Talkmagic.co.uk

andycoates · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 3:34 pm Post subject: Thoughts on Misdirection?

OK, its the basis of alot of magic trics, and makes it easier for us to do bold things without getting noticed. But what is everyones thoughts on "misdirection", or should it just be called simply "direction".
Whats your view.

magicdiscoman · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 3:44 pm Post subject:

ah the joys of midirection, please if you wouldnt mind lokking at my right hand wile i steel my jumbo coin with my left hand.

for coin workers misdirection is roughly 50% of the act, for cardies i asume its only about 10%.

in kids shows i would agree its more a case of direction than missdirection, if you say to an audience of kids look here, half will loook anywear but were you want them too.
were as if you r story leads them to look at a given place 90% will follow along with you.

missdirection is both my friend and the bane of my existence its a love hate relationship that needs carefully attetion so as not to offend either party, its quite draining you know.

truffler · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 4:10 pm Post subject:

Misdirection to me has been one of those things that I was always scared to use with an audience. So I stuck to fool proof slights that can be pulled off without having to use much misdirection at all. i think that the main reason is because it is more difficult to misdirect friends of family members. When performing to friends I am doing tricks as myself and therefore am not "in character" also friends will be more inclined to try to catch you out and look at your hands.
However when I started doing more gigs and gaining confidence I realised that total strangers are so much more easy to manipulate. I tend to have a stronger character when I am performing, which seems to work. Also I thing that there is a natural nervousness you can use. The audience you approach doesn't know you so when you are in their space and talking to them they tend to look where you want them to look. Most people have been brought up to look at someone when they ask you a question. There is a lot more to it but I found early on that asking a small close up crowd "did everyone see the card?" usually results in a large window of opportunity so to speak.
So after all that i am basically saying that misdirection is a lot more usable to me in a performing atmosphere.
Anyone else notice the same?

taneous · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:48 am Post subject:

I think that all of magic is misdirection to some degree - what the spectators see is different to what's actually happening and so no matter what method you are using to accomplish the outcome, you are directing them away from the real method in order to see something different.
I use the term misdirection, but i think it is more acurate and helpful to think of it as direction. I like the title of Gary Kurtz's book "leading with your head" (it's on my 'to buy' list) cos I think that's what misdirection is about - leading people to experience and see what you want them to..

This is quite a cool website devoted to misdirection :
http://www.leirpoll.com/misdirection/misdirection.htm
It has a whole lot of essays on the subject as well as links to other resources,essays etc. on the subject.

Happy Toad · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:42 am Post subject:

Mis direction is a great friend for me, it covers up all kinds of other mistakes such as a poor sleight. I also find it real fun. I'm not sure on the dynamics of taking it to a bigger group than I usually perform to though, cos there is a fear that you might be able to get 3 or 4 people to look in a certain place getting 50 to all look where you want them is gonna be a lot harder. Maybe I need less poor sleights Smile

Dunno anyone got experience mis-directing larger numbers?

Dar_Kwan · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:31 pm Post subject:

Misdirection can get you out of some really tight spots - the other day I performed paperclipped for a couple of friends here @ work & the one guy said "I'm gonna watch your every move" well I was a little worried, but continued with the trick & was just talking rubbish whilst I did the move & after the revelation he was blown away - he said "I know I watched your every move, but I didn't see anything - how the heck did you do that" Twisted Evil

Anonymous · Preferred Member Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 262

I find any misdirection I might use comes out as an extension of my personality. I tend to misdirect while chit chatting and being light-hearted and casual. I will delay a move to suit the best time for me to "do the do"...this is the point at which any of us will be most comfortable and confident...but always give yourself a backup chance just in case!!!! Shocked

Zack · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:33 am Post subject:

Misdirection to me is still a fairly new thing, and I consider that my misdirection is really raw and quite obvious. But, stupidly and amazingly, it works.
It is, for me, more satisfying than actually pulling off a move. It is far simpler to learn a move, parrot style, over and over again until it's spot on, than to actually apply it with misdirection in a performance situation. As Happy Toad said, it can cover you too, if you're not quite fluent with a sleight.

It gives me a real ego boost, especially when I think to myself, 'I just did something REALLY REALLY obvious and you didn't see!!!'

I'm not sure if this is the right name, but take a look at 'Top Change' in RRTCM if you have it - pure misdirection covering an 'overthetop-undertheirnoses' cheeky move.

It's fantastic!

taneous · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:36 pm Post subject:

What do you think of this statement by Jean Hugard?

The principle of misdirection plays such an important role in magic that one might say that Magic is misdirection and misdirection is Magic"

Zack · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:42 pm Post subject:

That's exactly what I said.

Laughing

OK, well, that's what i meant, kind of.

I find misdirection more satisfying than the trick. I suppose you could say misdirection is part of the trick...

uh oh

I've gone cross-eyed... too much thinking at one time...

andycoates · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 3:43 pm Post subject:

Yeah i'd agree with the "Magic is misdirection and misdirection is Magic". Then it gets complicated by saying what is magic! Heres my theory. Magic is being entertained on an "impossible straight road full of tight corners". yeah it doesnt make sense, but the spec or audience are being lead down a path which is the effect and being led into beliving that something is going to happen, which it is, but just as you pull off the effect the direction is completly changed in what the spec had anticipated that it creates, then to think "hold on, thats impossible.
Or also like a really good Joke, someones telling you a joke and as its nearing the end your racking your brain for the punchline and its something you never expected. Same again with mental puzzles. Click here for 2 massive threads with some corkers.
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2510&sid=6a9e247571380fad5ab2b63504010155
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2547&sid=6a9e247571380fad5ab2b63504010155

In essence magic is not just one thing, its a mass of different things grouped together and presented to someone in a artistic way to bend perceptions, create wonder, shock, provoke thoughts and many more, think back to the first trick you ever saw, ill have to have a think about this one but i do remember how i felt, "FASCINATED"
So misdirection is one part of magic but only part of the bigger picture.

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19332 Location: UK (62:AH)

For a bit more on this, check out http://www.magicworld.co.uk/articles/whatismagic.htm

andycoates · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:11 pm Post subject:

Nice link...
"apparent violation of natural law" I like it

Alan Jackson · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 12:56 pm Post subject:

If you want to find out about misdirection find anything written on the work of Slydini. He was the master. The Lewis Ganson book (published by Supreme) is a good start. If you look at the photographs you can tell how deceptive his work must have been.

panther1004 · Preferred Member Joined: 09 Aug 2003 Posts: 202