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I like the way Kenton Knepper discusses this in Wonder Words. Your task is not to misdirect, but to direct. You should know where you want the spectator/helper/participant's focus of attention to be, and then direct it there.

The more you think about "they mustn't look at X", the more your own attention is focused on X, and that will automatically attract attention to it.

Eshly wrote:

Harry Guinness wrote:Now this is just what I found useful, others may not like it...

Step 1. Go to a pub.
Step 2. Get drunk.
Step 3. Man up and just do it for random drunk people.
Step 4. Do it sober.

These same four steps is how I learnt to do all my magic and it also works for making your hands stop shaking!

What he said.

Look at me! Look at me! I'm an alcoholic!

I'm the first to admit I don't have much technical magic skill (sleights and false shuffles) that would allow me to pull the wool over the eyes of the dim witted, slack jawed, credulous plebs that we have come to despise and know as lay people. However I've found that the only misdirection I need to baffle their tiny ignorant minds is EYE CONTACT. Whatever moves you have to do to pull off a trick, you learn to do not invisibly but smoothly, while looking at them and talking. Honestly I once took a deck a spectator had shuffled put it in my pocket and brought out a stacked deck, that was my 'switch'. No moves or gimmicks, he was just looking at my eyes not my hands. This works with groups as well (maybe not the deck switch I described but most switches). Just make eye contact with each person as you talk and you've got them.

Now this won't work at all for stage I know. But with stage work you can practice to a camera or a few willing Guinna pigs, so thats not really an issue.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:EYE CONTACT.

Remind me to show you my pass next time I see you! Totally agree

what I did is use it outside of magic as often as possible until I could distract them well enough to regularly steal pens etc from right in front of them (I always gave them back ). Yes, the got sick of it quickly but I also learned even quicker because it was under constant scrutiny.
note- dont do this with people you know!

one of the best book about misdirection is

leading with your head by Gary Kurtz

pure gold