Here's a fun little routine that gets great responses. I use it when out with friends having a few beers.

I use a red dry erase marker and write the word BIG on one side of the Turbo Stick and the word SMALL on the other side...this is done before showing it to any spectator. I will casually place the Turbo Stick next to me on a table or the bar with the BIG side facing up. It usually doesn't take long to ask what the thing is next to me with the word BIG written on it.

Acting like I forgot it was there , I pick it up and show the word BIG on both sides. I explain that its part of an experiment I'm conducting with optical melapathy, a condition some people have when reading a word written in red on a white background. The person who is taking the bait usually either shakes their head as if they know what I'm talking about, or gets a strange look of confusion on their mug.

To give an example, I tell them I will pick a random person to read the word on the paddle. I explain that I can show them either side since its the same word, but that for some reason it will be difficult for them to read the same word on both sides...in fact, they may even misread the word on one of the sides. This would indicate a person with Optical Melapathomia.


It's never hard to find a random stranger to help out with the "experiment". I do not show them the paddle, but simply explain that I'm about to show them a stick with a word written on both sides. They will read the word in their head and when I ask for them to say the word out loud, please do so in a loud and clear voice. I then bring out the Turbo Stick so everyone can see the word BIG. The friends I am with are seemingly aware that the word also appears on the other side. I ask the volunteer to say the word out loud and they comply.

Without turning the paddle over, I simply hold it up in front of the volunteers eyes so they see the word SMALL, but everyone else still sees the word BIG.I ask the volunteer to read the word he sees. Of course everyone who saw the paddle in advance is shocked to hear the word SMALL spoken. I simply shrug my shoulders and mutter, "It's a very common condition" as I wipe both sides of the paddle off.

It can also be done with shapes and numbers as well. I have truly confused/freaked out a lot of people with this presentation.

I love this idea! Very casual and a very "bar bet" type of feel.

I wonder if the same type of idea could work well for hecklers. Similar to showing the spectators a card and then doing a top change and showing your heckler the new card and the end of the routine ends with your heckler announcing the "wrong" card. In this case it would be the wrong word, colour, shape, etc.