of 32
--
--
-
-
TheArt01Close-UpLevitation
Copyright1998TheUnderground
All RightsReservedMindyourmannersanddon'tcopythis!
(Yourmotherwouldbeproud)
Introduction
FloatingFingerRing
1
2
28
161- StrippingOuttheFiber 3
1--1FloatingTootsieRoll 511
TheFloatingBill 8
StaticBuild-Up 12
=1Hover 15....TotalSuspension 17Face-Off 19.
161. TheKnotofthePhoenix 22----- -MakeA ThreadReel 25
WelcometoTHE UNDERGROUND! Jon JensenandSteveFearsonhaveteamedup in Las Vegasandcreateda brandneworganizationdedicatedto bringingyouthebestfromthemagic"underground".Everycityhasamagicunderground,a secretivegroupof hardcoremagicians.Guyswhoeat,breathe,andspitmagic.Thesearetheguyswhodon'tgiveuptheirbeststuffeasily.Butwe'regoingtogetit fromthemforyou,evenif itmeanspryingthetricksfromtheircold,deadfmgers.Wepromise.
Whenwegetanewideafromsomeoneit is presentedtoourTrickResearchandDevelopmentCenter.Webrainstormontheeffect,knockingheadswith variousmagiciansandscanningagiganticlibraryof magicto developalternativehandlingsandpresentationsbeforethetrickis fmallybroughtto market.Thisprocessguaranteesthatyouwill receivethefmestpossiblefinishedproject.
No expensewassparedin puttingtogethera brainstormingsessionwithsomeofthemostcreativemindsinmagic.Theresultis this bookon trulyoriginalfloatingeffects. Our objective:levitationsthathappenrightin frontofthespectator.Wefeelthateachandeverytrickinthisbookisareputationmaker.
We wantto thankall themagicianswho tookpartin thebrainstormingsession.WewanttoespeciallythankPhil KannenwhoflewtoLasVegasinbetweencorporateshowstojoinus.
This bookis dedicatedto GaryDarwin,a truefriendandagentleman.Garyis oneofthoseexceptionalmenwhowouldgiveyoutheshirtoffhisback.Hehelpedwiththisbookin manywaysincludingacontributionandcountlesshoursorresearch.Wetrulythankhim.
2
.-.
StrippingOuttheFiberManyof thetricksin thisbookutilizeinvisiblethread.
This threadis actuallya fibermadeup of individualstrands.Beforeperforminganyof thesetricks,youwill needto separatetheseindividualstrandfromthefiber.Thisis easytodo,butyoumustdevelopaknackforit.
1) Thefiberisstoredwrappedaroundacard.Thisfiberlookslikeregularthread;however,it ismuchmorethanthat.Thefirstthingyouwill needtodoisunwrapaboutfourfeetofthefiberfromthecard.
2) You will noticethatthisthreadis notinvisible.If youlookcloselyatthethread,youwill seethatit is madeup of manyindividualfibersfromthethread.
3)If youpluckattheendofthethread,you will be ableto pull out a singlefiber.At firstyoumaygrabontothreeor four fibers,butkeepon separatingthemuntilyouhavea singlefiber. Itwill be easierif you do this underalightandif youholdtheblackthreadoverawhitepaper.
4) Gentlypull outthesinglestrandan inchor two fromthebundle.Becausethesinglefiberwill bealmostinvisibleto theeye,youwill needtowraptheendof thefiberaroundapieceofscotchtapeandthenwrapthestickpartof thescotchtapearounditself.Nowitbeeasytokeeptrackoftheend.
~
3
5) You will needtocontinuetostripoutthefiber.Holdthetapewithyourlefthand,andusingyourrighthand,gentlypulldownthebunchof thread,exposingthesinglestrand.Whenyoufeelthethreadbeginto bind,gripunderneaththebundleandpullgentlydown.
