# How does this levitation trick work? (not David Blaine) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871 "2005-09-15T22:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/41 "2005-09-17T19:33:02Z")
:o Make that “postmodern **Houdini** ”, he’s a skilled illusionist/stuntman type, not a rapper. :o :o ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/42 "2005-09-17T19:36:05Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Are the same crowds present in all shots? My observation of the crowds in this clip are that in the shots where he’s visible, they’re all standing around quite calm. There’s separate close-ups of the ‘gasp, hands over mouth’ variety, but there’s no evidence that these were filmed at the same time, whether actors or not. (David Blane uses exactly the same editing-in of ‘shocked onlookers’ all the time.) Um, yes, all the people in the crowds for each individual stunt in areas all over Vegas are the same 20 people, which is why I think they are a real audience. :dubious: Seriously, you can’t get a good idea of what Angel’s schtick is by watching one short clip. Watch a show or two and decide for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/43 "2005-09-17T19:38:51Z")
> [@filmyak](#): > > Ooh, cool thread. I work on the show, so I know a little bit about this piece. 🆒 > No, I can’t/won’t tell how it’s done, that kills the fun of it. But I WILL use the opportunity to shamelessly plug the series (Wed nights at 10pm on A&E), and for those of you with no cable, the DVD of the series will be out later this year. > > And yes, the reactions are taped at the same time as the effect with a 2nd camera. =) > > Actually the best reaction was completely missed (darn that live, unscripted TV thing). A jogger in the park was watching as he jogged by… to the point where he fell over mid jog from not looking where he was going. Hehehe. Oooo, tell us more. I love that guy! Is he very much the personna he portrays on the show? What’s he like to work for? So far, my favorite trick was the playing card on the windshield of the moving bus. Did you work that shoot? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/44 "2005-09-17T19:41:52Z")
**Large Marge** I saw that trick, it was truly a mindfreak. I don’t see how he pulled it off, wasn’t there a breeze that day? I seem to recall seeing his hair move, at least with gusts from passing traffic if not actual wind. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/45 "2005-09-17T19:55:22Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > Oooo, tell us more. I love that guy! Is he very much the personna he portrays on the show? What’s he like to work for? > > So far, my favorite trick was the playing card on the windshield of the moving bus. Did you work that shoot? And ruin the mystique? Hey, we show you how he acts with his family and friends when he’s not performing (one of the coolest parts of the show, IMO). That’s as close as you get to the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/46 "2005-09-17T20:21:45Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Did you even watch the video? He never lifts his right leg off the ground. Only his left. I said that he kept one leg planted on the ground! ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/47 "2005-09-17T20:54:56Z")
So it seems like if there are as many ways to levitate as there are magicians then possibly some of this speculation might be near the mark? Obviously supernatural powers aren’t responsible. Anyway, there is incredible technology that is exclusive to the world of “illusion.” ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/48 "2005-09-18T00:15:27Z")
There are videos [here](http://www.aetv.com/crissangel/) from Zabali’s link (thanks!) of Criss that give you an idea what he and the show are all about. I just learned that he wanted to call the show Mind Fuck but they wouldn’t let him. 😃 Oh, and did I mention, he’s _ **gorgeous** _? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/49 "2005-09-18T00:34:01Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Anyway, there is incredible technology that is exclusive to the world of “illusion.” With very rare exceptions, the tricks don’t actually require a lot of high-tech, just the standard misdirection, with a lot of extraneous flash and patter thrown in. The kind of harness used in this particular trick is certainly custom-made, but it’s probably fairly simply in design. The vast majority of tricks _aren’t_ technically complicated, just well-executed. It’ll be quite a while before magicians start incorporating high-tech gizmos like holograms and whatnot into their acts. If they do, it might just be the effective end of slight-of-hand magic altogether. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/50 "2005-09-18T01:18:44Z")
As stated earlier, there is absolutely nothing high-tech about this particular illusion. It’s a minor variation on a trick that’s been performed for fifty or a hundred years at least. A stage version involves a person, usually an attrative woman, walking onstage carrying a broom. The broom is “balanced” upright under her armpit like a crutch. The magician then lifts both of her feet off the stage until her body is parallel to the floor. He then lets go of her feet. She then remains suspended, supported only by the broom under her armpit. After the audience is wowed by the fact that she’s “floating” (even though there’s a clearly visible means of support), the magician lowers her feet, removes the broom from under her arm and she walks offstage. I won’t explain how it’s done, because what’s to explain, really. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/51 "2005-09-18T01:37:00Z")
> [@VernWinterbottom](#): > > I won’t explain how it’s done, because what’s to explain, really. [Not much](http://www.tilfordillusions.com/broomSuspension2.html). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/52 "2005-09-18T02:09:04Z")
I realize this isn’t IMHO, but people seem to be fawning over Criss Angel and to be quite honest he has poor technique at best. He’s a magician second to being some quasi-industrial, goth, rockstar, and even that he seems to wear uncomfortably. He just doesn’t seem sincere or hardcore enough for the act. He is a hack **stage** magician capitalizing on David Blaine and Marilyn Manson. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/53 "2005-09-18T04:40:53Z")
Actually he’s pretty good. I’ve seen him do tons of stuff right in front of me, and he’s been doing magic since he was about 10 years old. The guy has a huge range of magic knowledge. I personally specialize in cards, and he knows cards, mentalism, stage illusions, closeup, and everything in between. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/54 "2005-09-18T11:18:04Z")
Umm…you filmed that right? So, yaknow…It’s like I’ve seen through your eyes. I’ve seen the same thing and the guy is sloppy. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/55 "2005-09-18T18:33:24Z")
Nope, I never claimed I filmed it. I’m talking about hanging around at the office or after work. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871/56 "2005-09-18T19:03:30Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I realize this isn’t IMHO, but people seem to be fawning over Criss Angel and to be quite honest he has poor technique at best. He’s a magician second to being some quasi-industrial, goth, rockstar, and even that he seems to wear uncomfortably. He just doesn’t seem sincere or hardcore enough for the act. He is a hack **stage** magician capitalizing on David Blaine and Marilyn Manson. I couldn’t disagree with you more. I think you may be hung up on his appearance. It sounds as though you believe that because he looks “goth” that he should be more “hardcore.” I don’t think he (or anyone) should be forced to conform to a societal “norm” based on his appearance. Eyeliner excepted, I think he looks rather “normal.” If I didn’t know who he was, I doubt I’d give him a second glance if I saw him on the street. He sounds far more sincere to me than the over-scripted over-dramatized stage acts I’ve become accustomed to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-levitation-trick-work-not-david-blaine/321871.md?page=2)