. With all of the features I know it's worth the price. I also know that it won't be accessible to everyone and that's okay. I've spent a better part of my "magical life" on this illusion, and in my estimation, it's selling at a more than reasonable rate.

Happy New Year!

Bill Abbott

At least it doesn't have a rude title like the last one. I think he deserves $200 for that alone.

I don't know anything about this product and neither do I care. However if Paul Wildbaum is giving advice on it then it may well be worth the money since the chap is a sterling performer and anything he says must be worth listening to I would imagine.

Besides Mr Abbott likes my Marmaduke the Wonder Mouse book and in point of fact I think he is the only one who has ever purchased it. This is a history making occasion so I think for that reason alone he deserves $200.

I forget the price of my mouse book since it is so long since I have actually sold one. It is less than $200 though and you do get a free mouse. I have always been the soul of generosity.

I wasn't being Narky Bill, I'm sure it is selling well and if my fiscal situation allowed I'm sure it would be a purchase I'd make even though it would then be my most expensive purchase to date!!

According to my stars 2009 is the year where I make good financially, but then they say this every year so we'll see!! Should funds allow at some point I will make a purchase as this is the type of effect I like!! I wasn't saying $200 was too much for the effect, just that it's a bit much for my wallet just now!!

Yes. The pound is losing it's value I hear. A few months ago $200 would not be quite as much as it is now.

Mark,

Happy New Year!
Marmaduke the Mouse is THE quintessential work on the mouse AND the educated pencil routine(s). Still using the pencil ideas and routine to this day. A very underused and underrated effect.

The Paul Wildbaum contribution to the Platinum project is fantastic, and if you know Paul it's worth any asking price. He is a master.

Jordan,

No complaints from me about snarkiness!
I completely understand your situation.
I wish you the best of success for this year...at least enough success so you can buy the Thing!

Cheers,
Bill

Johnny Neptune (now deceased) was the master of the spooky pencil. He must have sold thousands upon thousands of them.

anyone got a spare 200 dollars to lend me?

mark lewis wrote:Johnny Neptune (now deceased) was the master of the spooky pencil. He must have sold thousands upon thousands of them.

I remember Johnny Neptune. He was a nice guy. I can still remember how dumbstruck I was when I head of his death.

Back to the subject in hand, though, the new Thing looks wonderful. I like the original, but like Jordan, I'd be tempted if the pound was in better shape...

Pete

Pete,

It will be interesting to see what the UK dealers price the package at due to the pound's recent behavior. Should be on your side of the pond in less than a couple of weeks I would imagine.

Happy New Year!

Bill

Like Jordan if i were better placed financialy i'd lap this up. Not saying its too expensive, in fact if it were just 10 bucks i'd still have to check down the back of the sofa for luckies, but just to say your time invested in it looks like time well spent.

I will wait until the gold gilded, palladium edition comes out in 2010...

Mike.

"I will wait until the gold gilded, palladium edition comes out in 2010..."

Now that's funny!

Such a pain when something is so desirable and yet so out of your reach!! Just like most of the women I aim for!!