6)Continuedoingthisuntilyouhavestrippedoutaboutfourfeetof a singlestrand.You arenowgoingtobreakoff thisindividualstrandfromthebundle,butyouwill firstwanttowrapthisendofthestrandaroundanotherpieceof thescotchtape.Thisfourfootlengthof singlestrandis whatyouwill useinthefollowingtricks.
7) You will wanttowrapthestrandbackaroundthecard,butfirstpullthebundledthreadbacktoitsoriginallength.Becarefulnottogetkinksinthethread.
8) Theindividuallengthsofthreadaredelicateandcareisneededwhenyoutravelwiththem.An easywaytocarrystrippedoutthreadaroundwithyouistowrapit aroundaplayingcard.I will usuallymakeupadozenthreadsatatime,placinganormalplayingcardbetweenthethreads.
1
To stripoutlonglengthsof thread,it is besttoapplypressuretothethread.Unwrapthedesiredlengthof threadandthenputthecardunderabook.Findanindividualstrandfromtheotherendofthethread.Gentlypullonthisindividualstrand,creatingpressure,andyouwill findthatthebundleslidesrightdownthethread.
4
--
--
~
-
outoflifeashecan.Hedoesn'tperfonnmagicprofessionally,buthedoestrytocreatethatunexpectedmagicalmoment.Thistrickis anexampleofjustthat.
THEEFFECT:
Themagiciantakesaboxofcandyoutofhispocket.Theboxis openedandthespectatorscanseethecandyin thebox.Thenoneof thepiecesof candytakesona lifeof it's ownandbeginstomovearoundinthebox.Thepieceofcandyfloatsoutoftheboxandthenfromhandtohand.Thecandythenfloatsbackintothebox,theboxisclosedandplacedbackintoyourpocket.
THESECRET:
1) Thistrickworksbestwithaboxoftootsierollcandiessuchasyouwouldfmdatthemovietheater.If youhavea tootsierollphobiaor forsomereasonyoudonotwanttousethisdelectablecandy,othercandyorobjectscanbeused.
2) You will needapproximately18inchesof strippedinvisiblethreadwithscotchtapeonbothends.You canalsousewaxorstickytacontheends.
3) Openuptheboxanddumpoutabouthalfofthecandywhichwon'tbeneeded.You cansharethiswithyourfriends.If youhavenofriends,werecommendthatyoufirstread'"Howtowinfriendsandinfluencepeople,"beforeattemptingthisoranytrick.
4) Take out oneof thecandiesandcarefullyun-wrapit, keepingthepaperintact. Startingabout9inchesfromoneendof thethread, roll the threadaroundthe middleof thecandycoupleoftimes.
5
5) Pressthethreadsoftlyintothecandyandthencarefullyrewrapthepaperaroundthecandy.
6) Placethepreparedtootsierollbackintothebox. Usingthescotchtape,tapetheendofthethreadclosesttothecandytotheinsideofthebox. Theotherendofthethreadwill gotoyourmouthwhenyouperform.Whenyouarenotperforming,youcanstickthethreadtooneof yourshirtbuttonsorunderyourcollar.
~1lhQ]
7) Witha littleimagination,youcanusethishook-upformanydifferentapplications.TwoofthevariationsI haveusedthatworkedverywellare:
a. Hookupadrinkingstrawandplaceit inaboxof straws.
b. Hookup a cigaretteandplaceit in a box of cigarettes.Thisworksespeciallywellif youareatabarandsomeoneaskstoborrowasmokefromyou.
6
III
WIll
w.II
t-
1) Secretlyobtaintheendof thethreadonyourbuttonandplaceit in yourmouth.Taketheboxoutofyourpocketandplaceit inyourhand.Opentheboxandshowthecandyinthebox.
4) An effectivemoveistocausethecandytofloatfromhandtohand.To dothisyouhavetolessenthetensiononthethreadandswayyourbodyfromsidetoside.
2) Movetheboxawayfromyouuntilyoufeelaslighttensiononthethread.Youarenowreadytocausethecandyto floatin thebox. Slowlymoveyourheadbackwhileat thesametimemovingyourhandawayfromyou.
