Is the Haunted Key a good effect? Is it hard to learn? Thanks

There is a very long thread on this in one of the forums already. Use the search function in the upper left corner. Its very easy.(the key)

The haunted key is easy. Ed Fowler sells one that is very good. Now go to the search engine (the key).

Hi,

As already mentioned in a previous post, Haunted Key is a very good effect.

Technically, it does not require complicated sleights (even though you'll probably have to experiment a lot before getting it right). What's actually more difficult is to find a good story to "sell" the effect in a convincing way. The thread @ Café will give you some good ideas.

And by the way, any kind of mortice (skeleton) key will work; you don't need to buy a special one for this effect. ANY key of that type will work.

Hope this helps.
Best,
Eric.

If you use a skeleton key and also have an M5 or similar, the sky is the limit on this one. Bringing in the M5 realy fries the specs.

I don't really like it too much, the method seems too obvious

The obvious method is the bait.

Its all in the quality of the performance. And how strong the m****t is.

The key is as good as the chicken bone, when you figure out how to make it dance. Use the smaller skeleton key, like the one for built in cabinets, about 2 1/4" long. not the regular size one.

I remember posting a big long post on this a while ago. I think that you should search before posting just to make things a bit less cluttered.

It is exremely effective when you make the key turn over in your audience members hand.
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat

I carry my Key in a glorpy.I end my routine by placing in my glorpy to put it away and get one more animation but this time out of my hand . Very surprising little kicker.

You may want to check Barrie Richardson's Theater of the Mind - there is a similar routine (animation only) that can be done with a borrowed skeleton-type key

I've been playing with Richardson's Haunted key routine, but the, ah, gimmick is giving me fits to 'animate' the key in a closed hand. Anyone have any tips on that?

Love it! very powerful.
WR

It's not hard to master, just takes a little patience to find the sweet spot and feel for making the key move. Having the key look old and antique also adds to the whole effect. Really spooky in the right hands with the right build-up.

Raven-
Look for "Presenting the Haunted Key" by Dick Williams. It has tips on handling and five routines. I agree with the above postings that a good presentation makes the "Key" quite effective.

It takes some patience, true. I first learned it using a feather, with little "cuts" on it

Great effect. I use a matching set of haunted key /golden key, nice combo effect there - as they examine the haunted key first, switch, then move the tine around and reexamine the key.

Also - I've been trying to perform haunted key on top of the tip of a finger pointing upwards. I've not had any luck. I read about the effect in Fisher's 'Body Magic'. Anyone do this successfully?

Yes the key with m5.
Killer Diller

About six years ago a friend of mine was helping to organize a haunted house at Halloween time. They couldn't afford to use large elaborate effects so they decided to use a few small magic tricks throughout the duration of the tour to sell the idea of the place being haunted.

I don't like the haunted key, but felt it was fitting to the mood they wanted to create, and was cheap enough that each guide could have one with them at the beginning of the tour. The guide was a "Real Estate Agent" attempting to sell a haunted house to some "prospective purchasers" (the tour customers). The agent would caution that the house was so badly overrun by visitors from the beyond that even the key was possessed.

From that point the haunted key was performed then used to open the door of the home. The tour was then peppered with other spirit type effects such as spirit slates and what not. Outside this situation I have yet to see a presentation for spirit key that looked convincing to me.
Ronald R. Romiski

Oh that haunted key will scare the beejeebees out of you!