by Alan Rorrison

You will need to 2 of the small key chain style recorders and one sheet of those little circle color code labels and a pen.

Start by having each spectator write their initials on one of the labels, point out that there is no way to duplicate these etc. Now ask any spectator to choose a recorder. Pick this up with your right hand as you slide the sheet of labels towards them and ask them to peal off there own initialed label. As the to this just lick your thumb and then rub it on the back of the recorder. Now when you place there label on there it will stick but still slides around with a little pressure as it cant fully stick due to the moistness. Just copy this procedure for the second recorder but stating “so this leave this one for you. Could you please remove your label too” So at this point you have given them a free selection of label which have been marked and free selection of recorder. The only real move you have done so far is making the back moist.

Demonstrate how the recorders work and hold it by its sides this means they will follow this and avoid touching the back most of the time. Do not worry if they do as you need to apply the pressure to the label in a pushing to the side motion for it to become unstuck. This is not a natural motion and they will never do any way. Let the first person record there message. Now take it back from the left spectator first in your right hand, placing your middle finger on the label. The recorder is face up so they will never see this. Pull back on the label and it comes free and should naturally rest on your finger tip. Now take it from your right to left hand and place it down to the left of you on the close up mat. So it looks like you just took it back from them and placed it down on the mat in front of them. Let your hand rest at your side to hide the label on your finger. Now move to the person on your right and take there’s back in the left hand doing the exact same with the middle finger to remove the label. Now as you switch it from the left to right hand. The label which is already in the right hand is stick on the bottom of this recorder thus switching the first as you place it down.

Now, to them you have let them mark there own recorder and make a recording, then place it down in front of them. Just now you’re left with one label in your left hand and the second already switched. In the motion of bringing the to recorders closer together you will simply stick the remaining free label on to the other recorder. The recorders don’t switch positions but you move them closer together on the mat. Now just go over what you have done for a little time misdirection. “You each freely selected a label and marked it, then the recorders where chosen freely and your labels stuck to them. You recorded a message and we placed them down. Is that correct?” As they agree you reach down with each hand pick up the recorders. One recorder in each and be sure to cross your hands. So the left hand takes the right recorder and visa versa. This move should fly as you’re going over what happened as you do so and asking them a simple question. The works all done. The voice will now not match the label. Now you can peel of the stickers and reset the recorder for the next time. And you are ready to go again!