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Hey everyone, once again I lean on you for help...First off , I've been reseearching topits for a while and almost bought Ammars Topit kit but would like further direction...I'm not great at sewing but I know a seamstress who would fit the bill...I'm looking for a great topit for table magic that is either prassembled or just the directions....Which one in your opinion is a good brand?

Secondly, I'm looking for a great telephone prediction type effect ...Beleive it or not I was at a restuarant today and was doing a few tricks for some friends when a waitress said that the manager had actually been inquiring about getting a walk-around magician...She gave me his number and told me he wouldn't be home until next weekend and that since he is so busy he tends to give interviews on the phone and if you are good enough then he will meet in person...As corny is it may be I would like to impress him with a telephone type trick before meeting him to set the stage incase of a future job...I understand it is best to meet them in person but this may not be possible....So could anyone recommend a great telephone trick that works welll....I was thinking about a sort of psychological force but that may not work as well without the hand gestures and physical emotions and movements. Feel free to help me out. Thanks.

Cant help you with the topit questions, but may have a nice little telephone effect using cards. The suject will need a deck and you will devine his card via the phone line, or you could reveal in person. PM if you are intrested, dont want to expose. It a well know trick, DBlaine has used it.

Zarrow wrote:Cant help you with the topit questions, but may have a nice little telephone effect using cards. The suject will need a deck and you will devine his card via the phone line, or you could reveal in person. PM if you are intrested, dont want to expose. It a well know trick, DBlaine has used it.

I know a few effects over the phone with cards.

And i hope that you dont pm him the effect, thats still a forum of exposure. instead maybe tell him where he can purchase it.
I would tell you where i found mine, but the book is ancient and i have sadley lost the cover and back- the book is actually in 3 parts- had the book forever

and the Ammars topit is a good one. I believe it comes with a dvd, a patern and instructions. I dont have it, but have heard only good things on it. Theres one other one that i hear is good, but the name doesnt come to mind.

Well, he told me the name of the book which I've read before and it's at my local library so it won't be hard to find anyways, I'm interested in your effect too Dave. Can you describe what it actually does...The one the Zarrow describes is basically a card is chosen at random and is found by the magician through various instructions...Is your similar to this?

Forgive me if i gave the impression that I intended to expose. This trick is VERY avaliable. I pointed him in the right direction. Its in a publicly avalible book by a very well know magician, I have no interest in exposure for exposure sake.

Sorry to but in...

I don't see any harm at all with Zarrow teaching Magic_Drummer a trick, assuming that Magic_Drummer is in earnest in his desire to learn (and that would seem to be the fact based on his posts above) and it's not an intellectually owned secret (as in something unpublished, or published solely for the purpose to make money off of that single trick and it has never, never, never been published before that point, in some way or another).

I think that trying to stop such a thing is wrongful. That is how we learn. And, please don't tell me that you and any magicians that you associate with, whether in real life or on the internet, never swap a secret of this or that if you think you can help him/her out.

There are ethics and there is extremism.

As for the topit, I've always heard good things about Ammar's design.

Mike.

Thanks for that comment although he didn't expose I am slowly remembering this effect from this book I've read years ago, I will pick up the book tommorow from the library...sounds like a good trick but I'm still interested in any other phone effects one may have...

Michael Jay wrote:Sorry to but in...

I don't see any harm at all with Zarrow teaching Magic_Drummer a trick, assuming that Magic_Drummer is in earnest in his desire to learn (and that would seem to be the fact based on his posts above) and it's not an intellectually owned secret (as in something unpublished, or published solely for the purpose to make money off of that single trick and it has never, never, never been published before that point, in some way or another).

I think that trying to stop such a thing is wrongful. That is how we learn. And, please don't tell me that you and any magicians that you associate with, whether in real life or on the internet, never swap a secret of this or that if you think you can help him/her out.

There are ethics and there is extremism.

As for the topit, I've always heard good things about Ammar's design.

Mike.

Well he said it was in a PUBLISHED BOOK, by a well known magician.

If its unpublished I dont have a problem with it in the least. If its published at all, you dont have the right to just give it away or just swap the method/secret.

And I have every right to have my opinion on exposure. I get half my income from magic, and have great respect for the art and the performers and "creators". So my views on exposure are more extreme.

I knew you were going to come back strong with that exposure comment, did you disregard the fact that he simply pointed me to the published book and didn't in fact expose anything...Also, can you please describe the telephone effect to me. I would appreciate it , and possible where I could purchase it . Thanks.

And I have every right to have my opinion on exposure. I get half my income from magic, and have great respect for the art and the performers and "creators". So my views on exposure are more extreme.

You absolutely have every right to your opinion - and me to mine.

I also make, about, half my income from professional shows. I've also performed internationally and have been doing magic for well over 30 years.

Siege (member here) not only makes income from magic, but also sells his stuff to other magicians. His view of this horrific exposure that you stand so opposed to (because it may just destroy your living if it takes hold) can be found here. In fact, exposure doesn't effect a true professional magician on any level.

Personally, I am opposed to exposure. I find it to be a bunch of bull. But, to share with other magicians? Again, there exists a line between righteous ethics and extremism...I do believe that you've crossed that line.

Understand, I don't think that we have the right to expose specific things to each other. This is a difficult discussion in that each person will see different shades of gray. For example, is it okay to expose, to another magician, the DL? It is published sleight (in hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of books).

What about exposing a cigarette up the nose trick by Eugene Burger? (Again, this would be from magician to magician and not an exposure to the layity.) It can be found in his published book, "Mastering the Art of Magic." Mr. Burger doesn't use it anymore (which he points out in the book) - would that be okay, in your opinion, David? Keep in mind, Burger's method is no different from anyone else's - that is, he hasn't come up with any new sleights in the presentation. So, is that alright, or do you feel that Burger's career will come to an end because I shared his published method with another magician?

You are on a very slippery slope, David and your idea of ethics is on the exreme side.

Mike.

Oops, sorry, I almost forgot...

A telephone effect that is almost as old as telephones themselves can be found in "Scarne on Card Tricks," under the name "The Wizard." While it is an old effect, it can still fry an audience to this day. Done properly, there can be no explanation forthcoming in the spectator's mind.

Good stuff. And, it's a book you should have on your shelf, anyway.

Mike.

Michael Jay wrote:Oops, sorry, I almost forgot...

A telephone effect that is almost as old as telephones themselves can be found in "Scarne on Card Tricks," under the name "The Wizard." While it is an old effect, it can still fry an audience to this day. Done properly, there can be no explanation forthcoming in the spectator's mind.

Good stuff. And, it's a book you should have on your shelf, anyway.

Mike.

Absolutely! I've performed The Wizard a few times to great reactions. My favourite however is in Magic and Showmanship - the name of the effect escapes me but it's another Golden Oldie which, admittedly, does require more a little bit more work than The Wizard but it got me my strongest (I don't want to use the word 'best') reaction. The guy I performed it for freaked out immensely, it took several minutes to calm him down and assure him that the 'psychic' on the other end wasn't watching his every move etc.

Powerful stuff indeed!

They sound great but can someone describe what the actual effect is before I make a decision, thanks.

Both The Wizard and the one in Magic and Showmanship see someone choosing a card, phoning your psychic friend and asking them what card they are thinking of - your psychic friend, of course, nails it.

Both are absolutely inexplicable and real gems... the books themselves (Scarne on Card Tricks and Magic and Showmanship) are dirt cheap and should be in everyone's library .

Thanks but oes that mean that a third party is involved? Like you and the spectator and a psychic friend?