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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Search Charlie Frye on you tube and see a hilarious routine. Otherwise my advice to most that want to work with a zombie ball is to get a rehearsal area, place the ball on the floor and jump up and down on it. Then figure out something else to float.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Pete, that is harsh, maybe you are telling the next "Charlie Frye" to not pursue a fabulous presentation.
That is like telling "Charlie Frye" that he could not compare to Neil Foster or Lance Burton, so why try to "make it his own". |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-08-05 21:32, ibm_usa wrote: I second that suggestion. Craft stores have the right balls and a hardware store should have a pliable, yet rigid wire. You won't even need a cork. When it comes to metal zombies, I'm spoiled. I own an original RNT gold zombie. I hate the Morrissey - looks more like a percolator than a magical object. The seam is awful! The Ickle Pickle model is nice, but it has a satin finish. |
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Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
Charlies zombie bowling ball routine is certainly original at that!!
Fabulous entertainment but that's what makes him one of the best !!! |
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
You know... maybe this makes me a GDA (G_D Amature) But I learned with a styrofoam Miracle Ball as a kid because it was all I could afford.
I recently bought the metal ball I thought I always wanted... and I hate it. Its too heavy. It means the gimmick has to be shorter and stiffer, which robs it of the floating bounce that I developed and really works for me. I pulled out my old Miracle Ball, and its as good as ever. I'm thinking I'm going to go down to the craft store and get a bunch of different sized styrofoam balls and them experiment with metallic paints.
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-24 15:47, Rick Fisher wrote: I just saw this... your ball looks like *exactly* what I want! I'm going to hold off trying to make my own and give yours a try. P.S. Hardest part of that order for me was choosing a color. If I like it, I might be back for one or two more Will you sell just the ball and stand without the gimmick if I want to get another color or two?
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
I agree that maybe Zombie has been overdone at magic club meetings and magicians' conventions, but I also think that a lot of people in the lay public have not seen it. I've been in magic since the 1960's, and I still enjoy seeing a zombie routine done well, just like I enjoy seeing card manipulations or billiard balls done well.
Also, I personally still prefer Lance Burton's original zombie routine. A floating silver sphere has more appeal to me than a floating bird cage. Bird cages aren't supposed to float. But silver spheres have a mysterious quality to them. And give the audience credit. If they've seen one object floating around on a foulard, they've seen 'em all, whether it's a violin, a bird cage, a mask, or a stalk of celery. Besides, with the bird cage, you lose the deceptive strength of a sphere that has no identifying characteristic that betrays its angle of tilt. To me, seeing someone perform a good zombie routine at a magic convention would be like hearing a good singer at a concert sing an Irving Berlin standard. Of course, I would expect the people booking the talent at any show to make sure that if there are two or more magicians in the line-up, that no trick duplication occurs, just like I would expect talent agents to make sure that in a line-up of singers that no songs are duplicated. I did a cancer charity benefit once and Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty from "Gunsmoke") was in the audience. After my performance, she came up to me and said how much she liked my presentation of the "trick with the rings." She said up front that she had seen quite a few magicians do the ring trick, but the trick was a special favorite of hers, and although my routine came straight out of Henry Hay's _The Amateur Magician's Handbook_ with all the figures (globe, flower, pretzel, etc)--it was something she really enjoyed. At least Pete qualified his comments on Zombie presentations by addressing them to "most" of the people who want to work with a zombie ball, and not "all." ----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez
----- Sonny Narvaez
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Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
I posted this link on another thread a while back, but it seems appropriate here. The most important aspect of the floating ball is the character or personality of the ball itself. Is it dark and ominous? Is it playful and friendly? Is it wild and mischievous? The personality of the ball will dictate the moves that make sense within your routine. I owned a Zombie Ball ever since I was 8 years old. But I seldom performed it because I wasn't able to properly define its character.
Recently, that changed. I now perform the floating ball as part of my Tribute to Parents routine. As stated in the introduction, the ball represents life. As parents, we nurture and care for it. We help it to grow and achieve an sense of independence. And then one day, it blossoms into an individual all its own. The floating ball routine is purposely short and serves as a transition to the larger production. Anyways, here a link to the first time I ever performed this routine: http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=9188869169720407905 Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
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Mr. Mystoffelees Inner circle I haven't changed anyone's opinion in 3623 Posts |
Kent-
That makes a lot of sense! I had not thought of it that way, but am now mulling over the "character" of the zombie. I have switched to the Naked Zombie and I think this will give it much more depth... thanks... Jim p.s. By the way, Losander has a great zombie routine with a bubble...
