Misdirection & Attention

In the world of theatrical magic,misdirection is a form of deception in which the performer attracts attention of the audience to a certain object to divert attention from the other. Controlling attention of the audience is the aim of all performances,and the most important need of any magic act. Whether the magic is of a “pocket trick” variety or the stage is a major production,misdirection is the central element. The term describes either the effect (the the focus of the observer on the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hands or patter (the magician’s speech) that creates the illusion.

It is difficult to say who first coined the term,but an early mention of misdirection is found in the writing of an influential writer and magician,Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly,it consists of misleading the senses of the audience to block out from detection certain details for which secrecy is required. The same time,magician,writer,artist and performer Harlan Tarbell noted,Nearly everything about sleight-of-hand depends on the art of misdirection.

Magicians who have researched and refined misdirection techniques include Nate Leipzig,Max Malini,Tommy Wonder,Derren Brown,Tamariz,Tony Slydini along with Dai Vernon.

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

A few magicians divert attention of the audience by using two fundamental ways. One causes the audience to glance away for a brief time,so that they don’t detect some trick or movement. Another approach alters the audience’s perception,distracting them into thinking that something else can be a factor in the success of the trick but it actually does not have any bearing on the effect at all. Dariel Fitzkee notes that The true skill of the magician is the ability of his performance in changing the mind of the audience. In addition,sometimes,props like a magic wand aids in distraction.

Absent it,even the most skilled sleight-of-hand or mechanical gimmick is unlikely to produce an illusion of genuine magic. In point of fact,misdirection is the essence of almost all effective illusions.

Misdirection makes use of the limitations of human brains to present a false image and memory. The mind of a typical person in the audience 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 input,leading them to false conclusion.

Magicians have debated the meaning of the term,misdirection,causing plenty of debate about the meaning of it and how it functions. Renowned illusionist Jon Finch identified a difference between misdirection and 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 any means,has led the thoughts of his audience to conclude that he’s done something which he has not done,he’s wrongly guided them into that beliefwhich is why he has misdirected them.

Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more effective,from the magician’s point of view,to concentrate on the positive aim of directing the audience’s attention. He writes that misdirection suggests an untrue direction. It implies that attention is diverted from something. Through constant use of this phraseit becomes ingrained in our minds that we may begin to perceive misdirection as directing attention away from rather than toward something.

Tony Slydini explained that if a magician believes that,the public will believe it,and magicians are something that they cannot perceive. It is true that people accept what the magician says and then follow the magician. misdirection website