Magic and the Art of Misdirection

The great Dai Vernon once said "Merely to be acquainted with the basic secret of a card trick, in no way qualifies you to perform in. Few people realize that even a simple trick in the hands of a capable performer can become a minor miracle."

Notably the most popular thing to with a deck of cards, a basic card trick can be very entertaining. Although the sleight-of-hand techniques are critical for card tricks, presentation is the major battle. A card trick is all about the presentation. Knowing only the slight of hand maneuvers will enable you to perform, but will not get the spectator to engage. A well presented trick will not only get the spectator to engage but it can evoke powerful responses when the revelation occurs. The art of misdirection allows the magician or performer to control the attention of the spectator. This control is the critical aspect of a magic performance. The purpose of practicing and refining one's skills in the discipline is to entertain the spectator. 

Magic is a field that generally inspires people to want to learn the card manipulation techniques. The art of misdirection is what gives magic its power. But, as everyone knows, Magic isn't real, its just a person's trained ability to control their spectator's attention and manipulate cards.