# Street "Magic" Levitation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122 "2003-06-02T13:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brazin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Brazin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brazin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/1 "2003-06-02T13:44:23Z")
After reading the thread about the ages old levitation “trick” we used to tryt to do as kids, I got to thinking about the street magic levitation thing that was thye rave a couple years ago. A Google shows lots and lots of people selling the “secret” behind the levitation ability but I couldn’t find any pages telling how it is done that didn’t charge for it. Can anyone explain how it’s done? I know that some might say it’s a magician’s secret and they don’t share their secrets but this particular “trick” is so mainstream now and so many people selling the method/secret that I figure it’s not really even a magic trick anymore. Thanks! Brazin ---
**Author:** ![isthatsowrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/35a633/32.png) [@isthatsowrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isthatsowrong)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/2 "2003-06-02T13:59:42Z")
This trick is known as Balducci Levitation. It is quite easy to do and very effective. I have done it many times and it always gets a big reaction. David Blaine has made the trick famous for a new generation, but he cheats on his TV specials. The shots they show of him from behind with both feet off the ground are faked. He does do the trick for real to get the reaction shots, but then they film him being raised in a harness for TV. You can’t lift yourself as high as they show him being lifted. [Balducci Levitation](http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/7308/balducci.html) Basically, you situate yourself so that people can only see one of your feet and then raise yourself by lifting with the other foot. Simple and effective. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/3 "2003-06-02T14:00:18Z")
The name of the trick is the [Balducci Levitation](http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/7308/balducci.html). > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/4 "2003-06-02T14:01:33Z")
Now watch as I magically levitate my post above **isthatsowrong?**'s… ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/5 "2003-06-02T14:05:02Z")
Ok, it’s very easy to do and can look quite effective. Stand with you back to your audience but at a slight angle so to conceal the front of one of your feet (see diagram A= foot A, B =foot B). Put both you feet together so there’s no gap in between them, then lift yourself up using the toes of foot A. While you are lifting yourself up keep foot B perpendicular to the floor and make sure that the heel of foot A is always level with and touching foot B. As long as you get the angle at which you are standing at right you will appear to be leviating about an inch above the ground. ``` A B audience ``` ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/6 "2003-06-02T14:06:58Z")
the little diagram didn’t work, here’s how it should of looked like: AB -----audience ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/7 "2003-06-02T14:11:39Z")
This is an illusion I learned a couple years back. Some people gasp at it and others see right through it. You need to be wearing long pants. Stand directly north of your observer about 10 feet away. Stand with your back towards them with your feet togther and then turn to your left about 45 degrees so your facing northeast feet together. This is the position you want to be in to start the trick. The observer can now plainly see your entire left foot and your right heel. Keep your heels together and your left foot flat (parallel) to the ground. Now raise yourself off the ground on the ball of your right foot raising the entire left foot and right heel off the ground. You will only “levitate” about an inch but from where the observer is standing (10 feet away at eye level) he won’t see the right foot doing the support. Practice with your back towards a full length mirror and observe over your shoulder. You’ll get the idea. Choose your setting carefully! A darkened bar after your friends have had a few works great. If you have problems balancing use a chair or wall for support. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/8 "2003-06-02T14:28:17Z")
Note on Blaine’s Balducci: “Stand over here so you can catch me if I fall”, as he shoves everyone into the right spot. He wears baggy straight bottm warm up pants that cover most of his shoes when doing street stuff (helps hide the foot/shor that stays planted) ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-magic-levitation/179122/9 "2003-06-02T14:48:33Z")
Without charge, here’s “aahala’s method”. The magician is standing on clear plastic collumns and the street, buildings and spectators rest upon a false floor. The floor is then lowered a few inches and everybody thinks it’s the magician who moved.