h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now don't get me wrong here because I am a magician myself and I love the conjuring arts and all of that, but I was jst sat here on this damp drizzly Sunday morning in london wondering what the rest of the H2G2 crowd thought, in particular has anyone out there ever heard of ( now excuse the spelling and say it as it sounds.) THE BALDUCCI LEVITATION.

For those of you lucky enought on have seen him on the tellie last year this is an amazing illusion best performed nowdays by as young street magician from New York called David Blaine, the general gist of it is you look like you are levitating on the spot.

Now this really is incredible to see ( and pretty cool to perform, when I get it right that is!), but I was just wondering if anyone out there had seen it and what you thought.

Oh and any other coments on magic trick, childrens' entertainers (yep do that too) and magic in all it's guises please post a note and I look forward to reading them.

Byeee.

Yea! saw the levitation thing on the telly and reckoned that the guy had mirrors on his shoes, note that he had to find a particular place to stand with a crack in the pavement as a point of reference.

It was brilliant though and such good TV in that the reaction of the audience encompassed docusoap and Candid camera in one scoop

I have no idea about magic, it anoys me because I can not work it out but since language has words for conjourers and things I can only surmise that it's been going on for ever: fooling most of the people most of the time.

Another subject I know but my students are producing a play about Witch Hunts in the 17th centuary: as a conjourer could you help me with this.

I suggest that the grain was blighted by Urgot so people were seeing things. Just a theory.

Yes, it was magic. In the sense that any illusion is a magic trick, that is. I won't reveal how to do it here, but I've done it in public and alarmed a few people.

You should be aware that David Blaine is using TWO techniques in his TV specials. He does the standard Balducci levitation, and they film the crowd reaction shots. Then they film him doing another, more traditional effect that makes it look like he's a foot or more off the ground, but I doubt that the same crowd is on hand to watch...

You can find the Bladucci video at a good magic shop, and you can appear to levitate 4" to 6". No props, no equipment, do it ANY time you feel the conditions are right!

I do a slight variation in which I pull up on the seat of my pants and appear to lift myself into the air. I call it "Flying by the seat of my pants".

Cheers!