Lite-Flite
Type: Close-up, parlor
Skill Level: 
Retail Price: $30
Effect: The magician reaches into his pocket and produces a small
illuminated ball. On the magician's command, the ball starts to float in
mid-air! The ball floats from one hand to the other! The magician's hands
circle around the floating ball, dispelling any theories of how the trick
is done. Finally, the floating ball rises up to the magician's pocket.
The pocket is opened and the ball floats into the pocket. Lite-Flite was
created by Perry Maynard.
Performance Time: depends on the routine....
Reset Time: 2 minutes
Angles: 
Quality: Materials are high quality, instructions are clear and
concise.
Dr. Mitch: As with most floating effects lighting is extremely important. If the lighting is off, too bright, too direct, people will see the floating gimmick attached to the ball. (You ARE given an ample supply of gimmick, which you have to pull apart yourself...those of you who use a "thread manager" might have an easier time of this) This is a trick that is going to require a lot of practice time to make look mystical. But handled correctly it is truly a miracle. The mechanism and handling are almost the same as "Fearson's Floating Cigarette". Practice this to make it look casual. Remember...it is not a marionette, it is supposed to be floating. I have seen this handled well, and handled poorly. If you are willing to put in the time....then go for it. If you are like some magicians out there and are looking for "push-button" magic, this is NOT for you.
Another problem with this is that there is no way to turn the light on or off in the course of performance. You have to enter with the ball lit, in your pocket, and exit with the ball lit. To turn off the light the ball must be split open and the light disengaged. This would be ideally suited for say...an MC..who could enter, talk, do the float, introduce the next act and exit.
I think this is a strong effect, BUT due to lighting, the fact that you cannot turn it on or off easily, the inherent fragility of the "floating gimmick", and the fact that some of you will not give this the practice time it needs....I have to give this a thumbs down.
Mike Maione: I hate invisible thread. I hate invisible thread. I hate invisible thread. Nevertheless, I bought this one and I'm having some fun playing with it....I'm kinda hoping I'll be able to include it in a D'lite routine.
Know what?...It's NOT too bad for a thread trick. The supplied thread is pretty tough and the handling which is credited in part to Steve Fearson is pretty good. Still, it's invisible thread which takes lots and lots of practice to use and lots and lots of effort to set-up. Here are some other drawbacks: As Mitch mentioned the light has to be on (draining the battery) from the time you set it up until you break it down. Also, because an LED is used to illuminate the ball.....there's a hot spot. Finally, the booklet suggests you can give the ball a spin...but I haven't done it and made it look good yet.
So, I haven't figured out how, or if, I'll be able to incorporate it into my act yet.
Should you get it?...that depends on if you like electronics and if you can stand working with invisible thread.
BTW, did I mention that I hate invisible thread?
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