In theatrical illusion, misdirection is an art of deceit where the performer attracts attention of the audience to a certain object to divert attention from the other. The ability to control attention from the audience is the main goal of any performances, and the most important prerequisite for all magic shows. It doesn’t matter if the magic is an “pocket trick” variety or a large stage production misdirection is the main 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 patter (the magician’s voice) which creates it.
It’s hard to pinpoint who coined the term, but the first mention of misdirection is found in the writing of an influential writer and illusionist named Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it consists of misleading the senses of the audience to block out from being aware of certain information for which secrecy is required. At the same time, the magician, artist and author Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of sleight of hand depends on the art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have studied and developed misdirection techniques includes Nate Leipzig, Malini, Tommy Wonder, Derren Brown, Juan Tamariz, Slydini, and Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the central act of conjuring as a manipulating interest.
A few magicians can divert attention from the audience in two primary ways. One leads the audience to glance away for a brief moment, so they aren’t aware of a act or gesture. Another approach alters the viewers’ perceptions, leading them into thinking that something else is a significant factor in the success of the trick even though it isn’t a factor in the result in any way. Fitzkee explains that the true skill of the magician is in the skill that he displays in manipulating the spectators mind. Additionally, sometimes a prop such as the magic wand can aid in confusion.
Misdirection is at the heart of most successful illusions. Without misdirection, even the a mechanical device or the most skilled sleight-of-hand is not likely to make an impression of real magic.
Misdirection uses the limits of human brains to create a false picture and memory. The brain of an average person in the audience can only concentrate on one thing at a time. The magician makes use of this to manipulate the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory input which leads them to incorrect conclusion.
Magicians have debated the meaning of the term, misdirection, creating plenty of debate about the meaning of it and how it operates.
Proficient magician Jon Finch
identified a difference between direction and misdirection. One is a negative word, and the other positive. In the end, he considers the two as one thing. If a performer, through any means, has led the mind of his audience to the conclusion that he has done something he hasn’t done, he has wrongly directed them into this belief; hence, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more effective, from a magician’s point of view in focusing on the purpose of directing the attention of the audience. He writes that misdirection implies wrong direction. It suggests that attention is directed away towards something. When we keep using this term the idea eventually becomes ingrained in our minds that we may begin to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than toward something.
Tony Slydini explained that if the magician believes that, the audience will believe it and magic is something they don’t observe. The trick is to accept what the magician says and then follows the magician. misdirection website