In the world of theatrical magic,misdirection is an art of deceit where the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one object to divert attention from something else. Controlling attention of the audience is the aim of all theater,and the foremost need of any magic act. Whether the magic is of the “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage productionthat relies on misdirection,it is the primary element. The term refers to either the effect (the observer’s focus on an object that is not important) or the sleight of hand or the patter (the magician’s speech) which creates it.
It’s difficult to determine who was the first person to coin the term,but the first reference to misdirection appears in the writing of a renowned writer and illusionist,Nevil Maskelyne. it consists of misleading the viewer’s senses to hide from being aware of certain information that require secrecy. At the same time,magicianand artist Tarbell noted,Nearly all the art of illusion relies on this art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have studied and developed misdirection techniques include Jon Finch,Max Malini,Tommy Wonder,Derren Brown,Juan Tamariz,Slydini as well as Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as a manipulation of interest.
Magicians can divert attention from the audience in two primary ways. One leads the audience to look away for a fleeting moment,so they do not notice a trick or movement. Another approach alters the perception of the audience,lulling them into thinking that something else can be a factor in the performance but it actually has no bearing on the result in any way. Fitzkee explains that the true skill of the magician is the ability that he displays in manipulating the minds of the viewers. Sometimes,a prop like the magic wand can aid in misdirection.
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Misdirection exploits the limitations of human brains to present a false image and memory. The brain of an average person in the audience can only concentrate on only one thing at a given time. The magician makes use of this to manipulate the viewers’ thoughts or perceptions of sensory input,leading them to false conclusions.
A few magicians have debated the meaning of the term,”misdirection,” causing plenty of debate regarding what it is and how it works. Celebrated magician Jon Finch identified a difference between misdirection and direction. One is a negative word,and the other positive. In the end,he considers the two as one thing. If a performer,through some method,has influenced the thoughts of his audience to the conclusion that he’s done something that he’s not accomplished,he has incorrectly led them to believe thiswhich is why he has misdirected them.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it’s more effective,from the magician’s point of view,to concentrate on the goal of directing attention to the audience. He writes that misdirection implies an untrue direction. It suggests that attention is diverted towards something. By constantly using this term,it eventually becomes so ingrained in our minds that we begin to think that misdirection is directing the attention away from instead of toward something.
Slydini said that if the magician believes that,the audience will believe it,and magic is something they don’t see. Misdirection is true when they believe what the magician does and follow the magician. read more about misdirection
