In theatrical illusion, misdirection is a method of deceit that attracts attention of the audience to a certain item to distract them from the other. Controlling attention of the audience is the goal of every theatre, and is the primary prerequisite for all magic shows. If the magic is of a "pocket trick" variety or the stage is a major production misdirection is the main key to the success. The term refers to either the result (the observer's focus on the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hand or the patter (the magician's speech) that causes the illusion.
It's difficult to determine who first coined the term, but an early mention of misdirection is found in the writings of a renowned performer and author, Nevil Maskelyne. it is a method of distracting the viewer's senses to block out from noticing certain aspects for which secrecy is required. The same time, magician, writer, artist and performer Harlan Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of sleight of hand depends on the art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have researched and developed techniques of misdirection includes Jon Finch, Malini, Tommy Wonder, Derren Brown, Tamariz, Tony Slydini, along with Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the chief conjuring process as a manipulation of interest.
Magicians divert attention of the audience in two primary ways. One causes the audience to turn their attention away for a short moment, so that they aren't aware of a act or gesture. Another approach alters the viewers' perceptions, leading the audience into believing that something else is a significant factor in the accomplishment of the feat when it really isn't a factor in the effect at all. Dariel Fitzkee says that the true skill of the magician is in the talent he exhibits in influencing the minds of the viewers. Sometimes, a prop like the magic wand can aid in misdirection.
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misdirection, even most adept sleight-ofhand or mechanical prop will fail to create an illusion of real magic. As a matter of fact, misdirection is the crux of most effective magic.
Misdirection exploits the limitations 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 utilizes this to manipulate the audience's ideas or perceptions of sensory input and lead them to make false conclusion.
Many magicians have debated over the usage of the term, misdirection, causing many discussions regarding what it is and how it operates.
The distinguished illusionist Jon Finch
drew a distinction in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word, while the other is a positive. Ultimately, he equates both as one thing. If a performer any means, has led the minds of the audience to conclude that he did something that he's not accomplished, he has incorrectly led them to believe this; hence, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more efficient, from a magician's point of view, to concentrate on the goal of directing the attention of the audience. He writes that misdirection implies an untrue direction. It suggests that attention is diverted away from something. Through constant use of this phrase the idea eventually becomes it is ingrained into our brains that we might start to perceive misdirection as directing our attention away from rather than towards something.
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Tony Slydini said that if the magician believe it, the audience will believe in it, and magicians are something that they cannot see. Misdirection is true when they accept what the magician says and then follow the magician. resource
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