Does anyone use these anymore? The gimmick has been exposed so much I would be afraid to.

Check out Losanders version and his Bubble Zombie. He brings the Zombie to a new level. Just heard from him and he and Tommy Wonder have a new floating ball called " Sphere " that will be available in January 2004 that is suppose to be FANTASTIC.
It will sell for $295.00. He will have a demo of it soon on his site.

http://www.losander.com

Hope this helps.

The Zombie is still very much in use. In spite of the exposure of the gimmick, most audiences either don't know or don't care. My wife still works it to death. She does not use the metal silver ball, but it is still a Zombie. She is also a very good ballet dancer who does the routine to music only. The ball, gimmick and all, vanish in the end and leave a pile of glitter. Her aunt wants to know where she keeps getting new ones to crush? It must work well.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

I use the zombie as an opener in my children and family shows.
However, I don't use a ball. I use a red M&M doll and a spongebob. It's easy to modify most any stuffed animal or doll to do a zombie.
The kids relate to these type items way better than a ball. Adults seem to like it too!

I turn it into a comedy routine. I act like I will make the ball disapear, and the cloth bulges in the middle. I act like I am trying to hide it. That usually gets a good repose. I have also heard using a handz up(is that how you spell it) adds a nice effect.
You can get those from http://www.hottrix.com , but they are a little pricey.

Al Schneider on Zombie is a must have book if you are considering doing this effect.

He discribes new moves and his routine can be done close-up, meaning stand up in front of a small group, not at a table.

G'day folks

Does anyone know of a Zombie Ball that looks like a soap bubble but isn't an actual soap bubble

Sound strange?

David from Sydney Australia

Off the shelf the best "soap bubble" zombie ball would be a clear glass (clear plastic would be better) Christmas tree ornament .

Check this one out :
http://ww8.christmasdepot.com/prod.cgi?1446

Crystal clear , 3.5" inch diameter , so would be fairly visible on a small stage situation .

Ideally have a glass blower blow a light-weight glass sphere (similar to that Christmas Tree Ornament) with no hole. Then on the end of the gimmick use a suction cup to attach to the ball .
Get several made at a time so if you break one you have backups .
Hopefully there is some chemical treatment to harden the glass to make it resistant to breaking . Ask an experienced glass worker.

Also check out these links for hollow plastic (acrylic) spheres :

http://www.globalplastics.ca/domes.htm

http://www.barnardltd.com/.query.listall3.tdview.129

Oh , yes, here's another source :

http://www.fxsupply.com/products/hemis.html

I think a couple of these acrylic hemispheres epoxied together would
make a good looking Zombie "bubble" .
(and you could use the suction cup pick up on the end of the zombie gimmick)

g'day chris the link in the second post is related to that

s'later chris

liam

by the way I do not come from down under matey's

Check out Tommy Wonder's thoughts on the Zombie in his DVD video's as a prelude to his Zombie ball explaination

The first best performance I saw of a Zombie was by Arturo Brachetti in the Best Of Magic series. I was blown. I did not know magic then. I recently saw a magician do the Zombie in a shopping mall to an almost surrounded audience.The people were hooked to the effect and the music and the choreographed moves. Bottom line? The extra bit of touch can always create a miracle even if the secret is widely known.

Could anyone suggest where to find suitable music for a zombie ball routine.

Thanks

OTTO.....

The best place to get music for Zombie is the Music Store. Just go in and grab a handful and take them home and with the Zombie in your hands start listening until you find the one you like.

There is no 'per sa' Zombie music written for this effect.

I once seen a gentleman perform it to a poem he recited. Not a bad performance.

Encore Magic has the U.S. rights to make the gimmick only for Losander Zombie, they sell it for $20.

And well worth it it is----

I have always been of the opinion, however that it is best to use zombie in a larger context. Just floating a ball is expected -- floating a lady too --- but what else can you float.

Bubbles
Tables
Candles large and small
skulls (Ala Kovari)
Handkerchiefs
silks
corks
swords
self?

Zombie is just a door --- open it -- and find flowers, a plethora of bubbles -- other stuff in the two hemispheres??

Zombie a gift package -- then use it (after you take off cover -- for a production....... (think Harry Potter on that one.)

The principals of levitation can burst forth---but do them well. Flashing a gimmick on a reverse is a no-no. Making the ***ed thing look like a ball on a stick is a no-no. Dropping it on the floor mid rocking in the cloth -- another no-no.

Stgart zombie as a juggling trick (balance on arm) then have it fly to your amazement -- and you are back to Carson's original premise if I remeber correctly. GC

I too have been considering adding a ZOMBIE routine to my repertoire. I’ve been doing shows for the elderly lately, and because of hearing difficulties, I’ve been performing more silent routines done to music.

I like the added possibilities of utilizing the HANDZUP from Hotrrix

Vann

Regarding using a spongebob doll or other doll for a kid's show: wouldnt it be too heavy? I own the Zombie, but havent tried using a heavier object to levitate. If it isn't too heavy for the gimmick, you wouldnt mind me using something like that too, would you?
Thanks,
Loren

I'm not sure why the Zombie is in a forum for Illusions. It's not an illusion. It's a stand-up stage trick.

In any case, if you want to do this trick, get the Tommy Wonder book and get Al Schneider's book, too. Both are absolutely necessary if you want to understand what the zombie has to look like.

Karson's book is good idea to have, but isn't necessary any more.

Hey Bill we have transformed the regular stage Zombie into a full on Stage Illusion called the Zombie Coffin. Check it out here:

http://www.masterofillusions.ca/master_o......offi.htm

P.

Please, when doing Karson's Zombie...make it short and sweet, as I have seen so many do it too long, swaying it back and forth (the "stick") look and going under the cloth a dozen or more times.

I think Melinda has it about right...very flourishy, up, down around and GONE!

Going on too long can KILL the effect.

Just my $.02...

Melinda's act was the inspiration for my Zombie Coffin illusion. I love her version too!