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redstreak Inner circle A.K.A David Kong 1368 Posts |
I know that it is installed somehow in your coat, I know that it is used for barehanded vanishes. I don't know the exact working of it, but I know that you need some kind of a pattern (whatever that it). So, if I buy Ammar's pattern, will I need to get a local tailor to personally put it in my coat? Will it have to be custom? Could I do it myself? I am not an adult, will it not work for me? If I buy a topit, I will probably get Ammar's book on on it.
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
It is fairly clear to me that you don’t really know much about Topits or their use beyond a vague general idea.
Before you bother to buy one of the patterns that are on the market now and before you go to a tailor and have one installed into your jacket, I think that you need to address several fundamental questions. The first being, what trick or routine do you now do (or plan to do) that requires a Topit? Do you “vanish” left or right? Does your trick/routine require you to reproduce the vanished item later in the trick? I think that your time will be better served in learning more about the Topit, it’s use, it’s strengths, and it’s weaknesses (yes there are some). Buy the Pat Page tape, it’s cheap and it is detailed enough for you to clearly understand what the Topit is about. Then buy the Ammar book (if you can find it) and his tape on the topic. Don’t bother with Carl Clotier’s Topit tape. It is weak at best. You will discover that Topit’s do not have to be sewn in to make them effective. In fact I use the Topit regularly and mainly use a Pat Page pin-in version. I only have three built-ins. One is built in a tux, one in a sports jacket, and one in a Hawaiian shirt. The tux is my own design, which I discovered recently is similar to the Topit that Cellini developed in his work. My quick connect is based on Velcro rather than the method that Cellini uses. I can unload the Topic from either side. The Sport coat is a left-side-only Topit and is very similar to the version that Ammar uses, but with a couple of modifications (quick connect). The Hawaiian shirt is both sides, but cannot be unloaded from outside the shirt. You do not need to have a sewn in version to work wonders. I have used a pinned in hairnet, a pinned-in bandana and scarf, and I actually used the ripped lining in my coat once (it worked but it is not recommended) as Topits. They all worked. Once you really know and understand the principle you will see that this utility device is a no brainer! It is not high tec, it does not require a tailor, and you can probably make up your own pattern to suit your needs. As to which design works best. They all do! They are all the same thing! What makes them different is a small modification or two. Most involve coats/jackets (or some other outer covering like the shirt I use). There is one version that is can be built into a double-breasted suit coat and used while the coat is buttoned closed. Dan Sylvester’s innovation is clever version which by careful camouflage you can leave the coat off. Dan Korem invented the Upside Down Topit years ago. It was not a Topit in the pure sense of the word. His thinking pre-dates Tommy Wonder’s on this version. If you can sew a simple stitch in a straight line you have all the skills you need to make a simple but useable Topit (Pat Page type). I would make one, pin it in, play with it, adjust it’s location inside your jacket until it is perfect for you, play with it some more, THEN think about having one built in. I will wager, that if you did that you would discover what modifications you needed to make it work perfectly for you (you will probably INDEPENDANTLY discover what Mike Ammar discovered and reinvent his version, maybe even with a few better modifications that fit you!). By the way, do a search as this has been discussed before. Many of the different patterns have been discussed.
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Viper42 New user 35 Posts |
Great reply, If you are really interested in getting some ideas for topit use get Carl Cloutier's video.
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
I have been recently eyeing the JSB Topits and Pockets superset.
It apparently gives you 2 pin/clip-in type topits, and 2 sleeve pockets, and a CD giving you instruction on the topit. It cost 55 dollars I think, would this be a good buy? Does anyone know if the CD has the same information on it as his Topits and Pockets DVD? |
DougTait Elite user Sebring, FL 492 Posts |
Harry has provided some expert preliminary advice on Topits. I would only add that if you are just starting out with this device;
1) Do not spend a lot of money and 2) Regardless of what Topit you use, practice, practice, practice. This is NOT a self-working device, although it may appear to be. Did I mention that it requires LOTS of practice?
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing."
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Review King Eternal Order 14446 Posts |
Harry gave us all a lesson. I like Ammar's Toppit and his tapes. Does anyone have real world experience with the JSB Topit that's out there now?
Chris
"Of all words of tongue and pen,
the saddest are, "It might have been" ..........John Greenleaf Whittier |
Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
Has anyone seen the new Dan Sylvester item? Supposdly it's a type of topit but doesn't require that you have a jacket on. It's a DVD sold by Kevin James for $60. Anyone seen this???
Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
Dan Watkins Inner circle PA 3028 Posts |
Mike,
Here is a 7 page long thread on Sylvester's topit. There are two guys selling used ones in the Sell/Trade forums. |
thimblerig Loyal user Bellevue, WA 273 Posts |
Mr. Murphy,
What a thoughtful, detailed and enlightening review of the subject. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in such a thorough fashion. Best regards, tr |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
To have a Topit professionally installed in your coat, contact Lynetta Welch at http://www.FabricManipulation.com
I met Lynetta at the SAM convention last week and she will do the entire coat modification, including giving you access from the outside pocket, at a very reasonable price. You just send your coat to her in Las Vegas and you will get it back in about a week. Her workmanship is without equal. Michael Ammar has a Topit installed by Lynetta. 'nuff said. |
Fredrick Loyal user Seattle 248 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-07-06 23:03, MagicChris wrote: Chris, I started with Ammar's but have switched to JSB with the sleeve pockets. The changes Jay made are great. If he is touring in your area, you can have the package deal - two topits and two sleeve pockets installed... Don't miss understand me as I liked Ammar's, but I found that I prefer Jay's. A matter of personal preference I suppose....
"Try to find the humanity in the magic and maybe you'll come up with something of your own. It's the humanity that gets you there, not techniques." Michael Moschen on Creativity
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MopKrayz Elite user 423 Posts |
Quote:
Does anyone know if the CD has the same information on it as his Topits and Pockets DVD? They contain the same information. The DVD has a menu system. |
FCpreacher Elite user PA 439 Posts |
STAY AWAY FROM SUSPENDED DIMENSION!!!! The idea is good, but the DVD is trash, trash, trash. It is a packaged advertisement for all of Kevin James' other material. I feel what he did with this is wrong. Look in the review section for more info.
Ammar has his topit tapes on dvd now. That is good stuff, Cloutier has good stuff, as well as Jay Scott Berry. I like the topits a lot (but I don't see myself EVER using his sleeve pockets), but the cd isn't that great. FC |
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