In the world of theatrical magic, misdirection is a form of deception that is able to draw attention of the audience to one item to distract them from the other. Managing audience attention is the goal of every theatre, and is the primary requirement of all magic acts. It doesn`t matter if the magic is an “pocket trick” variety or a large stage production misdirection is the main secret. The term refers to either the effect (the the focus of the observer on the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hands and patter (the magician`s voice) which creates the illusion.
It is difficult to say who first coined the phrase, however an early reference to misdirection appears in the writing of an influential writer and magician, Nevil Maskelyne. it consists of misleading the senses of the audience in order to screen from detection certain details for which secrecy is required. Around the same time, the magician and artist Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of illusions is based on this art of misdirection.
Some magicians who have studied and evolved techniques for misdirection are Leipzig, Max Malini, Tommy Wonder, Derren Brown, Juan Tamariz, Slydini along with Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the chief conjuring process as a manipulating interest.
Many magicians misdirect audience attention in two primary ways. One leads the audience to glance away for a brief moment, so they do not notice a sleight or move. Another approach alters the perception of the audience, lulling them to believe that something else has much to do with the accomplishment of the feat even though it isn`t a factor in the result in any way. Dariel Fitzkee explains that the real talent of the magician is in the talent he exhibits in influencing the minds of the viewers. In addition, sometimes, props like a magic wand aids in misdirection.
Unless the magician use
Misdirection makes use of the limitations of human brains to give the wrong picture and memory. The mind of a typical person in the audience can only concentrate on one thing at the time. The magician uses this to manipulate the viewers` thoughts or perceptions of sensory input, leading them to false conclusions.
A few magicians have debated the use of the term, “misdirection,” causing a great deal of discussion about what it is and how it works.
Renowned magician Jon Finch
drew a distinction in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word, and the other positive. In the end, he considers the two as one thing. If a performer some means, has directed the mind of his viewers to believe that he`s done something he hasn`t accomplished, he has incorrectly directed them into this belief and, consequently, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed that it`s more effective, from a magician`s viewpoint to focus on the positive aim of directing attention to the audience. He writes that misdirection implies wrong direction. It suggests that attention is diverted away towards something. Through constant use of this phrase the idea eventually becomes ingrained in our minds that we might start to perceive misdirection as directing the attention away from instead of toward something.
Slydini said that if the magician believes that, the public will believe in it, and magic is something they don`t perceive. It is true that people believe in what the magician is doing and follow the magician. more info