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I've been a zombie, floating ball practitioner since day 1. would anyone here like to open discussion on this great effect. Please reply.

ruben,
I don't think this or your "review" of DVD's thread should be in here. Hardly reviews are they?

The Zombie is a lovely effect, and in the right hands can be mystifying. I regularly use my Zombie in my act, and it never fails to amaze the audience. There are quite a few different models on the market, and different gimmicks available. I'm using a mixture of Magic Max's Ultimate Floating Pearl, which is a slightly smaller version, and a cheap Zombie from J_B_Magic on eBay, as my original Pearl has now cracked with age and use.

I tell the audience that this was my Grandmothers, and always used to catch my eye, and she left it to me, telling me that when it is dark, and when there's music playing, the crystal ball used to dance for her. I cover the Zombie, start the music, and use the 'ultimate floating pearl' part of the trick to make the Zombie vanish completely for the finale.

Have a look at Losander's videos on YouTube if you haven't already seen them, and also Jeff McBride's excellent work on the Zombie for some excellent tips.

I like the idea of having the zombie inside a double handkerchief. The downside is you can't show the nice shiny ball, but as a manipulation of "nothing" (you can even bring out a clear box and drape the hanky over it to start!) I think it's very charming, plus the distinct advantage of having no angles to worry about - including from underneath!

I don't have a zombie yet but it's definitely something I'm looking into...

I so don't like the zombie and for the same reason I don't like the linking rings. The performer never seems to know when to stop same is true for the dancing cane. So it is not really the effect. I do like Paul Daniels routine with the linking rings. TWO RINGS and a little girl and a lesson in confidence. And why on earth would somebody think that barbed wire rings are more impressive then the regular. same is true for a zombie, why get all glittery. Perhaps a disco ball and it would float down from the ceiling rather then up from the table. McBride did a good job with the zombie with his face mask but there was a story involved and it all made sense. But more then a minute and a half of the ball floating around is just boring. But then I'm probably jaded.

I love using the zombie ball. It's a very nice levitation and I include it in my stage act. But, I have tried lot's music for it and I can't seem to find anything that I like to use with it, does anyone have any advice on good music.

Mr.Mystery wrote:I love using the zombie ball. It's a very nice levitation and I include it in my stage act. But, I have tried lot's music for it and I can't seem to find anything that I like to use with it, does anyone have any advice on good music.

Anything by Rob Zombie. of course you would probably offend most of the audience. But the irony is just to good to pass up. ...zombie, Rob Zombie...Eh, I guess that was just funny in my own head.

bmat wrote:

Mr.Mystery wrote:I love using the zombie ball. It's a very nice levitation and I include it in my stage act. But, I have tried lot's music for it and I can't seem to find anything that I like to use with it, does anyone have any advice on good music.

Anything by Rob Zombie. of course you would probably offend most of the audience. But the irony is just to good to pass up. ...zombie, Rob Zombie...Eh, I guess that was just funny in my own head.

Naw, I got a pretty good laugh myself.

I think that I have the perfect music for it, but, and I do apologize, I will keep that to myself.

Nevertheless, the "perfect" music is the music that moves you into feeling like that ball is floating. When you feel it, your audience has no choice but to feel it.

Like I say, believe in your magic.

Anyway, choose a piece of music that makes you feel "zombie."

Mike.

Bmat writes, in part: ". . .I so don't like the zombie and for the same reason I don't like the linking rings. The performer never seems to know when to stop. . . "

How very true!

Like the dancing cane (why IS a young man carrying a walking stick, anyway?), anything over 30 seconds is "trial by boredom" for the audience.

Take the linking rings; after you line one or, at the most, two, the audience gets the idea; you don't have to like eight or 10; the public isn't stupid!

The zombie: Once the ball appears above the foulard, the trick is essentially over. And yet wannabes will go on and on with it, ad nauseum (and that is NOT just a figure of speech!).

The dancing cane: After a few seconds, the audience gets the idea; you don't have to hit them over the head!

Can I also add ACR routines to the above? Two or possibly three times is magic, after that it's anything but.

PS Roy Davenport's Linking Rings routine is a wonderful exception to the boredom rule - it's nothing like the standard linking of one or more rings, he does it all to Flamenco sryle music in a fast paced routine which is just gobsmacking .

Hmm, I actually found it less so Mandrake, but horses for courses I suppose. I found that all the choreography (which was undoubtedly impressive) really detracted from the magic in the linking of the rings - I much prefer the rings Jim Cellini style - just two rings, but the way they melt through each other is so visual, it really knocks all of the "oh look, it's the olympic logo" type routines out of the water.

Mandrake,
Good point!

Mr.Mystery wrote:I love using the zombie ball. It's a very nice levitation and I include it in my stage act. But, I have tried lot's music for it and I can't seem to find anything that I like to use with it, does anyone have any advice on good music.

Personally, I used Slang by Def Leppard until very recently, I always used to start with my Zombie, and it always got the crowd going (although none of them probably have ever heard of Def Leppard), but recently, I've been using Westminister Bridge by Murray Gold (Doctor Who Soundtrack Series 1&2). It's the track from the very first episode of the new Who where Rose & Chris Ecc look up at the London Eye, realise that it is the transmitter they've been looking for, and run over a bridge and past a bus to get where they are going.

It's also a good length (2.07 minutes), and just fits in nicely with what I do with my Zombie.

I also use another track on that album if I'm doing a floating note routine.

Well, you did ask...

Peter Marucci wrote:
The zombie: Once the ball appears above the foulard, the trick is essentially over. And yet wannabes will go on and on with it, ad nauseum (and that is NOT just a figure of speech!).

Agree with you on most of your post Peter, but no on this. You're right, less is more with the Zombie, I have a little fun with mine, don't take it too seriously, then for the big finish, float the ball down to its stand, and vanish it completely. Adds a nice little climax to an already magical effect.

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