In theatrical magic, misdirection can be described as a method of deceit where the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one thing to distract it from something else. Managing audience attention is the main goal of any performances, and the most important requirement of all magic acts. It doesn’t matter if the magic is the “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage productionthat relies on misdirection, it is the primary key to the success. The term describes either the effect (the eye’s attention being drawn to an object that is not important) or the sleight-of-hand and patter (the magician’s speech) that creates the illusion.
It is difficult to say who was the first person to coin the term, but an early reference to misdirection appears in the writings of a renowned writer and performer, Nevil Maskelyne. it involves spooking the spectator’s senses, to hide from being aware of certain information that require secrecy. At the same time, magician, writer, artist and performer Tarbell noted, Nearly the whole art of illusions is based on the art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have researched and evolved techniques for misdirection includes Paul Rosini, Max Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Tamariz, Slydini as well as Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the central conjuring process as a manipulating interest.
Many magicians divert attention of the audience in two primary ways. One causes the audience to turn their attention away for a short moment, so that they do not notice a trick or movement. The other approach re-frames the viewers’ perceptions, leading the audience into believing that an extraneous factor can be a factor in the accomplishment of the feat but it actually has no bearing on the result in any way. Fitzkee explains that the real talent of the magician is the ability of his performance in changing the mind of the audience. In addition, sometimes, props such as a magic wand aids in distraction.
Misdirection is the foundation of almost all successful illusions. Without misdirection, even the most proficient sleight of hand or mechanical device is unlikely to make an impression of true magic.
Misdirection uses the limits of the human mind to create a false picture and memory. The brain of an average audience member can only concentrate on only one thing at a given time. The magician uses this technique to alter the audience’s ideas or perceptions of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusions.
Many magicians have debated over the usage of the term”misdirection,” causing many discussions about the meaning of it and how it operates. The exceptional magician Jon Finch made a distinction between direction and misdirection. One being a negative term, and the other positive. In the end, he considers the two as one thing. If a performer, through any means, has led the thoughts of his audience to conclude that he has done something he hasn’t done, he has wrongly guided them into that beliefwhich is why he has misdirected them.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it’s more effective, from a magician’s point of viewto focus on the goal of directing attention to the audience. He states that misdirection is wrong direction. It suggests that attention is diverted away towards something. Through constant use of this phrase, it eventually becomes so ingrained in our minds that we may begin to see misdirection as taking the attention away from instead of towards something.
Tony Slydini explained that if a magician believes it, the audience will believe it and magicians are something that they cannot observe. Misdirection is true when they believe what the magician does and follow the magician. read more
