Does anyone know any good levatation books that I could buy or get from the library?

NO. Do you know any magic to begin with? Do you have any background??

If you look around long enough, you will find the methods for any trick you want. But you'll never find the secret to magic. At least that way.
Have fun.
Alex Linian

Ok Montethrower I do know magic and I do know a couple of levatation tricks. I'm a beginner at magic, I started about a year ago. I joined this site to try to meet some magicians and maybe learn a few things about magic.

Levitation tricks are kind of anti-climactic in my opinion. At least the ones on the market right now. And they are all VERY angly. Watch it.

Monte

Jeez Montethrower,
Go easy on the new guys!!

Hello MagicMatt13,

If you're interested in street levitations then there do seem to be plenty of products on the market, while books on the subject may be harder to come by because gimmicks are often involved, so there can't just be a written description of all the methods available, because many cannot be performed without first building or making or buying something.

In terms of stage levitations, some effects are dealt with, if memory serves, in Mark Wilson's 'Complete Course in Magic', which they had in my local library in England, so you should be able to get your hands on a copy. Jim Steinmeyer's 'Hiding the Elephant' is good for a description of magicians fighting over the secret of levitation (although it's a history of magic and magicians, really, and as such not instructional).

This may be not what you hear, but you might consider not levitating. This is something I did only today, in my capacity as an English teacher in French schools. The children demanded that I float (they've seen me do magic during playtime), so I stood and concentrated for a while, and then just looked apologetic. This often has a very strong effect, and people (not just children) seem to think that you wouldn't stand with your arms out and your eyes shut if you KNEW nothing was going to happen, and so reach the conclusion that at some point in the past, it must have worked.

It's a bit cruel, and if the circumstances are right it can be followed by something (an actual levitation effect) rather more convincing (it's up to you to choose what to buy from a magic shop), or you could do a select few powerful tricks to follow, just to leave people wondering what MIGHT have happened.

Hope this helps and that the suggestion above isn't too facetious, it is something which I have found works, although maybe you won't like it.

Best of luck,

Max.

Max is right. You might not want to do a levitation at this point. Looks great on TV, not so impressive in the real world, and as Monte says the angles can be problematic. If you have only been in magic for about a year, then your best bet is to strengthen your basics.

My recommendation would be to start acquiring volumes in the "Tarbell Course In Magic" which covers quite a bit of the art. In volume 1 alone you will find chapters on history of magic, coins, cards, ball magic, rope magic, etc. It is a great place to learn sleight-of-hand, which is essential. Don't be led astray by the "no skill required" school. Anyone can perform boring tricks.

Also, search eBay and find a copy of "Magic and Showmanship" by Henning Nelms. It will teach you about misdirection, how to put a routine together, dramatic structure and other essentials.

Magic is a great art, unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who just buy tricks and think that is the road to being a magician. The more you study magic, the more you will realize that isn't true.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

I have not posted on this thread for a while but this one deserves to bring up a point. succesful street performers are a group of highlly skilled performers that not only master their particular skill but also the skills of gathering, keeping and ultimately making money off of the street audience. a good pitch is a brutal environment to work as the angles are insane. You have little or no control of the situation. to perform a levitation in such an environment is not for the light hearted or star struck beginner. when faced with " a mean spirited angry mob....The rennaisance man, witch trial" a new performer has a lot to learn.
to echo the previous posts and many previous threads, don't be lured into the trap of the latest craze of as seen on TV. street magic is about individualism, creativity and the strength of the performer. Ill go back to my hat now.
Michael

Wat is the name of the illusion where you lean really back and not fall down? I have seen it on criss angel and on t.h.e.m. but dunno wat it is.

you are parallel to the ground but ur feet stay on the ground. that's the best I can explain.

Cheety,
You might want to read the earlier posts on this thread and then rethink why you're asking this question.

Now, to answer:
The Criss Angel trick you saw was an adaptation of a stage suspension. It's not "Street Magic" but merely stage magic with an outdoor stage, tech crew, lights, assistants, etc...

It's not exactly what he did (as I said, he adapted known technology to make this unique to him) but the Lounge Suspension is the closeset I've seen. It's usually presented with a magician and assistant as you saw Criss do on Fremont Street with a "visitor" in an earlier show. (My wife knows that "visitor." She used to work with her. She was excited when she was asked to work on the show. Note the word "work." If you haven't already guessed, she was hired to play the part of a visiting tourist.)

I just wan't to know the name. so that when I tell it to my 2 magic friends I can use the proper name.

Do a search for "The Lean"

Pete,
That's just a forward lean, isn't it? I imagine it would be a lot tougher to lean back. I know I can't do it. I'd be flat on the ground with broken ankles.

To do the lean back suspension in the out doors like criss you would need a lot of

equipment hidden outside of the cameras veiw then you need some cheesy actors and

possibly depending on the method some video editing software.

Did you see cyril do that trick of leaning backward? well, I dun think you need editing software or actors for this trick....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r0ks2An2F8

Wow. Cyril seems to take original ideas and makes them more magnificent than they or adding his ideas to magnify the illusion. This ain't no CA job, and I doubt many if any stooges where needed.
Look at how he plays with this backbend levitation, it's like he's almost making fun of it.

Yeah it seems to me that cyril and criss angel's matrix style leaning backward levitation is completely different from Malloy's The Lean. At least I hope so, for impromptu magic's sake. I have only posted a couple times on these forums and don't know how uptight the mods are about speculating on methods so delete this if necessary. But from what I gather a very heavy piece of metal is required to stand on for the The Lean to be successful. Cyril and Angel's matrix levitations seemed much more flexible. They were surrounded, and angel was on a grassy field. I suspect/hope there is a gimmick/brace in the pants that locks at a 90 degree angle or something along those lines. If so I'd like to purchase this effect but nobody seems to know the creator or where to buy it. I sent a pm to Enrico De La Vaga but I doubt he'll respond.

Way off... I do this Matrix suspension every night at the end of every show. And I do it on a banquet table or riser in the middle of the audience. I also sometimes go outside in front of the theater and do it on the street to pull ticket sales. The greatest walkaround illusion ever. I don't think the gimmick is for sale that ive ever seen. I made my own. With a little thought, the gimmick is an everyday item modified.

I know its rare to say criss didn't use camera tricks... but he didn't on this one, thank god! But no camera tricks needed for this illusion.

Here is an everyday guy doing it... don't think he used stooges or camera angles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf1VVcINujc

As far as Malloys lean, completely different illusion and gimmick. Cant just do it anywhere like you can with the Matrix.

Hi video'
"An everyday item modified?" Please give me a clue? I'd love to do this illusion!
The Prof.