That's another excellent concept.

One thing that I disagree with that shows up in most of the Topit books and DVD's is the idea of pinning the topit into your jacket. If you are just learning how to use it, this is fine. But if you start using it regularly, you should install a topit into each jacket that you use in performance.

It should be like any other part of your costume.

Some will say that they don't perform professionally, so they don't want to do this. Nonsense! If you work with it correctly, it won't get in your way, and you will be prepared all the time. You don't have to be a working pro to perform professional level magic.

Worth writing down and remembering, Bill, much thanks...

Jim

I know every one as there preferences to the different styles of topit but I swear by Michael Ammar's version

I have Michael Ammar's Topit Book on Ebay right now...$29.95 with no reserve.
Rennie

Does the JSB topit allow for outer pocket retrieval?

If you want it to, you can do that. His revolution has to do more with another facet of the topit completely.


Have you actually seen the JSB topit? If you haven't, maybe you should suspend your judgment.

So much great information on the topit and it's history. I never knew about the poachers bag and thieves pocket but I guess it would be perfect for those applications as well!

Sylvester the Jester has also developed a concept for performing some Topit effects with just a shirt and using suspenders (no jacket). Apparently this idea has been taken up by a French magician but I haven't seen him at work.

When I worked as Jim Gerrish's assistant (many, many years ago) I wore what we facetiously called a "Back-it." It was worn on my back and Jim would dump in gimmicks he was finished with as I came near him and I would walk off and empty them out of the bag. This was BV (Before Velcro) which would make the whole concept of putting it on and taking it off a whole lot easier today, but both my assistant and performing days are over, so I leave it in your hands... or on your backs.

Sylvester's method is incredible. You should see him fooling around with it at Dean's Shoppe....KILLS WITH IT. Retrievals are awesome. He sells it... go for it if you can work without a jacket.

There is an early reference to the use of the topit for magical purposes that is generally ignored on p 44 of Convincing Coin Magic by Victor Farelli published in 1946 by George Armstrong in the UK

I just bought a coat for body loading and a Topit is being fixed to it. I followed Carl Cloutier instructions on a DVD but it did not really teach quite a lot about it. Please advise.