Joe is having trouble switching items when he performs magic tricks. He keeps getting busted when he does a switch.

Joe writes:

'I've realised that I'm not very good at switching or at least I don't know how to without being detected :).

So for Example, with LINK-O, a powerful move would be to show a normal pack of polo mints that are inspected, then switch it with the special labelled ones.  Any Suggestions?
Thanks.I’m having trouble switching items. Whenever  I try to do a switch, I get busted. Any tips?'

How to perform a magicians switch

Hi Joe,

Many thanks for getting in touch.

The secret of switching items without detection is to remove any of your guilt while doing it. It also helps to have a good understanding of the on-beat and off-beat moments that performance naturally creates in order to maximise the chances of getting away with it. Here is a link to a free eBook on misdirection which talks about the off-beat/on-beat and how to recognise it:

Ben Williams writes:

There is a limit to how much I will have things inspected. For example, when I perform Linko, I never have a normal pack of Polos examined before the trick. Saying, 'Hey, check these out, make sure they are normal' could cause the spectator to think “There must be funny Polo packets or magic Polos”. Even people who hadn't thought of that, would probably then be thinking it in the back of their minds. 

I find that what works for me best is to take out the top two Polos and hand the spectator the pack and say, “sorry, can you just hold onto these for a second”. when you ask this, they have no desire to look at it because you are showing them something with the Polos and not the pack. When you move the logo on the pack, they will think that they would have spotted it if there were something up with the pack as they were holding onto it themselves.

By inviting people to examine objects it automatically arouses suspicion. Unless you have something so unbelievably clean you can ham it up, and then it is, in my opinion, not a great idea to enforce the fairness of everything. If you hand a packet of Polos to someone and ask them to check it out it will make people look harder at the packet. When that suspicion is in their mind, you will most likely get busted switching it. 

I sometimes use the method where I have an extra cut out of a Polo on the packet stuck down with either lip balm or a glue stick of repositionable glue. This way when you drag it there is no question the Polo was there on the design as they were looking right at it.

So to sum up, try to relax, forget about the moment when you are going to switch. If you are worried about switching you will be sending out signals of tension and anxiousness which your spectators will pick up on no matter how small they are and make sure you are engaging the audience at the time of the switch and it will help out lots. Over time, you will not worry about it at all, and you will find you don't get busted.