The Power of Misdirection

In the world of theatrical illusion, misdirection is a method of deceit in which the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one object to divert attention from another. Controlling attention of the audience is the aim of all theatre, and is the primary prerequisite for all magic shows. It doesn’t matter if the magic is a “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage production, misdirection is the central key to the success. The term refers to either the effect (the eye’s attention being drawn to an object that is not important) or the sleight of hand or the patter (the magician’s voice) that causes it.

It is difficult to say who first coined the phrase, however an early mention of misdirection is found in the writing of a renowned writer and performer named Nevil Maskelyne. it is a method of distracting the viewer’s senses to block out from detection certain details for which secrecy is required. At the same time, the magicianand artist Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of illusions is based on this art of misdirection.

Magicians who have studied and refined techniques for misdirection include Jon Finch, Max Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Tamariz, Tony Slydini, and Dai Vernon.

Henry Hay describes the central act of conjuring as manipulating interest.

Many magicians can divert attention from the audience by using two fundamental ways. One leads the audience to turn their attention away for a short moment, so that they don’t detect some trick or movement. The other method alters the viewers’ perceptions, leading them into thinking that an extraneous factor can be a factor in the accomplishment of the feat even though it has no bearing on the outcome in any way. Dariel Fitzkee says that the real talent of the magician is the ability he exhibits in influencing the spectators mind. Sometimes, a prop such as the magic wand can aid in misdirection.

Absent misdirection, even most proficient sleight of hand or mechanical prop is unlikely to create an illusion of true magic. Unquestionably, misdirection is the heart of almost all successful illusions.

Misdirection exploits the limitations of the human mind to create a false picture and memory. The mind of a typical audience member can only concentrate on one thing at the time. The magician makes use of this to manipulate the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusion.

Some magicians have debated the meaning of the term, misdirection, creating a great deal of discussion about the meaning of it and how it operates. The distinguished magician Jon Finch drew a distinction between direction and misdirection. One is a negative wordas opposed to the other, positive. In the end, he considers the two as one thing. If a performer, by some means, has directed the thoughts of his audience to conclude that he has done something he hasn’t accomplished, he has incorrectly directed them into this beliefand, consequently, misdirection.

Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it’s more effective, from the magician’s viewpointto focus on the goal of directing the attention of the audience. He writes that misdirection implies an untrue direction. It implies that attention is diverted away towards something. By constantly using this term, it eventually becomes so it is ingrained into our brains that we begin to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than toward something.

Tony Slydini said that if a magician believes that, the audience will believe it, and magic is something they don’t see. Misdirection is true when they believe in what the magician is doing and then follows the magician. website