You may have seen this trick at some point being performed by a street performer. If you’re like us, then you stopped and wondered how in the world they are floating in mid-air. You among a crowd of many were standing, dumbfounded. Well, it’s a logical question to ask yourself. The levitator usually holds a rod and floats above a carpet or bed of flowers. But, the unbelievable part is that there is an obvious gap in between them and the ground. There’s no way that the person could be so strong so as to prop himself up just holding on with his hand, right? And even so, nobody could possibly do that for hours on end.
I mean, Simone Biles isn’t even capable of that sort of strength. Well, these street performers perform this trick with ease and use it as a way to make a little bit of money from onlookers. Once you learn how the trick is performed, you may regret all those times you gave money to the street levitator.
The Walk On Water Trick
The original magicians who performed this trick got their inspiration from the bible where Jesus was believed to have walked on water. Well, the son of God was maybe the first one to walk on water but he definitely wasn’t the last! So, who else has conquered this heroic act? Hint, the answer doesn’t have more than two legs. Another hint? Think of somebody who is capable of pulling off the most difficult of stunts. None other than magicians, of course.
If Jesus could walk on water, heck, I can too, thought the first magician to take on the challenge. Magicians have since mastered the art of “walking on water,” and have brought to life the holy scene from the bible. Now, they can’t actually be walking on water can they? That seems pretty impossible. But somehow, they make it look as though they are walking on water, leaving the audience to feel absolutely stumped as to how they’re pulling off the stunt. This is the exact way a skilled magician wants to make his audience feel. The audience sits at the edge of their seats, holding their breath and waiting for the magician to plunder down into the cold water below. But, the magician doesn’t succumb to expectations and despite appearing to wobble, he maintains his poise and stability and jets across the water without falling into it.
The Secret Behind Walking On Water
As much as the magician may appear to be struggling, he does this all for the sake of a good performance. Being a magician doesn’t only require the ability to pull off mind-blowing stunts. It also requires one to be a stellar performer. Take the great David Copperfield, for example. Other than performing as a musician, Copperfield was also an actor who played the lead role of the longest running musical in Chicago’s history, the Magic Man. Although musicians at times make the audience question their magical abilities, they know exactly what they’re doing the whole time. The good ones at least.
You might be a disappointment to find out that the trick doesn’t involve something so intricate. Or maybe that will make you happy to know, as you too are capable of performing the trick for your friends and family. All you need are some perspex boxes. Perspex boxes become invisible when submerged in water. A magician places them underneath the surface of the water and walks across, making it appear as though they can walk on water. Take that, Jesus.
What's Really Levitating
Turns out, the genie isn’t the only one who’s able to float mid-air, nor are Indian yogis the only ones. So, how in the world do street levitators join the ranks of the genie Well, when you know and yogis of the world? Well, it’s pretty simple, actually. The trick only involves three parts; the rod, the seat they are sitting on, and the platform on the ground.
The seat is attached to the rod which is attached to the platform on the ground. Got it? The way they pull off this trick is by concealing the seat and the platform with the clothes they are wearing and the prop on the ground is typically covered by a carpet or flowers. The performer sits on the first platform, in comfort and ease, and passersby wonder how in the world they’re able to pull this off so effortlessly. Well, they aren’t defying gravity or doing anything supernatural, they are just using age-old foolery and making money off of it.
Halving The Assistant
So, how in the world does a magician “cut” somebody’s body in half and then put them back together in a matter of minutes? You should know by now that there is a fairly simple explanation for how the magician manages to pull this trick off and that most likely, the assistant isn’t actually being dissected.
The secret behind the trick might be very surprising.