As far as misdirection is concerned, needless to say, all this is supported by a more or less sophisticated network of technical and psychological ruses and devices.
One day I was describing the mechanics of the Top Change in a lecture, making an effort to convey how slowly it could be done if executed smoothly. A woman for whom the Top Change was something new, probably a magician's girlfriend, exclaimed, "Very Fast!" I continued trying to demonstrate to the rest of the crowd how slow and unhurried the move could be done, yet she insisted: "So fast!"
What impressed her was definitely not how fast i could move my hands. She was unknowingly referring to the coordination, to the brief instant when the hands meet in front of the body to effect the digital part of the exchange. She was compelled to mention quickness as she became aware that, without the explanation, the Top Change would have gone unnoticed past her eyes.
Another time, in a cocktail-party situation, I had done one of those sucker tricks that end with a Top Change and the switched card held away from the deck. The spectator was thoroughly convinced that the card I was holding face down in my hand was the same one I had shown, and that it was not her selected card. Yet it suddenly was.
Her emotional reaction and that of the rest of the audience, was music to my ears. I was more than satisfied with my delivery. Upon recovering her speech, she said, without knowing why, "But... but... I divide time in seconds."
Hiding my excitement, I replied, "Of course. We magicians divide each second in 36ths."
What was really in her mind? Maybe she thought she could only see a small portion of each second that elapses and that I had taken advantage of the other 35/36ths of it. Not so far from the truth. Her reaction, however, was one of astonishment, completely unaware of the sense her comment would eventually make to me. I think her comment came directly from her subconscious. Via satelite? I like to think her transitory state of euphoria opened a window that made it possible.
Sometimes I don't mind people thinking it's skill, as long as they have not the faintest idea what kind of skill. It's alright with me if they admire the skill displayed in a non-ostentatious flourish, as long as that skill doesn't explain the result of the trick. Deep inside, spectators know it's not the result of quickness. If they were able to ask us how on earth the card on the table had changed and we said we changed it "very fast" while they were not looking, they would laugh and wouldn't really believe it.
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