In the world of theatrical illusion, misdirection is a form of deception where the performer draws audience attention to one object to divert attention from another. Controlling attention of the audience is the main goal of any theater, and the foremost prerequisite for all magic shows. Whether the magic is of a “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage production, misdirection is the central secret. The term refers to either the result (the eye’s attention being drawn to an object that is not important) or the sleight-of-hand and patter (the magician’s voice) that creates it.
It’s difficult to determine who was the first person to coin the term, but an early reference to misdirection appears in the writing of a renowned writer and performer, Nevil Maskelyne. it is a method of distracting the spectator’s senses, in order to screen from detection certain details in which confidentiality is essential. Around the same time, magician, artist and author Harlan Tarbell noted, Nearly the whole art of illusion relies on the art of misdirection.
A few magicians who have researched and developed techniques of misdirection includes Malini, Derren Brown, Juan Tamariz, Tony Slydini, Tommy Wonder, and Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as a manipulation of interest.
Some magicians can divert attention from the audience in two primary ways. The first is to make the audience glance away for a brief moment, so they aren’t aware of a trick or movement. The other method alters the perception of the audience, lulling them to believe that some other factor can be a factor in the accomplishment of the feat even though it has no bearing on the effect at all. Fitzkee explains that the most effective magic is the ability that he displays in manipulating the mind of the audience. Sometimes, a prop like the magic wand can aid in distraction.
In the absence of it, even the most skilled sleight-of-hand or mechanical prop is not likely to produce an illusion of real magic. There can be no doubt, misdirection is the key of almost all great magic.
Misdirection uses the limits of the human mind to create a false picture and memory. The brain of a typical audience member can only concentrate on only one thing at a given time. The magician uses this to manipulate the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusions.
A few magicians have debated the use of the term, misdirection, creating many discussions about the meaning of it and how it functions. Master magician Jon Finch made a distinction in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word, and the other positive. Ultimately, he equates both as one thing. If a performer, by some method, has influenced the thoughts of his audience to the conclusion that he has done something he hasn’t done, he’s wrongly guided them into that beliefand, consequently, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed that it’s more effective, from the magician’s perspectivein focusing on the purpose of directing attention to the audience. He states that misdirection is an untrue direction. It implies that attention is diverted from something. Through constant use of this phrase, it eventually becomes so embedded in our minds that we might start to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than towards something.
Slydini explained that if a magician believes that, the audience will believe in it, and magicians are something that they cannot see. It is true that people believe in what the magician is doing and then follow the magician. read more info about misdirection here