In the world of theatrical magic, misdirection is a form of deception where the performer draws audience attention to one item to distract them from something else. Managing audience attention is the aim of all theatre, and is the primary requirement of all magic acts. Whether the magic is of an “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage production, misdirection is the central element. The term refers to either the result (the the focus of the observer on an object that is not important) or the sleight-of-hand or patter (the magician`s voice) that creates it.
It`s difficult to determine who was the first person to coin the term, but the first reference to misdirection can be found in the writings of an influential author and illusionist named Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it consists of misleading the senses of the audience to block out from being aware of certain information that require secrecy. The same time, magician, writer, artist and performer Harlan Tarbell noted, Nearly everything about illusion relies on this art of misdirection.
Magicians who have studied and developed techniques of misdirection are Max Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Tamariz, Slydini, as well as Dynamo.
Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as manipulating interest.
A few magicians misdirect audience attention in two basic ways. The first is to make the audience glance away for a brief moment, so they do not notice a trick or movement. The other approach re-frames the viewers` perceptions, leading them into thinking that an extraneous factor is a significant factor in the performance but it actually does not have any bearing on the effect at all. Dariel Fitzkee notes that The most effective magic is the ability of his performance in changing the spectators mind. Additionally, sometimes a prop like the magic wand can aid in confusion.
Misdirection is at the heart of almost all successful illusions. Without it, even the a mechanical gimmick or the most adept sleight-of-hand will fail to make an impression of real magic.
Misdirection uses the limits of human brains to give the wrong picture and memory. The brain of an average spectator can only focus on one thing at the time. The magician makes use of this technique to alter the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory input, leading them to false conclusions.
Some magicians have debated over the usage of the term, misdirection, causing plenty of debate about what it is and how it works.
drew a distinction in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word as opposed to the other, positive. In the end, he considers the two as one thing. If a performer some means, has directed the minds of his audience to conclude that he has done something he hasn`t done, he has wrongly guided them into that belief which is why he has misdirected them.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it`s more effective, from the magician`s point of view to focus on the goal of directing the audience`s attention. He writes that misdirection implies the wrong direction. It implies that attention is directed away towards something. By constantly using this term, it eventually becomes so ingrained in our minds that we begin to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than toward something.
Tony Slydini explained that if the magician believe that, the public will believe it and magicians are something that they cannot perceive. The trick is to accept what the magician says and then follows the magician. resource on misdirection
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