This forum is titled "noting up my sleeve..."
Is this an obsolete technique or is it still widely used today?
My first sleight of hand trick as a youngster was making a penny disappear by sleeving (holding it between thumb and middle finger and giving it a snap).
Do any modern books/DVDs teach sleeving techniques?

*Raises hand*

I don't use it for pure coin stuff though. I have to have short sleeves or rolled up for vanishes, productions, etc... BUT, I perform a PK coin bend in my mentalism work and use the snapping sleeve from Bobo to ditch the borrowed coin after a shuttle pass.

I believe there is a DVD out there about sleeving. Silver Dream I think is the name. Haven't seen it, but the ad copy mentions sleeving.

Sleeving is a killer!
"Is this an obsolete technique" The exact same thought makes it so disarming, most audience think this is a method used by old-fashion magicians, and any competent "modern" magicians would not employ such method.
Let say you do a one coin flurry, start out with using your sleeves, then at one point, roll up your sleeves and perform similar effects, it will fry them hard.
or try performing several coin tricks with your sleeves rolled up (don't call attention to it), condition them to think you don't need your sleeves, THEN when you do use your sleeves, it makes it even more powerful.

IMO Sleeving making the magic so much cleaner in some cases, and pure sleight of hand just doesn't come close.
Brian

I agree with Brian that sleeving is a killer weapon. It has in many ways and times saved my day.

I agree with Brian as well. I use sleeving for Siver Dreams by Justin Miller and other routines that don't involve coins, such as the bounce-no bounce ball. It's also a great way to switch out items. When sleeving is utilized properly and not over done, it is indeed a killer. I'm glad to hear though that some think it's obsolete. More power to those of us who sleeve.

I think Rocco has a DVD on sleeving. Yes, Rocco sleeves. More than some might know.

I don't use them. I am nearly always in short sleeves......however, if it fit my style I'd use them sparingly.

I think that said that this technique its obsolete, its deny the option to be creative with a wonderfull technique
one think its know this basic "party stunt", and another thing, its for example, use sleeving as used by Brian Platt, or Mb with his news offerings.

I think Bobo put it best, don't use it first, and you're audience won't look for it if you do it later.

Stating that "sleeving is an obsolete technique that magicians don't use any more" is what I do in the preamble of some of my routines because this is what I want people to believe. I even demonstrate that I could not do it because I'm wearing cuff links: this is my misdirection for being able to use sleeving and people not to suspect it.

Now if some magicians are believing patter lines, it's their problem. Sleeving is a great tool, but it is easy to do bad (bending the wrist being the most common mistake). Done with the Vernon Touch in mind at each step, it simply is a killer concept whether it's done from one hand to the same sleeve or to the other sleeve (catapult, Pumpkin seed vanish...)

I find that Ross Bertram is a very good source. Slydini's advice of rotating the palm outwards as the arm hangs down, so as to have the sleeve in the right position when the hand moves up, is a precious tip. Actually, since I'm wearing cufflinks on French cuffs, I did place (in my right sleeve) a piece of Velcro on the top of the shirt's right cuff and one inside the jacket's sleeve in the Slydini position. Then I can show on the left sleeve that I cannot sleeve anything and the cuff on the right keeps the sleeve opening wide open in the right position.

I hope that this makes sense for one or two friends here. It's a great tool.

I remember a female magician in the 60's who could fire a coin into her blouse from a foot away -- does that count --
no, not misdirection, though that was also memorable.

between the buttons on her blouse from her left hand after a French Pass.

Does that count as leeving? Same flick of the fingers

Lawrence , nice (and sneaky) idea to perform it with cufflinks.

I learned sleeving by watching a video from Carl Cloutier who used the topit too. I was not very attracted by the topit idea, but sleeving is definitely a wonderful tool.

Obviously the technique is versatile enough so that you can use it not only for coins but for cigarettes, dice etc ...

Now if you combine this sleeving technique with using your pockets as natural topits ...

I am using sleeving in my act twice or three times because when I persuade the audience that I have nothing in both hands this makes the trick much stronger!

Don't forget Hold Outs in the search for proper sleeving technique: there are miracles to be achieved with a good Jack Miller Hold out (and if you do not care for bringing your right hand down, check here in the café how my hold out is designed for in and out with the hand remaining in front of you) The Invisible Hand DVDs supply many ideas and techniques for using hold outs in sleeving and I'm not a shareholder...

Also do not pass by Brian Platt's Black Out as an alternative to sleeving.

Bob Fitch also tosses coins in his shirt between the buttons as a remplacement to a topit.

Even if you don't use a topit don't bash it for it is a great tool: your climate may allow you not ot wear a jacket but if you perform in evening venues, it's such a great tools that it shouldn't be talked down. I feel that a good magician varies his techniques for one to cancel out the other.

The Hold-Out is antiquated nobody should use those things. The Topit, fah, useless. I would never be caught dead using either one.

KG

Kc, surely you jest...

To me, it is a true artform. To not partake in all the wonderment this method allows is to not quite be dressed or armed IMHO. Love it!

Rocco does this. I saw a great lecture by him on it.

Kent, don't be dissin' the TOPIT! Used as a Utility it can be invaluable!

I kinda skimmed this forum but, what is the best resource for learning sleeving?

I think because most people think of it as being out-dated and not in use anymore, this helps give sleeving the power that it has. Because the public is used to hearing every magician on TV at some time or another state that there's "nothing up my sleeves" or "magicians used to use their sleeves, but I'm not going to", whether they are or not, it has left the impression in the popular mind that sleeving is no longer used.

That being said I have the Rocco Sleeving DVD but have not really worked on anything except the basic moves. I haven't used sleeving in any coin work, but have sleeved pens, pencils and cell phones, and no one ever really thinks about the sleeves, they are usually more concentrated on the pockets of the jacket.

I think Sleeving is definatly a great utility in a magicians arsonal, and should not be overlooked.

Shawn

Get Brian Platt's Catapult

http://www.plattmagic.com/Products.html

You can study the coin work of Aurelio Paviato (who tied first with Michael Ammar in FISM competition back in 1982) and Miguel Angel Gea. Both are true masters of sleeving.

So if you ever visit either Vigevano (Italy) or Madrid, do yourself a favour and try to see their coin work, you won't regret it.