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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workshop » » Kalver's Shrinking Head Illusion (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

bsears
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I final made up my Bruce Kalver Growing and Shrinking Head Illusion, but I am not getting much reaction from it. Even when trying the illusion on myself, it isn't very impressive. I've used a 9v cordless drill as the motor. Does anyone have any experience to share or tips/suggestions?

Thanks,

Brett
Marvello
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When you say you "made up" the illusion, did you make a homemade knock-off or did you use the commercial version?
Never criticize someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Then, when you do criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes.
bsears
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I bought it at the Magi-Fest. Smile

OK, so right after I posted this and emailed Bruce with the same question, he called me. Now, that's service!
We had a nice conversation, the finer points of which Bruce has permitted me to share with the group.

First: Make sure you have enough distance between your audience and the disc. I was doing about six feet. Bruce is suggesting that the more distance, the better. In his words, "The guy at the back of the auditorium is going to get the best effect."

Second: Make sure the audience is looking at the disc long enough. I was doing 30sec., while Bruce's routine is closer to a minute.

Third: Go to Bruce's site and watch a pro do it! http://www.brucekalver.com/

Fourth: Join the S.A.M.

Thanks for the info, Bruce!
The Drake
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I suppose the speed the thing turns at is also important.

Best,

Tim
jkvand
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I also bought one of these at Magi-Fest after seeing Terry Elton do it. The reactions I've been getting have been awesome! Keep working with it. It is definitely worth adding to your show. -Jeff
bsears
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Timothy - Yeah, I'll be experimenting with RPM a bit. I suppose there is an optimum RPM for the tunnel effect to sink in.

Jeff - Thanks for the words of encouragement. I'll keep at it. I know I'm close.

Anyone care to share what seems to be a good distance? I'm sure this is great for schools, auditoriums, etc., but has anyone had luck in a living room or birthday party venue?
The Drake
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Quote:
On 2007-03-12 15:41, bsears wrote:
Timothy - Yeah, I'll be experimenting with RPM a bit. I suppose there is an optimum RPM for the tunnel effect to sink in.


I mention the speed because I built one of those vortex tunnels ( http://www.timothydrake.ca/customvortex.html ) and found proper RPM was crucial to the effect. I have been to many professional attractions that missed the point of the effect and have their tunnel going too fast, which lessons the effect.

Best,

Tim
RevlakMagic
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To answer a question about RPMs:

RPMs are not important, as long as you can see the spiral turning. It can be slow or fast, as long as it doesn't blur. The most important thing is distance and allowing the audience to stare at it long enough. Watching my video on YouTube or on my website http://www.brucekalver.com, under the section "Magical Moments", will show people how long to watch it. The effect actually works online when you watch the illusion. Thanks, everyone, for the kind words.

Bruce Kalver
haccis
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No wonder why I haven't get right reaction. I have rotated that disc much too fast! Now after I saw that illusion live, I ponder if I should to do smaller disc for living room use... Many thanks, Bruce.
Dan Paulus
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Haccis,

There is a commercially made disc for close up based on the design by Jerry Andrus. I don't remember it's name, when I do I'll post it. The package gives Jerry credit for the design.
Jerry's differs from the traditional swirl, chek it out at:
http://jerryandrus.org
http://jerryandrus.org/new/illusions/spiral/index.html
There is no great genius without a mixture of madness. - Aristotle
Aristotle

www.danscomedymagic.com
Sealegs
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I found that the rpm's are quite important to make this work as effectively as possible. Rather surprisingly I discovered the best results are obtained with the disc spinning slowly.

I use one of the those small battery operated hand held fans you can get from dollar stores. remove the plastic blades and some velcro provides the attachment. Once the fan gets going it only has to be quickly pulsed on then off about once every 3 seconds or so to keep it turning at a slow steady rate.

Neal.
Neal Austin

"The golden rule is that there are no golden rules." G.B. Shaw
sleightly
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I have made up several smaller disks for my own use (I've bought half a dozen of Bruce's in both cardboard & plastic) and can testify that the smaller disks work very well in small group settings. The smaller disk in closer settings replicates the larger disk in settings where the audience is further away (comparative perspective). The challenge in performing this for groups in close quarters is that you need to perform it more than once...

I called Bruce about a year after he initially released these to suggest the smaller disks and he never called me back...

Ah well....

I would recommend that he produce them 12" and 9" sizes as well, but I don't want anyone else doing it, so I hope he doesn't ever actually do it (and certainly doesn't credit me in the instructions).

;O)

Andrew
donrodrigo
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It gives 3 sizes which rare they 14 1/2 a 15 and a 16 inch diameter???
Powermagic
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Quote:
On 2007-03-12 13:47, Marvello wrote:
When you say you "made up" the illusion, did you make a homemade knock-off or did you use the commercial version?





Interesting choice of words.
You do know that he did not invent this effect. (and I do not think Bruce is claiming he did).
So is it a"knock off" if someone makes one up. Hardly. It would be if you copied his sprial pattern but really there are other versions that have been around a long time and even Mr. Wizard displayed a big disk which was stock science supplies in the 50s or 60s. Most of these disks have been around since the late 1800-early 1900s

Even though I just ordered his disk, I did watch the video and did not think his presentation wasanything unique I ordered the disk since it would save me time in making one myself. Really, I like the older versions with more of a spiral in the design better but this one will work.

In the 90s I would work Christmas's at THE WORLD OF SCIENCE and I demoed a the spiral which was in the form of top. I would hold a ball out and still them stare at the ball and it would grow or shrink.
jay leslie
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Does anyone remember the "Hipno Disk"? It was sold in the late 60's and early 70's. I have two, On is green and the other black.
Powermagic
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Note: I tried the B&D battery screw driver, AS6CLRS and can not recommend it. It is just too loud as the other $10.86 drill. Great price but too loud to be professional. These are gear motors and gears make noise. One should not need a motor with gears for a cardboard or plastic disk.
Kent Messmer
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Something I found out using this is that if you spin it to shrink your head first and then repeat for those who did not see it but spin the other direction for the "grow" more people will see it.
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