Synchronicity by Mark Strivings

This is Mark’s Locked Chest routine that combines the Seven Keys with Room Service with the Prediction Chest plot.

Effect: WOW! The routine is performed in the manner of a psychic game between five different players. A genuine cash box is displayed. It has been retro-fitted with a solid gate padlock for added secutity. The players are allowed free choices of any of the five keys (which have been previously shown as only one being the correct key which opens the box), and the game is on! The players also have a free choice of any of five different key tags. A sixth spectator eliminates the players one at a time until only one remains. This is the lucky person who gets to try their lucky key into the lock! If it works, they could be lucky enough to win the contents of the box (over $600 grand)!

The spectator tries their key and it works! But there’s more: the box is opened and no money is seen inside; only an empty coin tray. However, there is an envelope that reads “Official Rules.” It is decided to make sure that all of the rules of the game have been followed. The envelope is opened, and inside is a single folded piece of paper. It is opened and a full sheet of rules is read. In the course of reading the rules, it is revealed that not only the randomly-selected contestant’s key opened the lock, but the randomly-selected key tag has a predicted number written on it! A label is removed from the key tag to reveal THAT EXACT NUMBER! All of the other key tags have different numbers written upon them! But there’s more, and here’s the part that kills:

Apparently the winning spectator must meet certain physical appearance requirements in order to win, and the ‘rules’ slip then proceeds to DESCRIBE THE RANDOMLY SELECTED SPECTATOR, RIGHT DOWN TO HAIR STYLE AND COLOR, JEWELRY, CLOTHING STYLE AND COLOR AND THEIR SHOES! This person HAS to be the winner. It’s incredible!

It is then decided that all of the contestants are winners and everybody gets to divide up the booty (over 600 grand!). The ending is a feel-good miracle which no one can possibly see coming. It’s a thing of beauty.

In true locked chest fashion, you can even mail the box to your client ahead of time and have them bring it to the show. You do not have to have access to it before show time. Here are a few other things to keep in mind: There are no forces of any kind anywhere in the routine. All selections (the key, the key tag, the winning contestant) are completely chosen free with no restrictions whatsoever. There are no stooges of any kind. This is strictly a one-man routine with no on or off-stage help. There is no secret writing of any kind (thank goodness, who would want to write all that stuff under pressure?) and no impression devices. The cash box can be mailed to the event producer weeks before the show and you never have to go anywhere near the box before the routine happens on stage. The box can be completely examined at any time!

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