Presentations with The Haunted Key...
Just imagine seeing an ad that had a few or all of these phrases: 100% Foolproof - Absolutely Nothing to Break or Replace - Can Even Be Done in a Spectator's Hand - No Skill or Sleights Required - Learn To Do It In Ten Minutes - Small Enough To Carry In Your Pocket - Will Pass TSA Airport Inspections With No Problem.
Gosh, what a deal at any price. But that really is an accurate description for the effect that most of us call the Haunted Key. So why then is something so simple yet powerful ignored by so many? Frankly I think its because it requires a story to be told to be effective. Without a story, the Key becomes as interesting as watching paint dry.
The real key to The Key is crafting a tale about it and why it acts in strange ways on occasion. You must write down your story in script form and rehearse it over and over. To some of you, this may seem almost too basic but it does make a huge difference in the outcome of your performance. That's why effective storytelling is the real secret behind our craft.
In this 90 page book, Master Story Teller Ed Solomon presents 18 different presentations for the tride and trusy haunted key effect. Some are heavy, some are cute- ALL are intended to get the audience to feel something and allow the turning of the key to become a cue to experience the magic and emotion that the story teller has set into place.
In addition to the presentations, Ed spends a bit of time talking about various types of keys that can be used for this effect and also shows the various positions that they kay can be placed in the hand or upon the fingers of the performer or spectator and still allow the basic effect (The turning of the key) to happen.
Ed offers at least two presentations that incorporate other effects and manifestations as well, and all in all has created what we feel as a really nice package to compliment and old reliable effect- and ALSO teach the importance of presentation to really breath life into what we do.
