In the world of theatrical magic, misdirection is an art of deceit that draws audience attention to one object to divert attention from another. The ability to control attention from the audience is the aim of all theater, and the foremost requirement of all magic acts. Whether the magic is of an “pocket trick” variety or a large stage production, misdirection is the central key to the success. The term refers to either the effect (the eye’s attention being drawn to the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hand or the patter (the magician’s speech) that creates the illusion.
It is difficult to say who first coined the phrase, however the first mention of misdirection is found in the writings of a renowned illusionist and writer, Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it involves spooking the spectator’s senses, to block out from noticing certain aspects for which secrecy is required. At the same time, magicianand artist Tarbell noted, Nearly the whole art of sleight-of-hand depends on the art of misdirection.
Some magicians who have researched and refined techniques for misdirection include Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Juan Tamariz, Slydini along with Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the chief conjuring process as a manipulation of interest.
A few magicians divert attention of the audience by using two fundamental ways. One leads the audience to look away for a fleeting time, so that they do not notice a trick or movement. Another approach alters the viewers’ perceptions, leading them into thinking that some other factor can be a factor in the success of the trick but it actually does not have any bearing on the effect at all. Dariel Fitzkee notes that The real talent of the magician is in the skill of his performance in changing the spectators mind. In addition, sometimes, props such as the magic wand can aid in distraction.
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Misdirection exploits the limitations of human brains to present a false image and memory. The mind of a typical spectator can only focus on only one thing at a given time. The magician utilizes this technique to alter the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusions.
Magicians have debated the meaning of the term, misdirection, creating a great deal of discussion about the meaning of it and how it operates. The accomplished illusionist Jon Finch drew a distinction between direction and misdirection. One being a negative term, while the other is a positive. Ultimately, he equates the two as one thing. If a performer, by some means, has directed the thoughts of the audience to the conclusion that he has done something that he’s not done, he has wrongly directed them into this belief; hence, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it’s more effective, from a magician’s viewpoint, to concentrate on the positive aim of directing the attention of the audience. He writes that misdirection suggests an untrue direction. It suggests that attention is diverted from something. When we keep using this termthe idea eventually becomes embedded in our minds that we might start to think that misdirection is directing attention away from rather than toward something.
Slydini explained that if a magician believes it, the audience will believe it, and magicians are something that they cannot observe. The trick is to believe in what the magician is doing and then follow the magician. read more about misdirection
