Criss Angel is a world-renowned magician who has gained fame for his mind-blowing magic tricks and illusions. Over the years, he has performed numerous spectacles that have left audiences in awe and wondering just how he manages to accomplish such incredible feats. In the world of magic, revealing the secrets behind tricks is often frowned upon. Magicians strive to maintain an element of mystery and bafflement, as this is what captivates and mesmerizes their audience. However, there have been instances where Criss Angel's magic tricks have been dissected and exposed, shedding light on the techniques he employs to create his illusions. One of the most notable tricks revealed from Criss Angel's repertoire is his famous levitation act.

Criss Angel Magic Secrets

Levitation is a big part of Criss Angel's repertoire. He has fascinated crowds all over the globe by floating off the ground, seemingly without any supporting device, special equipment or wires. On his television show Mindfreak he once floated off the ground about two feet and gently landed on a cement ledge to the amazement of spectators on a busy street.

So how is this done? How does Criss Angel levitate himself? It's actually easier than you think. In a recent video Criss Angel shows some of his friends how this is done.

This form of levitation involves standing in front of an prop, like a metal box, chair, or stair case with your back to the audience. In this demonstration Criss stands approximately one foot from the prop, in this case a metal box.

He places his feet together (his shoes are magnetized). He stands so he is in the center of the spectators. Now while talking to his audience he uses misdirection with his right hand while his left hand opens a panel on his pants that allows his right leg to come out.

This is the gimmick, the right shoe is attached to the pants so when his leg is out of the shoe, the shoe will hang.

The critical point is removing the right leg from the slit in the pants. Criss again misdirects. The importance being he doesn't want spectators concentrating on his legs. This is the most difficult part of the trick, actually getting the leg out and firmly planted on the box. Engaging the spectators with speech and hand movements allows Criss the split second needed to accomplish this.

Just before he rises from the ground Criss arches his back looking up, extends his arms outwards and takes deep breaths. This wraps the spectators in anticipation and allows Criss the time to balance himself.

He floats up. His arms outstreached, his eyes gazing upwards. His legs remain straight, heels together, floating two feet off the ground. "How does it look?", Criss asks the three or four friends that have gathered. "Looks good.", someone answers.

Criss explains that from this point he can float to the top of the box or float back down. If he floats to the top his foot is placed on top of the right shoe. The exposed leg is then slipped back into the pants and shoe.

Criss would then end the act by turning to his spectators, observing their expressions and saying something like, "Do you believe?"

How to Levitate Like Criss Angel

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 54 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.

This article has been viewed 660,300 times.

Criss Angel, David Blaine, and many other magicians show off their powers of levitation to television or live audiences. When you see them rocketing high into the air, they are actually attached to an off-camera crane by thin wires, and sometimes surrounded by fake audience members pretending to be fooled. However, these magicians also do smaller-scale tricks, lifting themselves a short distance, and you can learn this technique at home with minimal preparation.

Using Criss Angel's Trick

• Criss Angel has also "levitated" many feet up into the air, but in that trick he is most likely wearing a wire harness attached to a crane. The black clothing, bright sky, and carefully selected camera angles make the wires invisible. [1] X Research source

• You can use alternate methods of attaching the magnets, such as slitting a hole in the interior side of your shoes and inserting the magnets into the pocket.
• Try asking for rare earth magnets or other strong magnets at a home improvement store or online.

• Use dark pants to make the slit less obvious, and wear long underwear, tights, or tight pants underneath that blend in with the pants' color.
• If the slit is very obvious, extend it further downward, then pinch the lower end of the slit and bring it over so the two halves of the pant leg overlap slightly. Sew this material together at the bottom of the slit.

• Use thread that blends in with the color of the pants.

Stand in front of a platform or chair. Although Criss Angel always seems to simply be standing in front of a chair, he's actually using it as a very important prop. Start practicing with low platforms, that you can easily step onto with minimal foot movements. When facing the platform, your back should be facing the audience.

• Face toward the platform (away from the audience), and bring your feet together so the magnets hold your shoes together.
• Slip one foot out of its shoe and through the slit in the pants leg, and place it on the platform in front of you.
• Lean forward and lift your other foot in the air behind you, so you are balancing on one leg.
• Hover for a couple seconds. Move your "levitating" feet and your arms slightly to make this look like a great effort.

• You can instead land back on the ground, but this is harder to pull off convincingly. [3] X Research source Also, if you don't land on the platform, the audience may wonder why it's there, and guess how you pulled off the trick.

Use a video camera or friend to get feedback. Only audience members directly behind you will be fooled by this trick. While practicing, set up a video camera or recruit a friend to watch you behind you and to the left or right. Do this many times, moving the camera or friend each time, so you get a better idea of where the audience needs to stand to be fooled.

