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Hello!

I'm fairly new to IT, ITRs and IET, and I'd like to learn how to make a levitating ring spin, like in the Tarantula ad.

I was going to buy a Tarantula, but have been informed by various sources that:
1 It breaks easily (discussed elsewhere on this forum if I recall)
2 It's 'hidden in plain site', which can be a pain
3 It's not the Tarantula that makes the ring spin: you can do this with a reel or just some thread

Any idea where I can learn this? Is it on the Ammar Easy to Master DVDs? Or is it something very basic that someone can explain to me in this thread or in a PM?

Thanks for any help!

The Devil's Tailor wrote:Hello!

I'm fairly new to IT, ITRs and IET, and I'd like to learn how to make a levitating ring spin, like in the Tarantula ad.

I was going to buy a Tarantula, but have been informed by various sources that:
1 It breaks easily (discussed elsewhere on this forum if I recall)
2 It's 'hidden in plain site', which can be a pain
3 It's not the Tarantula that makes the ring spin: you can do this with a reel or just some thread

Any idea where I can learn this? Is it on the Ammar Easy to Master DVDs? Or is it something very basic that someone can explain to me in this thread or in a PM?

Thanks for any help!

The hook up Brown explains in his book would allow you to make it spin. Not sure it adds anything at all to a levitation though.

The Devil's Tailor wrote:Hello!

I'm fairly new to IT, ITRs and IET, and I'd like to learn how to make a levitating ring spin, like in the Tarantula ad.

I was going to buy a Tarantula, but have been informed by various sources that:
1 It breaks easily (discussed elsewhere on this forum if I recall)
2 It's 'hidden in plain site', which can be a pain
3 It's not the Tarantula that makes the ring spin: you can do this with a reel or just some thread

Any idea where I can learn this? Is it on the Ammar Easy to Master DVDs? Or is it something very basic that someone can explain to me in this thread or in a PM?

Thanks for any help!

If you treat it properly it does not break easily. It is however IT and by its very nature it is going to break, the gimmick is wonderful

It is hidden in plain sight, makes it wonderful, it is ready to go in seconds and is never in your way like most other hook ups. I used Steve Fearson's hook up for the longest time but always with that major drawback. Turantula you can use that hookup and it is never in your way.

Yup you can do it with any reel or just about any hook up. I used to make a crumpled up bill spin all the time. A little bit of thought and some experience and experimentation and you are off and running.

The only place I've seen it explained is in the Turantula instructions.

The Turantula actually takes some work and experimentation which is why most folks shy away from it. Work with it and it will work with you.

No I have no connection to the prop, only that I purchased one and love it. I've been working with IT for a very long time and have at one time or another tried probably most of the stuff out there that revolves around IT and so far, Turantula puts the rest to shame.

That however is my opinion and it could be the way I use the prop. I am sure many on here will be just as quick to tell you its a piece of garbage.

bmat wrote:If you treat it properly it does not break easily.

Oh it does. I was very careful with mine and one of the little plastic parts on the switch broke after a few months. Its a very small piece, so I would have to say it takes EXTRA care to keep the tarantula working.

However, a little bit of glue and it was no problem.

I don't use the tarantula much, mostly because levitation doesn't really go into my usual routine very well. However, I do think the gimmick is great. It is hidden in plain sight, but its hidden very well. The DVD even shows you how to make it blend in even better. Nobody has ever spotted it, and I've actually been pretty blatant with it sometimes.

If you want to make a levitating ring spin, it really is a good way to go, providing you look after it and play around with it enough that you know how to use it to its full potential.

Thanks for these detailed replies, magical pals! I'm still undecided about the Tarantula, but that's OK, maybe I'll get one at some point. I'll try the DVD mentioned above first...

Whatever you do, stay well away from Sean Fields Flight 204... that'll only confuse you.

There are several ways to levitate/vanish rings with IT, hunt around and there are various hook ups. Never tried a tarantula or a spider, although I have used an indian reel to levitate and enable me to 'lose' it quickly though it only works on smaller dainty rings.

Sarah Jukes wrote:The hook up Brown explains in his book would allow you to make it spin. Not sure it adds anything at all to a levitation though.

Thanks for this, Sarah. I assume you mean DB? Which book of his? I used to own the two out of print books (I forget the names) but stupidly sold them when I was broke, just before they went out of print!

Hi Darren

Derren mentions his presentation of the floating ring in Absolute Magic, in the chapter 'Designing With Cause'. However no actual method is given, instead the reader is pointed towards a video by Terry Lunceford which explaines the technique.

Unfortunetely the video (as far as im aware) is no longer available. There was talk over at the cafe some time ago that Terry was planning on re-releasing this on dvd, but it never seemed to come to anything.

jim

Thanks for this, Jim.

It seems I'm destined never to levitate a ring.

Though I believe I can learn it if I buy the Tarantula DVD? I don't want to own a Tarantula but I've been told most of the stuff on the DVD you can do with basic thread.

You could also take a look at Morgan Streblers Coin Levitation/Bending "Spun".

The same principle can also be used for a ring levitation.

Have pmed you !

I shave my head so it's really short. (crewcut) short and find it difficult to control IT thread with a T. Anyone else have this problem?

i have never had issues with levitating a borowed finger ring. I am not a great fan of having it spin though.
The thing wobbles, and looks exactly like what it is.

Its more magical to have it float off your finger slowly,( or off a pencil) traverse a gap of about 12" and float back onto the spectators finger, where they can then examine it.

and this is done with a bog standard micro ITR, Or loose thread.

You won't get a better resource than Morgan's SPUN

pintoki wrote:I shave my head so it's really short. (crewcut) short and find it difficult to control IT thread with a T. Anyone else have this problem?

My hair is also really short (in fact its getting rather thin on top ) I dont have any problems though, well not yet anyway

From your question I'm assuming you're using the Fearson hook-up ? For someone with little or no hair the problem would be slippage because of the angle of the 'something' at the back (hope that makes sense). Ive never tried this but it may solve the problem - sew a small button at the back of your collar with silk thread, and have your IT go to the button first then 'up and over'. Using silk thread for the button should cause less friction than cotton. In fact nylon thread may be even better.

As I said Ive never tried this, so if you do, let us know how you get on, it could be handy for others with the same problem

jim

I don't have the effects in question so am probably talking cobblers (so what's new?) but I've seen IT hookups using a small piece of wire over the ear, a bit like the earhook from a pair of spectacles. Would that be a workable alternative?