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I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN MAGIC dealer SITES ADVERTISE BRACO FLOATING GLASS SPHERE AND RECENTLY I DISCOVERED BRACO,S FLOATING BALL ON EBAY, the advert read it was an actual floating ball no thread , no magnets, and it actually floats, i checked other magic dealers and said the same sort of thing , i thought this was the sort of magic i,m looking for never had performed a floating magic routine,( mostly vanish,and production) purchased it for 24.99, i was disappointed to get it its a booklet with a couple of balloons, but reading the booklet it seems quite an amazing routine but will require practice,checked other forums for other reviews of braco's floating ball , most postings are the same complaining about what you get but i haven't found anyone or met anyone who has actually performed it or has any tips on how to , IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS AND TIPS ON SETTING UP AND PERFORMING THIS I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HEAR FROM YOU

You might find folks more willing to share insights with you AFTER you introduce yourself, etc.

Tell us about yourself

As to your question, I'm not familiar with that particular piece but use of a balloon is not new, Lance Burton has used a balloon/floating ball in his show for years.

This is not for any beginner to the genre of Floating Objects.
It will disappoint any newcomer or inexperienced performer.

To learn 'How To Float' you would be better to start with the SMALL 'Astrosphere' then possibly a Close Up item like the Floating Ball of Tissue paper. Later into a Zombie ( see Tim Wright's Zombie dvd).
Through this you will learn the hand, wrist & body movements need 'To Float'.
The Floating Ball as known is not for beginners or the inexperienced.
You do need to be a relaxed, motivated, flexible in movement magician to tackle it.

Back in 1973 my wife and I devised our Floating Ball. Her father built a table that it floats up out of and the rig/set up(which takes 3 to 5 minutes), plus our routine, took 12 months hard work & rehearsal. However I can perform this in cabaret or on stage without the usual rig. And it has been with me 36 years.
Over the years I have had about 10 Balls from the Don Wayne huge one( as Lance B uses) to the mini Astrosphere.All these, except the latter, which is used for teaching various, carefully, selected magic students, have now been scrapped & I always return to the 2 Balls my wife made for me back in 1973.

For background: Read:
'The String Book' (said to be a rip off by Tannens from ther original Braco book, Floating Routines for the Stage' Magic Books By Post still stock it I think at ? £7 something.
and 'Floating Ball Magic' by Roy Fromer, a little inexpensive book, published by David Robbins & Co. with a number of ideas & background to this Classic Feat

O have a file with over 30 different methods, rigs etc from The Original David Abbott effect, through Thurston's & the great Okito routine to Don Wayne's & my own.

Allen Tipton

Im reasonably sure that the version of the Braco book that i have, was published by Martin Breese.Ive had it for more years than i care to think about, but its usefull, in that it gives some info on thread strengths.
Its out of date now, because stuff like Kevlar wasnt around in those days.