Jonathan's tail steal was first done by Jason Byrne in his act before double vision, I think he told me he may have used it in double vision, but even before that I believe the concept goes back to Brett Daniels when he did birds if my memory serves me...

Your memory does serve you Dan....

I would much rather steal from my hip than from my tails. I have been taught however by one of my many mentors (Larry McMechan) to use the tails steal. In an emergency situation. For example dropping a silk. This occurs of course after a Dove has been topited in the tail as a vanish. Otherwise, I would rather not use it.

Another vote for Andy Amyx's tail steal presented on his video. Very simple, elegant, and effective. I also recommend the Books of Wonder by Tommy Wonder. His "tails topit" is something I hope to implement...some day. It can aid in invisible harness pulls without drag as well.

I do a profonde style steal from my tail topit/pocket. No harness, but I'm using the same dove that was vanished earlier in the show. The steal is not appropriate for a manip or silent act. It's part of a burned and restored paper napkin routine. Upon restoration, I raise the napkin high and release it flat/horizontal plane so that it floats down like a parachute. As it gets lower than the thigh height, I bend to grab the napkin, across the body with my left hand, reaching to the right. At the same time, my right hand dips into the tail topit. The act of bending brings the tail topit higher than usual, and the dove is delivered into the right hand. When I catch the napkin, I begin to stand up again, and the dove is 'mashed' (in sponge ball terms, not literally mashing the bird) in with the napkin into the left hand as the hands clear the top of the right thigh.

It's a subtlety, timing thing, but it is indetectable, even on video.

Now, I'm not using tails any longer, so I use a custom made clip on my belt, in the small of the back. There's a trick to making the bulldog clip hold the load extra high enough off of the belt to wear a regular jacket or blazer. Contact me if you're interested.

Jason Byrne & Greg Frewin in their double vison act, using a very visual tail steals using bounching yellow ball, very visual & cool..esp both steal at the same timing...indeed double vision

Is that the one where he throws the ball over the back of his shoulder? I'd argue that's not a tail steal at all.

No it was during the dual act. Both had unique ways to produce, vanish, transform doves. They were not refering to the current act.

I think General Grant's lecture notes talk about using the tails of the tux for steals and vanishes.

Gen's notes cover the vanish but not a steal.