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quick question regarding TTs! I have searched but not found the answer I'm looking for.

Having decided to get into magic back in February, I bought Jay Sankeys 'Hundred Dollar Miracles' and a vernet TT. I then met some great card magicians who took my attention away but I've now dug them out of my drawer and ready to learn the bill switch.

My question is this. the TT I have (I do not know the size) seems to be a bit small, however I'm unsure as to how it should fit. Should the tip of my thumb reach the tip of the TT, as at them moment it doesnt and I'm wondering if I need ot get a larger one?

It's probably a good thing that it doesn't reach the tip of your thumb. That said, there are lots of ways to switch bills and plenty that don't involve TTs. Elliott Bresler's Switchcraft should provide all you need to know. There's a review here.

As I understand the use of the TT it should not fit right over the thumb but should fit down to about the knuckle.

That is how I wear it and this gives room for a load and keeps it tight on the thumb

Johnny Wizz is right, the TT should fit to the knuckle of the thumb

Johnny Wizz wrote:As I understand the use of the TT it should not fit right over the thumb but should fit down to about the knuckle.

That is how I wear it and this gives room for a load and keeps it tight on the thumb

Same thing here.

You should wear it as best as the 'load' allows.

If it feels loose when loaded then use a different size silk so that you can move your hand worry free!!

Alec

You wear it on your hand???!!!

I thought it was for storing banknotes and raffle tickets up my bum.

You don't want the tip of your thumb to go all the way to the tip of the TT, because then there would be no space for anything to go.

You don't want the TT to extend further than the first knuckle, as then you would have difficulty in bending the thumb.

With those two rules in mind, you need to find a happy medium. Remember, it is very easy to shorten a TT, but impossible to make it longer so take care when going down that road.

I have seen people complain that their TT does not fit because it is too loose, but a slight bend of the thumb will actually expand the small muscles around that first joint and "fill out" the small gap and hold it in place when empty, allowing anything loaded in to take up the slack.

Random question, my TT is much darker than my skin, any quick ways of fading the colour a bit, at the moment it sticks out like a sore.... well you know...

phillipnorthfield wrote:Random question, my TT is much darker than my skin, any quick ways of fading the colour a bit, at the moment it sticks out like a sore.... well you know...

The colour should not matter, to be honest. No-one will see it if you use it properly.

phillipnorthfield wrote:Random question, my TT is much darker than my skin,

Have you thought of joining a minstrel show?

Could take a sharpie marker and darken the rest of your hand,

Arkesus wrote:Could take a sharpie marker and darken the rest of your hand,

Hahah, I could see that getting out of hand (...literally), and having to do my whole body. On the plus side, sharpies are permanent so I'd only have to do it once!

You might try rubbing some pancake makeup well into it --a fairly light shade as 26 if you use the theatre type.
Have used rouge in the past to help colour it.
BUT like applying a stage makeup -- a LITTLE goes a long away. More can always be added.

Vic Pinto (TAT Studio) once put out TT's covered in latex which could be coloured, as with pancake, accordingly.
I don't think they were his own make but probaly came from America.
I gave my 2 to magic students.
Will see if I still have a copy of the instructions, to track down the makers.

Ted is right. No one should ever see it. Once in a lecture a magician used one and showed it at the end--it was chromium plated! No one saw it.!

In my lectures I have always advocated -if you use a gimmick wear it all day---except in the toilet! In the case of a TT, IF you are spotted it is a plastic cover because you have hurt/cut that digit and need to protect it!

I have often wondered if you lightly bandaged your thumb, then bandaged the TT--the cover would be great when the TT is removed.

Allen Tipton

Perhaps a bit contraversial but here goes. We've all heard how with proper technique the tip is never seen, and that it may as well be bright orange etc etc. While this is true for certain effects I think this view is outdated, harking back to the days when the prop was little more than an oversized painted thimble, and simply had to be kept well hidden. In those days proper technique would indeed have meant keeping it out of sight. With new materials and the range of styles available today there is no reason to carry on with the same views. There are some really great routines that have moves/poses in which part of the tip is visible (briefly) to the audience - Roger Klause' Billusion is a good example, and would be impossible with an orange tip.

For these reasons i recommend using one that is a close match to your own skin tone. Not only will it improve your confidence in using it, it will allow you to perform effects that would have been impossible with the original versions of the prop jim