In the world of theatrical illusion, misdirection is a form of deception in which the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one item to distract them from another. Managing audience attention is the aim of all performances, and the most important prerequisite for all magic shows. If the magic is of the “pocket trick” variety or a large stage productionthat relies on misdirection, it is the primary element. The term is used to describe either the result (the the focus of the observer on an unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hand and patter (the magician’s speech) which creates it.
It’s difficult to determine who was the first person to coin the phrase, however the first reference to misdirection appears in the writing of an influential performer and author, Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it involves spooking the viewer’s senses to hide from being aware of certain information for which secrecy is required. The same time, the magician, artist and author Harlan Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of illusion relies on this art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have studied and developed techniques of misdirection include Paul Rosini, Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Tamariz, Slydini and Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the central act of conjuring as manipulation of interest.
Magicians misdirect audience attention in two primary ways. One causes the audience to turn their attention away for a short time, so that they aren’t aware of a trick or movement. The other approach re-frames the viewers’ perceptions, leading them to believe that an extraneous factor can be a factor in the performance when it really has no bearing on the result in any way. Fitzkee explains that the true skill of the magician is in the talent that he displays in manipulating the mind of the audience. In addition, sometimes, props like magic wands aids in the misdirection.
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Misdirection uses the limits of the human mind to present a false image and memory. The brain of an average audience member can only concentrate on one thing at the time. The magician uses this technique to alter the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusion.
A few magicians have debated the meaning of the term, “misdirection,” causing a great deal of discussion regarding what it is and how it operates. Proficient illusionist Jon Finch made a distinction in misdirection from direction. The first is a negative phrase, while the other is a positive. In the end, he sees the two as the same thing. If a performer, through any means, has led the thoughts of his viewers to believe that he has 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 a magician’s perspectiveto focus on the positive aim of directing the audience’s attention. He writes that misdirection suggests the wrong direction. It implies that attention is diverted away from something. Through constant use of this phrasethe idea eventually becomes it is ingrained into our brains that we may begin to perceive misdirection as directing attention away from rather than towards something.
Tony Slydini said that if the magician believes it, the audience will believe it and the magic they can’t perceive. It is true that people believe what the magician does and follow the magician. reference
