Kreskin had a recurring trick where he'd have to find his paycheck at every venue, or wouldn't get paid. His only rule was the paycheck had to be hidden AFTER the audience was seated. He also had a standing million dollar reward for anyone with proof he'd been cheating with inside information.

Notably, he never needed it, and always found his paycheck.

I didn't realize why, until I was teaching an adult acting class. One of the first improv exercises we do is called "lost keys": Another classmate hides keys somewhere on a set, and the subject has to find the keys. Then they have to put them back, enter again, and ACT LIKE they're finding the keys.

I noticed the entire class would quiet down and focus, whenever the subject was close to the keys, and relax and fidget when they were far away. And it hit me: Everyone wants to be" in on" the moment of discovery.

Kreskin was just playing a very nuanced version of Hot and Cold: whenever the audience would tense up, and focus in, he knew he was close.