I saw this the other day:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6iC3b5JnSIE

And was very impressed with the work. Would this be similar to a naked zombie ball? How does that compare to some of the better magicians out there? Thanks for your insight.

I have no idea what is on the "Naked Zombie Ball" dvd. But this young man is performing what is known as "Contact Juggling" (although the creator of this art form, Michael Moschen seems to prefer the term "Dynamic Manipulation").

This fellow (on the video) is very, very skilled. But in my opinion the routine he performed would have been twice as strong if it were half as long.

Generally speaking, the professional jugglers that I know, seem to practice a lot harder than most magicians. That said, you cannot compare the skill of a juggler with that of a magicians. Because the jugglers skill is usually out in front of the audience. But many of the important moves of a (sleight of hand) magician are hidden from view. The way I see it, magic and juggling are both totally different arts and you can't compare the two.

Levent

This is not Raymond Crowe’s style of work seen on his “Naked Zombie” DVD.

That work is closer to using mime techniques to achieve magical results.
This clip is using juggling techniques in a magical style.

While created and popularized by Michael Moschen
who wishes other would not copy his work as much of course)
today many performers, including magicians do some form of what
is now referred to a “contact juggling”

One interesting similarity however…..
The techniques of the Naked Zombie no doubt need as much
time, focus, dedication, and effort to master as those of this juggling cousin.
There is no ‘free lunch” or “do it out of the box” with either genre.

If one were to perhaps--- just perhaps eventually mingle
a few contact juggling moves with mime-zombie moves,
a new and interesting performance could be the result.

All of Levent’s information above is right on the money,
I just wanted to speak to Raymond’s DVD,
which is groundbreaking and innovative to say the least,
and a must-have for very serious floating-ball workers.

My thoughts,
Walt

Here is my routine that I have been playing with for a few years.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3W3MvjVDmM

Thank you for the insight. I learned a lot from just asking one question.

Some very nice and thoughtful work here,
thank you for sharing this…..
I know a lot of effort went into this piece!

A few suggestions from my magical perspective….

--If you did a shorter routine with fewer repeated moves,
I believe it would have more magical impact,
and appear even less like juggling.

--If you could mange to slow-down all your movements,
by maybe 1/3 (think slow-motion film)
really taking time during-- and between segments,
I think the illusion of the floating and ball-weight could be significant.

--If somehow (and I know this is tough) your fingers,
or at least, finger-tips could appear to be more distanced from the sphere,
there would be an even more astounding resemblance to floating.
The wider apart your fingers maybe the better the appearance.

If you don’t have the “Naked Zombie” DVD, get it,
you are surely one of the prim candidates Raymond had in mind,
when offering his thinking to the magic world.

I’d love to see how this piece progresses, alters, and grows,
over your next year or so of working with it!

Magically,
Walt

That's the best contact juggling I have ever seen!!! Inspiring

Walt is a smart man and his's comments should be studied as they are spot-on about this thread.

I would only add that you consider what is supposed to be going on between you and the ball during the routine? Are you polishing the ball? Are you trying to keep it from moving away? Does it have a life of it's own? When you seriously think about what is REALLY happening during the effect you can start to create a relationship that makes actual sense to the audience and will take the effect to new levels.

Tony Brent
http://www.herestony.com

I have reviewed the Naked Zombie DVD for MUM. The review should be out next month. Even if you don't do the Zombie, you may learn something you need to know from this DVD.

Does anyone know where to find a copy of The Naked Zombie Ball dvd by Raymond Crow? Every place I've looked is out of stock, and I haven't seen a copy on the 2nd hand market either.

Raymond Crow's "The Naked Zombie Ball" DVD can be found as of today (5-28-22) on https://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/. Do a search for Naked Zombie and it will pop-up (until it's sold out).

Thank you! I looked high and low, but apparently not high or low enough. Thanks again.