Balducci Levitation - Description

The Balducci Levitation is an illusion that can be performed almost anywhere, anythime. It uses no wires, strings, rigs, camera tricks, etc.

The illustrations at the right show you the audience point-of-view.

This is a highly restrictive, angle-sensitive trick. You have to practice your angles over and over to get used to them. One bad angle or position and the illusion is blown!

In the television special "David Blaine: Street Magic" they show everyone having 'cows' over Blaine's levitation. What they don't show you are the countless times Blaine screwed the trick up. It is easy to get a bad angle - even more so when you're performing for several people.

Figure 1 shows the start of the illusion. Stand about 8 to 10 feet away from the audience at a 45° 'backward' angle (as shown in figure 1). You pause . . . and then slowly start to float (figure 2). You rise 3 to 5 inches off of the ground before you suddenly "crash" back down to the ground.

When performed correctly, this is about as close to "real" magic as you'd ever want to get.

Figue 1

Figure 2

Balducci Levitation - Solution

All you do is pretend to "float off of the ground while you tippee-toe on just one foot (the foot furthest from their view) as shown below. Believe it, or not, this looks GREAT! The small audience can not see your supporting foot because it is hidden by three things: your pants, the angle of the trick and your closest shoe (which hides their view of the foot being used to "levitate" you.) You might only rise 3 or 5 inches off of the ground, but it's all in the presentation! You will want to slowly rise off of the ground . . . wait just one second and then drop fast. Stay up too long and they will probably figure it out.

Figure 3

Another thing. Don't just walk up to someone and say, "wanna see me float?" You must first show them, say, a bunch of card tricks. This will let you know if you can perform the Balducci Levitation for them, or not. If they tend to grab at the cards or seem to go out of their way to make magic life difficult for you, then you do not want to show them this trick. They will blow it for you, and everyone else. The Balducci Levitation requires a respectable, responsive audience - people that like, and want, to be entertained. Part of being a good magician is knowing who not to show a trick to - no matter how much you want to show it to them. You show them a few card tricks first (or something of the like). This establishes a "magical" mood, lets you see if they are 'in the mood' and sets them up for the big one. After seeing a bunch of "small" stuff they will never

suspect a levitation. This is what blows them away! After a few card tricks, simply have them stand together and then set up for the illusion. "Can everyone see my feet?" is something good to say at this point. "Everyone watch me while I float!" is probably the crappiest thing you could say. Never tell them exactly what to do (this way, they won't be trying to figure it out before you even get started).

Practice in front of a mirror, or better yet, in front of a video camera on a tripod. Set the camera at eye level and perform for the camera several times. This will help you learn your angles much faster, and better than a mirror. Better yet, let a friend in on the trick and have him/her videotape your performance.

Good luck.