I was wondering if anyone have tried this. In effect you show a key on a stand and a spectator tells a number. The number happens to be the same printed on the key. It looks better than "room service"...

http://siam-magic.com/product_detail.php......6f9e027c

Thanks
Academy

I have seen different names for this effect:
Mikame Craft Prediction Board or Mental Key Illusion

Everything is of high quality from Mikame but I havent seen this effect yet...

Yes, it does look better than Room Service, but you are limited to 99 numbers. Room Service is unlimited.

Also, if you do it the way David Copperfield does it, the numbers are actually ENGRAVED on the key tag.

I still prefer Jack Dean's engraved medallion.

Is this an actual metal key? I spend much of my time in hotels, and the hotel keys are always plastic credit card type "keys". How would one explain a normal key for a hotel? (I guess you could say it was from a cheap motel you stayed at.) hmmmm.

Even Motel 6 uses magnetic key cards now. The whole room key thing is pretty much invalid unless you are staying in hotels in Europe. You can adjust your presentation to fit this, though.

When I got Room Service, I worked out a whole presentation based on room keys that I had collected over several years of traveling.

Although the number is really nice--printed very large on the key tag--there are many much better number prediction effects and devices out there.

My feeling about the whole Mikame line is that it is more suited to collecting than performing.

I was just reading this item's description on Hank Lee's website and came here to do a search on it. In response to your question, one could state that the key on the stand is for an aparmtnent's front door in an apartment building. Or the key could be for a particular locker in a gym locker room. How about it being a key for a locker down at the local bus station? Don't be limited by the "hotel" idea!

Just some ideas.... I may get this effect! Sounds like a good one!

Or say the key is one of your prized souvenirs -- it's from the hotel room at the Sheraton in L.A. where the Beatles stayed in 1966, blah blah, you got it from your friend who was a bellboy, whatever, etc.

A standard patter line has to do with the uncanny way that fans find out which room their favorite stars are staying in. Your spectators then generate a room number, and that's the one on the room key.

In any case, from what I know of the Mikame prop you need to have an attache case to do the effect. With Room Service and other versions, you don't.

Cheers,
Jerry

I have used this effect many times and it went over very well, do not let the old fashioned 'key' look turn you off, it is a very good effect!

I had this and didn't think much of it as far as the impact. Nicely made, but in my opinion not much of an effect, and, as I recall it was kind of "quirky" in the actual performance. I agree with Bill that this is more of a collector's piece.

So this may not actually be for everyone from what I'm reading. Too bad it looked like it may be good in a bizaar act. I do like most of the items I got from Mikame.

Good magic to all,


Eric

Here you can see a not-very-clean version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SLkQw0PpsU



Ponch

The Youtube clip is not actually the Mikame version, which has a much larger number and (as Bill mentioned years ago on this thread), offers numbers between 1 - 99.
It also comes with a stand for the key (which certainly plays a part in the presentation).

If you can 'spin' a good story, as Jerry suggests, the key can still work as a relevant and credible presentation.

BTW, I have a brand new set of the "Mikame Mental Prediction Act" For sale, if anyone is interested.

Mikame version presentend here by Lu Chen: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjYxODc2NTI=.html


Cheers

Since this thread started there has, not surprisngly, evolved a couple of routines using a plastic card.