The Lucky Key by Vincenzo Di Fatta
Real money on the line. Eight keys. One padlock. And only you know which key opens it. The Lucky Key is one of the most commercially engaging routines you can perform for a live audience, and Vincenzo Di Fatta has built it to a standard that matches the size of the moment it creates. This is a classic of mental magic, presented with premium props, zero manipulation required, and the kind of built-in audience tension that money and locks naturally generate without you having to work for it.
Here is how it plays: you take out a high denomination banknote, slip it into a custom crystal clear plexiglass container, and lock it with a padlock. You then introduce eight small keys and confirm that only one of them opens the lock. The keys go into a glass, get thoroughly mixed, and one by one your spectators each pick a key and try their luck. Nobody wins. Nobody gets the money. Every single key fails, right up until the very last one, the one nobody chose, which you or a spectator uses to open the lock and retrieve the prize. The money was never theirs to begin with.
The tension this routine generates is real, and that is the secret to why it works so well across every kind of audience and every size of room. It packs into your pocket but plays just as convincingly on a large stage as it does in a close-up setting. The audience is invested from the first moment you put the banknote on the table.
The gimmick behind The Lucky Key is flawless. No keys are secretly exchanged at any point, no manipulation is required, and the crystal clear plexiglass container means the banknote is visible and on display throughout the entire routine. You can use any banknote in any currency, so whether you are performing in dollars, euros, or anything else, the routine adapts to wherever you are working.
Video instructions are included. Just add your own banknote and a glass and you are ready to perform.
What's included:
Custom crystal clear plexiglass container
Padlock
8 specially designed keys
Full video instructions
Please note: banknote and glass are not included.
Difficulty: Beginner
Best for: Close-up, walk-around, parlour, stage, corporate events
Can it be examined?
Yes, everything can be examined.
Is it durable?
Yes. It will last for a long time even with regular use.
Does it require sleight of hand?
It requires no sleight of hand to perform.
Is everything ready to use out of the box?
Yes. Everything is ready for you to perform the effect out of the box.