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~~magician-wanna-be:)
There are a number of websites that reverse engineer Copperfields illusions, spend half an hour searching.
The famous disappearing Statue of Liberty involved physically moving the audience on a hidden rotating platform so subtly that they wouldn't have noticed.
Hand them a pack of cards (even more impressive if they're still shrink wrapped); have them open the pack, and perform some complex manoeuvre to pick a card.
Get them to show their chosen card to some observers (but not you of course), and then return the card to the pack.
Then ask them to perform an equally complex array of manoeuvres, and finally get them to split the pack at any point.
Finally, ask them to turn over the top card of the bottom half of the split, and reveal their chosen card to an astounded audience.
It only works 1 in 52 times; but when it does it is extremely impressive.
If you'r in S.A.M or I.B.M you'll also have access to some of the people that have built many similar illusions. Haines House Of Cards in Norwood, Ohio carries a pretty good selection of books that explain the big illusions and the principles used in building them.
I used to spend a lot of time in front of a mirror with some knuckle-busting sleights and you'll find that close-up magic is often more appreciated, especially if the gimmick is nothing more than sleights. Well, you can always use a few gimmicked coins and cards. You can have a lot of fun with invisible thread, Kirkendall reels and a thumb tip. ;)
I always preferred close-up table magic to stage illusions but there are several excellent stage illusions that are really inexpensive. Jumping signed dollar is a good one, Wunder Bar is a close-up levitation that will knock people's socks off, especially if you buy the ThunderBar to go along with it, the gimmick is so simple that you'll wonder why you didn't think of it. :)
I still have a Stull Watch, non-working and Stull is dead, so you can't find them anymore but the Geneva Watch is quite good and a sure bar bet winner...
It only works 1 in 52 times; but when it does it is extremely impressiveROFL :ŹD
It's very difficult to teach illusions on a board. I will try and teach something which is easier to explain out here.
Props :- A Pen, Paper and a Calculator if possible.
Type Of trick :- Maths Based.
STEP 1 :-Ask a person from audience to come and write a 5 digit no. on a piece of paper.
Suppose he writes :- 26741 Now look at this no (ie. twenty six thousand,seven hundred and forty one). Subtract 2 from it and add 2 to the beginning of this no. and write the resultant no aside the original no. Hence in this example you subtract 2 out of 26,743 and you get 26,739 and adding 2 to the beginning the resultant no becomes 226739. Write that no aside 26741. So your paper would look like :-
26,741 ----------->226,739
STEP 2 :- Now tell your audience to write another 5 digit no below the original no. Suppose he writes 87436 below the original no of 26741 so your paper would look like :-
26,741 ----------->226,739
87,436
Now your job is to look at the second no (i.e.87,436) and subtract each digit from 9 and write the resultant no. Hence we separate the digits and then subtracting each digit from 9 gives us :- (9-8)(9-7)(9-4)(9-3)(9-6) i.e. 12563. Write this no. below 87,436. Hence your paper would look like :-
26,741 ----------->226,739
87,436
12,563
STEP 3 :- Repeat the whole step 2 again. Hence suppose the audience member writes another no like 98456 you write 01543 below his no. So finally you will have :-
+26,741 ----------->226,739
+87,436
+12,563
+98,456
+01,543
------------
226,739
If you add up all the numbers you will get a no. which you wrote just after the audience member wrote the first number. In this case 226,739
Howz That?
If you like this I might teach something more simpler ;) Just thought to add that my best illusion trick involves a simple rubber band. It has never failed as yet and is a trick I learned when I was in fifth grade :)
He also had a levitation trick that looked awesome.
Here's [gcgordy.crosswinds.net] the "card stuck to the window" trick.
lawman
FOX was the network, I think that had that "magic revealed" series. That showed how Copperfield did some things and how Blaine didn't really stay in that block of ice for very long.
Copperfield is on tour now I think. He puts on a great show.
On top of that, knowing the gimmick behind an illusion or a trick certainly doesn't mean that "anyone" can do it and I know a lot of people that think along those lines.
I had someone constantly badgering me about the cigarette through quarter trick, so I tossed him the gimmicked quarter and said, "Here, have at it". The gimmick is only part of the trick. The patter, the routine, the sleights and the misdirection still have to be learned.
Some very simple looking magic requires some knuckle-busting sleight-of-hand. And most people are disappointed when they order a gimmick and realize how simple the gimmick is, then learn that the routine requires practice, in front of a mirror, checking angles and using misdirection to ensure there's no "flashing".
Once you know the secret it's not really magic anymore is it? ;)
I think it's a shame that the Masked Magician is touring and revealing the secrets behind some really good illusions.
I know this has been debated to death but I'm one of the guys who thinks the Masked Magician was good for magic. He probably exposed a lot more people to magic than just about anybody else. He probably even raised the bar in terms of tricks and presentation.
I saw Copperfield soon after seeing the Masked Magician on TV and yet I don't think I figured out one trick Copperfield did. I was totally baffled and entertained. Same for any magic special on TV.
I knew people palmed objects since I was 4, yet I still go Wow! when somebody makes a quarter dissapear.
Not real sure of his motivation, could have been professional jealousy, cash or maybe he just wanted to expose the methods that were used. My feelings are mixed.
magic is cool..unfortunatelly in Slovenia i dont know any good magician..not a single good one...
The patter, the routine, the sleights and the misdirection still have to be learned.
Yeah and So does acting play an important role. Always felt that practicing in front of small children was very helpful bcoz sometimes they are very quick to pick up things and speak their mind out :)
Fooling a 5 year-old is difficult, fooling a world-wise business exec is a piece of cake. Children don't give a hoot about logic or physics, if the quarter vanished, they know it's in your other hand. The Exec is wondering where it really is. ;)
Next I'm going to master the moonwalk.
Fooling a 5 year-old is difficult, fooling a world-wise business exec is a piece of cake. Children don't give a hoot about logic or physics, if the quarter vanished, they know it's in your other hand. The Exec is wondering where it really is.
Yeah, so he can put it in his pocket!
Patter and misdirection are pre-req's for employment as a business exec these days. Ken Lay was everybit as good at creating illusions as David Copperfield :)
Find an old copy of "Stars of Magic". Learn the trick "Decapitated". That one simple trick, done with an ordinary bood of matches, will amaze everyone...even that 5 year old.
Interesting to see how many on these boards have dabbled in the legrdemain...
WBF
I came across this post while searching, and I thought I could set a few things straight-
I've been a magician, and designer of stage illusions, for over 12 years. I know how the effects are done, including those performed by David Copperfield and David Blaine.
The explanations for the Liberty Vanish given by dmorison and mil2k are not correct. Although dmorison's version is possible for smaller vanishes.
As for the card thru window, I've used that method to great success in the past, but for the last several years I've had the spectator sign the card before it goes thru the window.
I also perform most of the "exposed" effects with different methods as well.
[edited by: Marcia at 11:11 pm (utc) on July 28, 2003]
