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.