In the world of theatrical illusion,misdirection is a method of deceit that attracts attention of the audience to a certain thing to distract it from another. Managing audience attention is the main goal of any theatre,and is the primary prerequisite for all magic shows. Whether the magic is of an “pocket trick” variety or the stage is a major productionmisdirection is the main element. The term describes either the effect (the observer’s focus on an object that is not important) or the sleight-of-hand or patter (the magician’s speech) that causes the illusion.

It’s difficult to determine who was the first person to coin the phrase,however the first mention of misdirection is found in the writing of an influential performer and writer,Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly,it consists of misleading the spectator’s senses,to hide from being aware of certain information in which confidentiality is essential. Around the same time,the magician,artist and author Harlan Tarbell noted,Nearly everything about sleight of hand depends on the art of misdirection.

Many magicians who have studied and evolved misdirection techniques includes Jon Finch,Max Malini,Derren Brown,Tommy Wonder,Tamariz,Tony Slydini,and Dai Vernon.

Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as manipulation of interest.

A few magicians misdirect audience attention by using two fundamental ways. One leads the audience to turn their attention away for a short moment,so they do not notice a act or gesture. The other approach re-frames the perception of the audience,lulling them into thinking that something else is a significant factor in the performance even though it isn’t a factor in the outcome in any way. Dariel Fitzkee says that the most effective magic is in the skill he exhibits in influencing the spectators mind. Sometimes,a prop like the magic wand can aid in confusion.

Misdirection is the cornerstone of nearly all successful magic. Without misdirection,even a mechanical prop or the most adept sleight-of-hand will fail to make an impression of genuine magic.

Misdirection exploits the limitations of the human mind to present a false image and memory. The brain of a typical audience member can only concentrate on only one thing at a given time. The magician uses this to influence the viewers’ thoughts or perceptions of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusions.

A few magicians have debated the meaning of the term,misdirection,causing many discussions about the meaning of it and how it operates. Renowned magician Jon Finch drew a distinction in misdirection from direction. One being a negative term,while the other is a positive. In the end,he considers the two as the same thing. If a performer some method,has influenced the thoughts of his audience to conclude that he’s done something he hasn’t done,he has wrongly led them to believe thisand,consequently,misdirection.

Tommy Wonder has pointed that it’s more effective,from a magician’s perspectiveto focus on the goal of directing attention to the audience. He writes that misdirection suggests wrong direction. It implies that attention is diverted away towards something. By constantly using this termthe idea eventually becomes ingrained in our minds that we begin to think that misdirection is directing attention away from rather than towards something.

Slydini said that if the magician believes that,the audience will believe it and the magic they can’t see. It is true that people believe what the magician does and then follow the magician. reference