Misdirection
Encyclopedia
Misdirection is a form of deception
in which the attention of an audience is focused on one thing in order to distract its attention from another.
The term is used to describe either the effect (the victim's focus on an unimportant object) or the sleight of hand or patter (the magician's speech) that creates it.
Misdirection refers usually to a temporary shift of attention to cover a move, lasting about one second (visual misdirection : in that case visual effects are needed), for example looking one's watch while secretly cutting a deck of cards with the other hand.
Nethertheless it can be a more long-lasting one (mental misdirection, preventing the spectator from explaining what happens, by leading him on a false lead, it usually needs patter), which aims to prevent spectators from figuring out the trick or part of it: for example in well-known cups and balls trick, the magician says no trap doors are involved (which is true but raises suspicion on an unimportant point, thus preventing the audience from thinking of any other possible trickery).
Some tricks use that principle for the entire trick such as the "invisible palm", in which the magician apparently conceals cards in his hand without them being seen, even when the palm of the hand is exposed.
is a good introduction to misdirection. Misdirection takes advantage of the limits of the human mind in order to give the wrong picture and memory. The mind can concentrate on only one thing at a time. The magician uses this to manipulate the "victim"'s idea of how the world is supposed to be.
Misdirection in magic may be as simple as a magician rolling up his sleeves and saying "nothing up my sleeve" and then producing an object that could never have been "up his sleeve". The audience instinct
ively scrutinizes the magician's arms, but ignores the actual location where the object-to-be-magically-produced is hidden.
Attention can be controlled in various ways. A magician will first grab attention with a coin, or another small and shiny object A shiny object captures more attention and seems less likely to disappear or to be manipulated. Then attention is directed away from the object (hence, "misdirection") through a combination of comedy, sleight of hand or an unimportant object of focus, thus providing just enough time for the magician to do whatever he or she wishes to do with the original object.
One of the most important things to remember when thinking about misdirection and magic is this: a larger movement conceals a smaller movement.
Among the very few magicians who have researched and evolved misdirection techniques are Harry Kellar
, Henning Nelms John Ramsay
, Tommy Wonder
, Derren Brown
, Juan Tamariz
, Tom Stone
, Tony Slydini
and Dai Vernon
.
Deception
Deception, beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, bad faith, and subterfuge are acts to propagate beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth . Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, and sleight of hand. It can employ distraction, camouflage or concealment...
in which the attention of an audience is focused on one thing in order to distract its attention from another.
The term is used to describe either the effect (the victim's focus on an unimportant object) or the sleight of hand or patter (the magician's speech) that creates it.
Misdirection refers usually to a temporary shift of attention to cover a move, lasting about one second (visual misdirection : in that case visual effects are needed), for example looking one's watch while secretly cutting a deck of cards with the other hand.
Nethertheless it can be a more long-lasting one (mental misdirection, preventing the spectator from explaining what happens, by leading him on a false lead, it usually needs patter), which aims to prevent spectators from figuring out the trick or part of it: for example in well-known cups and balls trick, the magician says no trap doors are involved (which is true but raises suspicion on an unimportant point, thus preventing the audience from thinking of any other possible trickery).
Some tricks use that principle for the entire trick such as the "invisible palm", in which the magician apparently conceals cards in his hand without them being seen, even when the palm of the hand is exposed.
Use
The study of close-up magicMagic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
is a good introduction to misdirection. Misdirection takes advantage of the limits of the human mind in order to give the wrong picture and memory. The mind can concentrate on only one thing at a time. The magician uses this to manipulate the "victim"'s idea of how the world is supposed to be.
Misdirection in magic may be as simple as a magician rolling up his sleeves and saying "nothing up my sleeve" and then producing an object that could never have been "up his sleeve". The audience instinct
Instinct
Instinct or innate behavior is the inherent inclination of a living organism toward a particular behavior.The simplest example of an instinctive behavior is a fixed action pattern, in which a very short to medium length sequence of actions, without variation, are carried out in response to a...
ively scrutinizes the magician's arms, but ignores the actual location where the object-to-be-magically-produced is hidden.
Attention can be controlled in various ways. A magician will first grab attention with a coin, or another small and shiny object A shiny object captures more attention and seems less likely to disappear or to be manipulated. Then attention is directed away from the object (hence, "misdirection") through a combination of comedy, sleight of hand or an unimportant object of focus, thus providing just enough time for the magician to do whatever he or she wishes to do with the original object.
One of the most important things to remember when thinking about misdirection and magic is this: a larger movement conceals a smaller movement.
Among the very few magicians who have researched and evolved misdirection techniques are Harry Kellar
Harry Kellar
Harry Kellar was an American magician who presented large stage shows during the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
, Henning Nelms John Ramsay
John Ramsay (magic)
John Ramsay was a Scottish magician. He has been described, by Alex Proctor, former President of the Scottish Conjurers' Association, as a "magician's magician, who loved to trick fellow conjurers"....
, Tommy Wonder
Tommy Wonder
Tommy Wonder was the stage name of Jacobus Maria Bemelman, a Dutch magician who performed both close-up and stage magic. Wonder performed in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo and on Fox television....
, Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
, Juan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz-Martel Negrón is a Spanish magician.He is an experienced cardician, a magician specializing in magic with playing cards, and well respected by his peers as an authority in the field of misdirection...
, Tom Stone
Tom Stone (magician)
Tom Stone is the stage name of Thomas Bengtsson, a Swedish magician, editor and author.- Biography :Stone was born on October 28, 1967, and presently lives in Stockholm, Sweden....
, Tony Slydini
Tony Slydini
Tony Slydini , also known simply as 'Slydini', was a world renowned magician. Best known as a master of close-up artistry, he served as inspiration to a generation of magicians, including Doug Henning....
and Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon , aka The Professor, was a Canadian magician. His expert sleight-of-hand technique and extensive knowledge garnered him respect among fellow magicians. His influence was considerable in the magic world, and he was a mentor to numerous famous magicians...
.