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Palm Reader by David Alnwick

Created by: David Alnwick

Palm Reader is a close-up mentalism effect where a spectator thinks of a deeply personal memory, person, or event and associates it with the lines on their palm. Using a specially designed plastic card, the performer 'reads' their hand and reveals the exact thought, creating the illusion of genuine palmistry. This trick is highly versatile, suitable for close-up, table-hopping, walkaround, or pre-show settings, and requires no sleight of hand or pre-show work. It focuses on emotional resonance, psychological engagement, and building a strong connection with the audience, making it ideal for mentalists and magicians looking to add personal, interactive magic to their repertoire. The effect includes a high-quality, wallet-sized plastic card and access to extensive tutorial content.

Key features

  • No sleight of hand required, instantly learnable

  • Portable and wallet-friendly with an instant reset

  • Versatile for close-up, table-hopping, walkaround, or pre-show use

  • Includes a plastic card and QR code linking to over 2 hours of tutorial videos with advanced applications

  • Emphasizes cold reading, storytelling, and emotional connection

  • Best performed once per group to maintain mystery

Pros

  • Creates powerful emotional reactions and deep audience engagement

  • Highly practical with no setup and minimal props

  • Modular design allows for expansion with other mentalism techniques

  • Excellent for honing reading skills and building rapport

  • Feels authentic and less like a traditional magic trick

Cons

  • Not infinitely repeatable with the same group to avoid method exposure

Effect

Palm Reader creates the appearance of a genuine palm reading. A spectator thinks of a personal memory, person, or event. The performer uses a special plastic card to examine the lines on the spectator's hand. The performer then reveals the spectator's exact thought. The effect feels like real psychic intuition or palmistry.

Full details

Palm Reader is a close-up mentalism effect by David Alnwick. It uses a high-quality plastic card as its only prop. The method is simple and requires no sleight of hand. The effect resets instantly. It is designed for portability and can be carried in a wallet. The purchase includes access to over two hours of video tutorials. These tutorials feature David Alnwick's explanation and jam sessions with other magicians like Joe Diamond and Alexander Marsh. The tutorials cover the basic routine and advanced applications.

Who should consider the trick

Palm Reader is for mentalists and magicians who want to create personal connections. It suits performers who enjoy psychological magic and cold reading. It is ideal for close-up, walkaround, and table hopping situations. Performers looking for a tool to start deeper conversations with spectators will find it useful. It is also a good practice tool for honing reading and rapport-building skills.

Information on how difficult it is to perform

The method for Palm Reader is simple to learn. Sebastian states it is "instantly learnable" and requires "no sleight of hand or complex moves." The handling is natural and the motivation is clear. Beginners can perform it effectively. Experienced performers can integrate it into their acts immediately. The difficulty level is low.

What magicians say

Reviewers praise Palm Reader for its emotional impact and practicality. Sebastian rates it 9.75 out of 10, calling it a "must-have for mentalists who enjoy personal, intimate magic." He notes it creates a "strong emotional connection with spectators." Steve Faulkner says it "forges a genuine, emotional connection" and feels "more authentic than most other pocket mentalism effects." He highlights its capacity for depth, noting it can be "the starting point for a much deeper, more personal conversation." Cavan Booth loves its "elegant simplicity" and states it allows for "personalized insights without any pre-show work." JS Magic emphasizes that it is a "strong piece of mentalism" that generates "deep engagement and emotional responses." Magic Orthodoxy's review suggests it provides "strong audience reactions" and is noted for its "ease of use."

What people are saying about Palm Reader

BigBlindMedia says...

The trick centers around a spectator freely selecting a card, with the magician using the lines on the spectator’s hand to deduce the chosen card, culminating in surprising transformations that rely on misdirection and presentation.

CavanBooth1 says...

Palm Reader allows for personalized palm readings with no pre-show work or sleight of hand, making it an ideal piece for impromptu psychic demonstrations that create a direct connection.

ChampionMagic says...

Palm Reader is a strong mentalism tool designed to create powerful emotional reactions, ideal for performers looking to add a psychological or emotional layer to their routines.

magicorthodoxy says...

Palm Reader is a compelling tool for magicians looking to enhance their mentalism repertoire with something that goes beyond traditional tricks—focusing instead on emotional resonance and audience impact.

RealMagicReview says...

It’s a clever reimagining of a classic idea, but its strength lies in the presentation. The handling feels natural and the motivation is clear, helping it feel less like a 'magic trick' and more like a meaningful interaction.

sebastiantoca9208 says...

The method is astonishingly simple—so much so that experienced magicians and mentalists will grasp it instantly. It thrives on cold reading and can be expanded for deeper revelations.

Review videos

Tutorial videos