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hey, i am planning on buying the asrah levitation probably from Magic Makers in canada, or maybe from tilford illusions.

If anyone knows anything about this illusion please tell me how i can figure out what kind of lighting i need, so i dont waste my money on an illusion i cant perform.

The other illusions im doing dont need any special lighting or anything, and i have never seen this performed live, so i got no idea what lighting you mean.

Does it have to be completely dark?
light coming from the back towards audience only? or towards floating body only?

I know about the simple setup of all the other stuff, because i have an illusion book that shows how the asrah set up is. But that may be an old version compared to those today. Also, it doesnt mention anything about the lights.

What is it? and where can i find a detailed setup of lighting?

Thanks

These are questions that you need to ask Magic Makers and Tilford Illusions. You need to be on the same page as them in case you need to follow up with any mechanical or performance problems that you may have once it is in hand.

I have only just noticed this post!

For simplicity: You need to keep the area above the floating darker. Generally the stage around it flooded with either red light( Lee filterPrimary Red or 182 Light red) and have a travel spot focussed tightly on the WHITE sheet. This can be clear or 117 Steel blue. I have also used 116 Medium Blue green to flood the stage. Willard the Wizard used a black backcloth covered with thousands of white spots. Dante used one with many many tiny flowers( I think roses) on it. The busy pattern really needs to go down onto the floor. Then with the downstage area lit full and the upstage area lit 'in a lower key', you can present it on what looks like a fully lit stage
Allen Tipton[/u]

well, the stage i am going to be performing on next has a black backdrop.
it also has a black bottom.

I want to be using some fog smoke to bring up the effect. So, all this might aid me to cover everything up.

I dont quite understand what you meant about the lighting...
is it that below the form the lighting should be brighter and above darker. (red) And also another light (spotlight) should be directly focused on the floating form and me?

But, hows the backdrop?

most people i see in pictures or in videos is that they have 'drap like' background. which is sparkly. Is, a regualt black black ok?

Is it really hard to make this look right? can this be done with simple few spotlights? or do i really need high tech equipment to pull this off?

Frymus. If you are going to perform on a stage you really must look into Theatre technicalities, rules and techniques.
Start with the chapters on Lighting & sound in Ken Webbers Maximum Entertainment.

A stage is divided into areas. Basically you have the Upstage area which is the part farthest away from the audience. Then the Downstage area which is across the front nearest the audience. These were so christened because most professional stages have a rake i.e. a stage floor that slopes downwards towards the edge. hence the back part was upper than the lower..down.
Then you have the 9 major divisions (there are a few more) UL which means Upstage Left( the left being as YOU face the audience) DL which is Down Left nearest the audience. Then there's UC ( Up Centre ie in the centre back area.) DC( Down Centre which is where most vareity performers position themselves. C = Centre( the other important place on stage) DR UR, L & R.
It is a shorthand for telling actors, technicians where you want you or the equipment placed.
The most important parts of a stage are C and Down Centre. The weakest are UL & UR
Asrah is just about always UC.
You ask for the whole stage to be covered( flooded) with Primary red. Then you have a follow spot on the floating figure. Either with no filter( clear) or pale steel blue( No.17 filter) The red affects an audience's eyes. The spot on Asrah makes them look at the sheet.
In Willards case he used FULL lighting and that backcloth and something like a turkish rug on the floor under the Asrah table.
He then had the lighting UPSTAGE L.. UR UC dimmer than the downstage which he lit brighter. This focussed the audience's eyes on the front part of the stage more than the back. Thus he created the effect the old black art magicians used. A light on the sheet helps do the same.
Allen Tipton

If in doubt. To simplify matters ask the LX to

1. Flood the stage with Primary Red or Blue green at half.

2. When the lady begins to rise. Pin spot( Follow Spot) the centre of
the sheet.

3. AS the lady rises, WIDEN the pin spot to FULL BUT keep it TIGHT along
the sheet.

4. As the sheet is pulled off, follow the sheet downwards, then FOCUS on
the magician.

It can't be made simpler than this.
A pin spot is a very narrow tight spot of light. I'd use steel blue( 17) in the Follow if I were using this simplistic lighting.

Allen Tipton

ok thank i got it now. I understand all the lighting conditions.
But does the backdrop matter?

If i use the folding form, and what is i use a regular form.
- I dont have a form yet.. so, i want to know which would be easier.

Frymus. Of course the backdrop will matter. A Plain Black backdrop can be very difficult/tricky with any effect worked by the same method as Asrah. The all over red lighting might kill this down effect, red on black tends to dull 'things'.

As for the form. Which ever you choose it is expensive.
If I were you I'd buy Geoffrey Durham's new book and make up or have made up, his adaptation of Asrah. There is no need to worry about lighting with this method except for effect & atmosphere. And there is no need to worry about any stage. There is NO set up.

Extra: On Lighting and if you are going to be into illusions you should read it & learn from it is
Creating Your Own Stage Lighting by Timothy Streader & John A. Williams. published in 1986. It is still available at about £10
Try your library.
Allen Tipton.