Also known, when doing rope magic, as "Cordini"
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lucianoristori New user 12 Posts |
The original Losander Zombie Ball DVD seems to be out of print and very hard to find.
Is any of the more recent Losander's DVDs a good replacement? Is the original material included in the Art of Levitation 1,2 & 3? Thanks... Luciano |
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nowyoucme Veteran user 350 Posts |
I was just worndering? I just bought anything floats. I plan on using this with my zombie.
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
OK, sort of a plug here,
but I cover a lot on Floating Balls in general, and Zombie in partiuclar, along with full presentations in my new book, on pre-pub special if you're interested in this type of performance. http://www.leapinglizardsmagic.com/tales_of_enchantment.htm Magically, Walt |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-08-21 19:02, lucianoristori wrote: I was wondering the same thing, but I think the best person to answer this question is Losander. You can email him. Many have said on the Café that he answers his emails. Otherwise, we have to wait till a person who posts that has both versions and wishes to compare the information on them. |
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Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
There is some very good advice here on this topic
I performed a short Zombie routine as part of an act in a comedy show we did last night to a sell out crowd at Large Club cabaret Venue that we have done on tour Nationally & is well known here & in England ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wheeltappers & Shunters http://www.newlynnrsa.org.nz/entertainment.htm A full evening of fun filled, non stop variety entertainment featuring top national and international acts. As seen on T.V * Side Splitting comedy ** Incredible Magic ***Fantastic Variety **** Fabulous Music "If you see just one show this year .... do not miss this top international show" NZ Herald ".. had the crowd stomping their feet and yelling for more" ... Live Guide review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The character of the ball is so important to the style of routine and many comments after the shows were all related to that amazing funny floating Ball-it was Hilarious but how did you do that..........its not me their worried about its the mischevious ball... Years of different techniques & shows & adding & dropping moves etc will make Zombie a great addition to your act even if its only 75 seconds long to music etc Cheers Brent |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Brent's statement, "...Zombie (would be) a great addition to your act even if its only 75 seconds long to music..."
Right on the money. That's ideal and never more than 90 seconds. I've seen a lot of Zombies. Rings N' Things'2, Zombie is Ultra quality, balanced and light weight: http://rnt2.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=29921 If you are budget minded, and don't want the Morrissey, Viking Magic has one: http://www.vikingmagic.com/?nd=full&key=1274 And you can purchase a Foulard (cloth) at Viking as well. The Morrissey is the one I had for years. Today, the RNT2 or the Viking would be my two choices. Notice the price difference. You do get what you pay for. Doug |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Begin watching at 3 minutes / 35 seconds...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsYlS6dFvTg&feature=related One of the most interesting I've seen on YouTube. Magically, Walt (and get my new book "Tales of Enchantment" from LeapingLizards.com with an entire chapter on Floating Spheres.) |
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
Has anyone reviewed the Dream zombie? I know Ian said he used to make them out of Xmas materials and I once had the Don Wayne ball which was simliar but if I recalled seamed.
The Dream Zombie seems priced right but I wondered how CHROME it looks in person and if there is any finish issues over time. Thanks PS to Ian- I do know a method you once created and you tipped to me in your shop long ago. Why you showed me I was not sure. You told me you were trying to get Jeff to use it or working it out with him. I was a teenager. Anyway I guess there are a few who know of this. ;) |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Power, I think Ian's version is a good alternative in many instances.
That said, for me after decades of experience, a xmas ball looks like an xmas ball to a lay audience. It just does not carry it off, no matter what many myopic magician's may say. You just get what you pay for, and if it's in a dollar store.... well... To adapt his idea to a quality ball is far more appealing to me. I don't believe however, that Ian is still selling these, unless he stared again very recently. My thoughts, Walt |
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Powermagic Inner circle 1437 Posts |
Well I diagree, these were large round silver plastic balls that were soft but had a mirrored chrome. the only thing that made it look like a Xmas ball was the shape of the top and a silver hanger like a glass ornamnent. But the ones I used ot see wer very large much like the zombie.
The Don Wayne ball was the same material but two halves were silver taped together but not notible from stage. The Dream zombie seems like it is harder. I am looking for comfirmation since when the FAB magic guy bangs it on the table in his video it makes a thud. A soft plastic would not make this sound. The matte ones FAB shows on there site look like a plastic ball. But the mirrored ones look pretty good but their photos are not that great, I was curious if the finish holds up. |
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Kyle^Ravin Inner circle I slammed my head against 1070 Posts |
Timothy Drake's Zombie Ball caught my eye. Where can one get such a big size for a zombie ball?
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