Mind Tricks

In the world of theatrical magic,misdirection can be described as an art of deceit in which the performer is able to draw attention of the audience to one object to divert attention from another. Managing audience attention is the goal of every performances,and the most important requirement of all magic acts. Whether the magic is of a “pocket trick” variety or a large stage productionthat relies on misdirection,it is the primary element. The term refers to either the effect (the the focus of the observer on the unimportant object) or the sleight-of-hands or patter (the magician’s speech) which creates the illusion.

It’s difficult to determine who first coined the phrase,however the first mention of misdirection is found in the writings of a renowned author and performer named Nevil Maskelyne: Admittedly,it involves spooking the senses of the audience to block out from being aware of certain information in which confidentiality is essential. At the same time,the magician,writer,artist and performer Tarbell noted,Nearly all the art of sleight-of-hand depends on this art of misdirection.

Many magicians who have studied and refined techniques of misdirection are Malini,Shin Lim,Juan Tamariz,Tony Slydini,Tommy Wonder along with Dai Vernon.

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

Magicians misdirect audience attention by using two fundamental ways. The first is to make the audience glance away for a brief moment,so they aren’t aware of a sleight or move. The other method alters the perception of the audience,lulling them into thinking that an extraneous factor can be a factor in the success of the trick when it really isn’t a factor in the effect at all. Fitzkee explains that the true skill of the magician is in the skill of his performance in changing the spectators mind. Sometimes,a prop like a magic wand aids in misdirection.

Unless the magician use

Misdirection makes use of the limitations of the human mind to give the wrong picture and memory. The brain of a typical person in the audience can only concentrate on one thing at a time. The magician makes use of this to influence the perceptions or ideas of the audience of sensory inputand lead them to make false conclusions.

Many magicians have debated the use of the term,misdirection,creating plenty of debate about the meaning of it and how it works. Celebrated magician Jon Finch drew a distinction in misdirection from direction. The first is a negative phrase,and the other positive. In the end,he considers the two as one thing. If a performer some method,has influenced the thoughts of the viewers to believe that he’s done something which he has not done,he has wrongly led them to believe this; hence,misdirection.

Tommy Wonder has pointed out that it is much more efficient,from a magician’s point of viewin focusing on the purpose of directing attention to the audience. He states that misdirection is wrong direction. It implies that attention is directed away towards something. When we keep using this termit becomes embedded in our minds that we begin to see misdirection as taking the attention away from instead of toward something.

Slydini explained that if a magician believes it,the audience will believe in it,and the magic they can’t see. Misdirection is true when they accept what the magician says and then follows the magician. read more about misdirection

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