In theatrical magic, misdirection is a method of deceit that draws audience attention to one object to divert attention from the other. Managing audience attention is the aim of all performances, and the most important prerequisite for all magic shows. If the magic is of an “pocket trick” variety or a large stage productionmisdirection is the main element. The term describes either the effect (the observer’s focus on an object that is not important) or the sleight of hands or the patter (the magician’s voice) that creates it.
It’s difficult to determine who was the first person to coin the phrase, however the first reference to misdirection can be found in the writing of a renowned magician and writer, Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it is a method of distracting the viewer’s senses to hide from noticing certain aspects for which secrecy is required. At the same time, magician, artist and author Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of sleight of hand depends on this art of misdirection.
A few magicians who have researched and refined techniques of misdirection are Leipzig, Malini, Tommy Wonder, Derren Brown, Tamariz, Slydini, along with Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the central conjuring process as a manipulating interest.
A few magicians can divert attention from the audience in two primary ways. One causes the audience to glance away for a brief moment, so they aren’t aware of a sleight or move. The other approach re-frames the perception of the audience, lulling the audience into believing that some other factor is a significant factor in the accomplishment of the feat but it actually has no bearing on the result in any way. Dariel Fitzkee notes that The real talent of the magician is in the skill of his performance in changing the minds of the viewers. Sometimes, a prop like the magic wand can aid in the misdirection.
Misdirection is at the heart of almost all successful magic. Without misdirection, even the most adept sleight-ofhand or mechanical device will fail to make an impression of real magic.
Misdirection makes use of the limitations of human brains to create a false picture and memory. The brain of a typical person in the audience can only concentrate on one thing at a time. The magician uses this technique to alter the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusions.
A few magicians have debated the use of the term”misdirection,” causing a great deal of discussion about the meaning of it and how it functions. The accomplished magician Jon Finch made a distinction in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word, and the other positive. In the end, he sees the two as one thing. If a performer, through some means, has directed the mind of the audience to conclude that he has done something which he has not accomplished, he has incorrectly directed them into this belief; hence, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more efficient, from a magician’s perspectivein focusing on the purpose of directing the attention of the audience. He states that misdirection is an untrue direction. It implies that attention is diverted from something. Through constant use of this phrasethe idea eventually becomes it is ingrained into our brains that we may begin to see misdirection as taking attention away from rather than toward something.
Tony Slydini said that if the magician believe that, the public will believe in it, and magicians are something that they cannot perceive. It is true that people believe what the magician does and then follows the magician. misdirection site