3) As youcontinuetopullbackonthethread,thecandywill riseupoutoftheboxandfloatintheair. Youhavetotalcontrolof thecandybyadjustingthetensionofthethreadandthemove-mentofyourhead.By movingyourheadside-waysyou causethecandyto movesideways.Makeallthemovementssmoothandfluid.
~5)At thefinishof thetrick,havethecandyfloatbackintothebox.Closetheboxandplaceinbackin yourpocket.Aftera while,secretlytakethethreadfromyourmouthandhookit backonyourbutton.
7
- .-.
ca
w.I
I-
Perry Maynardprobablyknowsmoreaboutinvisiblethreadthananyothermagician.HisLite-Flightisanalltimebestseller,andseeinghimperformtheFloatingBill is likewatchingrealmagic.
THEEFFECT:
You areatthebeginningofyourjourneyonawonderfuladventure.Partofwhatmakesthistricksogreatis youareusingaborrowedobject,adollarbillthattheyknowis freeofprepara-tion;theyknowthereis nohiddenelectronicmagneticgeneratororsolarpoweredweightlessemulsifier,justaborrowedbill.
Theeffectisstartlingasyourollaborroweddollarbill intoaballandplaceit onyouropenpalm.Thebill slowlyrisesfromyourhand.Your handscirclearoundthefloatingbill, dispellinganythoughtonhowit mightwork. You thenhandthebill backforacompleteexamination.
THESET-UP:
1) Forthistrickyouwill needapproximatelyfourfeetofstrippedoutthread;theactuallylengthyouwill needwill varydependingonyourheightandperformingcondi-tions.
2) Thistrickusesatwopointhook-up,meaningthatoneendof thethreadisattachedtoatableorwallandtheotherendwill be placedin yourmouth.Withthethreadinyourmouthyouwillbeabletofeelthetensiononyourlip.
3) Attachtheotherendofthethreadtoatable,wallofwhateverisappropriateandwaisthighusingasmallpieceofscotchtape.You candothissecretlyaheadoftimeandletthethreadhangthereuntilyouarereadytoperform.
8
III
w.
IW
I-
1) Whenyouarereadytoperformthefloatingbill,takethetapedendthatis danglingtowardthefloorandplaceit intoyourmouthbetweenyourcheekandgum.You candothiswhilenooneislookingor whileapparentlycoveringyourmouthwhileyouareclearingyourthroat.Don'tmakeabigdealaboutthis. No oneknowswhatyouaregoingtodo,sothereisnoheaton youwhenyousetup. Actnaturalandthethreadwill neverbedetected.
2) Slowlybackupuntilyoucreateaslighttensiononthethread.Youwill feelthistensionacrossyourlip. Althoughthethreadhasalittle'give"toit,if youpullbacktoofaritwill break.
3) Borrowa dollarbill fromoneof thespectators.It doesn'tmatterwhatdenominationbill you borrow,butthelargerthebetter.Becausethethreadis invisible,youwill haveto formanimaginarylinefromyourmouthtoyoursecondaryanchor.Holdthebill bytheendsineachhandunderthisimaginaryline.
9
. 4) Bringthebillup,usingbothhands,andcrumplethedollarbill aroundtheinvisiblethread.Oneoftheproblemsyouwill encounteristhatthebillwillslidedownthethread,so it will beimportantforyoutotwistonthebillasyoucrumpleit intoaball.
I havefoundthatthemostcommontimethatthethreadwill breakis whenyouareputtingthebillonthethread.I havefoundthatleaninginalittle,creatingsomeslack,greatlyreducesthechanceofbreakingthethread.
5)Placetherolledbill intotheopenpalmofyourhand.Slowlycreateaslighttensiononthethreadbymovingyourbodyback.Asyoumoveback,thebill will slowlyfloatoff thepalmof yourhand.Don'tmakeanyquick,suddenmovements.
