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Hi Guys
I'm currently looking for a book test that is a nice pocket size and can be carried around handy.

The effect I'm looking for is to hand the book to the spectator and have them think of any(big) word on the page.Then there a choice is revealed.

I've seen a book test like this that you fish for the first letter then boom you know it.That's what I'm looking for but a smaller version.Also the easier on my (peek) wallet the better.

Cheers

For this kind of thing, I would highly recommend Alain Nu's word work 1 & 2. The ideas and methods in there will allow you to to use any book, so you can just pick the size you want and go to work.

Some other marketed items that might interest you are:

Docc Hilford's little black book test - using a pocket sized address book

James munton's little boo of quotes is pocket sized.

The haiku book test is tiny, so that might work for you.

Outlaw effects reflections is pocket sized. It's not a traditional book test, but it's a great effect.

Craig petty just put out those love cards which is a kind of book test using a handful of plastic cards. K haven't seen it firsthand, but might be something to check out.

Not exactly the same thing, but don't underestimate the BIP Book 2.0 for book-test (ish!) pocket friendly miracles. I think the premise and story behind carrying this around with you makes more sense than a "real" book


G

The BIP Book is great, and definitely pocket-sized. It's especially good if you want to take a fairly scientific line, as it's supposed to be for official ESP testing. An advantage is that it includes various effects, so you can "read" several people in the same group, either one by one or simultaneously.

It's always plausible that you'd have a diary on you, so any of the various diary-based effects should fit your requirements.

The wallet cards from Outlaw and Mental Voyage are also something you might want to consider.

I used my BIP book last night and afterwards sat at the same table with the person who'd helped with the number test. She asked me if I was telepathic; someone else asked her if she and I had met before...

Highly recommended.

Barry

Ive just ordered 2.0 of the BIP book so i hope it lives up to the reputation!!

Thanks for all the replies.BIP looks good but not what I'm looking for.I'm looking for a normal everyday book.BIP is an ESP book that is designed for the test

It's not just for ESP effects, but I know what your saying. A suggestion would be to purchase the BIP and adapt your own version.. you could have your own notepad of handwritten short stories and sketches and take it from there. Why does it have to be a book test? I really think it's odd to carry a small book around with you. If it really has to be a book test, then use a regular sized book test?

You may have to go back and ask yourself exactly why you want this thing. I can think of three possible reasons:

1 - You want something of a handy size to carry around, so you're never stuck for a mentalism effect if called upon. In which case the BIP Book, wallet cards, etc. will serve very well.

2 - You want something that looks impromptu, something that you'd normally have in your pocket. In which case diary-based effects would seem to suit best.

3 - You need an actual book test with words read from a page, but using a smallish book. In which case you'll need to look for a gimmicked paperback (of the sort you'd plausibly carry around), or else find a technique that can be used with ungimmicked books.

It's also worth thinking about repeatability. If you're intending to do it for casual groups in pubs or the like, what happens if someone else in the group says "ooh, do me now"?

I recently bought "The Fourth Key" from Alakazam, which purports to be a small book of love spells. It's very good, can be handled very openly, but it's not repeatable -- and you need a reason to have a book of love spells!

The gaffed book tests from Black's Magic (Dracula, War of the Worlds, A Christmas Carol, etc.) use famous classic works, and will stand up to casual inspection. They're all paperbacks and not too unwieldy. The only problem is finding them in stock anywhere!

Basically, you are after a knock-off of MOAB at a super cheap price, and you want it small.

The nearest I can think of is the Economicon http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic8479.php

The books are small, but I suspect not in the way you want. They are more like exercise books in size. This, and the rather amateurish looking covers, were what put me off, but the effect is good.

I think Robbie's post is excellent. Sometimes, Flood, it seems to me that you are always after the next thing; you seem to be asking about this product or that every couple of weeks. Perhaps breaking down things in the way Robbie has done this time might help you in the future.

Talking of the BIP Book v 2.0, if you buy the MOAB v 2.0 from Alakazam, you get a bonus routine and the BIP thrown in for free. I don't think this is mentioned on the Alakazam site, so I thought I'd let you lot know. Mind you, the MOAB costs a fair chunk of change...

EDIT: By the way, I am aware that MOAB is a development of an older principle, but I was (appropriately enough) reading between the lines.

The best and cheapest option for me is just a dictionary.

Docc Hilford had a great idea in DVD 3 in his Monster Mentalism serie.

Amira wrote:The best and cheapest option for me is just a dictionary.

You'll find pocket dictionary tests in PMM.

Barry

Robbie wrote:I recently bought "The Fourth Key" from Alakazam, which purports to be a small book of love spells. It's very good, can be handled very openly, but it's not repeatable -- and you need a reason to have a book of love spells!
T

The ooh try me now problem was the issue that bit me with Fourth Key the first and only time I used it. If I was doing an intimate mentalism show I would use it again but I have enough trouble with pocket management for table hopping so I am afraid this is not something I carry around normally.

But, it is a damned good effect in its limited way!

I like the naked book test. You can just learn it (something I have neen trying to do for over a year and can never get round to ) and its always with you. Just grab something with words and you are ready to rumble!

I always liked the Al Baker Dictionary Trick. I've got alot of useage out of it in last couple years. Its very easy to do and you can be done to multiple spectators. I think it is a very simple yet strong book test Plus the selected words are not the first nor last word on the page like alot of the tests.