Stage hypnosis is all about showmanship, it is no good to simply be able to hypnotize a volunteer, you need to entertain the audience too! We have included some general guidelines to improve your performance and some routines that you may like to try out.
If you are going to be in the public eye you want to make sure you look the part. In the earlier days, stage hypnotists sported distinctive goatee beards, slick back hair and a black shirt buttoned to the top. This image was splashed across posters advertising mesmeric performances. Today, hypnosis is a little more understood, accepted by the medical profession and embraced by the television. All this means that you no longer need to create the mystique that the early pioneers of stage used. But there are a few simple rules that you should adhere to.
First and foremost is your personal hygiene, you must be a clean and pleasant person to be around. If you smoke make sure that you use mouth wash before your performance, many of the more dramatic stage induction techniques put you very close to your subject and you don't want bad breath getting in the way of a quality show.
It goes without saying your clothes should be clean and presentable, but what do you wear? Well as long as you look smart it doesn't matter. You may want to create a persona for yourself and dress in a distinctive manner that people will recognize and remember. Or perhaps you simply want to stand out from the volunteers on the stage. Whatever you decide to wear be sure that it fits well and it clean. Everybody has a different perspective on fashion so try to avoid something that you think is trendy. A decent suit should be great. You may like to buy yourself a special suit just for performing, by doing this the association of wearing the suit will help you achieve the right frame of mind for a performance. You can find out how to create an anchor that is triggered by wearing the suit in the anchoring section of this site. This technique could be used as a confidence booster to help overcome any pre-show nerves.
While you are performing you should follow some basic stage craft rules. Although it may be difficult during the induction section, you should face your audience throughout the show. Make sure that any equipment that you are using is working correctly. If you do not have a microphone will everybody be able to hear you? If you are using a microphone, which is advisable, be sure to exercise correct microphone technique. Experiment so that you are able to determine the optimum distance that the microphone should be from your mouth. And remember, your audience will want to hear what your subject is saying during a routine, so it is best to use a hand held microphone rather than the clip on type.
A little creative imagination can go a long way to developing some fantastic routines. You can learn from other hypnotists and be inspired by what they do but try not to steal their routines. A few suggestions are given here to get you going, but you are really only limited by your imagination.
There are a few routines that should be avoided. Catalepsy displays are less common today due to associated back problems, however, they where once the highlight of the hypnotic performance. The hypnotist would tell the subject that they are becoming stiff and rigid, then support their body between the back of two chairs while another volunteer was invited to come and sit on their chest. Admittedly it is a grand display of the power of hypnosis but at the expense of the volunteers health.
Another risky area is the striptease routine. Many hypnotists include this one but it can lead to a multitude of complications, not least of which being an uncomfortable confrontation from a rather disgruntled spouse!
Childhood birthday
Have all of the subjects return to a childhood birthday. Imagining that they are six years old and just received a wonderful present. Have them play with the presents for a few moments before asking the more interesting looking ones what they have. Elaborate on their descriptions; if a child has a toy police car then ask them if it has a siren... and how that siren sounds etc.. Following a proud display of their new gifts you may like to tell them that one by one the toys are all being broken! The resulting temper tantrums can be very amusing, but, don't allow your volunteers to experience too much distress! And remember to bring them back to the present before you finish the show.
Funny Audience
This routine turns the tables on the audience! Tell the subjects that when you count to three they will open their eyes and look out across the audience, as they do they will be overcome by fits of laughter as the audience will look ridiculously silly! The most peculiar, bizarre hilarious things that they have ever seen! Tell the subjects that' as you begin to count' the urge to laugh will begin growing inside, the urge will be so strong but they mustn't laugh until you say the number three. Now count very, very slowly... 1... 2... 2 and a 1/4..... 2 and 1/2........ 2 and 3/4.................. THREE! As the volunteers open their eyes and look out across the audience they will burst into fits of laughter.... you might want to ask a few of them what they find so funny; you will be amazed at some of the answers!
Horse race
Have the volunteers straddle their chairs, tell them they are all top jockeys about to run the grand national. Before the race starts be sure to remind each jockey that their arch enemy is on the next horse, have them all pulling mean faces at each other as they are poised at the starting gate. When the race begins heighten the pace of the instruction, becoming more and more excited as the horses race faster and faster. Tell the subjects as each jump approaches and they leap into the air clutching their chairs.
This routine is a great deepener, telling the volunteers that the harder they ride, the faster they go, and the faster they go, the deeper and deeper the trance becomes... the deeper they go into trance, the harder they ride!
At the end of the race you can tell the volunteers that they are all winners and watch as they triumphantly celebrate their victory.
X-Ray Specs
Choose one of your volunteers and tell them that when they put on the glasses you are about to give them they will see every member of the opposite sex completely naked. Next awaken them from the trance state and invite them to come and try out an experimental pair of special glasses. You can never be too sure what kind of reaction you are going to get with this one, some run off and hide in embarrassment, others lap it up! Either way you are guaranteed an hilarious response! You may like to offer the glasses for sale, you'll be surprised at how much some volunteers will be willing to pay for X-ray vision. If you do sell the glasses remember to give the money back at the end of the show!
To enhance the visual aspect of the routine invest in a pair or huge joke glasses, these can be bought from any joke shop and look much better than ordinary glasses (they are also much cheaper!!).
If you are interested in finding out a little more about my guide to stage hypnosis you may like to view my sales page by clicking here.