I usuallyrubmyrightforefingeragainstmyshirtasif I ambuildinga staticcharge.I thenplacemy
fingeragainstthebill andit appearsasif thestaticchargeis whatis causingthebill tofloat.Then,whenyouremoveyourfingerandthebill isfloating,itreallyfriestheirmind.
10
6) Letthebill stabilizeonthethreadsothatit isn'tbouncing,andthenslowlymoveyourhandsawayfromthebill. It will appearasif thebill is floatinginmidair.
I only leavemyhandsawayfor a few secondsfor tworeasons.Thelongeryouleaveanobjectsuspendedinmid-air,themorelikelythechancethatpeoplewill suspectit ishangingfromathread.Thespectatorisalsomorelikelytograbthebill.
7) Therearea coupleof movesyoucanuseto disprovein thespectator'smindthatyouareusingthread.Thesemovesaresimilarto a stagemagicianusinga ring to provethereis nosupportwiththefloatinglady.
Using bothhands,(becarefulnot to touchthethread),slowlyandmysteriouslymoveyourhandsaroundthedollarbill to"prove"thatnothingissupportingit.
8) Touchingyourthumbsandforefingerstogether,youcanforma ringwith yourhands. With thethreadrunningthroughthecenterofthering,moveyourhandsdownaroundthebill. Donottouchthethreadasyoumoveyourhands.Thisisaveryeffectivemove.
9) By movingyourheadandbodyyoucangivemovementtothebill. Rememberthatthespectatorsarewatchingthebill sotheywill notnoticeanyheadmovement.You cancausethebill tofloatfromhandtohandordowntothetable.
10) Whenyouarefinishedperforming,unrollthebill fromthethreadandhanditbacktothespectator.Whiletheyareexamin-ingthebill, pullthethreadfromyourmouthandletit justdropdown.
11
a.I
8II1II
u
THEEFFECT:
Thistrickis worththepriceof thebook. Thisdynamiteroutineis thebrainchildof GeneMarvinandallowsyou toperformthefloatingdollarbillapparentlyimpromptu.
A dollarbill is borrowedandrubbedwith a battery,buildingupa staticcharge.You thentrapthestaticchargeandcausethebill tofloat. Thebill is thenhandedbackforexamina-tion.
Whatmakesthistricksogreatis youaremisleadingthespectatorwithapseudo-explanation.I haveseenpeopleliterallycomebacktoGenewithadollarbillandabatterytheyjustboughtandtellGenetheirbatteryis brokenbecauseit won'tfloattheirbill.
THESECRET:
1) Thebeautyof thistrickis thatit is self-contained.You canwalkaroundandwill alwaysbereadytoperformthistrick.Yourhook-upis fromyourtopshirtbuttonor underyourcollar,to abattery.Thebatterywill actasthesecondaryanchor.You cankeepthebatteryinyourpocketuntilyouarereadytoperform.
J2) Thethree-to-fourfootlengthofthreadisrunningfromyourtopbuttontothebattery.Thelengthofthreadyouusewill dependonyourperformingconditions.You canactuallysetup severalbatteriesaheadoftimeforaquickresetincaseofbreakage.
12
a.I
...11
ThePerformanceI) Borrowadollarbill fromaspectatorwhileyoutakethebatteryfromyourpocket.Talkaboutthepropertiesof staticelectricityasyourubthebatteryagainstthebill.
Genewill trytoborrowahighervaluedollarbill andtakeadvantageofthemetallicstripembeddedinthebill. Heexplainsthatthemetalstripis foranti-counterfeitpurposes,butthatis alsoattractsamagneticcharge.
2) Setthebatterydownonthetable.Thisgivesyouatwopointhook-upwiththethread.Theotherendofthethreadishookedtoyourtopbottom;thisdoesn'tgiveyouasmuchsensitivityasif thethreadwenttoyourmouth,butyouwill stillbeableto feelthetension.
3)As youexplaintothespectatorthatyouaretrappingthestaticelectricityin thebill, wrapthebill aroundtheinvisiblethread.ThisgivesyoutheI "'-perfectreasonto roll thebill intoaball.
