Hypnosis Stage Training

[Connie]

Hi, there! I'd love some opinions about hypnosis stage training. I've signed up for some! The particular trainer was recommended to me by someone who is smart and good and I trust(ed) his recommendation. BUT...

I want to hear what you all think. What do I need to be careful of here, or aware of? I know stage hypnotism has kind of a bad rep, and if I become involved in it, I want to do it in the "right way." I'm not interested in furthering any kind of bad rep for hypnosis. Quite the contrary. I would never be involved in any of this "adult comedy' crap. That's not me.

Any caveats about stage training? I'd rather not mention the trainer's name here, but if any of you are familar with the territory, you can PM me. I'll tell you who it is, and you can tell me what you know of him.

Comments are WELCOME!!! PS: I'm already signed up, but I'm not averse to rethinking that if it becomes clear to me that that's what I should do.

[skip]

Connie,

Simply keep in mind two radically different, but not necessarily mutually exclusive goals.

Theraputic use of hypnosis is all about getting what the client wants/needs.

Stage hypnosis is all about entertainment. The audiences' entertinment.

And to entertain an audience, you must first have an audience.

That is likely going to mean 'puffing' your product.

Magicians do not explicitly claim to do magic, instead they are 'master illusionists'. BUT they do not go out of their way to disclaim magic either, do they? I know magicians who are wonderfully, technically, proficent, but they are not entertaining.

Hypnotists, stage hypnotists, may not claim mind control, but they certainly dont go out of their way to discount it either. BECAUSE it SELLS tickets.

You are never going to resolve the debate between 'pure' hypnotists, and those who use it for entertainment value. I wouldnt waste my time trying.

You are not very likely to resolve the publics perception, especially when all the other entertainers out there ...

So dont beat yourself up over it, or kill the 'attraction' of your show trying to straighten everyone out.

Now I',m not saying you cant do a show that is both accurately informative, and entertaining.

Just remember the prioroties of the field you choose to pursue. You can't be informative to the public if you cant get bookings, and you cant get bookings if you arent entertaining.

cheers,

skip

[Connie]

Skip, how'd you get to be so smart? :D

I was (and still am, mostly) gung ho for this--I think it will enhance me personally to learn this. Not sure if I want to use it as a revenue stream. But it's nice to know that I COULD. Plus, it sounds like FUN! Something for me and my hubby to do together--we're both signed up for the training.

My hesitation here: a little birdie put a word of caution in my ear, and so far, won't elaborate.

I can see myself as a entertainer very easily, actually.

[Soren K (existing)]

What do I need to be careful of here, or aware of? I know stage hypnotism has kind of a bad rep, and if I become involved in it, I want to do it in the "right way." I'm not interested in furthering any kind of bad rep for hypnosis. Quite the contrary. I would never be involved in any of this "adult comedy' crap. That's not me.

Hey Connie, well I don't think the bad rep is necessarily about any adult comedy. I know lots of people here in the UK who think hypno is 'unnatural' simply from watching Paul Mackenna's stage shows back in the 90's, where he got people doing all sorts of (sometimes) hilarious things (much of the time it was pretty naff actually - cheesy), and they all looked so mangled most of the show at the simple word 'sleep' and jumping from state to state, that to some people it made it all seem rather odd and eerie. Having said that, Mackenna is probably Britain's best known hypnotist, perhaps largely because of these shows (of course he is also very skilled)... still it's probably best kept in the clubs.. cabaret.. whatever... because of the fakeness involved ('performers and repressives' a recent thread identified it as...) probably not much credit for the profession ultimately. Why doesn't someone do a show where they fix depressives or something? Would that be equally detrimental (i.e IF what I said is accurate)?

[Simon]

Soren, you must have missed Bandler fixing social phobias on TV show!

[Soren K (existing)]

Soren, you must have missed Bandler fixing social phobias on TV show!

A thought: Does the seminar setting, e.g. like Bandler's have something of the stage hypnosisness about it? I've seen him seemingly ridicule someone who didn't seem to be playing ball one time... and some very willing participants thereafter... not to mention a more 'dutiful' response from the same (ridiculed?) individual at a later point... sort of put me off NHR a little that seminar DVD.

[Poodle]

Tad James definitely believes in stage show hypnosis and he says it can only enhance business. He doesn't do very much "stupid" stuff from what I have gathered but skillfully demonstrates the power of hypnosis by doing complete body catalepsy and having the participant's head in one chair and feet in another. He then does some cute little "things" with the number 4. You will be going to a very, very good teacher. Check out the websites for some of NGH's leading hypnotists -- they have their regular website and then they have one for stage hypnosis. Maybe you should send Merlin a PM. She is a great stage show hypnotist, also a fantastic hypnotist for helping the mind among many other qualifications.

Could I do stage show hypnosis where I live? NO! My clients are already afraid and I get calls that: a stage show hypnotist told me I can't be hypnotized and you're my last ditch effort; my wife went into trance but I didn't so does that mean I can't be hypnotized? Do they pay people to pretend this -- it can't be real? You aren't going to make me bark like a dog or anything are you? Just because we really understand what we do does not mean in the least that the public does.

Ormond McGill who was the head of NGH was a stage show hypnotist but also taught hypnosis for a well known school.

[Connie]

Thanks, Poodlecake.

[TaffyE]

Connie, if you ever do group (therapy?) sessions it could be useful to have the whole group "under".

[Merlin]

Don't induce catelepsty and then stand on the person.
it often does cause injury which shows up later.

[Charlie]

Soren, you must have missed Bandler fixing social phobias on TV show!

A thought: Does the seminar setting, e.g. like Bandler's have something of the stage hypnosisness about it? ........

Maybe.

I watched RB's fairly recent "Class of a Master" DVD series, and was struck how 'stagey' some of it seemed.

Or maybe the slick production work made it seem more that way, I don't know.

But, whatever, it sure seemed like people were getting the results they wanted.

http://forum.hypnosis.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Poodle]

It takes a whole 5 to 10 minutes to as you call it "fix" a phobia. No slick production work, just easy.

WOOF - R U happy nnooowww? Pood :)