Musical Magic tricks

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Musical Magic tricks

Postby Mujician » Mar 6th, '14, 13:33



I was wondering if anyone knew of any tricks that might be good to use in a musical context.
I'm talking right across the whole subject of music.
I'd like to know of any good levitations that could be used to float a heavy instrument. Also if you know of any tricks I might be able to do while I'm on stage with my band just to make people think 'what did he just do'?!!
I did think I might get some rubber cement and a knitting needle but I think that might be a step too far!! I really love Max Summers (I think that's his name) music tricks but have been unsuccessful in contacting him.
Many thanks in advance

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Mujician » Mar 6th, '14, 15:25

Max Somerset, not max summer.

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Dan Q » Mar 7th, '14, 12:29

With a SoundzAmazing (review over here) you can produce pre-recorded sounds from an empty hand, which you can use to (for example) "play" a CD using your fingertips or make an instrument continue to make noise after you take your hands off it (best done with an unamplified instrument, of course, or else it'll come across as simply being a trick by the person on your mixing desk).

Combine that effect with a force and you can play the song that a participant "thought of". Or combine with a force or a peek and you can play the song they picked by reaching into a bag of CDs, or the track they pick from an MP3 player, or whatever. Or combine with one of several varieties of "magic bag" and take song 'requests', written on index cards in sealed envelopes, from participants, and then reach into the bag and when you pull out each one the envelope starts making the sound of the song written inside it, before you open it and reveal what was written.

Instruments more your thing? Should be easy to levitate an ocarina or a mouth organ, but I get the impression you're looking at something bigger: somebody with a greater experience than I of levitation can probably advise.

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Mujician » Mar 7th, '14, 14:45

Thanks dude, that's an awesome start.
I saw a trick on magic box dot co dot uk called float anything. But on watching the video all the items looked smallish and were static.

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Part-Timer » Mar 7th, '14, 20:25

David Berglas vanished a piano, while it was being played. Not one that can be easily replicated, however (he gave the method on the Magic Circle album circa 1980!).

I think you should be able to float a drumstick or a shaker egg; you haven't said what sort of band it is, though. You could probably vanish or colour change a drumstick too. I am resisting the urge to make a joke about rising organs. Heavy instruments probably need full-on illusion methods and that is not my field. Didn't Dynamo do a sort of levitation with one of Ian Brown's guitars?

Simon Drake did some superb stuff (as usual) with Iron Maiden in the Raising Hell show, including a great bit where he learns how to play the guitar the easy way... Again, not one you'd be able to do in your stage performances. It's around the 42 minute mark in the concert (have a look on YouTube).

I've just realised that all I have really done is told you a load of things you won't be able to do. At least it bumps the thread!

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Mujician » Mar 7th, '14, 22:26

I play in a few bands I could do something on stage with. One is a ska band with 3 guitars (one bass), drums, trombone (me) and sax. The other is a folk band with guitars, keyboard, mandolin, banjo, and various percussion. I could do a Whaley egg levitation if I learned how.
I've only just started learning magic so I've probably got a long way to go before I can do this but I'd like to find out about stuff. Thanks again.

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby waterloophai » May 5th, '14, 16:40

producing smoke from one of the instruments

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby DrTodd » May 11th, '14, 12:10

My effect Psychic Perfect Pitch is a musical mind reading routine involving a trombone.

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Relish » May 17th, '14, 16:16

Dont underestimate dlites. Pulling some light from an instrument, throwing it to the other hand and placing it into the microphone would look great. Theyre really easy to use too, perfect for any experience level.

:D

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby Discombobulator » May 26th, '14, 11:57

I remember seeing sky in concert performing a piece called 'tuba smarties'
every time he played a note on the tuba a series of chaser light would be activated and it looked light the lights were following the sound around the tuba.
Nothing to do with magic, but it just looked fun.

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Re: Musical Magic tricks

Postby DrTodd » May 29th, '14, 17:55

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