4) Setthebill intheopenpalmofyourlefthand.Rubthefore-fingerofyourrighthandonyourshirt,tobuildupastaticcharge,andplaceitnearthebill. Youcancausethebill tomovebymov-ingyourbodyback.It shouldlookasif thebill isbeingrepelledbyyourfinger.
13
5. Rubyourforefingeronyourshirtagainandthistimecausethebill to"cling"tothetipofyourfinger.
6) Slowlyremoveyourforefmgerandallowthebill tofloat.Thiswill totallyconfuseyouraudience,especiallyif theyboughtintothestaticelectricityexplanation.Youcanthengothroughallthemotionsoftheoriginalfloatingbill.
7. Whenyouaredone,removethebill andreturnit to thespectator.As thespectatoris examiningthebill, pickup thebatteryandplaceit backin yourpocket.You arenowreadytorepeattheperformance.
14
Thistrickisgreatbecauseyouareperfonningitawayfromanypossibleexternalconnectionwhichmakesthisperfectforwalkaroundmagic.A creditcardisborrowedandcausedtohoverinmid-air.Thecreditcardactuallyfloatscompletelyaroundyourbodyandlandsintheoppositehand.
THESECRET:
I) Hoveris theonlytrickin thisbookthatutilizesa onepointhook-up,meaningthatthethreadis attachedstraightfromyourbodytotheobject.
2) Youwill needa2footlengthof strippedthread.Youwill alsoneedtwosmalldotsof magician'swax(availableatanymagicretailer).Stickthewaxtobothendsofthethread.
3)Hookoneendofthethreadtothebackofyourrightear.Theotherendofthethreadisstucktothefingernailoftheforefmgerofyourrighthand.Whenyouarenotperfonningthistrickyoucanhookthethreadtoyourbeltbuckleorlowerbutton.
1)Borrowacreditcardfromoneofthespectators.Asyouarelookingatthecreditcard,secretlypressthedotofwaxontoThecenterofthecardYouwillwanttoensurethatthethreadisplacedontheexactcenterofthecardsothatit isperfectlybalanced.
15
ThePerformance2) Hookthethreadthroughthecrotchofyourrighthand.Whileholdingthecreditcardwithyourlefthand,extendyourrighthanduntilyoufeelaslighttension.Spinthecreditcardusingyourlefthandandthenletitgo. Itwill hoverinmidair.
3)Youcancausethecreditcardtofloatuptoyourrighthandbyslowlyextendingyourhand.Thisisaverymagicalmove.
4)To causethecreditcardtorevolvearoundyourbody,holdthecreditcardinyourrighthandandflickyourwrist.Thethreadwillcauseit tocircleyourbodyandyoucancatchit inyourlefthand.Flickitwithyourlefthandanditwill gobacktoyourrighthand.
5) Secretlyscrapethewaxoff thecreditcardandhandthecardbackto thespectator.You canperformthistrickwithplayingcards,beercoasters,orsimilarobjects.
16
en
I-
Mostofthetricksinthisbookutilizeinvisiblethread.Fora changeofpace, DanHarlanhascontributedtwolevitationtrickswithouttheuseof thread. TotalSuspensionis uniquebecauseitusesnogaffsofanykind.
THEEFFECT:
A singlecardisplacedbetweenyourhandsanditproceedstofloat.Thecardremainssuspendedtwotothreeinchesintheair,floatingaboveyourhands.Thecardthenfloatsbackintoyourhandsandeverythingcanbeexamined.
1)A cardis freelyselectedfromadeckof cards.Hold thecardbetweenyourtwothumbs.Yourhandsarecuppedtogetheroneabovetheother.
2) Whileholdingontothecardwithyourthumbs,tilt up yourhandswhileatthesametimespreadingyourfmgers.This is agreatmovebecauseit showsthattherearenogimmicks.
17
3) Bringyourhandsbacktogetherin thecuppedposition.Your lefthandshouldbeunderyourrighthand.
