In theatrical illusion, misdirection is a form of deception that draws audience attention to one thing to distract it from something else. Managing audience attention is the main goal of any performances, and the most important requirement of all magic acts. Whether the magic is of an "pocket trick" variety or a large stage production, misdirection is the central element. The term is used to describe either the result (the the focus of the observer on an unimportant object) or the sleight of hand or the patter (the magician's speech) which creates it.
It's hard to pinpoint who coined the term, but the first reference to misdirection can be found in the writing of a renowned writer and magician named Nevil Maskelyne. it consists of misleading the spectator's senses, to block out from detection certain details for which secrecy is required. The same time, magician and artist Tarbell noted, Nearly the whole art of sleight of hand depends on this art of misdirection.
A few magicians who have studied and developed techniques for misdirection are Nate Leipzig, Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Juan Tamariz, Tony Slydini, along with Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the central act of conjuring as a manipulating interest.
Some magicians divert attention of the audience by using two fundamental ways. The first is to make the audience glance away for a brief moment, so they do not notice a sleight or move. Another approach alters the audience's perception, distracting the audience into believing that an extraneous factor can be a factor in the performance even though it isn't a factor in the outcome in any way. Fitzkee notes that The most effective magic is the ability that he displays in manipulating the minds of the viewers. Sometimes, a prop like a magic wand aids in distraction.
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Misdirection is the foundation of most successful magic. Without misdirection, even a mechanical prop or the most adept sleight-of-hand will fail to manufacture the illusion of genuine magic.
Misdirection makes use of the limitations of the human mind to present a false image and memory. The brain of an average spectator can only focus on one thing at a time. The magician makes use of this to influence the viewers' thoughts or perceptions of sensory input and lead them to make false conclusion.
Many magicians have debated the meaning of the term, misdirection, creating many discussions regarding what it is and how it functions.
The accomplished magician Jon Finch
made a distinction in misdirection from direction. One being a negative term, and the other positive. Ultimately, he equates both as one thing. If a performer, through some method, has influenced the mind of his audience to conclude that he has done something he hasn't done, he has wrongly directed them into this belief and, consequently, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it's more effective, from a magician's viewpoint in focusing on the purpose of directing the attention of the audience. He writes that misdirection implies wrong direction. It implies that attention is directed away towards something. When we keep using this term it becomes embedded in our minds that we might start to see misdirection as taking the attention away from instead of toward something.
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Slydini explained that if a magician believes that, the audience will believe it and magic is something they don't observe. Misdirection is true when they accept what the magician says and then follows the magician. references
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