I've been doing some browsing lately and I am interested in the levitation effects of IT. My questions are what are the benefits of an ITR over just plain ol' IT? I read about the tarantula, but there are a lot of mixed reviews about the quality. I had some IT a long time ago but it wasn't very invisible and was very cheap quality. I also found the wax I had wasn't very good either. I am just getting back into magic and taking more serious than I ever did in the past. I am looking to create a pretty solid act for an upcoming kid event (about 3 months away so I am going to practice a lot until then). I thought this might add some flare to it for the kids. Any thoughts, input, and advice is welcome!

Back in the day I use to use IT and am only recently trying to find newer uses for it. I found the wax's usefulness depended on what it's base tempurature was. If it was too hot, it became pretty useless.

As for ITR I don't have too much experience, but the difference between the two should be obvious as are the benefits. One's on a reel and the other isn't. If you want a decent source on ITRs and IT and IET I'd look into Michale Ammar's Thread Miracles videos.

-ArchAngel_G

I just recently got an ITR. Whats nice about it is after you do an effect you can end clean because the IT goes back into the reel. You don't have to break/hide your thread after the effect because it goes back ready to use once your done. Plus you can do multiple effects using the same method with little set up

Thanks for the replies. Is there a button or something that you push to have the reel eat the thread back up? Is there a recommended ITR?

I might be wrong here, but is it not easyer just to use loops to get same effects, and loops are easy to hide.
I bought loops 1-2 by jon finn and yigal mesika and I got something called the inner circle that you can carry your loops in, I always have the inner circle item in my wallet and I am always ready to perform.

I have itr from spooked and one time I use it a guy was checking my fingers then suddenly went up my wrist and found the gimmick :/ that would never happend with loops. worst case you can just break the loop if you think they will find it

After much research I bought the Alpha reel and it is pretty cool.

http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S11555

It is an ingenious improvement to the standard ITR in that if the thread breaks it is very easy to get setup again. Like other ITRs, the IT retracts automatically.

Loops are different from ITRs and ITRs are different from other IT devices like the Tarantula. Each hook up has it's pros and cons. Many tricks are possible with loops and not ITRs and vice versa.

To be honest, I don't use my ITR very much. Perhaps someday I will. I did wear my Alpha every day for weeks. It is a great little device and a lot of fun to play with.