4) Slowlyworktheringfmgerofyourlefthandbetweenthepinkyandringfingerof therighthand.Thisactionis hiddenbytheplayingcard.Dothisslowlysothatthereisnohandmovement.
5) Continuepushingyourringfingerthroughuntilitrestsonthecenterof thecard.Positionthecardsothatit is balancingonyourfmger.Youmayneedtomanipulatethe positionof the cardusingyourthumbs.
6)Afterthecardis balanced,slowlymoveyourhandsawayfromthecard.Straightenoutyourhandsuntiltheyareflat. Fromaboveitwill appearasifthecardisfloatingthreeinchesoff yourhands.withnovisiblesupport.
7)Afterafewmoments,bringyourhandsbacktothestartingposition.Disengageyourfingerfromthecardandbringit backtoitsnormalrestingposition.Havethecardimmediatelyexaminedandshowbothsidesofyourhands.
18
ThisisDanHarlan'ssecondcontributionandit hastobeseentobebelieved.I recentlysawDanHarlandothisata localmagicmeetinganditdevastatedeveryone.
THEEFFECT:
A cardis shownandplacedontothefaceof thedeck.The cardslowlyfloatsawayfromthedeckandmysteriouslymovestotheright.Thecardthenfloatsbackuntilitrestsagainonthedeck. You turnthecardfacedownandhandedout forcompleteexamination.
THESECRET:
Face-offutilizesahiddenhingewhichcausesthecardtofloatawayfromthedeck.Thehingeconnectsadoublebackcardtothebackofaregularcard.Youcanpurchaseadoublebackcardfromanymagicshoporgluetwocardsfacetoface.
Thehingeis cutfromaplayingcardtothedimensionsintheillustration.Scotchtapeis usedto hingetheplayingcardstogetherformingarectangle.
I If:).!' . ,... 'I).~
I C ~~$.- TI
YiILJ
t
19
Tapeoneendofthehingetothebottomlefthandsideof thedoublebackcard. Tapetheothersideof thehingeto themiddleof thebackof aregularcard. ill ourinstructionwewill assumeit is theJackof Diamonds.Thedoublebackcardandtheregularcardneedtobeperfectlyaligned.Thebestwaytodothisistoalignthetwocardsbeforepressingthetapeon.
I) Beforetheperformance,set-upthedeckwiththegimmickontopof thedeckwiththedoublebackcardfacingout,placetheduplicateJack of Diamondson topof thegimmick.Youaresettoperform.
2) You canforcetheduplicateJack of Diamondsbyyourfavoritemethodor simplypickupthecardandshowit. Placethecardbackface-downontothedeck.Do atripleturnovershowingthehingedJack of Diamonds.Leavethegimmickedcardon thebackofthedeck.
3) Holdthedeckbetweenyourthumbandfmgerswiththehingedcardfacingtowardsthespectators.GentlytiltthedeckallowingtheJackofDiamondstoswingawayfromthedeck.Thisshouldhappenveryslowly.Itmayhelptogetathumbbreakbe-tweentheJackandthedoublebackedcard.Asyoutiltthecardforward,theJackofDiamondswillswingawayfromthedeck.
"">.
20
4) Continuetiltingthedeckuntil theJack of Diamondsis completelysuspendedawaytromthedeck.If youtwistyourhandslightly,thecardwillcontinuetofloattotheextremerightedgeofthedeck.
5) Reverseyouractionsandthecardwill floatbacktothedeck.Thereis aknacktodoingthissmoothlybutit is nothardtodo. Thereshouldbeverylittlehandmovementandeverythingshouldhappenslowlyanddeliberately.
6)Doanothertripleliftbringingtheduplicatecardtothetopofthedeckandhandit outfor examination.Thistrickis unbelievableandwell worththetimeitwill takeyoutomakethegimmick.
21
--
-
GarvDarwinAtfirst GaryDarwin'sversionof thecutandrestoredropewillseemimpractical;however,I haveseenGarydothismanytimesandwhentheknotfloatsintotheair,youliterallyseejawsdrop.
