Alright dude, we are just going to have to agree to disagree. You are not going to see it my way, and I am not going to see it your way.
Alright dude, we are just going to have to agree to disagree. You are not going to see it my way, and I am not going to see it your way.
Let me quote Ricky Jay from Secrets of the Magus
from the New Yorker Magazine
by Mark Singer
"A guy comes up and starts telling me he's a fan," he recalls. "I say thank you, that's nice to hear. He says he used to see me perform in Boulder, Colorado. That's nice, too, I say. Then he starts talking about this wonderful piece I did with a mechanical monkey-really one of the most bizarre routines I ever worked out-and I thank him, and he says, `Yeah, I get a tremendous response when I do that. Audiences just love it.' And I say, `Let me ask you something. Suppose I invite you over to my house for dinner. We have a pleasant meal, we talk about magic, it's an enjoyable evening. Then, as you're about to leave, you walk into my living room and you pick up my television and walk out with it. You steal my television set. Would you do that?' He says, `Of course not.' And I say, `But you already did.' He says, `What are you talking about?' I say, `You stole my television!' He says, `How can you say that? I've never even been to your house.' This guy doesn't even know what a metaphor is. People ask me why I don't do lectures at magic conventions, and I say, `Because I'm still learning.' Meanwhile, you've got people who have been doing magic for ten months and they are actually out there pontificating. It's absurd."
Building a good floating table is hard enough, making the gimmick for Dirk's table won't be easy unless you are an exceptional craftsman. The big issue is that you need to learn how to work the thing and that's not easy either. My recommendation being that you buy yourself a Zombie Ball and work with that for a good year before you buy the rather overpriced prop. . . I'm not saying that it's not a good prop, just 35% more expensive than it should be.
The problem with a floating table in today's world is that most guys treat it as they would a Zombie vs. how it's supposed to be performed. For about $800.00 you can get an excellent spirit table from Steven's Magic that is far more believable in my opinion (they have a couple of them in that range).
The other problem with making a table is that they are made of Balsa Wood which is a very expensive proposition if you aren't a skill woodworker in that most have an overlay of fine wood veneer.
Research floating/spirit tables before you think about doing this. Understand the concept and where they come from and you will find that your better path can be far less expensive and filled with fewer headaches.
So, are you saying if I saw the trailer for a new magic effect, and I figured out how to do it just from watching the trailer, and I preformed the effect to spectators without ever buying it, I would be stealing? For example, when I saw the trailer for Reflex by Patrick Kun I knew how to do it. Now I preform the effect to people, but I do not think of myself as stealing.
Also just pointing out that I dont know losander's secret and if I did build one I would be using one of my ideas. If it happens to be the same method as losander's is that still considered stealing? I think not.
ps. I have a friend who is a craftsman (He does this for a living.) He has built me several magic props in the past and we already have the plans worked out.
I read every post in this thread and nobody mentioned any books
And I discovered my own method after posting the OP
Why not ask how hard is it to build a spirit table? People would have helped with that and pointed you to the books.
I know im not supposed to ask about revealing a trick, but i am thinking about purchasing a Losander trinity floating table. I just want to know what im getting before i spend around $1200.
No you are not just buying the knowledge. You are buying the rights to perform the effect, rewarding the creator for coming up with the effect. Again if you think it is a waste of money to reward the people who create, what will you do when the creators stop releasing stuff because of this attitude.
im new on this site but accusing someone of stealing is bit strong don't u think, I agree he shoulve just been honest in the first place and ask how its done ,i created my own floating table and some of my fellow magician friends as well ,for me it was easy to figure it out, never seen mr losander methods so therefore im not stealing anything at all, personally think mine fits into my routine better, im not saying mine is better, I do honestly think its best just to buy one at a reasonable price, if u cant make one or don't no the method but id never pay 2500 or 1200 that price range its grossly over price, I hope I don't sound like I have an attitude if u think that im sorry I've been a magician for a while now for the past 7 years ive been creating my own in fact one of them is in process patents in Canada and US, but anyway my point is if someone stole or copied my invention, ya id be piss off but if I sell it put it on the market I leave myself open to be copied in time to be mass produce and at cheaper price, right or wrought that reality .So you have gone from wanting to know what you were getting for the $1200 to really fishing for info so you can build one? Building it yourself is the same as stealing. If you can't afford it then you are A) Not ready for it. B) Do not really need it. If it is something you really need for your act then you would prioritize your finances to save for the effect.