talkmagic.co.uk

Hello,
I have been reading about a few stage techniques from the past and was wondering, do many people still use coats that are specially adapted for magic? Does anyone know of a (relatively inexpensive) tailor that will know exactly what neess to be done and how to do it?
Happy New Year
Lindsey
(who is counting the days till the end of Feb, biding time by reading Michael Bailey's recent book)

Im not sure of an actual taylor, but the main guy in the International Magic store has a taylor made jacket with an amazing amount and variety of pockets.

You email him and ask!

Thanks for that I will ask next time I am in Farringdon Road.
I am not a keen IM customer but maybe I'll give it another go, just so I have an excuse to find out!

Moved out of Reviews - Tricks 'n Props because it wasn't one.....

My elf costume was specially designed by me to be cram filled with pockets. The total is about 14 including two rather large tail pockets (one reason I prefer tail coats), four inside pockets, two breast pockets (handy for keeping spare breasts in) and six trouser pockets. It did cost me about £200 to have made, but it's distinctive, elfy and I've earned a small fortune with it so I guess it was worth every penny!

Hi,
Okay that sounds fairly fantastic, I am now wondering whether you took your design along to a regular jacket making professional or, whether you located a specialist tailor-? I am thinking that a jacket with concealed, or conveniently placed, pockets needs to be well made, otherwise the pockets will be prominent and all the appearance of a saggy suited clown might come about
How concealed are inside pockets? ... I presume they would be a need for concealed pockets in unlikely places(depending on repertoire, but you never know what you are going to learn and adapt do you?) I was about to say that I read that Thurston had a jacket like this, but it definitely wasn't him...but I did read it about one of the greats.
I am assuming the jacket has to be tailored to what you know and, for what you can do, but just how big a prop does it become?
Thanks for the input

In fairness I am a clown...

But the costume is slick. The pockets aren't that concealed (it's not so necessary for an elf to have concealed pockets), and the jacket was made by my business partner's ex wife. I lent her a well tailored 1950's tailcoat and pair of shorts and she copied them and made adjustments (i.e. added pockets and extended the tails).
Now this was what I wanted and suits my elf but the principle is the same for your requirements I would think. Try looking in the yellow pages for a seamstress or tailor and give them a call. Maybe they can adapt a specific jacket to your design, I'm sure if you find the right person and spend enough cash you can get exactly what you want...

Interesting indeed. Okay thanks a lot, that is really very helpful as I now have a clearer idea of what I might need and, how I might be able to go about finding someone cleverer with a needle and thread than I am!
Just out of interest, did you do clowning courses or did you just pick it up? I'd quite like to do some clowning, I have a friend who is clown and I really find the fun of the whole thing thrilling (which conflicts with my love of music hall characters a bit...unless I become a female versiion of Dan Leno)
Thankou and warmest of wishes
Linds'

When asked about how he got into circus my friend's favourite answer is "what, you mean I could have avoided it?" This is true with me and clowning as well, I used to work for my brother's circus as the villainous ringmaster and the thing that this character hated most was clowns, so his final comeuppance was to be turned into one! Since then it's kinda stuck. I don't do "red nose clown" much anymore unless it's requested by the client, I prefer the more situational stuff (ie. disgruntled elf wandering around a shopping centre).
Although most of my clowning I've picked up along the way, I have done a couple of very short courses and these changed my perceptions alot. As it happens there is a two day course in Sheffield coming up the weekend before Blackpool with Fraser Hooper, just follow this link and look at the page about workshops at the bottom of the homepage: http://www.greentop.org
Another person to look into is Angela De Castro and her Contemporary Clowning Projects (London based courses in the state of clown). Very much at the forefront of the art imho.
(Incidently, Charlie Chaplin is probably the most famous clown of all time and started in music hall, as did Stan Laurel)!
Anywho maam, if I can be of more help don't be afraid to ask via this thread or pm.

Lindsey, one way would be to get a magician who has such a suit, ask him/her about it and maybe even go to that specific tailor, since presumably the tailor will have experience.

While you are at it, you might want to have a look at topits etc, which can be very helpful and handy. Even if you don't use a topit, it might be a pocket, albeit an expensive one but one with potential if you later on decide to go down the topit line.

A link to something you might find interesting:

http://www.world-of-magic.co.uk/magic.asp?id=14667

Taking an existing jacket along to a tailor of seamstress and having pockets added is almost impossible these days in the UK. Many tailors aren't interested as they have so much 'general' alteration work that they don't want the hassle - even if they had the time. Open up the yellow pages and phone around is the best way.

Having a bespoke or made to measure jacket is the easiest option and generally, the tailor will put pockets whereever you want them. A made to measure jacket, as part of a suit will cost you from £300 upwards, depending on where you go. One problem may be that some shops offering made to measure only take the measurements and then send them off to a factory to be made up. Therefore some may do this and others won't.

If you're having a jacket made to your own specification then you need to go to an old fashioned tailor who will make the garment on the premises to your individual requirements. You will have various fittings along the way to it being finished where you can discuss alterations etc.. This is generally referred to as a beaspoke service rather than made to measure and it's what places like Saville Row are famous for. Expect to pay several hundreds of pounds.

Very few magicians need anything special in a jacket and apart from a topit, which you can install yourself with some time and patience, I wouldn't bother.

Its not that hard to sew really come on people I learned in 7th and 10thgrade and there is tutorials onlien practise no some stuffyou dotn care aobtu as much. It how i snuck so much c*** (not the best) into school dances.

Desvelar, it might help if you learnt how to spell too. I had to read your post a few times to get the meaning.

No offence meant, but if you put enough effort into something, even dyslexics can spell properly, which Mike Jay will attest to, him being a dyslexic himself, if I remember correctly?

Of course he uses American english, but still... LOL

Dyslexic maybe?

I can sew, and I have always tried to sew. Thing is,when I was in the Girl Guides my mum was so ashamed of my sewing efforts(we were expected to attach badges to sashes using our own needlework talents) that she took my sash and re-stitched on ALL my badges! If a pocket needs to be concealed I want it to be concealed, not falling out all puffy and hopeless. I won't use a machine to do it, I won't, I won't, I won't!
I am not the richest aspiring magician on the block and so if this needs to be done I want to get it done right.
Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it all. Perhaps I should design a jacket by adding my own poorly sewn pockets and when I am content with the style and stowage I can find me a talented tailor.
I will ask as many jacketed magic folk as possible, the convention in Feb will be a good place to do this.
Topits look curious... Have seen them listed in Davenport's catalogue but not paid them incredible mind. Just ordered myself a Raven, don't know whether that will be a revolutionary move for me or not.
Thanks for the clowning links too Greentop is an exciting looking places, not too expensive either.