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A Mistake When Palming This is just something to think about. I’ve noticed that most magicians I know (At least the newer ones) make a huge mistake when classic palming. Whether it’s a card or a coin, they tend to stiffen their fingers, particularly their thumb, which sticks out like a…well, sore thumb. When I’ve pointed this out, they have usually found it hard to stop this. Here’s a picture of what I mean:
Yeah, it looks stupid, doesn’t it? The reason so many magicians do this is that they think if the spectators can’t see your thumb, they will think that you are hiding something. This isn’t the case. On the contrary, if your hand is stiff and unnatural, the spectators are far more likely to be suspicious than if your hand looks normal and relaxed. Try this. Hold your hand down at your side, completely relaxed. Now bring your hand up in front of you, keeping your hand in as near the same position as possible. That’s about what your hand should look like when you are palming and object. Of course, when palming a card, your fingers will have to be closed, but at no time should your hand be stiff and unnatural (Like the earlier pictures illustrated). It you can’t seem to relax your thumb when palming a coin, here’s something I learned a while ago. Touch the ends of your thumb and forefinger together while palming the coin. Once you can do this, read the last paragraph again, and it should be much easier to palm. Anyway, this is just something to think about, because even the laymen I know notice when magicians palm this way. If you have any comments, questions, or criticism about this article, send an e-mail to: Be sure to include, "A Mistake When Palming" in the subject line. Shane Wiker Copyright 2004 |
