There are many versions of Danson’s ‘Diary Trick’ and I like to think that my version has much to recommend it. A spectator is handed a diary and on looking through it will soon see that every date has a playing card written next to it. The spectator looks up her own birthday date and remembers the card written against it.

A blue deck of cards is shown and there is seen to be one red backed card in it. This is the card that is in the diary next to the magician’s birthday date. This odd backed card is left in the deck which is shuffled. Using the spectator’s birthday date, cards are dealt from the face up deck.

Firstly, the correct number of cards to match her birthday day (i.e. 12th = 12 cards) and then one card for each month starting in January. The card that falls on the birthday month turns out to be the very same card as seen by the spectator against her birthday in the diary, and when this card is turned over, it is discovered to be the performer’s own red backed birthday card as well! Only one diary and one deck is used. No difficult sleights.

This great routine is available either as a TricKlip Video Download if you learn best from video, or if you prefer written directions, then please select the E-Routine Download order button which will deliver the instructions via a pdf text file.