# Chris Angel explains his levitation trick **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2006, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410 "2006-03-22T06:59:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/1 "2006-03-22T06:59:34Z")
Pretty neat… He does it without wires or the “Balducci” way. [Link itself is work safe, but there are porn links on this page](http://www.ehowa.com/showmovie.shtml?movie=chrisangelspoiler.wmv) ---
**Author:** ![tesseract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tesseract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesseract)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/2 "2006-03-22T09:22:39Z")
That’s neat! ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/3 "2006-03-22T10:13:04Z")
He is extremely clever. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/4 "2006-03-22T10:41:48Z")
Is it just me, or does it not look very convincing… ? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/5 "2006-03-22T12:28:28Z")
whats the Balducci method? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/6 "2006-03-22T12:39:05Z")
Googling it would probably provide a better illustration, but IIRC you kind of stand on the toes of one foot while keeping the other leg more prominently displayed and toes pointed straight forward. From the right angle and with the proper misdirection and patter, it apparently can be pretty convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/7 "2006-03-22T12:52:10Z")
Ah okay. Yeah, I’ve seen a magician guy do that before. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/8 "2006-03-22T17:17:39Z")
While the explanation is very interesting, I should point out that this levitation is a marketed effect and that the video shown is from the DVD that comes with the purchase of this effect. Whoever posted this is doing a lot of harm to the many magicians who do this effect. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/9 "2006-03-22T20:42:08Z")
The Balduci is no secret. Any decent library will have plenty of books telling you how to do it. I first heard of it when I was in elementary school. Various books, DVDs etc may claim that they do a better job of instructing you, or that they include some variation which makes the performance better. But, no one will lose their livelihood because an internet clip shows the Balduci. Fox showed it on Secrets Of Street Magic. Various other networks have shown it over the years. I’d be stunned to learn that the Balduci was patented, copyrighted, trademarked, or in any way privately owned intelectual property. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/10 "2006-03-22T20:52:32Z")
Huh. He’s going to be around the Aladdin Hotel in Vegas filming his next special soon. I wonder if he’s going to do this one? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/11 "2006-03-22T21:02:49Z")
I doubt he’ll do just the Balducci. I haven’t got cable, but his Mindfreak series had several tricks that started with a Balducci, then went to other methods to get additional height, rotation etc. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/12 "2006-03-23T00:58:07Z")
**DocCathode** , the clip doesn’t show the Balducci method. **FlyingRamenMonster** , the trick probably doesn’t look convincing because you know how it is done (and you find out how it is done before you see him do it.) ---
**Author:** ![One\_amoung\_many](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@One\_amoung\_many](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_amoung_many)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/13 "2006-03-23T01:11:33Z")
Same thing I’m sure. [http://www.gkko.com/videos/2500/levitation-illusion-revealed](http://www.gkko.com/videos/2500/levitation-illusion-revealed) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/14 "2006-03-23T13:37:44Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > **DocCathode** , the clip doesn’t show the Balducci method. Oops I misread this > [@Eleusis](#): > > Pretty neat… He does it without wires or the “Balducci” way. To mean ‘He does it without wires, what is called the Balducci way’ rather than the intended ‘He does it without wires, and not by the Balducci way’ Being on dial up, I did not watch the clip. Hocus pocus, mea culpa ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/15 "2006-03-23T14:00:34Z")
Mind you it is still a pretty impressive physical trick. Try it yourself - put one leg up on a step and then try to “hover” in mid air balanced on your front foot. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/16 "2006-03-23T17:21:04Z")
[Here](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://antigravitypower.tripod.com/BioGravity/Criss-Angel-Levitation-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://antigravitypower.tripod.com/BioGravity/CrissAngel.html&h=400&w=299&sz=77&tbnid=tR-A1iD-64v9vM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=89&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcriss%2Bangel%2Blevitation%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D) he does it barefoot, and at a considerably higher level. Notice the shadow in the first pic. I can’t find a link, but there’s a scene in his Mindfreak credits that shows him about 6 feet in the air. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/17 "2006-03-23T19:03:45Z")
Is this the same magician who “climbs” through a pain of glass in another internet video? ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/18 "2006-03-24T03:44:49Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > [Here](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://antigravitypower.tripod.com/BioGravity/Criss-Angel-Levitation-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://antigravitypower.tripod.com/BioGravity/CrissAngel.html&h=400&w=299&sz=77&tbnid=tR-A1iD-64v9vM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=89&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcriss%2Bangel%2Blevitation%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D) he does it barefoot, and at a considerably higher level. Notice the shadow in the first pic. > > I can’t find a link, but there’s a scene in his Mindfreak credits that shows him about 6 feet in the air. FYI, the levitation pictured here is a completely different one from the one in the OP. Also the one he exposes in the OP is the one that is patented and currently being marketed. The “Balducci” levitation has been around for years. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/19 "2006-03-24T07:22:07Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > FYI, the levitation pictured here is a completely different one from the one in the OP. Also the one he exposes in the OP is the one that is patented and currently being marketed. The “Balducci” levitation has been around for years. Yep. It basically goes like this: Balducci → OP vid → wires → trick photography I still thought the vid was neato. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410/20 "2006-03-24T07:59:04Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > [Here](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://antigravitypower.tripod.com/BioGravity/Criss-Angel-Levitation-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://antigravitypower.tripod.com/BioGravity/CrissAngel.html&h=400&w=299&sz=77&tbnid=tR-A1iD-64v9vM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=89&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcriss%2Bangel%2Blevitation%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D) he does it barefoot, and at a considerably higher level. Notice the shadow in the first pic. I had to laugh at the following quote from your link: > [@](#): > > Skeptics of levitation have came up with several theories as to its cause including hallucination, hypnosis, or fraud. These theories are not applicable to all incidents, however. The most likely and acceptable explanation is the Eastern theory of an existence of a force (simply, an universal force) which belongs to another, nonmaterial reality, and manifests itself in the material world. Yes, a mysterious force that stubbornly refuses to work under controlled conditions, definitely much more likely and acceptable than fraud or tricks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-angel-explains-his-levitation-trick/349410.md?page=2)