• It usually helps if you start doing this as you're walking towards the chair.
• Stress that the audience needs to stay back. Some magicians claim they might fall onto them and injure someone nearby.

Levitating Without Special Materials

• Make sure the audience stays back. If they're antsy, demand space and make a big deal of "searching for the right spot."
• This trick is unlikely to succeed without practicing first. Use a video camera or friend to help you figure out the right angle and control your movements.

Put your heels together and your toes apart. Arrange your feet so your audience can see our entire left foot and the heel of your right foot. The tip of your right foot should not be visible, due to the angle of your body and the left foot placed between you and the audience.

Pretend to make a great effort. Pump your arms up, grunt, or bend your knees. The more you get into your body motions, the more you help your audience convince itself.

Stand on your right toes only. With a final effort, "jump" off the ground an inch or two and hover. In reality, all you're doing is bending your right foot and standing on the toes. Your left foot should stay flat and lift completely off the ground. If your angle is well-chosen, the audience will only see the parts of your feet that are "hovering" off the ground. [6] X Research source

Bend your knees as you land. After a few seconds, bring your feet down and bend your knees and ankles as you "land," as though you dropped from a significant distance.

One of the most notable tricks revealed from Criss Angel's repertoire is his famous levitation act. In this illusion, he appears to float several feet above the ground, defying the laws of physics. While many have speculated on how he accomplishes this feat, it has been revealed that the secret lies in cleverly concealed supports and the use of harnesses.

Community Q&A

This isn't actually levitating - it's an illusion. But pretending to concentrate might make it more believable.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy! Claim Your Gift If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

While the principle of the trick is simple, it takes convincing theatrics and confidence to pull off. The more you practice, the better you'll get.

Wear socks and underclothes that blend in with the pants, or a second inner layer of long underwear or tights.

These concealed mechanisms work together to give the impression of pure levitation, leaving the audience captivated and perplexed. Another trick that Criss Angel is often admired for is his ability to walk on water. This astonishing illusion has sparked much speculation and curiosity over the years. However, it has been exposed that this trick is achieved through the use of clear plexiglass platforms just below the water's surface. By positioning the platforms strategically, Criss Angel is able to create the illusion of effortlessly walking on water, leaving his audience in utter amazement. Additionally, Criss Angel is known for his ability to seemingly pass solid objects through others. This baffling illusion, commonly referred to as the "penetration effect," has also been dissected and revealed. Through the clever use of misdirection and sleight-of-hand techniques, Criss Angel is able to create the illusion that he is passing objects through solid materials. His skillful manipulation of the audience's focus and attention is what allows him to execute this mesmerizing trick flawlessly. While Criss Angel's magic tricks have been revealed and dissected by curious individuals, it is important to remember that the true magic lies in the performer's ability to captivate and entertain their audience. Despite knowing the secrets behind his tricks, Criss Angel's performances continue to leave spectators in awe, as the allure and artistry of his illusions surpass the mere knowledge of how they are accomplished. Ultimately, the real magic lies in the performance and the ability to suspend disbelief, allowing the audience to be transported into a world of wonder and astonishment..

Reviews for "Criss Angel's Secrets of Teleportation: How Does He Do It?"

1. Jane - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to watch "Criss Angel Magic Revealed" because I love magic shows. However, I was truly disappointed with this one. The tricks were not mind-blowing or innovative as I expected. They were either too predictable or poorly executed. I found myself getting bored and drifting off during the show, which is never a good sign. Overall, this show lacked the wow factor and left me feeling underwhelmed.

2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Criss Angel Magic Revealed" was a complete waste of time for me. The tricks were so obviously staged and poorly acted. It was clear that the so-called magic was nothing more than misleading camera angles and cheap illusions. The show relied heavily on over-the-top theatrics rather than focusing on the actual magic. I would not recommend this show to anyone who appreciates true talent and real magic.

3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "Criss Angel Magic Revealed" to be quite disappointing. The illusions shown were nothing new or groundbreaking. It felt like I had seen them all before on other magic shows. The host, Criss Angel, lacked charisma and his attempts at humor fell flat. I was hoping for a fresh take on magic, but unfortunately, this show failed to deliver. I wouldn't watch it again or recommend it to others.

4. Michael - 1/5 stars - This show was nothing short of a letdown. The tricks performed by Criss Angel were mediocre at best. It was evident that most of his illusions were achieved through basic sleight of hand and obvious props. The production value was also subpar, with some camera angles fully exposing the gimmicks used. I expected to be amazed and intrigued but ended up feeling cheated instead. "Criss Angel Magic Revealed" is definitely not worth your time or money.

The Evolution of Criss Angel's Magic: From Street Performer to Legend