Ways to Become An EffectiveIllusionist withMisdirection

In the world of theatrical illusion, misdirection is a method of deceit that attracts attention of the audience to a certain object to divert attention from the other. Controlling attention of the audience is the goal of every theatre, and is the primary requirement of all magic acts. If the magic is of a “pocket trick” variety or a large stage production misdirection is the main element. The term describes either the effect (the eye`s attention being drawn to the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hands or the patter (the magician`s voice) that causes it.

It is difficult to say who first coined the term, but an early reference to misdirection appears in the writings of an influential magician and writer, Nevil Maskelyne. it is a method of distracting the spectator`s senses, to hide from being aware of certain information in which confidentiality is essential. At the same time, the magician and artist Harlan Tarbell noted, Nearly everything about illusions is based on the art of misdirection.

Many magicians who have studied and developed techniques for misdirection includes Nate Leipzig, Malini, Tommy Wonder, Derren Brown, Tamariz, Tony Slydini as well as Dai Vernon.

Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as a manipulating interest.

Some magicians can divert attention from the audience in two basic ways. The first is to make the audience look away for a fleeting time, so that they aren`t aware of a act or gesture. Another approach alters the perception of the audience, lulling them into thinking that some other factor has much to do with the performance when it really has no bearing on the effect at all. Dariel Fitzkee says that the true skill of the magician is the ability he exhibits in influencing the mind of the audience. Additionally, sometimes a prop like magic wands aids in misdirection.

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Misdirection makes use of the limitations of the human mind to give the wrong picture and memory. The brain of a typical spectator can only focus on one thing at a time. The magician uses this to manipulate the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory input which leads them to incorrect conclusions.

Many magicians have debated the use of the term, misdirection, causing many discussions about the meaning of it and how it functions.

The distinguished magician Jon Finch

identified a difference in misdirection from direction. One being a negative term, and the other positive. In the end, he considers the two as one thing. If a performer some means, has directed the mind of the viewers to believe that he has done something he hasn`t done, he has wrongly led them to believe this which is why he has misdirected them.

Tommy Wonder has pointed that it`s more effective, from the magician`s point of view to focus on the goal of directing the audience`s attention. He states that misdirection is an untrue direction. It suggests that attention is diverted away from something. Through constant use of this phrase the idea eventually becomes it is ingrained into our brains that we may begin to perceive misdirection as directing our attention away from rather than toward something.

Tony Slydini said that if a magician believes that, the public will believe in it, and the magic they can`t observe. The trick is to believe in what the magician is doing and then follow the magician. website