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Over on another thread about sleights kevmundo made an excellent point about palming cards with The Extractor and I thought it was worth highlighting in a thread of its own, because it seems a fair few people have a fear of palming - thinking it's the most visible sleight ever (I include myself in that group).

kevmundo wrote:I always recommend the extractor gimmick for anyone nervous about palming cards. Best 50 notes you'll ever spend!! I use mine all the time and I've never been caught!

Now, I don't do much with cards, my table sets open with a mental card effect and from then on it's billets all the way. I can do a very good slip-cut force, my classic force is improving etc. but palming? Nevaaahhh! The main reason being is that card work just isn't important to me, I'd rather use my practice time on billet moves and peeks etc. instead of a very difficult (to me) card move that I'd never use.

Then I went and bought an Extractor, mostly because Alakazam were clearing out the last of the stock of blue gimmicks in the old-style cases for £25 a pop. After a day of playing with it, I rehoused it in a new style case and was good to go.

I can't stress this enough: If you're worried about your palm - buy an Extractor. The psychological effect of the card returning to the case and going to your pocket is immensely strong, you can do almost anything with that card from then on, the spec has totally switched off (from the cards, not your routine hopefully!!).

A few days later I had a birthday party gig lined up - nice and casual affair; palm readings mostly and a few little mind-reading effects. Mostly palm readings though. My usual approach is using a M****d Deck, having the spec (or rather, sitter), select one freely, a conscious choice. Palm reading goes ahead and then reveal their chosen card in the appropriate manner. Owners of Paul Voodini's Palm Reading for Magicians or Palm DVD will know the drill perfectly well.

I decided to use the Extractor as a peek device for this gig, to see how much stronger it was without having the cards in play for the duration of the palm reading (as it happens, a very wise choice, as there was close to zero seating/table space available). As you'd expect, it was a much smoother affair, and arguably a little bit stronger. Then I started to have a little fun with it all, having the sitter sign their card and after the reading and reveal, just as I'm leaving them to move on to someone else, return their card to them, from my trouser pocket. I played it as almost an afterthought, my body half-turned away from them to leave. It was a beautiful thing, a classic 'magic' moment in what was (if I do my job right) a genuinely personal and occasionally emotional, palm reading. I didn't do it with everyone, maybe 50-60% of the palms I read.

The palm was never noticed, from someone who's never spent so much as 5 minutes practising palming. I'll re-iterate my earlier point: If you're worried about your palm - buy an Extractor. It will boost your confidence in the move immediately - and I dare say, if you're a cards person, once you've realised you can do it with the Extractor, you'll be palming off tops of decks for real specs instead of your mirror in no time!

Here's a thought - let's make this topic a Sticky!

At first I was going to come out with all guns blazing, saying that this gimmick is NOT a substitute for learning to palm properly. Then I read the last line and noticed what you meant. I agree the gimmick would be handy for those who may be nervous about the sleight, to gain confidence - or to those like yourself who don't really use cards in their act.

If you are a close-up magician and cards are part of your forte, then learning to palm in the traditional sense will be of far more utility. The reason being that as wonderful as this gimmick is, its use is limited. Placing the cards back in the box and pocketing them is not always appropriate or desired. Worth pointing out.

The idea of using it as a peek is nice. However, there is an idea which I used years ago which gives the same results, is just as deceptive, yet costs nothing (other than a deck of cards). I simply used a half stack (eight kings) and the method of peeking the boxed deck from "The Transfered Thought" in Mark Wilsons. If your not working from a stacked deck the card can be culled to the bottom. While the method is simple it can be very powerful.
There was a DVD out a few years ago, and while I didn't buy it, a clip I saw looked like the same method.


Jim

I unashamedly love the extractor and it always features in every single stroll around routine I do. It just adds another layer of impossibility to any card to wallet routine. I would also agree that for those nervous about palming, the extractor is a great place to start. It takes off all the heat and allows you to get used to holding the card in palm position in front of spectators. However, it clearly isn't a substitute for palming and wasn't designed to be such. Some routines are just built to be used with an extractor, some aren't.

I would also add, that if you want to take your palming to another level after the extractor, buy Childs Play by Chris Concreave. There is a palm in this effect that has so much misdirection built into it you could wave the card in their face and they wouldn't see it!!

After all that, if you're not palming like crazy then I don't know what to suggest!

K

I must agree with kevmundo about the Extractor and Childs Play. I have been palming for years but wish they had been about when I started. Palming is about confidence as much as skill. To build confidence - when you aren't performing any magic, place a card in palm (lots of references available if not sure of position) walk up to someone, anyone and start talking to them, see if they notice that you're holding a card. I'll bet they don't. Repeat lots of times you won't get caught, just try to appear natural. What's the worst that can happen, someone will say is that a card in your hand? You reply yes someone must have dropped it or something equally bland. Obviously practice palming from a deck a lot as well. Good Luck.

kevmundo wrote:I unashamedly love the extractor and it always features in every single stroll around routine I do. It just adds another layer of impossibility to any card to wallet routine. I would also agree that for those nervous about palming, the extractor is a great place to start. It takes off all the heat and allows you to get used to holding the card in palm position in front of spectators. However, it clearly isn't a substitute for palming and wasn't designed to be such. Some routines are just built to be used with an extractor, some aren't.

I would also add, that if you want to take your palming to another level after the extractor, buy Childs Play by Chris Concreave. There is a palm in this effect that has so much misdirection built into it you could wave the card in their face and they wouldn't see it!!

After all that, if you're not palming like crazy then I don't know what to suggest!

K

Childs Play was the effect that I used to "learn" to palm while out performing (and then progressed on to the one handed top palm) - My technique is far from perfect but as you righly said, the effect has so much misdirection built in that I can get away with more than I would if my hands were being burnt.

A good intermediate technique to the full-palm is the Gamblers' Cop (ideally you need to be seated at a table for it's most effective use).

I gained confidence in palming by using tricks that require 'copping' (there are one or two in Card College), then when I felt comfortable, I moved on to top-palm techniques (Hugard, Vernon).