In theatrical magic, misdirection is an art of deceit where the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one thing to distract it from the other. Controlling attention of the audience is the main goal of any theatre, and is the primary prerequisite for all magic shows. If the magic is of the "pocket trick" variety or the stage is a major production misdirection is the main element. The term is used to describe either the result (the observer's focus on the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hand or the patter (the magician's speech) which creates it.
It is difficult to say who coined the term, but the first reference to misdirection can be found in the writings of an influential performer and author, Nevil Maskelyne. it is a method of distracting the senses of the audience in order to screen from being aware of certain information that require secrecy. The same time, the magician, artist and author Harlan Tarbell noted, Nearly all the art of sleight of hand depends on the art of misdirection.
Many magicians who have researched and evolved misdirection techniques include Max Malini, Derren Brown, Tommy Wonder, Juan Tamariz, Slydini, and Dynamo.
Henry Hay describes the chief act of conjuring as a manipulating interest.
Many magicians can divert attention from the audience by using two fundamental ways. One causes the audience to glance away for a brief moment, so that they do not notice a trick or movement. Another approach alters the perception of the audience, lulling the audience into believing that something else has much to do with the performance even though it has no bearing on the outcome in any way. Fitzkee explains that the real talent of the magician is in the talent that he displays in manipulating the minds of the viewers. Additionally, sometimes a prop such as the magic wand can aid in the misdirection.
![]("https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57424e6bb654f953eb32de1b/1490485271227-QTZZJS7JYRTOUA7RS9NK/weddings<br)
"/>
Unless the magician use
Misdirection makes use of the limitations of the human mind to present a false image and memory. The brain of an average person in the audience can only concentrate on one thing at a time. The magician makes use of this to influence the viewers' thoughts or perceptions of sensory input which leads them to incorrect conclusion.
Magicians have debated the meaning of the term, "misdirection," causing many discussions regarding what it is and how it operates.
The accomplished illusionist Jon Finch
made a distinction between misdirection and direction. The first is a negative phrase, and the other positive. Ultimately, he equates the two as the same thing. If a performer some means, has directed the thoughts of the viewers to believe that he did something which he has not done, he's wrongly led them to believe this which is why he has misdirected them.
Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more effective, from the magician's point of view, to concentrate on the purpose of directing attention to the audience. He states that misdirection is the wrong direction. It suggests that attention is diverted away from something. When we keep using this term, it eventually becomes so ingrained in our minds that we may begin to see misdirection as taking our attention away from rather than towards something.
![]("https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57424e6bb654f953eb32de1b/1529269143044-75PO3A1C1SHAC0ETQIJQ/Macalogic.jpg<br)
"/>
Slydini explained that if a magician believes it, the audience will believe it and magic is something they don't see. Misdirection is true when they accept what the magician says and then follow the magician. more info on misdirection
Scientific concept conversation misdirection conjuror scientific misdirection's misdirection misdirection's misdirection's theory philosophical psychology conflict of interest misdirection's mercadian masques misdirection's misdirection theoretical theory scientific misdirection misdirection distraction slydini misdirection's taxonomies misdirect taxonomies taxonomies distraction misdirection theoretical mercadian masques philosophical psychology conflict of interest the art of misdirection misdirection distraction misdirection misdirection misdirection misdirect theory misdirection conversation conversation mind misdirection misdirection's conjuror slydini concept misdirection theoretical concept misdirect theory misdirection slydini the art of misdirection mind misdirect misdirect the art of misdirection misdirection philosophical psychology misdirection psychological theory taxonomies misdirection misdirection scientific misdirect misdirect philosophical psychology misdirect misdirection conversation mind misdirect conversation theoretical conversation concept slydini misdirection's conversation misdirect philosophical psychology misdirect mercadian masques psychological misdirection theory theoretical mercadian masques misdirection misdirection misdirection's misdirection's psychological misdirection's misdirection misdirect conflict of interest misdirection's misdirection conversation mind misdirect conversation the art of misdirection misdirection's distraction misdirection misdirect mercadian masques conjuror slydini misdirection's psychological misdirection's misdirection psychological distraction misdirection's taxonomies mind misdirection's misdirection taxonomies misdirect philosophical psychology misdirection's misdirect misdirect scientific conjuror misdirection's scientific concept distraction scientific mind misdirection's misdirection misdirect scientific mercadian masques misdirection mind misdirection mind misdirection mercadian masques psychological misdirect misdirection's misdirection's scientific misdirection misdirect conversation conversation misdirect philosophical psychology the art of misdirection mind slydini taxonomies misdirect conflict of interest theory misdirect misdirection conflict of interest conflict of interest taxonomies misdirection's misdirection's misdirect theoretical misdirection psychological misdirection's theoretical theoretical misdirect slydini misdirection misdirection concept mind misdirection's conversation misdirection's mind misdirect theory misdirection's misdirection misdirect misdirect mercadian masques distraction misdirection conflict of interest misdirect slydini distraction conjuror misdirection's misdirect conflict of interest slydini slydini misdirect taxonomies scientific misdirection misdirection concept misdirection misdirection's concept conjuror misdirection's the art of misdirection conjuror misdirection's distraction misdirect misdirect scientific concept conjuror misdirect misdirection conflict of interest misdirection misdirection's misdirection conflict of interest psychological misdirect misdirection misdirection's taxonomies misdirection's misdirect philosophical psychology taxonomies misdirection's misdirect distraction conjuror misdirection's philosophical psychology theory theoretical philosophical psychology theoretical misdirection taxonomies concept misdirection's conjuror misdirection psychological distraction theoretical mercadian masques misdirection's misdirection conjuror misdirection misdirection mercadian masques misdirection misdirection misdirection theoretical misdirection's misdirect misdirection misdirection's theory misdirection's misdirect concept philosophical psychology misdirection's misdirection's misdirect misdirect misdirection misdirection's concept misdirect misdirection's theory misdirect scientific misdirection's misdirect misdirection philosophical psychology misdirect mercadian masques psychological slydini misdirect slydini misdirection mercadian masques conflict of interest psychological misdirection misdirect misdirection misdirect misdirection psychological misdirection's conjuror mind theory conflict of interest distraction.
