So, a few years back, I thought, "Why not whip up my own minimalist take on a book test?" With that in mind, I sat down and laid out some criteria to craft a dictionary-style book test that wouldn't involve lugging around an actual dictionary or any other magic shop gimmick.
I wanted something I could easily use in cabaret settings and still be a hit during walkaround gigs. That meant it had to fit snugly in my pocket and be as innocuous as a can of soda at a picnic. Plus, it needed to be examinable enough for a spectator to handle without me having to pull off some elaborate audience management stunt. Oh, and the selection process? I wanted it to feel completely random. Most importantly, all the words should be intriguing or downright bizarre.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally combined my own twist on another brilliant routine with what amounts to a word test, and thus, D.D.T. or the Dictionary Diary Test was born.
Hand a spectator an unassuming pocket diary, have them think of a date—any date, mind you (you won’t have a clue what it is)—and then let them silently read the quirky word jotted down for that date. And just like that, you can reveal what they’re thinking. Easy peasy!
One ordinary pocket diary, yet hundreds of words at your disposal.
But wait, there’s more! I’ve also thrown in a variation called 'Remembering Pi' that shifts the focus from words to numbers. Because why not?
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