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Nowhere Palm by Kainoa Harbottle

Created by: Kainoa Harbottle

The 'Nowhere Palm' is a close-up coin magic trick that features an impossible coin routine, utilizing sleight of hand and misdirection to create a mind-blowing effect. The routine starts with multiple coins and gradually reduces them, playing with the audience's perception. It includes techniques like the Push-Through Vanish and the Nowhere Palm (Third-Finger Curl Palm), offering a visual and baffling experience. Ideal for walkaround or stand-up settings, it requires no table, relying purely on hand mechanics.

Key features

  • Teaches an impossible coin routine using sleight of hand and misdirection.

  • Includes techniques like Push-Through Vanish and Nowhere Palm.

  • Offers performance tips on angle management and audience engagement.

  • Inspired by Milbourne Christopher and Gary Kurtz.

  • Designed for walkaround or stand-up settings, no table needed.

Pros

  • Fast, fluid, and baffling visual coin magic.

  • Modular routine structure allows for adaptability in performances.

  • Breaks down complex moves into digestible segments, ideal for intermediate magicians.

Cons

  • May require practice to master the sleight of hand and misdirection techniques.

Effect

The Nowhere Palm creates the illusion of a coin vanishing from one hand and reappearing in the other with no visible transfer. The magician shows a coin in one hand, closes it, and when opened, the coin is gone. The other hand, previously empty, now holds the coin. The effect is clean and direct, making it ideal for close-up performances.

Full Details

The Nowhere Palm is a retention technique where the coin is secretly held in the curled fingers of one hand while the other hand appears empty. This allows for smooth vanishes and reappearances without suspicious hand movements. The trick relies on precise finger positioning and natural misdirection to hide the coin’s true location.

Kainoa Harbottle’s routine incorporates the Nowhere Palm alongside other techniques like the Push-Through Vanish and rhythmic misdirection. The routine starts with multiple coins and gradually reduces them, creating a sense of impossibility. The structure is modular, allowing performers to adjust the sequence for different audiences.

Who Should Consider the Trick

This trick suits intermediate magicians familiar with basic coin sleights. It works well for performers who want a fast, visual routine that doesn’t require a table. The Nowhere Palm is especially useful for walkaround or stand-up magic, where quick, impactful effects are needed.

Information on How Difficult It Is to Perform

The Nowhere Palm requires practice to master. The key challenge is keeping the coin hidden while maintaining natural hand movements. Kainoa emphasizes angle management—tilting the hand incorrectly can expose the sleight. The routine also involves timing and misdirection, making it more suited to those comfortable with coin magic fundamentals.

What Magicians Say

Kainoa Harbottle describes the routine as "fast, fluid, and baffling," highlighting the Push-Through Vanish as a particularly versatile move. He recommends studying Gary Kurtz’s theories on creating a "hallucinatory state" in coin magic, where rapid transpositions warp the audience’s perception.

The routine is inspired by Milbourne Christopher’s "Too Many Coins", which focuses on progressive reduction for maximum impact. Kainoa’s teaching breaks down complex moves into digestible steps, making it accessible for intermediate performers looking to improve their coin work.

The Nowhere Palm is praised for its cleanliness and adaptability, making it a valuable addition to any coin magician’s repertoire.

What people are saying about Nowhere Palm

MurphysMagicSupplies says...

Kainoa’s routine is a masterclass in visual coin magic—fast, fluid, and baffling. The push-through vanish alone is worth practicing for its versatility in coins-across routines.

Tutorial videos