I had my first "Magic Worm" stall at the local flea market today. I set my site up, banner, table, marquee etc and sold 30 worms Im VERY happy with the result, however I could have sold a lot more as people could easily see the IT. I would like suggestions on the best non-reflective, low vis fishing lines and also sewing cotton. I have already tried many IT and they just arent working and keep breaking, as I do a lot with my worms. Those of you who do use fishing line or cotton what seems to be the best?

Try the Kevlar IT from James George at the Sorcery Shop . You can also get the same stuff from The Magic Warehouse.

Also, get some baby powder (the cornstarch kind, not the talcum powder stuff) and dust your hands, especially the backs of your hands -- it helps reduce friction and IT breakage. SETH

Thanks Seth,
Do you find that the Kevlar doesn't break? isn't it any similiar to the Mesika IT thread that comes with Tarantula?

Sam -- I think the Tarantula does use the same IT.

But hey, it's just thread! Any thread will break if you put too much tension on it. You may just need more practice to get the knack of working with IT. And no thread lasts forever, no matter what it's made of or how carefully you handle it. That's why you need to carry at least half a dozen spares with you, tied and ready to go if needed.

Also, watch the length of your gimmick. If it's too short, it may be more prone to breaking, and if it's too long, it may be more prone to tangling and breaking. I find that a length from my thumbtip to just past my elbow is about right for me; it give me enough slack to handle the worm freely, yet allows enough tension to do all the stunts without any awkward moves.

You said that "you do a lot with the worms." Maybe it's too much? You don't need to have lots of complicated moves. Just having the worm walk over the back of your hands, up and down your fingers, through your hands, jumping through a CD or a small hoop, jumping from glass to glass, and the 'kiss' move, is plenty of "eye candy" for the marks.

Once the worm moves in all three dimensions (side to side, up & down, and forward & back), it throws most of the specs off the track as to the method, and they are sufficiently mystified/entertained to buy the thing. As Al Baker once said, "Don't run if you're not being chased." SETH

Vectra Line works and can't be seen. Can do a self folding bill w/it too.

If you eliminate the "over the thumb crotch" move you will cut your breakage by quite a bit.

The "double somersault" around the Sharpie pen can also be tough on the gimmick.

It helps if you dust the Sharpie with some baby powder first; that will make it slicker and more slippery. SETH

Thanks all for your advice, I will probably order some Kevlar and Vectra.
What do people think about this sort of thread http://www.heyprestomagic.com.au/ezimerchant/prod165.htm and http://www.heyprestomagic.com.au/ezimerchant/prod3380.htm?
Thanks again,
Magic Sam.

Sam, I'm pretty sure this is just plain old "wooly nylon" or cotton thread.

Stick to the Kevlar, it's a little slicker than regular IT and better suited for worm work, in my opinion. Unlike regular IT, Kevlar also has a very small amount of "give" to it that lets you know when you are pushing the limit with it, and that's very helpful. One 40-foot piece of the stranded Kevlar (about $15 with shipping) should last you for several lifetimes, no matter how much thread you break. SETH