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imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1337 Posts |
Have been waiting a vest for some time, but it seems buses gear is no longer an option. As luck has it I've got a connection to a tailor who could make me something. Questions I have for you all:
- is it better to get a vest then have it altered? Or have one created from scratch? - what are most useful features you've seen on a vest? Pockets ( how many? Where?) T**it? - opinions on color or patter of cloth? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Take a look at a photographer's vest. I don't know if they come in colors, but they are full of pockets, most of which securely close, some designed to stall cool, and water repellent.
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
How the vest looks is dependent on a lot of things to do with your style and performance. However I have thougth about getting a vest made a few times but never got round to it but here a list of things I would consider,
- Top-it both sides - Top out side pocket to fed in to top-it, - Top inside pockets to feed to-top, - Outside lower pockets both sides to fed in to to-pits and have coin and TT pockets, - Coin holder around the back of the jacket as well as giant coin holder. - A iside out of the way zip pocket for my phone and cash card to free up all my other pockets Also I would want it to be made fronm a durable machine washable hand rung pulled from a bottom of a bag and looks great martial. I personally would stay away from something that held every trick you have because that would be to bulky. If I got one made it would be for a routine I did. So I would need to come up with a soild routine first. For now I make do and sow my own TT pockets and the like at the moment. Hope this helps
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
I bought a black, silk, formal dress vest at a thrift shop for $5.00. I've added an number of interior pockets myself, over the years, where needed. To make a pocket, I simply cut a square from a piece of felt cloth (39 cents for a 12 inch square at Michael's), using a color that matches the lining of my vest (black), and hand stitch the square onto the inside lining of the vest. It takes me about 5 minutes to make and install a pocket. The reason for using felt is the edges don't unravel, so they don't have to be treated or hemmed. Do these pockets have the look of a pocket installed by a professional tailor? Absolutely not! But they're completely out of sight, nobody sees them but me. As for cleaning, I simply have my vest dry-cleaned every once in a while.
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noland Veteran user 350 Posts |
Speaking of making one's own gear, I also made my own busking pouch. Again, I started with a trip to the thrift shop, found a very good quality, black lady's purse that was just the right size and shape--it cost about $5.00. I then spent about 5 minutes preparing it as follows: I cut off the handles with a pair of sharp scissors, and then, using a razor blade, made 2 slits in the rear and inserted a black leather belt through them so I could strap the pouch to my waist (I also bought the leather vest at the thrift store--$2.00). And voila! A leather busker's pouch! Over the years, I've added some card board dividers within the pouch to create separate areas. I've been using this pouch for about 10 years now.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hey friend Noland!
Youse are now, as we old carnies say, "WITH IT"! Although I haven't worn a vest in a few years, I long ago "discovered" thrift shops!. Believe it or not, I have even found RICE SILKS in thrift shops! A year or so ago, I found a Morrissey double load dove pan (in like new condition, for $1.00. I returned to that thrift shop, later, and picked up a MAK phantom tube, also for #1.00, and, an Abbott "Tubes of Buddha" for $1.00! I gave the Tubes to my pal Jim Jayes, and, sold the dove pan AND, phantom tube for $50.00 at an auction! Yup! You are now, "officially" a ROADIE! PS,,, I use small cardboard boxes in my prop case, too. (Keeps props organized!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1337 Posts |
Dick...what thrift shops you go to? I want to find one like that...
Yellow, thanks for input. Will research top-it patterns..
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
The thing about a busker's vest is that (IMO) it should be really rugged.
I have 2 from busker's gear, and they were great. A couple of the "features" never really worked as I wished (TT holders, specifically)... But wow were they rugged! The best commercially available substitute would probably be Ben Davis. Those are super strong, but I believe they only come in black, which could limit some people's options. The toppit and other special thingies would be really easy to install in the hands of even an average seamstress/tailor.
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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Scott Horn Elite user Dallas, TX 417 Posts |
I have been working with this same dilemma myself. I offer a couple of items for consideration:
- Decide exactly what you do and don't want. For example, I do not want topits. - Starting from scratch lets you be very specific; i.e. location, width and depth of pockets. Personally, I would like the inside upper pockets to be angled forward rather than straight up and down to ease access. I have "designed" pockets inside pockets; which is hard to do with a retrofit. 4 pockets inside the "lower" pocket; 3 sized to hold small set of coins, or finger ring, and one sized to hold a small packet of cards. This lets me carry and keep separate some "key" props and still gives me a full pocket to use (Dollars, halves, CCC, finger ring, 1-2 gaff cards 1-2 packet effects) - Fabrics: the heavier your props the heavier the material should be. If you carry lots of coins, you want heavier materials so the vest holds its shape IMO... if you just want a couple of pockets added on to the inside, retrofitting an existing vest is a clean way to go; but if your want something more you need to go custom. From my experience the determining factor has been finding someone who will actually take on this project and understand what I am asking (most ask for a pattern, which I don't have). I had one person who tried, but couldn't pull it off... she had a hard time executing what I designed without a pattern. |
jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
There are a good number of custom pattern makers on line. They don't seem to be expensive and if done right well worth what they charge.
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Emilio5639 New user San Diego, CA 55 Posts |
Does anyone have some good links or websites of something that's pratical and that can be worn easily while performing?
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imgic Inner circle Moved back to Midwest to see 1337 Posts |
Gaddy
What was vests made of? Heavy cotton? Also what was it about TT pockets that did not work for you? Size? Placement on vest? Angle?
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
They had a nice safari vest in Adventureland at WDW. I wanted to pick it up, but money got a little tighter than I expected and while we had MORE than enough, I didn't want us to be say, $20 short when I spent $40 for a vest. Next trip, that vest is mine.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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NateReeves New user 97 Posts |
The TKO 2.0 goes great on a vest.
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