Hello to one and all. Greetings! It's me... Top Hat - known as Hatto, Hazza, Topper and Mr. Hat. But never Mr. Top - oh no... that would be crazy!

Anyway, and here is the thing... the whole point of this post. It's this:

My name is Top Hat. But how many of you actually OWN a top hat, and if so, do you use it in your magical performances? If so, in what way? How? When? What kind of hat is it? Mine is a folding one - I believe it is called an opera hat. It is black in colour.

Come on then... let's hear it for top hats!

You friend,

Top Hat
(Hazza)

Yes I use a Top Hat for two effects. (It folds as well)
Six Card Repeat and a Bank Night routine where a Lippincott
Box and accesories are kept.

On my website, in the about us section, there is a picture of me at a very young age
wearing a Top Hat. Wish I still had that one.
http://www.mandelmagic.com/8.html

I can't stand wearing hats. I'm just not comfortable in them. Living where I do, I am often called upon to wear a Cowboy hat, but never a tophat. I have a few cheap tophats, and I used to have an opera hat. None of them fit on my head. I use them as props, from time to time, but not often.

I wear my top hat for every show, and whenever I do walk around, because it makes me the tallest man in the room. I juggle it, flip it from my foot to my head, my head to my foot, I pull cards out of it, and I produce my "run rabbit run" bunnie from it. My top hats takes such a beating that they only last 6 to 12 months.
HAVE FUN
Al Angello

I use a top hat on my table to put my produced items in. I also produce a folding one at the end to walk out wearing.
Rob Pond

Yeah, much to my dismay, not wearing a hat makes me the tallest man in the room.

Felt Morticians.
Misers dream.
Full shot glass production.
Sword production.
Whatever strikes my fancy.

I use a top hat for productions of certain things. In my shows I always enjoy pulling my angry rabbit out(the one in my avatar). I am known for using that rabbit in my shows.

My top hat collapses. It is not meant to be worn.

I use a top hat for productions and not so much as a costume accessory. I produce a wide range of things from it including a live rabbit.
It's not a collapsing top hat but it does have a secret compartment inside it

I live in my top hat. It's cheaper than paying rent.

Of course, I have to share it occassionally with a gorilla.

That's what that is! LOL

Sorry Michael, the devil made me do it. We expect to see you in that hat. I had supper with you Tuesday. And you did not eat bananas. (There, did that clear your record?)

Bob

I got one, it's a black collaspable one by Uday. It's quite affordable but it's not very well made and doesn't fit very well... maybe I just have a small head! I understand good ones don't come cheap. Where do you guys get yours from?

Ning

Bryan Dube sells a decent one for about $70 http://www.dube.com and I believe he ships all over the world.
HAVE FUN
Al Angello

Hey Al

Thanks for the site! It's great... besides the hats (cool! a useful size chart!) it has all sorts of things I could use too, like fire fans and pois *grin* It's a helpful alternative to homeofpoi which I get my stuff from.

Their collaspable top hat is really expensive though! They start from $225 (American dollars?) not yet incl. of shipping! Yikes.... That's a lot of moolah, especially in Singapore dollars!

But then, I guess you pay peanuts, you get monkeys *grin*

Ning

Hi Ning
Bryan is the number one juggling prop manufacturer in the world, he is never cheap, and is in a class by himself.
HAVE FUN
Al Angello

PS- That wool top hat will be quite hot to wear in sunny Singapore

Really appreciate your help Al! Most places in SG are air-conditioned these day, unless you are made to do walkaround magic outdoors then you'd melt in the heat even just wearing a long sleeved button shirt *nods gravely*

Ning
PS: Love your quote by Eminem, you're funky!

It's too bad Dube doesn't sell colored top hats like the derbies. I like the look of his felt tophat, but need a color other than black.

Ron

MagicHands of Germany manufacturers very good quality tophats too...but not sure if they are still available..

I do use a top hat. Mine is the collapsing type. I use it as part of the act (at the beginning) to produce a rabbit (stuffed). And then I set it at the front corner of my table as decoration. I think it's too hot to keep on; and it's too top heavy for me to be completely comfortable.

:magicrabbit:

I own many hats. It is really a metaphor because I also wear many hats as magic is not the only thing I do. I wear collapsible top hats, felt hats that don't collapse, bowler hats, wizard hats, and hats that fit certain costumes. The hat helps to define me as a performer, not simply some guy. And I believe that there really is nothing wrong with being the tallest person in the room, if that gets the attention of the audience. I pull many things out of hats and use them for different purposes. Large wands and poles come out of them. Things go into them, such as run rabbit run rabbit(s) and die box dies. I've had production loads such as silks come out of them. I've done flourishes with them, dressed up assistants with them, etc. Hats turn into tables for props. Hat shaped items are part of some of the tricks I've performed. Yes, even the rabbit has come out of my hat. And the caricature I draw of myself has me in a top hat. It also has my body entering a top hat.
Hats off to you!
:magicrabbit: