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It's possible this isn't in the right section so please correct me if I've posted in the wrong place...

It seems that the top change is a really useful sleight but it seems SO obvious whenever I do it - there's a sliding noise and it just seems really obvious. Any tips? Examples of how to misdirect

If I shouldn't have posted this I'm very sorry and mods, feel free to remove it.

Simply talk to your audience and make eye contact - they wont see the action, and they wont hear the action because your talking will be louder.

The top change does seem daunting, but you just have to go out and work to find out what misdirection works best for you. You be caught a lot of times before you get it right, but when you do get it right, you will never get it wrong again!


Mark

Do you do the turn as you do it? In RRTCM it stresses heavily that as you turn to talk to someone, that you use the large movement of your body to cover the small movement of the change.

Also, gesticulate with your hands as you do your patter, indicate the card by lifting it up and to the right (if you are, like me, right handed) then as you drop it back down, talking to the audience, perform the Top Change.

I move my hands a fair bit when I speak so its a natural movement for me, renders the move totally invisible. If my hands are being burned, I turn to say something to somebody on the left and use that as my cover.

My best advice on it though, dont think about it. Just do it. The top change is, out of all the sleights I do, the one that most needs to be almost subconcious. If you think about it or worry about it, the movement will seem furtive. Just do it, nice and calmly and smoothly.

The current issue of Reel Magic Magazine (Issue 14) has Garrett Thomas covering exactly this topic. Thomas goes over many different tips concerning this sleight and encourages performers to pick and choose which suits their style of performing best. If you get a chance, it's worth checking out.


Best Magical Regards,

Mark Williams

David Williamson on the Top Change.[/url]

Just do it! Once you forget about it so will they. Misdirection is natural as you are doing it on the off beat. Look them in the eye and tell them you are putting the card in the center of the deck don't focus on the card, look them in the eyes. Once the move is done then look at the card and put it in the center of the deck. Its a great move.

I was just reading your introduction. Then came back to this post. Your just starting out and already are working with the pass and the top change. Do you perform any effects?

I too was a slight of hand wh*** I'm not sure I can say a bad word of that sort here so I won't. But the best advice I ever got was to quit wasting my time. Find an effect you like and learn to perform it in the best possible way, if it involves gimmicks so be it, if it involves the most obvious slight in the world or most complex, doesn't make a difference, what a magician must learn to perform is effects, we don't perform slights those are just tools.

Top change is wonderful as I mentioned before but don't look for effects because they use that particular slight use the move only if it enhances the effect.

have a search..this was fully discussed recently on the forum.

Try: http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic33234.php