Ihave Darwin's inexpensive illusions on shipping(it should be here September 24th) and I happen to know that it includes the Dakolta Chair. From my understanding, this is the somehow gimmicked chair that Lance Burton used to vanish Stephanie in the Girl-Duck Transposition trick. What is something else you can accomplish with the chair?

Jakks

Just a quick note, Jakks. This should be in the Let's Make a Magic Deal section, but I have 4 of the item you need to make or find for this illusion. PM me if you would like to get one. They are professionally made. PM me if you wish. Paula

Firstly Jakks, Paula is right in that we do not discuss "How Things Work" in the more opened forums.

The Darwin method IS NOT the same as what Lance does in his show. Gary's book reveals alternative methods that do not require big budgets and extravigant props... it was written for the everyday Joe that don't make $50,000.00 a show (or more... as some do.)

The purpose of this book (well, one purpose) is to allow the individual that has an occassional need for a big effect but not the budget required for storing, shipping, and simply buying one.

Big Illusions COSTS! Not just the up-front investment. There is storage, up-keep, rehearsal time (which seems never ending), having to replace one piece with a newer "more streamline & improved" variation of new effect every two or three seasons... it gets extensive as well as expensive. If you step across that dangerous threshold of being a collector and pack rat you end up like me... working to pay for storage and not putitng money in your own pocket and life. Sure, I got loads of bennies for doing what I did. But it wasn't a wise move!

Buying and performing major illusions requires us to wake up to some very ugly realities. The top issue being that ownership involves far more than simply having the cabinet or whatever in your garage... same rule applies to "knowing" how something works. I can promise you, there's well over a dozen ways to do any one major effect.

Allow this taste of humble pie to sink in well for you. The adventure is just starting and what is out there for you to discover is more amazing than you may currently believe possible.

Jakks,

Whit Hayden gave a real blueprint for success at getting started with illusions at
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......7&17
And Darmoe is dead-on with his warnings about storage, upkeep, etc.

But I know where you are coming from – you’re pretty determined to get going with an illusion. So check this out:

In Darwin’s book, you’ll see extensive use of two illusion basics. The first, The Mummy Illusion, can be done inexpensively, as long as you have proscenium seating and curtains. It requires well rehearsed people and good timing. I use it.

The second principle may sound simple, but it has touchy production requirements. You need special lighting, a light person, and time to set your stage precisely in each venue. It’s a lot less practical than the Mummy. And the DaKolta Chair is an especially impractical illusion. (I can think of a way to make it practical, but it requires buying 2 illusions.)

For the cheapest illusions you could make (that are any good), you would be real happy with a thin book by Tom Palmer called “Modern Illusions”. It was published by Magic, Inc. in 1968. Some of these illusions are made simply from heavy cardboard! Like the Mummy, you would need good sightlines and sharp assistants. But these illusions are based on solid principles, would present no storage issues, and are wonderful mysteries.

If you want to have something really economical (maybe $250 or $300 homemade) and angle-proof, try a bag escape; a large-looking trick with very minimal storage and transportation needs. You’ll find one in Tarbell. Flawless assistant required.

Best of luck!

Paula

Wow! I'd forgotten about the Palmer book

Though I'm the first to admit to having been a bit of a spoiled brat in my early years, I too started off with many a cardboard prop (many, taken right out of the Mark Wilson Course)... I still have some of those props (my Victory Cartons, Mummy Case, and Arabian Tent) and they are still (35 years later) ready to go!

YOU DO NOT NEED the lattest "cutting edge" designer lable headache to become a headliner. Paul Daniel, long ago, came to Vegas to fill in for S&R... the management of the Casino were in a panic when Paul didn't have two semi-trailers filled with junk and walked on stage for the first time with little more than a chop cup...

He slayed the audience!

Peter Pitt had one illusion... his Topsy Turvey Chair a.k.a. "The Pitt Sit" (and noth'n sits like a Pitt sit, sits... ) He crumbles a cracker, told lots of bad jokes and mesmerized his audience every time!

The point being, you do not need the big fancy, over-priced stuff to become a hit. Find tapes of the late Barclay Shaw and look at what he did with "the magic everyone else ignors"... get some of Whit's videos and books for that matter (some really funny Class "A" material!)

Aside from what you will find in the Darwin book and some of the other sources mentioned here, I will make one recommendation if you are dead set on owning a big illusion. Track down Saydean here at the Cafe, and get one of his 3 in 1 Levitation units... for the money, this is probably one of the best investments you can make for your career. Namely due to the fact that this thing is more than one illusion and offers tons of potential as well as "expansion" for larger shows. In other words, this piece can "grow" with your career ambitions... last I checked, it still sold for under $1,000.00 (one noted "high end" manufacturer in the L.A. area offered to buy them from Dutch at that price and sell them for $15,000.00 because it's so good!)

Best of luck!

The three in one allows me to remove the third sword from my Chu sword suspension, allows me to turn my Princess Flying Carpet suspension into a levitation, (Blew the minds off of fifth graders who were heckling me to move the screen, so I did... the whole illusions leaving the kid 2-1/2 feet off the floor, then lowering him to the floor and he took the top and put it back on the illusion.) And, it allows me to have a person from the audience bring up their folding chair and they are levitated from that chair...They also take the chair back to their table.

All three, really look great and play big, real big! One of the best investment, I made.

I have a the Palmer book for sale. It's $15.00. Send me an e-mail.

Check out paul osborne's evolution of the magic box for a cool Dekolta chair twist. Its called the Dekolta escape.

Plans for the Dekolta Chair are important to some degree...a trap is more important if you want to pull off a Doug Henning type miracle.

By the way, I didn't see Dr. Jakks ask "How things are done" as someone else implied, he merely asked what else you can do with the chair.

I like Copperfields use of the DChair.....In the attic scene. Very cool.

Yes, I was also confused..I never asked how naything was done.

Jakks