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hypnomag New user 2 Posts |
For you performing hypnotists out there. What gave you the confidence to perform your first hypnosis show? When did you know you could finally do a show succesfully? Also, how do you practice your show?
I have studied and studied, rehearsed and rehearsed my script and show and such, even hypnotised a few friends and practiced my routines, but I still don't have the confidence to perform the show. Should I just book a show and do it? I've been performing magic for a few years now and should I just do what I did for magic and just book a show and slowly build my confidence through experience? Thanks folks |
majhra New user Australia 61 Posts |
Personally, I worked my way up to it...
After much study and practice, I started to play with one person at a time. Usually with noone else around. Then I graduated to several people. Then to several people in a public place (corner of a pub). Then to a larger group in a pub, which would then attract more people. Then I booked a show. Another option, used by a friend of mine, was to go to a amateur night. You have maybe 3 minutes, which is long enough for the induction and a simple skit. And you don't need anyone on stage if you treat the audience as volunteering (by being there... ;-) All the best. Regards, M. |
shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
Just jump in its the only way! If you have rehearsed your script etc then just do it. Get invited to a few parties or functions and let them know in advance " a hypnotist" will be there. I did that and actualy cancelled my first show due to nerves! Then I a few of the people who were going to be there volunteered I got two out of four and that is good odds! after that I did a party with about 30 people.
Then I went to football club and told them I was a hypnotist who had worked abroad. I said I would take door money they get the bar. 200 people turned up! to make matters worse I had my brother in my ear about five mins before I was due to go on ask me what would happen if things went wrong and no one went under! inside a year I hired a theatre and was peforming in front of nearly 1000 people. I did an open day for the press on stop smoking day. I worked out on paper about 50% of what I was going to do the other 50% I made up on the day as I did it! I invited two radio stations three newspapers two TV stations. They all turned up and I couldn't be sure what I had planned would work. It did thank god. But really you just have to do it. This game is not for the faint hearted especially at the start....just go for it but I hope you have had some training! I trained with a very experienced stage hypnotist before I did any shows. And would recommend anyone do the same. Take a clean change of under wear with you the first 15 mins will scare you to death! Forget about the 3 min thing it will just make things harder for you! Sometimes it can take at least 10 mins or more to set the show up and persuade volunteers to get up on stage.. Good luck |
SBeck24Svn New user Leeds, England 83 Posts |
Great advice Shrink. One thing though:
'I trained with a very experienced stage hypnotist before I did any shows. And would recommend anyone do the same. ' Have you any advice on how to find one that will help you? How did you find yours? Or do you mean to go on these 2 day courses I see going around. Personally I would love a personal tutor, but I see the chances of finding one pretty slim? Thanks, Simon. |
Dr Omni Regular user UK 199 Posts |
Shrink's advice is as excellent as always. It may not be easy to get a working stage hypnotist to give you one-to-one tuition (if he does it is likely to be expensive), but if you want to do stage hypnosis it is strongly recommended to go on one of the numerous seminars now available in the USA (and sometimes also in the UK). The ones I've been on - all of which I can confirm are good - were those taught by Jery Valley and Ormond McGill (attended twice inn London); Geoff and Wendy Ronning (Seattle); and - yes - Jonathan Royle (real name Alex Smith - Rochdale). I'm also going on the Andrew Newton seminar in Manchester the last weekend of this month.
Also, it is *essential* to buy and read through and really work with Ormond McGill's "New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis". Another excellent and useful book is Jerry Valley's "Inside Secrets of Professional Stage Hypnotism". But the real education comes with practice. What I and my friend Ron did to rehearse our show was to get a group of people (students, actors, etc) together for the day and work through our inductions and routines. We paid them £15 each to ensure they showed up and rented a rehearsal room from an opera company for the day. We got their feedback and learned what worked and what didn't. Other points: make sure you write a good script and learn it word for word, as well as mastering the inductions. Create a CD with sound effects and music which can accompany your act to help the subjects respond and keep the audience entertained. Wear an outfit that immediately identifies you as a flamboyant showman, so that anyone could look around the room and recognise you as the hypnotist without needing to be pointed out. Use self-hypnosis before the show to maximise your confidence when you go in there. It's worth even doing a bit of Stanislavski (method) acting to really create the persona of the powerful hypnotist - so that it is conveyed in your movement, expression, voice, etc. (Nobody needs to be told that it's one of your first shows.) Tweak all the elements to get things right beforehand, and you are at least 70% of the way towards a successful show. |
SBeck24Svn New user Leeds, England 83 Posts |
Fantastic advice there Dr Omni. Thanks for sharing it. I'm also going on the Andrew Newton Seminar. I've read through Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis, and feel now I just need that 'personal touch'. I hope it will be a good weekend, as I saw Andrew live last month and was very impressed.
Maybe I can have a little chat with you at the seminar. Thanks, Simon. |
Dr Omni Regular user UK 199 Posts |
Simon - Thanks for those favourable comments. Look forward to meeting you at the seminar. Unfortunately, one thing which is important to point out is that the prospects for a career in professional stage hypnosis in the UK are pretty dismal at the moment, due to the legal and insurance problems which have been discussed ad nauseum on this talkboard. So I wouldn't recommend anyone in the UK giving up their day job (or other entertainment work) to pursue it, or to blow money they can't really afford on seminars which can be quite pricey (especially when you add the cost of flying to the States, and paying for hotels, taxis or car hire as well). But it sure it a lot of fun.
Another UK seminar worth mentioning is that taught by Phillip Holt in London, which was featured in the recent TV documentary on stage hypnosis. It is very reasonably priced, much less than any other seminars I've heard of. Although I haven't attended that particular seminar as a student, Phillip is a great guy, an NLP specialist and excellent trainer. Of the top of my head, I think his website is http://www.nlp-london.com or else just type in "Phillip Holt NLP" in Google and you should find it. |
MagicalPirate Special user Shamokin, PA 828 Posts |
Make sure that you have a dynamite pre-talk. It can make or break your show. If you don't give them reasons to come and volunteer and feeling like they want to come up on stage you could find yourself standing on an empty stage. I would recommend Blair Robertson's two tape guide to your show Rapid Inductions that covers the pre-talk. I would also recommend for the budget conscious Geoffrey Ronning's tape "How to structure an Expert Show Pre-Talk" available here:
http://www.stagehypnosiscenter.com/pretalk.htm I used a combination of both to structure my pre-talk. They are both great products. If you are going to only use one go with Geoffreys audio tape. If you don't get them on stage, you don't have a show.
Martin Blakley, CSH, DASH, CMSA
http://www.thehypnoguy.com/HYPNORESOURCES http://www.docgrayson.com/ How To Sell Anything Online http://tub.bz/?r=1z Copyright to my own words retained 100%. |
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