The Real Truth about Misdirection in The Real Power of Distraction
In the world of theatrical illusion,misdirection is an art of deceit where the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one thing to distract it from something else. Managing audience attention is the goal of every theater,and the foremost prerequisite for all magic shows. Whether the magic is of an “pocket trick” variety or an extensive stage production,misdirection is the central secret. The term refers to either the effect (the eye’s attention being drawn to an unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hand and patter (the magician’s voice) that creates it.
It is difficult to say who first coined the term,but an early reference to misdirection appears in the writing of a renowned magician and author,Nevil Maskelyne. it is a method of distracting the senses of the audience in order to screen from noticing certain aspects that require secrecy. At the same time,magician and artist Harlan Tarbell noted,Nearly all the art of illusions is based on this art of misdirection.
Magicians who have studied and refined techniques for misdirection includes Max Malini,David Blaine,Juan Tamariz,Slydini,Tommy Wonder as well as Dai Vernon.
Henry Hay describes the central act of conjuring as manipulating interest.
Magicians divert attention of the audience in two primary ways. One causes the audience to turn their attention away for a short time,so that they do not notice a sleight or move. Another approach alters the perception of the audience,lulling them to believe that some other factor is a significant factor in the accomplishment of the feat when it really does not have any bearing on the result in any way. Fitzkee notes that The true skill of the magician is in the talent that he displays in manipulating the minds of the viewers. Additionally,sometimes a prop like the magic wand can aid in confusion.
Lacking misdirection,even the most skilled sleight-of-hand or mechanical gimmick is unlikely to make an impression of genuine magic. Without doubt,misdirection is the crux of successful illusions.
Misdirection uses the limits of human brains to present a false image and memory. The brain of an average audience member can only concentrate on one thing at a time. The magician utilizes this technique to alter the viewers’ thoughts or perceptions of sensory input which leads them to incorrect conclusion.
A few magicians have debated the meaning of the term,misdirection,creating plenty of debate about what it is and how it functions.
The exceptional illusionist Jon Finch
drew a distinction between misdirection and direction. The first is a negative phrase as opposed to the other,positive. In the end,he considers the two as the same thing. If a performer,by some method,has influenced the mind of his viewers to believe that he’s done something that he’s not accomplished,he has incorrectly guided them into that belief and,consequently,misdirection.
Tommy Wonder has pointed that it’s more effective,from a magician’s perspective in focusing on the positive aim of directing attention to the audience. He writes that misdirection implies the wrong direction. It implies that attention is diverted from something. By constantly using this term it becomes it is ingrained into our brains that we might start to perceive misdirection as directing our attention away from rather than toward something.
Slydini explained that if the magician believes that,the public will believe it and the magic they can’t see. Misdirection is true when they accept what the magician says and then follows the magician. website