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Hi, I’m new to TM. I’m looking for a bit of advice concerning swami gimmicks. I’m ok with the execution of different effects, but was wondering the best place to carry the gimmick so it’s easily accessible. Also, what’s the best way or technique to put on and take off the gimmick in a close up / table hopping environment?
Thanks Chris.

Carry it in your pocket get it out while 'looking for a pencil or bit of paper' ditch it again when everyones looking at the prediction.

mine usually lives in my bag, it's not too difficult to find an off moment to get in on.

Placement of your gimmick depends greatly on how and where you use it as well as the style of device you employ; concealing a scarab (Boon) would be far different than how you would a TT Writer.

The Boon styled writer must be set somewhere that keeps the adhesive from getting dirty and thus, not sticking to you when needed. There are a number of "Hold-outs" for them but you need to look around in that such concepts are discussed in this or that book and/or videos. I believe it is the John Rigg's "Gods with Feet of Clay" series, disc 4 that has some in-depth discussion on this.

I tend to use either a TT style or Banjo Pick styled device when I use them and other than my pockets (and I tend to have one in at least three different pockets) I have a special way of concealing one or two either in my cane (for when I'm walking about) or in the arm-rests of my wheelchair.

I knew a Carney long ago, that would place a bit of "Nose Putty" behind his ear and that's where he would stick his gimmick. This way, when he took the pencil from his ear and put it back, he could almost instantly steal out the Swami or ditch it in a very natural way. I don't think he ever got found out.

Thanks for all the info, it's been most helpful. All the best

Al Koran replaced the 'lead' in the blunt end of a pencil with a rope magnet.; widening the hole to take it.
Then he put several swamis in his top pocket, followed by the pencil which was point upwards. The magnet being blunt end downwards.
He removed the pencil & the swamis would attach to the blunt end. Thus he had a choice of several of them.

Allen Tipton

i've attached a vernet one to a cuff button before now as a ditching method...

but anywhere really...there's a good john riggs dvd called Secret Writing (no i havent got a link - google will teach you ) - that covers all kinds of swami techniques and so forth...

but basically, its usually cos you are aware of it being somewhere that you may act nervously or overly protective of that place...

simple is best, just think about where you could attach it that seems natural...

The best thing is to just keep it somewhere that it's going to be easy to get to and don't worry too much about putting the thing on too quickly, just get hold of it. I usually have my swami finger palmed for a couple of minutes before I need to worry about putting it on.

Personally use some wax and keep it behind the ear, easy to retrieve under a natural gesture, if I am finished then dump in a pocket to retrieve another prop (Dice normally). I was not aware that it had been done like that before, and here was me thinking I was being original

Chris Tennant

Paul Pacific is the real expert on this and he is upset that nobody is talking to him.
Find Paul, tell him to stop moping because the queen of clubs told him off for doing silly shuffles and bring him over to this thread. He will tell you all about the swami gimmick.

My final advice would be always carry a spare. The standard one is so small it can easily be lost.

As a teenager (a hundred years ago!) I once tried to attach one to a TT, for easy loading; not to mention nail biting at that age.

Years later came the Dave Powell & Vernet TT versions.
Ah well.

Allen Tipton.

I have found behind the tie works quite well if you are using a tie of course.

I usually fiddle with my tie clip which gets me my gimick.


Or I like to smooth my tie out when I'm discorsing on some unrelated distracting monolog.