Best Levitation Effect

[Pete Pridanonda]

Hi everyone, here is my performance of my favorite levitation effect to perform. No strings, magnets, and is very easy to perform. Audiences of all ages loved it!
I've been practicing both the handling and presentation for this effect for quite some time now and this is the end result. I'm sure you will like the performance, would love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSSy...DVS4JvKW0qst6-08CR-4t_vbwRcfZNM&feature=inbox

 

[D ICE R]

As far as technicalities are concerned this is either PK or an animation not a levitation.

Whilst the effect itself is quite strong I don't think your handling of the presentation does the effect justice and I have seen this effect many times performed by yourself. Firstly the effect is too easy for you to perform, and by this I mean that you just pick the doll up and do the effect watch Uri Geller perform his metal bending in the seventies it takes five to ten minutes to do a bend that most mentalists and magicians nowadays do in thirty seconds.I see this effect in the same light.

I do like the idea of having the spectator cause the effect to happen however it should be done towards the end of the routine (second to last phase in my opinion). Essentially all you do is cause a little doll to move, but if you create an emotional connection to this doll it will turn this effect into a super miracle. Personally I would create a sites of moments for the spectator to have the doll move. There are two ways I would handle this one would use a loop the other would rely on suggestion techniques to aid the first phase. Ultimately the effect should last about 10 minutes to create enough of a connection with the audience, also you want this effect to be something special that you either only show it or you rarely show it to anyone.

Keep in mind I am creating this to fit you as a character (at least my assumption of you).

Patter about some form of ancient society where there was some form of test as a right of passage to become a mystic with society. I would then proceed to discuss a while bunch of things that were required before one could be called a shaman or something.

One of these test was to create life from an inanimate object. As you say this place the doll on the table discussing how this is the hardest task required and also the poke that interested you the most. Let the spectator hold the doll at this stage, you have the option to say this is very similar to the doll they used and this is how I think it would look.

Gesture to move the doll when it is flat on the table. After failing explain that life cannot be created from nothing, however it can be transferred asking the spectator to hold the doll flat on their hands. Now using either suggestion our a loop get the spectator to feel the doll moving on their hand. Now take the doll and show it standing up only a centimetre or so off you're hand do the audience questions if they really saw it move. I would then fail to move the dolljust to get them to look more intently on the doll. On the third time I would move the dollabout half way.

I would ask the spectator to try and move the doll with no result. Finally I would take my free hand and hold the spectators hand getting then to really focus on moving the doll and with the two of you working together the doll stands straight up. Now the must powerful thing is to just suit there and let everyone else take the effect in.

I am sorry if this is a little rough as it is 1030 at night and I have just back from a stage show and I am on my phone.

 

[CaseyRudd]

I would definitely agree with what D ICE R suggested. If you structure this routine like that it would be much much stronger. Another thing I would suggest is to not perform this in a random Karate place. It's like you are done with karate and say "Oh hey help me lift this doll up in midair." The setting doesn't make sense for that effect. Whenever you perform it make sure the setting is right to increase impact. Another thing is to not have the doll fall the way you currently do it. You jerk your body way too much as if something is connected to it. Let the doll fall down as the spectator's concentration is drifted away, without moving your body. Or let it fall back down slowly as the spectator gradually releases their concentration from keeping the doll up. Either break concentration suddenly and let it just fall with no body movement, or let it gradually break concentration and have it fall back down in an eerie manner.

 

[Pete Pridanonda]

As far as technicalities are concerned this is either PK or an animation not a levitation.

Whilst the effect itself is quite strong I don't think your handling of the presentation does the effect justice and I have seen this effect many times performed by yourself. Firstly the effect is too easy for you to perform, and by this I mean that you just pick the doll up and do the effect watch Uri Geller perform his metal bending in the seventies it takes five to ten minutes to do a bend that most mentalists and magicians nowadays do in thirty seconds.I see this effect in the same light.

