The Chair Suspension

The Chair Suspension Illusion Plans

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The Chair Suspension INTRODUCTION This is the modern version of this very impressive trick which was first seen in circus sideshows. Magicians often did not perform it because the circus sideshows didn't employ magicians as a rule, sideshow roadies worked more cheaply. Today the illusion can be performed by even the youngest of performers. It can be performed under any type of condition, even in the round. Often, performers will use a member of the audience. No special setup is needed for this completely self-enclosed illusion. On the stage with the performer are two folding chairs. These chairs might have been on stage all through the show. Perhaps they were used when the performer had members of the audience up on stage with him. Or the chairs can be brought onto the stage when the illusion is to take place. The chairs are set up in the center of the stage, facing each other. They are about four feet apart. A heavy board is then placed across the back of the chairs. A person is requested to lie down on the board. This person can either be an assistant or someone from the audience. One of the chairs is then removed. The person and board appear to be suspended in mid-air. A hoop can then be passed over the person and down to the floor of the chair. The chair is replaced, the person is asked to step down and the board is then removed. The chair suspension is one of the most famous illusions of all time, usually associated with hypnosis and other paranormal powers. It is a trick many people have heard of but never actually witnessed. It is also one of the only types of levitation suitable for cabaret situations, and to add to the impact it uses a spectator from the audience. EFFECT The performer shows two folding chairs, and places them facing each other about one and a half feet apart; he then shows a wooden board and places it on top of the two chairs. A young lady from the audience is asked to lay down on the board and the magician then puts the girl in a hypnotic sleep. To everyone’s amazement the magician removes one of the chairs and a large hoop is moved around the girl to prove that no wires and the like exist. The magician replaces the chair and brings the girl out of her hypnotic sleep to receive thunderous applause.


SECRET As with other suspensions, there is a gimmick in use. In this case, one of the chairs is reinforced with a metal bracket. The bracket runs down the back of the chair, then down the adjoining legs to the floor. The board is also gimmicked and is designed to engage the chair's support bracket when placed across it.The action of slipping the board into the metal is a sliding motion, a motion easily covered by setting the board on the chair. METHOD One of the chairs is in fact faked – it has been fitted with a steel angle iron which is fixed to the top of the chair in place in the back pattern. The board is also faked – it has a bracket fixed to its underside cleverly concealed in wood. APPARATUS The best chairs to use are those of the wooden rather than aluminium type. The chairs can be painted a bland colour such as brown. The board can be a brighter colour. This was the board looks more like a billboard than a specially prepared magic prop. Always remember, it is better to use props that look like everyday items than it is to use shiny brightly colored props. Misdirection works with the props just as well as they work in the presentation of the props. First of all, it is necessary to remove the back pattern of a chair. Cut a piece of angle iron (steel) to the length of the back pattern – the angle should be approximately ten millimetres thick. To each end of the angle a plate is welded approximately one hundred and sixty millimetres long and four millimetres thick (see diagram 1). This is then drilled with screw holes and countersunk. The plates are then screwed to the chair (see diagram 1), and all the metal painted to resemble the rest of the chair. The board must be a length suitable for the assistant used – if a volunteer from the audience is used, you must make a happy medium, this could be approximately one and a half metres. The board must also be faked with a ‘bracket’ fixed to its bottom. The bracket is constructed in three parts, (these are shown in diagram’s 4 to 6). These parts should be welded together before they are bolted to the board, but to ease description, they are shown individually. Firstly, a base plate four hundred by three hundred by three hundred millimetres must be bolted to the board (see diagram 4). Then a distance piece of three hundred by one hundred and fifty by twenty millimetres must be welded to the base plate, great care being taken here due to the bolts that project from the base plate. These bolts will have to sit in holes created in the distance piece. Alternatively, the distance piece can be moved down a little as shown in diagram 2 and finally a twenty millimetre thick hook plate of three hundred by two hundred millimetres is welded to the distance plate (see diagram 6).


These metal plates must now be decorated with either paint or wooden veneer so that they look normal. A construction of exactly the same size should be fitted to the other end of the board; this should be constructed in wood and look identical to the other end of the board. This gives the board the appearance of having two ‘stops’ at either end. PERFORMANCE Set the two chairs facing each other, and put the board in place interlocking the gimmick. Invite a lady from the audience of suitable dimensions, and have her lay on the board. Whisper to her to pretend to be hypnotised, and then remove the unfaked chair. Pass a hoop around her to prove that there are no supports. The replace the chair, awaken the girl and take your bow!






The Chair Suspension

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