THEEFFECT:
This trickstartsoutasthestandardcutandre-storedrope;howeverattheendof thetricktheknotfloatsup intotheair andtheropecanbecompletelyexamined.This is a totallydifferentcutandrestoredrope.
THESECRET:
Invisible threadis used to performthe actualfloating.This makesa greatstagetrickandyoucanusea thickerdull blackthread.On stageyouwill needtwoassistantshiddenoneithersideof thestage.
Theeasiestwaytoperformthistrickistopositionyourselfin adoorwaywithanassistanthiddenoneithersideof thedoor. Eachassistantholdsontooneendofthethread,causingtheknottofloat.
Aftertheropeis cutandrestored,theassistantslift up on theirrespectedendsof theinvisiblethread.Theknotwill floatupintotheair. Theknotcaneitherfloatoutof sightorthemagiciancanpluckit outof theair. This trick shouldbe practicedseveraltimestocoordinatetheactionsofall involved.
22
--
-
THEPERFORMANCE1) You arenowgoingtoperformthestandardopeningto yourfavoritecutandrestoredrope.Holdingthetwoendsof theropeandthecenteroftheropeintheotherhand,bringthemiddleoftheropeupandsubstitutethemiddlefor aloopoftheendoftherope.
2) Cut the"Center"oftheropewithapairof scissorsandallowthetwolongendsoftheropetofallaway.It will appearasif youcutthecenterof therope,youhaveactuallycuta smallpieceoftheend.
3) Youarenowgoingtotieafalsepopknotaroundtherope.Atthesametime,youaregoingtotieontheinvisiblethread.
~
23
4) Holdontoeachendoftheropeshowingtheknotatthecenteroftherope.Withaslighttugontheendsoftherope,youwill disengagetheknotfromtherope.
5) As youlowertherope,theknotwill floatintotheair. Havetheassistantsraisethethreadcausingtheknottofloatupandoutof sight.
6) You candothistrickusingonlyoneassistantbynailinganailpartiallyintothedoorjamatthecenterabovethedoor.Thethreadwill gofromtheassistanttothenailandthenstraightdowntothemagician.
24
---
---
III
SteveFearsonSteveFearson is known internationallyfor his
inventivemind. He is able to takeordinary objects,breathea littlemagicintothemandproducemiracles.Thefollowingtwoitemsfit intothiscategory.
Threadreels,devicesthatautomaticallyreleasethreadarenotoriouslyexpensiveandhardto repair.SteveFearsonhadinventeda methodof buildingyourownthreadreelwhichonlycostsacoupleofdollarsandtakesminutestobuild,andiswellworthyourtime.
SteveFearson'sdeviceis madeof of aclothtubewithtwometalrings.Themetalringsrideupanddowninsidethetubewhichreleasesthethread.You canuseordinaryinvisiblethreadwhichis muchthinnerthanwhatisordinarilyusedinthreadreels.
Thetubeismadeofaclothtube4 incheswidebyapproximately1footlong. Thetubeneedstobemadefroma slickmaterialsuchaspolyester.The clothissewntoformapocket.Thispocketis thenattachedtotheinsideyourjacketusingsafetypins.
THEBRACELETS:
You will needtwoorthreeheavydutybracelets.Thebraceletsshouldbe3to3 1/2"in diameterandyoushouldbeableto findthematanartsupplyorjewelrystore.You canalsousethesinglesfromasmalllinkingringset.
25
THETUBE:
Thewidthofthetubeisdeterminedbythediameteroftherings.Thewidthofthetubeshouldbeslightlywiderthanthediameteroftherings.
Cutthematerialapproximately10"by14"andfoldit inhalf.
