I bought 4 different tricks that use house keys, and all of them are "blanks", they are not cut, therefore they look odd to a spectator.
For people that havevthese type of tricks, do you asked a locksimth to cut them, to be more realistic or you don't care

Thanks

I have Freakey and Keylicious, and for both I had the keys cut by a locksmith to make them more realistic. If left blank, they seem (at least to me) to come across more as props and may bring some unwanted heat on them. Just my opinion, hope it helps.

I agree. Cut the keys. I pull my keys off my keyring when I do a trick. Why would I keep an uncut key on my keyring.

Definitely have them cut; an uncut key--even a real one--just looks weird!

I agree if they are cut they will no longer look like a prop.

Thank you, I will need to find a locksmith now

You just have to have them cut or they will look odd, why would you carry blank keys around with you. just get a similar key and take them to a key copying store.

I got it, I will make then cut

You might also try your local Home Depot. I got keys from them because they had a bunch of spares for re-keying door locks. They we already cut and they had a nice variety.

A very good idea.
You could also go to your local keycutter and ask for miscut keys. You could get them very cheaply.

Home Depot and most hardware stores cut keys.

Thank you guys

I just noticed my spelling error. They were, not, they we........

I've done Sankey's "Leaving Home" quite regularly for years (did it tonight at a party a few times) and have never thought to have the keys cut. Seems to be unimportant at best in regards to the specs. They are always just overwhelmingly more amazed by the effect of the key coming off and then back on to the string. I'm just sayin'.

But I would also agree here that having them cut would seem to lend a bit more practical realism to them, I suppose. Perhaps a bit more important to the Magi than the specs in the greater scheme of things.

There are a lot of people that would tell you not to "sweat the small stuff" but I quite disagree. Even those little things you think may not matter, in fact, do matter.

While I agree with what Marion said in that they (audiences) are simply blown away by the magic (of course, if it is done well!) he is right in that keys being cut do add that sense of realism and practicality to them. There is a 'but': Somewhere out there is a spectator that will take notice of it (a blank key) and question it; even if they never voice it, they will question it. Does that matter? Well that all depends on the particular performer, but to me, I like to bring things as full circle as possible!

Thanks, stevemorton, for the tip on getting miscut keys. Been thinking about using a bunch of keys as a gag in a street show, now I know where to get them.