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Hi again! I was wondering if there is out there any DVD on misdirection?

the misdirection is found in the performaces if you look at the performers and there audience management you will find that the move happens on the offbeat where performers get the people laughing

there is also advice in the explinations of most dvds these days its just soaking up all the info you can see how the performer moves how the words are spoken are classed as verbal misdirection hand gestures and also when magicians do the move they normally get them to look at there eyes but a lot never rush when attempting a move they wait till they feel the timing is right for the performer

its just about working on your own performance style and getting a feel when the time is right

dont forget you have spent many years or months trying to perfect a move till your satisfied but it only takes a fraction of a second to pull the move off

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a magic DVD that didn't have any. It sometimes feels like Byrd and Coats don't use any, but that's as close as it gets to a misdirection-less performance.

If you want the best of the best, Visions of Wonder. Tommy Wonder was, hands down, the best director of attention I've ever seen. I know some of his tricks inside out and they still get me when I see him do them, because the misdirection is built into the tricks.

LoveKey1988 wrote:Hi again! I was wondering if there is out there any DVD on misdirection?

There's one just over there look.

Mr_Grue wrote:

LoveKey1988 wrote:Hi again! I was wondering if there is out there any DVD on misdirection?

There's one just over there look.

That was a good joke

- point at something you want them to look at
- move something you want them to look at
- look at something you want them to look at
- use all 3 of the above at the same time and they will find it impossible to look elsewhere
- ask them a question or use their name if you want them to look up
- a large movement covers a small movement
- use bright colours for objects you want to be seen and dull colours for objects you want to be hidden
- hold something visible (like a wand) in the same hand you have something hidden
- whenever you go to your pocket to put something away/get something out you can load or ditch or vice versa
- use a moment of magic (eg. a ball appearing under a cup) to do something sneaky
- use a moment of humour (where everyone is laughing) to do something sneaky
- bright lights or flashes can be used to cover moves or other things

.............that's £20 please

I actually think that a book or DVD on misdirection and how to create it would be a very good idea. It's something that so many people ask when they first start out.

you could look at michael vincents tapestry of deception dvds.

as others have mentioned though, Most dvds put out by working magicians, should contain some.
Ammars cups and balls is a good example of misdirection in action. However, you need to watch just the performance, several times, in order tto learn teh misdirection, and then you learn it for your self.

The list kevin wrote, is a reasonable guide.

However these two rules are, I.M.H.O Incorrect.....

use a moment of magic (eg. a ball appearing under a cup) to do something sneaky
- use a moment of humour (where everyone is laughing) to do something sneaky

and Ill tell you why.

These two things, are actions. Both create a reaction.. that reaction being a laugh, or a focus point.
Now, it's that reaction to the action which gives you the moment. That being the moment in which you do what you have to do.

I use the question technique quite a bit.
Just recently, as ive already posted, ive been winging a card routine, which involes me doing a pass, at least 3 top changes, and a botom change, plus a couple of double lifts.

Now,i will NEVER do this routine for magicians.Not because it wont work. Its because if anybody does see one of teh changes, Ill never hear the end of it, as to how bad my top change , or pass is.

however.. i dont mind doing it for lays, because the misdirection is stronger. The effect only gets done in one of those " show us something moments" and only works because i genuinly have no idea as to how the effect will pan out. Al i know is, ive got to remember where the cards are, and trust to luck.

i would disagree with lomster, cos its so dependent on the situation and the person...and i think its one of those things were its best as "learn by doing"...

"when should i do the pass?"
"when no one is looking at the cards"

and what i may do for misdirection, may be different to what someone else does...

so to you lomster...

Lady of Mystery wrote:I actually think that a book or DVD on misdirection and how to create it would be a very good idea. It's something that so many people ask when they first start out.

As i have mentioned before, I am hoping to put together an idiots guide to misdirection.I feel there is a need for one.
When i was chatting to a mate about it he did say " Do we really need yet another book on magical theory?" To which i replied.. no. WE dont need another book. But there are thousands of guys out there who do, because most of the stuff published goes into the whole subject far too deeply.

Even Im put off of reading some of it.. and ive been doing magic for way too many years.

Well back at you with your disagreement, Iain!

I just think that it'd be great to have some kind of explaination of what misdirection is and how to create it. The whole idea of a big action covering a small action, timing your moves and everything else that goes along with it. Misdirection is something that you'll pick up and it does depend on who you are and what you're doing but it's such a huge part of a performance that there must be enough for an interesting discussion.

the only thing i will say... Is that the best way of learning how to misdirect, ( and ity's how i learned how to do it) was by doing it wrong and getting caught out.

And i have to say, it's not like riding a bike.

ive picked up effects that i havent done for a while, and made mistakes.

( recently too!)

Defining this would be about as easy as knitting fog!

Random Thoughts:

Misdirection is a misnomer, it should really be referred to as 'direction'.

It can be as subtle as a glance towards the 'innocent' hand thus taking the spec's attention with it, or a diatribe of pseudo scientific/psychic blather.

What works for one person won't necessarily work for another.

In a stage act, the tradtional 'Lovely Assistant' might be all the direction needed just by walking on and moving an item off stage whilst the magish half turns to watch thus covering the ditching of whatever needs to be ditched..

daleshrimpton wrote:the only thing i will say... Is that the best way of learning how to misdirect, ( and ity's how i learned how to do it) was by doing it wrong and getting caught out.

This is what got me really thinking about my patter, getting busted by my dad on several card tricks. He is the ultimate "Mr Know-it-all" and has to ask about every single thing as you do it, which used to make me try too hard to direct his attention.

School of hard knocks is really the only way I learn. Its horrible to get caught out, but it really does make you focus on where you went wrong.

Thought i'd beat Mark Lewis to this; Chapter 6 of Expert Card Technique by Hugard & Braue is called Misdirection and Presentation and it's very good.

Check it out. As dey say on da streetz.