.r---.-I11II,IIIIIII
l
2) If youdonotwanttosew,youcanuseiron-onfabrictape.Lineupthefabric tapealongthelongsideandoneof theshortsideandironit. Thisformsapocket.Foldthetopedgeofthetubeoutwardsandusetheiron-onfabrictape.Thiswill giveyouasmoothedgearoundthetop of thepocketso thatthethreadwill notcatchonit.
g3) Placetwo safetypinsalongthetop andonesafetypinalongthebottom.Thesafetypinsonthetubewill beusedtoattachthetubetotheinsideofyourjacket.
"
4) Safetypinthetubeintotheleftsideof your jacket.The openpartof thetubeshouldbe locatednearthearmpitofthejacket.Thesafetypinsmakeuteasytoputit indifferentjackets.Youcanalsoputit inavest.
26
You will needapproximatelyfivefeetof strippedinvisiblethread.Attachoneendof thethreadtotheinsideof thejacketabovethetube.Theotherendofthethreadis placedthroughthe two metalbracelets. Thetwobraceletsarethenplacedintothetube.Allowthebraceletstoslidetothebottomofthetube.
Attachtheotherendof thethreadtoadeckofcards.Afterputtingonthejacket,placethedeckofcardsintoyourrightjacketpocket.Youarenowreadytouseyourthreadreel.Thethreadisrunningacrossyourbodyandcanbeusedformanydifferentfloatingeffects.Youcantakethedeckofcardsoutandplacethemonthetableandyouhaveatwopointhookup.You canuseit foraanyeffectyouwouldnormallyusearegularthreadreelfor.
--
---w-
SteveFearsonI first sawStevedothisseveralyearsagoandI
still rememberthelookon thespectator'sface as herringfloateddownintoherhand.Thishastobeoneofthemostbeautiful,logicalpiecesof magiceverin-vented.
THEEFFECT:
A fingerring is borrowedandcausedto balanceon theendof yourfinger. It thenfloatsfrom handtohand. Thespectatorholdsouttheirhandandthefingerringslowlyfloatsdowntoherhandandshecanimmedi-atelyexamineit.
THESECRET:
For this trick you will needa threadreel. Wehighly recommendSteveFearson's threadreel, how-ever,if youwanttospendmore,whoarewetojudge?
You will needtoset upthethreadreel so thatthethreadruns diagonallyacrossyourbody.
1) Secretlywrapthethreadaroundthebottomthreefingersof yourrighthand.
28
2) Borrowafmgerringfromaspectator.Donotusearingwithalargestoneoredgesthatcantanglethethread.Placethefmgerringonyourfirstfmger.
~') . 3) Movethethreaduparoundyourfirst~: fingerandreleasethethreadfromyourbottomthreefm-., gers.This trapstheringwiththeinvisiblethread.4)Rotateyourhandforwardandpulltheringoffthefirstfingerretainingthethreadaroundthefinger.Youwantthethreadtolooparoundthetipofyourfirstfinger.
5) Switchthethreadsothatitnowwrapsaroundyourthumb.Bringtheringtoyourleftallowingyourrightthumbtoactasapulley.Separateyourhandsbyaboutafoot.
6) Balancetheringontheforefingerofyourlefthand. Itwill lookasif theringismagneticallyclingingtoyourfinger.Bymovingyourrighthandyoucancontrolthetensionofthethreadandcontrolwheretheringissuspended.
29
7) Moveyourlefthandawayandallowtheringtofloatinmidair. Thisisaverymagicalmomentbutdonotdothisforverylong.
8) Moveyourrighthanddownandtheringwill slowlyfloatdownintoyourrighthand.Thisisdonebyacombi-nationofgravityandaslackintensioninthethread.
9) Havethespectatorholdouttheirhandandhavetheringfloatdownintotheirhand.Youareactuallyguidingtheringintotheirhandusingyourtwohands.Theyarewatchingtheringandwill notevennoticeyourhands.
10)Aftertheringfloatsintothespectator'shand,releasethethreadoffofyourrightthumbandallowthethreadtoberetractedintothereel.Astheringisgoingtowardstheirhand,haveyourhandgetclosertotheringsothatthereisverylittlethreadtoberetracted.Allowthemtoexaminetheirring.
30