I do like the idea of having the spectator cause the effect to happen however it should be done towards the end of the routine (second to last phase in my opinion). Essentially all you do is cause a little doll to move, but if you create an emotional connection to this doll it will turn this effect into a super miracle. Personally I would create a sites of moments for the spectator to have the doll move. There are two ways I would handle this one would use a loop the other would rely on suggestion techniques to aid the first phase. Ultimately the effect should last about 10 minutes to create enough of a connection with the audience, also you want this effect to be something special that you either only show it or you rarely show it to anyone.

Keep in mind I am creating this to fit you as a character (at least my assumption of you).

Patter about some form of ancient society where there was some form of test as a right of passage to become a mystic with society. I would then proceed to discuss a while bunch of things that were required before one could be called a shaman or something.

One of these test was to create life from an inanimate object. As you say this place the doll on the table discussing how this is the hardest task required and also the poke that interested you the most. Let the spectator hold the doll at this stage, you have the option to say this is very similar to the doll they used and this is how I think it would look.

Gesture to move the doll when it is flat on the table. After failing explain that life cannot be created from nothing, however it can be transferred asking the spectator to hold the doll flat on their hands. Now using either suggestion our a loop get the spectator to feel the doll moving on their hand. Now take the doll and show it standing up only a centimetre or so off you're hand do the audience questions if they really saw it move. I would then fail to move the dolljust to get them to look more intently on the doll. On the third time I would move the dollabout half way.

I would ask the spectator to try and move the doll with no result. Finally I would take my free hand and hold the spectators hand getting then to really focus on moving the doll and with the two of you working together the doll stands straight up. Now the must powerful thing is to just suit there and let everyone else take the effect in.

I am sorry if this is a little rough as it is 1030 at night and I have just back from a stage show and I am on my phone.

Thank you very much for your feedback, your advice is honestly one of the best advice I've ever gotten on this effect. I can see that your presentation would work very well when performing for a group of adults in a formal situation. But one question, I also perform this effect in all of my kids show as well as my close up shows at my high school and I doubt that their attention span will be long enough to sit through the introduction for this doll. Do you really believe that this presentation would work in those situations?
As for using loop, even though it might be a great idea for some I want to stay from any type of animation or levitation effects that involves the use of IT. I am a strong believer in that a great animation or levitation effect can be perform in any types of situation anytime and anywhere.
But I will definitely try out your presentation and will let you know how it turns out, I can see how your presentation can turn this effect from a simple magic trick into something that will really connect with the audience and will be something they will remember for a long time. I take all your advice to heart and will put them into great consideration. Many thanks, great appreciate your help.

 

[Pete Pridanonda]

I would definitely agree with what D ICE R suggested. If you structure this routine like that it would be much much stronger. Another thing I would suggest is to not perform this in a random Karate place. It's like you are done with karate and say "Oh hey help me lift this doll up in midair." The setting doesn't make sense for that effect. Whenever you perform it make sure the setting is right to increase impact. Another thing is to not have the doll fall the way you currently do it. You jerk your body way too much as if something is connected to it. Let the doll fall down as the spectator's concentration is drifted away, without moving your body. Or let it fall back down slowly as the spectator gradually releases their concentration from keeping the doll up. Either break concentration suddenly and let it just fall with no body movement, or let it gradually break concentration and have it fall back down in an eerie manner.

Thank you very much Casey for providing your feedback on my performance, I had no idea that I'm going to get so many useful advice!
As for performing this effect in this particular setting, I had no choice. My karate instructor saw me perform at a fair and he insisted that I show the rising doll to the class. At first I refused but then all the kids really want me to do it and they asked me so many times that I decided to perform this effect. When I first learned this effect, I performed it everywhere and every chance that I got, problably done this effect more than 300 times in less than a month. But now I only perform this effect only at parties, close up shows, and walk around situations.
I rewatched the video and I couldn't see any jerky body movements during the finale. All I can see is a slight downward action of my left wrist though I think that is logical since the hand has to be there for support otherwise the doll might fall down to the ground. I've been performing this effect may many times and tried out both variations for the ending, but for some reason that I cannot quite grasp just yet, spectators react more when the doll suddenly fall down with a snap, maybe it's because this is a change of rhythm and they didn't see it coming?
Thank you again for your advice, next time I'll be sure to perform this effect in an appropriate setting like a kid show or walkaround. Have a great week Casey.

