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Flying Magus Loyal user 286 Posts |
Does anyone have a topit in a mandarin collar jacket? I put one in my (then new) jacket a while ago, but just can't seem to get the hang of it. I have one in an ordinary coat that I don't have too much trouble with, however things are different in the new one.
It seems that coins are almost easier since the two front edges of the coat are closer together. However for anything larger, like a 2" ball, seems quite different. Oddly enough, any shoulder movement seems to have a greater effect than on a regular jacket. What am I missing? Also, on a similar note, where do you place the tongue when you tuck it in? Too far back and I seem to miss, too far forward and it becomes visible.
Magically yours,
Michel Fouché Believe in the Impossible |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
The traditional placement of a Topit is just that... traditional. It's where the first magicians placed them after getting the idea from London pickpockets. You can bet that pickpockets' "Poacher's Pouch" is worn wherever it is convenient for them to wear it, inside or outside a coat, and they don't care about tradition but only results. Try thinking like a poacher and you may discover the solution to your problem (although the idea of a street poacher in a Mandarin jacket is rather humorous). Under the armpit is always nice.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Ready made mandarin jacket usually do not have shoulder padding and that may be the key to what you are looking for. With the padding you should have enough space/room for topit work. Padding offers you that extra space in front of your chest area and with that space - more space are also added to your abdominal area too (provided you do not have a big tummy).
Hope this helps. |
C Christian Loyal user 288 Posts |
Always go with one size up if you can If you can pull it off... You get more free movement. Not sure if this will help but worth a try. Cheers Chris
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ufo Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 1185 Posts |
Not sure if its where you are heading with this but Bob Fitch demos some alternate jacket handlings on vol one of his Topit Workshop DVDs including a buttoned double breasted jacket. You may be able to adapt some of that thinking to the mandarin coat. Good luck.
"What's your drug?" she asked. "Hope" he said, "The most addicting one of all."
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Robert Fitch New user Leonia, NJ 38 Posts |
Michael Fouche...Interesting and a new challenge ... to use a Mandarin jacket.. Well,the suggestions re the padding, a bigger sized jacket are good ones. But you have picked a difficult problem...so let's see: a couple of things (1) your Topit tongue will not show as badly if you slip it under your pants belt and then over the pants top...also if its the same color as your pants and the inside of your jacket.
(2)If the jacket is totally loose in the front like a sport coat, i.e. not buttoned or tied...then sitting on your right hip will help open it...turning to your right (if the topit is on your left side) will open it (the air, you know). Also a bit of double scotch tape on the inside of your right panel will hold that closed and allow easier access to the left side. Especially if you lean forward. If you're sitting at a table or have your left foot on a chair it holds the coat open...if you lift your left elbow (like slapping a coin onto the back of your hand)it will open the coat.....But best of all...don't throw anything into it....Drop, flip or place things into it...if you're holding a silk (LH), you can secretly hold it open with your little finger as you apparently place an object into the silk.... Hope that provides food for thought...Good luckl. Bob Fitch "Making Magicians Magical"
Cheers...Imagination can make magicians of us all.
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Flying Magus Loyal user 286 Posts |
Just to clarify and make sure everyone is on the same page, I have included a photo of the type of jacket I am refering to. Mine is cut long and in royal blue.
http://www.seanparnell.com/Nehru%20Jacket/Nehru%20White.jpg Secondly, I'd like to publicly thank Bob Fitch for his contribution. I hope everything you suggest is applicable to this style of jacket.
Magically yours,
Michel Fouché Believe in the Impossible |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Sounds like you may have not caught the technique of using a topit. Suggest you get the Pat Page and Michael Ammar videos on Topit. It is the arm gester and leg movement that opens the jacket.
It is not easy to learn the Topit, but it can pay off in the end. |
Jim Stan Magic Man Loyal user Chicago Area 241 Posts |
I suggest the Bob Fitch DVD's and the Ammar DVD. I have the Page tape and do not like it as much as the others. Some of the work on the Cloutier DVD's are also good.
Regrds, Jim PS- Almost forgot the Jay Scott Berry "Topits and Pockets" DVD. It also has some good work. |
Flying Magus Loyal user 286 Posts |
Wmhegbli,
The problaem is not my lack of understanding of the topit. I learnt from Jay Scott Berry's lectures and have the first two of his commercially available topits installed in my other jacket. I also have the "Topit DVD" from Michael Ammar. The problem or rather challenge, is that a mandarin style jacket handles differently. The opening is smaller due to the lack of lapels, and weight shift and shoulder movements have different effects to that of a normal jacket. I just was hoping there was someone who had put a topit in this style of jacket before me so that I didn't have to reinvent the wheel.
