I would like to produce a raven from a pair of black gloves as my opener to my bizarre mentalism act.

The gloves should disappear the instant the raven appears and the raven should ideally fly over the audience. Ok, the flying part is not what I am asking for here . Thx.

Any ideas folks?

Bottomline is: you are asking for the method?

If so, get Andy Amy'x Doves 101.

Lets just say they're a few reasons magicians use doves. My philosophy with animal magic is don't commit to a method until you know the behavior and attitude of the animal. It's much easier to design an effect around an animals natural behavior than to train the animal around the effect. Study method but actually get a raven or whatever your going to use and study the animal before you start getting too excited or confident.

The gloves vanish no problem, think pull. Hopefully that's understandable enough for a magician yet still cryptic enough for an open forum.

Producing a raven, wow! A raven is a BIG bird. Look at methods to produce a chicken and you will probably be on the right track. Also check to make sure that is legal to have a raven in where ever it is you are.

First get a raven and get it to fly around and land on your hand. Then report back here for lesson two.

There are much, much simpler methods to pull this effect off (pun intended).

Hmmmm, simpler than just taking off your gloves and letting them go???? I would be interested in learning some of those.

The glove vanish is not the problem. What I like to know is how to accomplish the production with such a bird more or less like you would produce a dove (which method I am also very familiar with) I would use an invisible harness...

Perhaps a crow is better since they are smaller. I just want to get away from the regular white dove production everybody does.
Be different...? It would be an opener for a bizzare mentalism act.

So someone who has experience with any of those exotic feathers and who can give an honest advise as how they would B..y load this, please let me know. Even in a PM.

Thx.

Well here is the truth, it is not possible produce a Raven or Crow. They will attack you, they are wild birds and not trainable.

I do not see how this would be a good intro for a mentaiism act. Your 1st effect should tell the audience what they will experience for the hour.

Crows make lousy pets and would destroy most things used to produce birds. Keep in mind you'd be dealing with a not very people friendly and high maintenance bird with problem solving intelligence and a very sharp beak. My point was that the animal you have in mind may not be the best candidate for the effect. Doves have very limited intelligence and Parrots learn to love people so that's why they get used. It would be a great effect but the logistics are staggering.

take a look here if you're still interested
http://www.ascaronline.org/crowfaq.htm#faq3

I have worked with doves for almost 20 years and with large macaws and budgies for the past 3-4 years, but no crows or ravens.

I do not think this however is impossible, but I want you to consider if you have the time it takes to take care of a crow or raven.
I would guess these birds in many ways can be compared to a macaw or some of the other large parrots when it comes to commitment and time.

They need to be socialised and trained properly by someone that have exstensive knowledge.

I will give you an adress to a guy that I know sell Ravens and Crows, he also has macaws. He trains his birds for free flight etc.
I have only seen videos of him on youtube, but I know he has a website. His name is Daniel Walters.

http://danielwalthers.com/

Wow, thank you very much to take the time to give me all this prescious info.

Daniel, that info is gold. Had no idea that person existed.

Again, thank you all. Much appreciated




That needs to be seen. Where there is a will there is a way.



Really? Any idea how my act looks like to make such a statement?

Jan a lot of good info. You just have to weed out the dream stealers.

I would venture to say you will not make the sacrifices it takes to make a long term commitment to the training of such a bird.

Well, if you would do some research on Ravens, you will find most people believe they are bad luck, then it is further bad luck to have them in a dwelling.

Not to mention most audiences will be afraid of such a wild bird because of their reputation.

Unless you are going to read the birds mind, it has no relationship to mentalism magic presentation as it is used on this forum.

And no, I do not know your what your act looks like, but being you have not given any information as to context, I have to believe you are doing mental magic as it is presented in magic.

Just make sure you have very good liability insurance for your audiences.

Jan,

Why not simply "dye" a dove black (or deep purple). Many many magicians dye (I have not personally) their doves and is this not possible, provided it can safely be done? Most of the time after I have produced my doves people call them "pigeons" (which as we all know are larger and not like doves at all) simply because they don't know any better. I would harzard a guess that the average person would not know the difference between a crow - raven - black dove - on stage or up close. It might be a resonable way to start to test the effect out and work with a more personable pet.

MM

You haven't yet finished lesson one. Don't know where to get one? Here's the only place anyone seems to know of in the USA: http://www.corvitude.com/corvidranch.html

Let us know when you've got one and are hand training him and confident you are ready for lesson two.

Jan Walla, if I were you, I'd go with MagicalMotivator's suggestion, just dye the dove black instead. You get the same outcome for less the stress.

And cost, from the look of those prices. I've always wanted a Raven but not at that price. how long does one live?

Jan Walla, I've an idea... but I don't know how you might use it. Get a larger version of the balloon to Dove tray. Some versions allow you to throw an object onto the tray and transform it into a dove. I think Anton Corradin has something like this. You might need a bigger tray though. Remove your gloves, Throw them onto the tray and POOF! you get a crow! This keeps you Very clean and I think it instantly increases your performance space, from just outstretched in front of you to the 'table' with a crow on it on the right.

Sorry... just had to... This is funny! Check out my reply above though...