The Power of Misdirection

In the world of theatrical illusion, misdirection is a method of deceit that attracts attention of the audience to a certain thing to distract it from another. Managing audience attention is the aim of all theatre, and is the primary requirement of all magic acts. It doesn`t matter if the magic is the “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage production that relies on misdirection, it is the primary element. The term refers to either the effect (the the focus of the observer on an unimportant object) or the sleight of hands and patter (the magician`s speech) that 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 writings of an influential author and magician named Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it consists of misleading the viewer`s senses to hide from noticing certain aspects that require secrecy. The same time, the magician and artist Tarbell noted, Nearly everything about illusions is based on this art of misdirection.

Some magicians who have researched and refined techniques of misdirection are Malini, David Blaine, Tamariz, Tony Slydini, Tommy Wonder, as well as Dai Vernon.

Henry Hay describes the central conjuring process as a manipulating interest.

Magicians divert attention of the audience in two basic ways. The first is to make the audience look away for a fleeting time, so that they aren`t aware of a act or gesture. The other method alters the audience`s perception, distracting the audience into believing that some other factor has much to do with the success of the trick but it actually does not have any bearing on the effect at all. Dariel Fitzkee says that the true skill of the magician is in the skill of his performance in changing the minds of the viewers. Additionally, sometimes a prop such as the magic wand can aid in distraction.

Misdirection is the foundation of most successful magic. Without misdirection, even the a mechanical prop or the most skilled sleight-of-hand is not likely to manufacture the illusion of real magic.

Misdirection uses the limits of the human mind to create a false picture and memory. The brain of an average spectator can only focus on one thing at the time. The magician utilizes this technique to alter the viewers` thoughts or perceptions of sensory input and lead them to make false conclusion.

Magicians have debated the use of the term, misdirection, causing a great deal of discussion regarding what it is and how it functions.

Renowned illusionist Jon Finch

identified a difference in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word, while the other is a positive. In the end, he sees the two as one thing. If a performer, by any means, has led the thoughts of the audience to conclude that he did something which he has not done, he`s wrongly directed them into this belief which is why he has misdirected them.

Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more efficient, from a magician`s viewpoint, to concentrate on the goal of directing the audience`s attention. He states that misdirection is the wrong direction. It suggests that attention is diverted away from something. When we keep using this term, it eventually becomes so ingrained in our minds that we may begin to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than toward something.

Slydini explained that if the magician believe that, the public will believe it and the magic they can`t perceive. It is true that people accept what the magician says and then follow the magician. read more