Magically yours,
Michel Fouché Believe in the Impossible |
eshdath New user 61 Posts |
You could put something in your topit to hold it and that part of your jacket open a little;not enough to be noticed.Only enough to aid you in the move nothing more.A few sponge balls maybe?
Zion speaks......are you listening?
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Jim Stan Magic Man Loyal user Chicago Area 241 Posts |
I attended a lecture by Michael Ammar a few months ago. He suggested that you could get the jacket to open easier if you were standing with both feet in the same plane, then take a step forward with the foot on the side of the topit. You should also lean slightly forward during this move. The coat will open and you can accomplish your move. I have a topit in all but one of my coats and do not have any issue with the move. None of them are the style that Michael refers to.
I also remember attending a lecture by Bob Fitch a few years ago in Chicago. He also did a move I believe he referred to as "the put". He would have the item to topit in his right hand. He would make a gesture with his left hand going toward the right side of his body. The coat would open and the topit would be directly below the right hand. He would then drop the item into the topit. Then go back to the orginal position, then make the vanish. Jim |
Robert Fitch New user Leonia, NJ 38 Posts |
Michael...
Please read my thoughts again...the "drop", the "flip" and the placing" of an object will definitely work with your jacket...also the little finger ploy...also the left foot forward or the swing (wind) to the right or the left elbow up or the left foot raised or the right hip dropped...The tossing is not necessary...I can't teach you the moves here...my DVD's do have such concepts...but you do need to understand these techniques ... no one's suggestions at this point will help you...You seem to want definite answers...No one else, I guarantee you have written about these concepts. I've had to work with guys who had big bellies and couldn't throw anything around that plumpness. And these techniques worked with them...and could also be applied to double-breasted coats or open outside shirts or vests or shirts with ties...Yes, I know what a mandarin jacket looks like. Yours looks very nice. And the edges being so close to one another make the coat look very innocent...a plus...You may be opening new ground for a host of topit users....good luck. bob Fitch "Making Magicians Magical"
Cheers...Imagination can make magicians of us all.
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Flying Magus Loyal user 286 Posts |
Thank you very much to Jim and Bob. I was aware of a number of the weight shifting methods for opening the topit, but not many of the other suggestions.
I had been concerned about the right hand disappearing into the jacket in something like the put, but it seems as if I needn't have worried. Bob, I had missed your meaning on the first post when refering to the "little finger ploy". Upon rereading it I realise there is plenty to work on there. I feel genuinely privileged to be able to converse with you directly like this. Finally, I didn't mean to offend anybody by including the jacket picture. Here in Australia that style is known as both Mandarin and (more correctly) Nehru. I wanted to be certain that nothing had been lost in translation - either way. I'm pretty good at speaking American, but occasionally slip up. I may even accidently slip a "u" into colour.
Magically yours,
Michel Fouché Believe in the Impossible |
Charlie the Tuna Regular user Baltimore Maryland 111 Posts |
Michel, Please let us know what your final solution is to your Nehru topit challenges.
Charlie PS I like the jacket
Charlie,
A Magician with Good Taste. Only perform an illusion once. The first time is magical, the second is an education. |
Robert Fitch New user Leonia, NJ 38 Posts |
Michael...
One more thought...or two...ow...they won't stop! *On the little finger ploy, It also works behind a fan of cards (while fanning the other hand)...Also, *when you show a handkerchief on both sides (left over right)...at this point the RH is hidden and can definitely ditch something (i.e. put the RH under the left panel). *On this same note you can cross your arms (right over left) like watching someone shuffle your deck (the RH is hidden and goes right under the panel, where you ditch that palmed card. *If you turn to the right to reach out with the left to produce something...leave the RH at your solar plexus and the coat will cover it (ditch or steal)...that way there is no right arm or shoulder motion (based on a Fred Kaps concept). *Hold your left lapel with your LH as you toss something up to your right (i.e. vanish it...as you lean back to look at it...at the same time ditch the object in your LH...the lean gives you a "plumb line" that shifts back to the topit... That should take care of any tossing concepts. Now: Practice...enjoy! cheers, bob fitch
Cheers...Imagination can make magicians of us all.
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