talkmagic.co.uk

Who's afraid of the big bad: TOP CHANGE

I was watching some Simon Lovell at the weekend, and he's got a real thing going on with top changes.

I've always been a bit scared at the thought of top changes, because to me they look extremely obvious, and my discomfort has been capped a few times by being caught mid-change.

However, Lovell's usage is a breath of fresh air, and as a result, I am going head first into re-aquianting myself with this everso useful move.

A fantastic tip he gives is body motion should cover the change (akin to Vernon's 'large action covers a small') and when done this way, the top change is almost invisible.

I'd be really happy to hear your views about the top change. It is something you either love or hate, I think.

seige wrote:Who's afraid of the big bad: TOP CHANGE

I was watching some Simon Lovell at the weekend, and he's got a real thing going on with top changes.

I've always been a bit scared at the thought of top changes, because to me they look extremely obvious, and my discomfort has been capped a few times by being caught mid-change.

However, Lovell's usage is a breath of fresh air, and as a result, I am going head first into re-aquianting myself with this everso useful move.

A fantastic tip he gives is body motion should cover the change (akin to Vernon's 'large action covers a small') and when done this way, the top change is almost invisible.

I'd be really happy to hear your views about the top change. It is something you either love or hate, I think.

I think that's a great use of misdirection. Even though I'm not familiar with that trick, or sleight, I think I understand the concept..

For example, a simple trick most anyone can do, is ask for someone's business card, and say "Wouldn't it be amazing if I could make it disappear?" Then use some patter.

Take out a pen, and tap the hand (With the card in it) 3 times with a pen. On the third time, say "See? It's still there." Kinda to get them used to the aspect of tapping the pen. Be sure to bring the pend up near your ear each time.

On the third time, clip the pen in your ear! I know it sounds obvious, but since they are so concentraited on the pen, they alot of times won't even notice it! Turn your body posture to the left slightly to get them a better view of the pen (Again, larger action covers the small), actually, while your hand is in a fist, and as you are showing them the pen, for a second, slip the card in your jacket pocket (or any pocket that is easily assesssable). Bring you hand back around like nothing happened, while it's in a fist, and then tap it again 3 times and say "Alright, alright. That was clever now, wasn't it?" and try again. This time, of course it does disappear.

The only time I use a Top Change is in Mike Close's "Frog Prince", but the misdirection at that point is MASSIVE.
Otherwise, I'd be pretty nervous about using it.

Doc Eason uses a wide-open TC but uses a LOT of body movement to cover it.

Another important point is the hand movement.
If the pack is in your left hand, then your right hand moves before the TC and the left hand moves AFTER.
It's important that the stationary hand REALLY is stationary.
Gives it a kind of optical illusion effect.

But I'm no expert and the Top Change is a move which continues to worry me.....

John Lenahan (website here) is a big supporter of the Top Change and gave a great demo at last years British Magical Society event. He asked the assembled Magi how many did DLs and about 3/4 of them raised their hands. When he asked about the TC, there were only 3 in a room of perhaps 120 people. If you get a chance to attend his lecture, it's worth it for his unique and very innocent looking bit of biz on this move alone.

Eugene Burger's book "Mastering the Art of Magic" has a nice section on the top change - he focuses on body movement, misdirection etc. It made it a lot easier for me to get my head around.

John Lenahan made me look at the TC in a different way. And the thing is, he doesn't know how it works...

Does anyone know where to get a video of a routine that involves the top change, or a video where it is taught? I read it in Royal Road, but I don't know what it's supposed to look like.

Charles Calthrop wrote:And the thing is, he doesn't know how it works...

Exactly - so very innocent and convincing !

Top Change Uses -

I use it for the Two Card Monte (I know that this has been done to death since Blaine - but I find it gets amazing reactions still).

I also use it at the end of my Ambitious Card routine where I need to switch the card. No one ever notices! I was nervous at first, but now I just do it - right under their noses. My left arm comes up in front of me (sort of across my body) towards the single card. I'm also facing right slightly - this seems to hide it perfectly.

It really is quite easy to hide. I just struggle with keeping it quiet!

dfitz1000 wrote:Does anyone know where to get a video of a routine that involves the top change, or a video where it is taught? I read it in Royal Road, but I don't know what it's supposed to look like.

Richard Kaufman's Basic Card Technique DVD teaches a number of TC techniques. I'm not saying it's the best video source, because it's the only one I have, but it's useful enough.

Like Last Deck on the Left, I use the top change for my two-card monte, and I've never been caught. I used to perform the effects in Chapter 17 of Royal Road to Card Magic 'Top and Bottom Changes,' and they are so very satisfying it is unbelievable.

I urge everyone to give it a try - and reap the rewards in a silent manner to yourselves.

Richard Kaufman's Basic Card Technique DVD teaches a number of TC techniques. I'm not saying it's the best video source, because it's the only one I have, but it's useful enough.

Thanks for that.

I do not use it often but when I do the trick goes like this:

You get someone to pick a card and show it to everybody in the room. Then you pull out a card and show it to half of the audience, then turn around and show it to the other half. One half say it was the right card, the others say it wasn't



Learned it in RRTCM I think

Hi there,

As Charles Calthrop wrote, Richard Kaufman's video is a good source. It's also covered in quite some depth in the Ellusionist Kard Klub video. It's a video just dedicated to the Two Card Monte - but there are other tricks as well. Maybe it's a bit over priced - but I've found that I have really got my money's worth and Brad does (for once !) go into a lot of deatil on the explanations!