After all the proper research and study, how does one practice stage hypnosis? I am a children's magician and can easily practice my routines and tricks at home --- however with hypnosis how does one practice --- I would assume the best way is to find a mentor and have him/her guide you through the process while working with him or her on a live show?

As a wise hypnotist told me. Kid get over yer fear and jus do it!

I mean there is a time for study but also a time to perform -- and I am a big believer in learning via doing -- just wondering how one develops the skills ... but unlike magic I guess what is practice is practice with real people...not simply practicing in ones basement (re: as a magician)

Get the stuffed bunny and dog and Raggedy Ann and Andy and any others that come to mind and set them out in chairs. Practice the show just like they were the volunteers and go through your whole show routines and sound effects if you use them. But most important is that you have a good pretalk. If they don't like you during the pretalk and get excited about volunteering for your show you won't ever get to the part where you replace the stuffed animals. You also want to practice your induction till you can do it in your sleep. Then you won't have to worry so much about the nerves. It will be inside. If you say show before you start each practice you can develop an anchor of sorts for yourself. Before you go on say Show Time and you will find the script drops into autodrive leaving you with the attention to pay to the details. When you've practiced 100 to 200 times and the words just flow out you will be ready to jump in.

Martin

That is very good advice, thank you Martin.

Classes are a really good place to start. That's what classes are FOR - to practice and to get feedback on your technique from your instructor(s) and fellow students...

Just an additional bit of feedback...

Lee Darrow, C.H.