Acariciando: Coin Travels with Two Cards
Three coins and two cards are used to build a sequence of travels on the table. Luis Olmedo performs Acariciando and then explains the techniques separately, their application in each phase, and a final review. The stroking gesture ties the vanishes and productions together, featuring a deliberate pace and subtle differences that give character to each travel.
Working with Shells, Cards, and Coins
The masterclass introduces the shell and discusses different sizes, finishes, tolerances, and material qualities. It explains its handling when displaying the coins, incorporating it, and separating it, with options to retain one element or the other during the actions.
The technical section covers coin top change with a card, loading, and transfer between hands. It also studies the turn-over of a card with a coin, paying attention to angle coverage, and an adaptation of Joaquín Navajas's cave for working with a card. The sleights are demonstrated and repeated before integrating them into the routine.
Three Travels with Different Sensations
The explanation walks through the routine from the initial check of the coins to the finale. It analyzes how to coordinate both hands and maintain the circular gesture as the visual motif of the actions. In the second travel, the goal is for the vanish and production to be perceived simultaneously, varying the sensation of the effect without changing its premise.
The instructor works on the slowness of the gesture, sound control, and the relationship between large and small movements. He also focuses on motivating body posture changes, releasing tension after the revelations, and ending the sequence naturally. Options for the final handling are explained based on performance conditions, followed by clearing up and a comprehensive review.
Materials and Practice
You need three regular coins, a shell compatible with those coins, and two regular cards. Half dollars and jokers are used in the demonstration, but other coins and cards work if they fit. The performance takes place on a close-up pad.
Although the specific sleights are explained separately, the complete routine requires precision in finger palm, card grips, and coordination of both hands. It is advisable to practice the techniques slowly and then combine them with your patter and body language, checking what the spectator sees from their viewing angles.