Dan had E-Mailed me and said, "Why not share something in the line of magic or experience with us." Well, it is one thing to say you are willing to do it and another to get off your butt and do it. So, here is my first contribution which will not be the last providing I hear from you readers.
I would like to share an experience with you and tell you how to combat the problem. I have been in magic for many more years than I wish to count. I have done shows in the Middle East and Cypress when the temperature in the shade was 110 deg. F, when playing a theme park or having to do three shows in the sun can really be a task. We have all had to contend with hot temperatures and may have found ourselves in a spot when we really wanted to wear a jacket in order to do a specific effect where we needed the use of the jacket pockets.
I have come up with a solution to this problem. Some of you may recall my lecture, "The Christmas Magic Show" that I presented for the first time at NYCAN in Syracuse back a few years. I had a white jacket on that I painted myself and it was decorated for the occasion. This is the change I made for Summer shows out doors. I basically used the same idea. I purchased a white jacket as used by Pharmacists and Nurses. I dyed the jacket. After this task was finished, I painted the jacket to suit my taste. As a matter of fact I made two jackets.
Let me now go over the steps. I purchased what is called a Consulting coat LC14 from Avida Healthwear Inc. In Toronto Canada. The next step was to dye the coat. I obtained from G&S Dye & Accessories in Toronto, Canada what is called Procion MX Dye. I followed the instructions and "Voila", I had transferred the white coat into a gorgeous Turquoise coat. The coat was left to dry. As a matter of fact the coat was put in the dryer. The longer you leave the coat in the solution the darker it will get. Oh yes, besides the actual dye, you will require Sodium Carbonate and salt. O.K. the coat is now dry and we are ready to decorate it to suit our individual taste. As I mentioned, this coat was dyed turquoise. Let’s face it people, if you can read, you can dye a coat. We magicians are a talented group, however, there are just some things we cannot do and that is the next step . . . decorate.
"Setacolor" is a fabric paint made by Pebo of France. It is obtainable in craft shops. This is what I use for decorating. There are several ways of adding design to your coat. Using these paints, it can be applied with a brush, sponge, stencils etc. This is where your imagination comes into work. The one thing you do not want to do is make it look gaudy. Little is better. I did some delicate scroll work with a fan brush using Aquamarine. This paint had a metallic finish to it. If you want to keep is simple, do an outline on the collar cuffs and pockets. You can block off an area using masking tape. You can apply a design all over the coat by cutting a piece of sponge into any shape you wish and just stamp the design on the coat. In applying this technique it is best to try it out on a practice fabric first and remember to daub the sponge on a clean surface before applying to your coat, this will prevent blobs. My second coat was dyed a brilliant yellow and I decorated it with the sponge technique. I cut a piece of sponge and ripped the sides away to give an irregular shape. They both look great. I wore a black golf shirt and black trouser to complete the outfit. This jacket permitted me to do some effects that I would not have been able to do without a jacket.
Apart from labour, the cost per coat from beginning to end was approximately $45.00 Canadian. Not bad eh? As a final note, read Gary Oulette’s column in the Genii, April, ‘97. He hits the nail on the head. If this is not for you, do not use it.
Well my friends, in the spirit of brotherhood, I am contributing to this site with the expectations that Dan will have one of the best Web Sites that will be a service to all interested in this fascinating art of Magic. If you wish to pursue this further, you know where to reach me for further assistance.
All the best.
Over and out . . . Joe