Misdirection Psychology
In the world of theatrical magic, misdirection can be described as a method of deceit in which the performer attracts attention of the audience to a certain item to distract them from another. The ability to control attention from the audience is the aim of all performances, and the most important requirement of all magic acts. If the magic is of an “pocket trick” variety or the stage is a major production, misdirection is the central secret. The term is used to describe either the effect (the the focus of the observer on an unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hand or patter (the magician’s voice) that causes it.
It’s hard to pinpoint who was the first person to coin the phrase, however an early reference to misdirection appears in the writing of an influential writer and performer, Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly, it involves spooking the viewer’s senses to block out from noticing certain aspects in which confidentiality is essential. At the same time, magician, writer, artist and performer Tarbell noted, Nearly everything about illusions is based on the art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have studied and refined misdirection techniques include Malini, Shin Lim, Tamariz, Slydini, Tommy Wonder along with Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as manipulation of interest.
Many magicians can divert attention from the audience by using two fundamental ways. One causes the audience to turn their attention away for a short moment, so they don’t detect some trick or movement. Another approach alters the viewers’ perceptions, leading them into thinking that some other factor has much to do with the performance but it actually does not have any bearing on the result in any way. Dariel Fitzkee says 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 confusion.
Misdirection is at the heart of most successful illusions. Without misdirection, even the a mechanical gimmick or the most proficient sleight-of-hand is not likely to manufacture the illusion of true magic.
Misdirection exploits the limitations of the human mind to create a false picture and memory. The brain of an average person in the audience can only concentrate on only one thing at a given time. The magician utilizes this technique to alter the audience’s ideas or perceptions of sensory input, leading them to false conclusions.
Many magicians have debated the meaning of the term, misdirection, creating plenty of debate regarding what it is and how it functions. Celebrated magician Jon Finch identified a difference in misdirection from direction. One is a negative word, while the other is a positive. Ultimately, he equates both as one thing. If a performer some means, has directed the thoughts of his audience to the conclusion that he has done something which he has not accomplished, he has incorrectly led them to believe this; hence, misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more effective, from the magician’s perspective, to concentrate on the goal of directing the attention of the audience. He writes that misdirection implies an untrue direction. It implies that attention is diverted away towards something. When we keep using this termthe idea eventually becomes embedded in our minds that we might start to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than towards something.
Tony Slydini explained that if the magician believe it, the audience will believe in it, and the magic they can’t see. The trick is to accept what the magician says and follow the magician. resource
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