On Feb 2, 2019, Al Schneider wrote:
This uses a sponge ball, silk, and TT.
Spread silk over fist.
Punch a TT hole in silk and fist.
Insert sponge ball and grab corner of silk.
You can open the hand wide while holding the corner.
Slowly pull silk from fist.
ITS GONE.

Yes this is simple trick. When I use this the audience does not want to see another trick.
They want to know where the ball is.
I presented this at a lecture at a convention some place.
After my lecture I wandered by Al Goshman's booth to say hi.
While standing talking to Al, someone stopped by to thank me for the trick.
Goshman then said to me, "Oh, you're the reason everyone wants a silk and sponge ball."
Yea, I know, its not earth shaking but it sells really well.
Oh, and when you slowly pull the silk out of your hand, you can ditch the dirty work in your breast pocket.

On Feb 3, 2019, funsway wrote:
Most here are familiar with the Grandma's Necklace principle used in a Blocko type penetration.
The double loop is created "on the fly" while inserting the cord/rope.
This requires that the hole be small enough to keep the bind in place - a requirement that limits the objects used.

A TT inserted into a large hole can serve to keep the bind in place with objects like a napkin ring, toilet paper tube, stack of bangles, etc.
The end of the TT is actually seen inside of this 'tube" when view from the end. This also frees up your actual thumb for other dirty work.

I have also used the "visible TT" principle when holding a basket with a handle. The audience sees the tip of the TT past the handle, allowing for steals with the real thumb.
Of course, you need some way of holding the TT in place such as brown Tac or velcro patch.

On Feb 3, 2019, funsway wrote:
While not an "effect" I have seen TT used to wedge a final load in a cup. The cup can be moved around as empty and even used in some C&B moves.
Then the TT is easily removed before the final placement on the table.

On Feb 5, 2019, Danny Crook wrote:
I paid TTs no mind until Jay Scott Berry came to lecture at the local club somewhere around 15 years ago. Even if you don't perform exactly as he would, the thinking behind his work will change the way you look at the art. His TT holdout is especially clever! He's always had a knack for turning simple utility items into powerful pieces of entertainment.

On Feb 10, 2019, Mr. Woolery wrote:
On L&L ‘s dvd of TT tricks, there’s a lecture by Paul Diamond. The bit I remember best is his statement that the TT is “just a receptacle to hide things in so you can do pretty tricks.” If you hide an object in it because you are making the object vanish, like Al shares with the sponge ball, that’s the more common way to use the TT. If you hide a magnet in it, as with Al’s other suggestions, that’s still hiding things in a receptacle.

The bill switch can be used to transform a $1 bill into a $2. If you start by asking for a $50 and settle for a $1, you can give the $2 away and say “I never repeat a trick. Don’t you wish you’d trusted me with a $50 a minute ago?” Jay Sankey has done more with the bill switch than probably anyone else I have heard of.

What would you like to vanish that can fit in a TT? What tool would you like to have in play that can fit in a TT?

It isn’t the perfect tool for every use, but there are few tools more versatile.

Patrick