 

[CaseyRudd]

Thank you very much Casey for providing your feedback on my performance, I had no idea that I'm going to get so many useful advice!
As for performing this effect in this particular setting, I had no choice. My karate instructor saw me perform at a fair and he insisted that I show the rising doll to the class. At first I refused but then all the kids really want me to do it and they asked me so many times that I decided to perform this effect. When I first learned this effect, I performed it everywhere and every chance that I got, problably done this effect more than 300 times in less than a month. But now I only perform this effect only at parties, close up shows, and walk around situations.
I rewatched the video and I couldn't see any jerky body movements during the finale. All I can see is a slight downward action of my left wrist though I think that is logical since the hand has to be there for support otherwise the doll might fall down to the ground. I've been performing this effect may many times and tried out both variations for the ending, but for some reason that I cannot quite grasp just yet, spectators react more when the doll suddenly fall down with a snap, maybe it's because this is a change of rhythm and they didn't see it coming?
Thank you again for your advice, next time I'll be sure to perform this effect in an appropriate setting like a kid show or walkaround. Have a great week Casey.

You too, Pete! Glad to know you're taking our advice into consideration and you're working with it, experimenting around to see what suits you best. Keep up the great work! You're getting better at the effect after every video performance I see!

 

[D ICE R]

Hey Pete I am always willing to lend a hand when it comes to giving advice because it also helps me. And tannoy for taking my advice onboard, I don't always agree with the advice I recurve but I always take it on board.

I understand you enjoy this effect but sometimes you should not perform your favourite effects all the time. There are certain things I love that won't be performed more than a handful of times a year. I personally would not perform this effect for children, for the reason I don't believe they would appreciate everything that is going on, especially within my presentation. A truly great magician knows what to perform and when. And more importantly when not to perform. it should be said I have never done kids magic so I am not sure what works for them but I have spent a lot of time around children so I have some assumptions as to what will.

I can understand where you are coming from with your beliefs regarding performance considerations, however may I ask why your audience is the only person you should care about and you should fine then the strongest effect possible regardless of the method

 

[Pete Pridanonda]

Hey Pete I am always willing to lend a hand when it comes to giving advice because it also helps me. And tannoy for taking my advice onboard, I don't always agree with the advice I recurve but I always take it on board.

I understand you enjoy this effect but sometimes you should not perform your favourite effects all the time. There are certain things I love that won't be performed more than a handful of times a year. I personally would not perform this effect for children, for the reason I don't believe they would appreciate everything that is going on, especially within my presentation. A truly great magician knows what to perform and when. And more importantly when not to perform. it should be said I have never done kids magic so I am not sure what works for them but I have spent a lot of time around children so I have some assumptions as to what will.

I can understand where you are coming from with your beliefs regarding performance considerations, however may I ask why your audience is the only person you should care about and you should fine then the strongest effect possible regardless of the method

I would have to strongly disagree on your advice on not performing this effect for children because I've performed this effect hundreds of times for children and it is the effect that gets the strongest reaction in my show. You might not believe this but please do believe me when I say that it is completely true. In fact, the reality is quite the contrary of what you said, the children understand exactly what is going on, whenever they see that doll rises, their smiles, amazement, and laughter really made my day. Therefore, I will definitely continue performing this effect for children.
I've also tried many of the PK, levitation and animation effects utilizing loops, IT, rings etc...and I hate everyone of them. In my honest opinion, I believe that the rising doll is the strongest animation effect as well as having a very practical method. You don't have to worry about lighting, breakage, or get readys of any sort, none of the effects that I've seen fit into these criterias.
Also, the most important reason why I love performing the rising doll besides the fact that the effect gets amazing reactions everytime, is because I can concentrate solely on presentation without having to worry about any other factors.