Hey guys
for the past 6 months I've been working on a new act that packs smaller and plays bigger.. I like my current show but I'm tired of using so many consumables like Cards, Cigarettes, Rope, etc..


I am interested in learning Body tricks,,... Magic or Contortionist stuff, what could pack smaller than that.

Is there any good material out there worth studying??

Thanks
George

The foot twisting illusion....but I'm biased on that one...since I am the creator of the routine

Of course there is the arm twisting illusion from Shinkoh

Thumb twister from masterofillusions.ca

Body Morphin, Gut Buster, Shrinker... from Andrew Mayne

Meir Yedid's finger Fantasies

Tom Ferrells's Sneaky Feats

John fisher's Body Magic

Mac King's Tricks with your Head

That's a start anyways

That foot twister...I got to see Bill do it live.
It is seriously messed up and SO cool!
One thing that springs to mind for body magic is a simple pulse stop.
Contorting through a tennis racket is good as well.
Just my initial thoughts.
And the foot twist is wicked!
Gwyd

Thanks Gwyd!

Yeah, all those shock magic bits like Saw, Needle Through Arm, razor blades, all play well for large audiences and pack extremely small

A pic from yesterday performing the Foot twisting illusion

Click here to view attached image.

Eewww! It's makes me cringe just looking at a still!
Very nice .

Neal

Another feat that would fit your requirements of "body magic" would be the works of Lulu Hurst, the "Georgia Magnet." The miracle worker will need a staff to perform this.

If you aren't familiar with her, she was a petite girl who would stun audiences by inviting them to try and push her over whilst she held a staff. They couldn't do it, no matter how many tried. Strong men could not pick her up off the stage, unless she wanted them to.

I've always been fascinated by this act, and I've seen modern derivative of it, I believe on Ricky Jay's television special, Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, an all too brief hour of television with the same name of his great book.

Could always take a look at Marvin's Magic Freaky Body Illusions for a one stop source for several body effects...and some very cool props!

A reminder for anyone doing some magic on the floor: Only the first couple of rows of kids seated on a floor will be able to see what's going on at your feet level if you are standing on the floor also. Children behind them will kneel up to see, and the children behind them will kneel up to see also, and before you know it, the children need to be told to "Sit down." Of course, for a seated crowd, either don't show tricks at floor level, or get yourself a box or stool to raise yourself up enough to be seen. Some very capable performers forget to keep their routines to ones that can be easily seen. I've seen a woman acting out being superman, with a toy train running across the floor. Lots of children in the crowd missed seeing the train. Then there was a juggler rolling balls on the floor. Again, lots of seated children in the hall couldn't see what was going on. This skilled diabolo worker who had a diabolo on the floor spinning like a top [one end of the diabolo did not have the cup on it]. Again, lots of seated children couldn't see the action.

Freak by will houston would be good

Children... ?

Street performance... ?

Money... ?


If you say so.


/Ark

Thanks for this great thread, fellas. I'm trying to track down the earliest written source for the arm-twisting illusion that Copperfield performed in a special (c.2000/2001). I know it and perform it. Now I'm wondering about its history. I've just started reading John Fisher's Body Magic, but haven't yet found it. Anybody have a page number or a more specific source for me?