Entertainment Hypnosis
isn't just hypnosis,
it's ENTERTAINMENT
A discussion thread at the Hypnosis Technique Exchange morphed into a discussion of public speaking and hypnosis and then into a review of a particular book on stage or entertainment hypnosis.
One remark in the discussion is worth noting here as well.
"One thing I have noticed and do not understand yet is, some stage hypnotists are very entertaining and some are boring as hell, even though they seem to be competent at what they do. I vaguely recall Brian saying something about that at his seminar, so maybe he has an insight on this subject."
I vaguely remember saying something about that too. 🙂
Put simply some stage hypnotists are entertaining because they remember to put the entertainment first while others are boring because they have not learned the principles of entertainment and believe the hypnosis is all they need (although they may also be rather lousy hypnotists too). The cardinal rule of Entertainment Hypnosis is that it is Entertainment FIRST so give an ENTERTAINING SHOW by BEING ENTERTAINING rather than a stick in the mud. A show is NOT a lecture. While a lecture can be an entertaining show sometimes, a show that is treated as a lecture will more often than not fall flat on its face in the glorious manner of an uncomfortable faceplant and not in the slapstick funny way either.
Stage hypnosis is NOT the same as entertainment hypnosis and honestly you can be a so-so but competent hypnotist and still be a successful stage hypnotist as long as you are entertaining. With stage hypnosis, it is the entertainment factor that comes first. You are not being paid primarily as a hypnotist but as an entertainer who uses hypnosis to entertain . . . so, it is very important to BE ENTERTAINING.
Sometimes stage magicians switch to hypnosis as they see that hypnotists carry around less stuff and tend to get higher fees. Some of these magicians do well and others fail. In a large part their success is based upon whether or not they were entertaining magicians or whether or not they were merely tricksmiths who are good at technique but not so much on engaging presentation. Hypnotists who are entertainers must be master communicators and be so in highly entertaining ways. Some of the really entertaining stage hypnotists are stand up comedians who don't know much about hypnosis – just a few basic skillsets, often learned from a weekend course or a book – but they know about comedy and pacing and delivery and can react in the moment to what's happening and do so in an engaging and entertaining way.
Of course, hypnosis is inherently fascinating to many people so some stage hypnotists who have the personalities of wet stones are able to fascinate an audience because they can do simple suggestion effects . . . really, sticking someone's hands to their head has loads of pure entertainment value in and of itself. However, the folks who take it to the next level are the ones who can spin an entertaining tale (emphasis on entertaining) or riff some entertaining lines while running the show.
There are some amazingly boring celebrity hypnotists out there and I honestly am baffled by their seeming success as much as you are.
However, if someone wants to be a successful entertainment hypnotist then they need to have competence with hypnosis but they need to also make damned certain they are comfortable in front of an audience and that they can flow on their feet (not just think but act and react and engage with a fluidity so that it all seems so natural and alive).
There are quite a few clinical hypnotists who try to break into doing stage shows but they are not really comfortable as entertainers. Many aren't even comfortable at public speaking let alone as engaging public speakers. If you don't have "entertainment" in your DNA then you need to learn the skills and really work on yourself if you wish to be an entertainment hypnotist . . . or . . . you might consider sticking to demonstrational hypnosis events that are more about the clinical value of hypnosis rather than the entertainment value.
I strongly agree that hypnotists – all hypnotists – should take voice lessons, some oral interpretation workshops, and even some basic acting. I am very much in favor of hypnotists – especially those who wish to become entertainment hypnotists – learning improvisational comedy techniques to sharpen their ability to react in the moment (folks who take the walkabout or some of my speed courses will be reminded of the improvisation induction games we play with this purpose in mind as well with a hypnotic twist).
As to the Geoff Ronning book (Ronning Guide to Modern Stage Hypnosis) reviewed earlier in this discussion, I enjoyed it. I do believe that anyone considering stage hypnosis should get it . . . but then I believe any hypnotist should pretty much get anything and everything they can reasonably afford to get. If I had to choose one book, I would not choose the Ronning text as the only first book . . . I would suggest Jerry Valley's book (Inside Secrets of Stage Hypnotism) . . . yes, I know, some folks think his act is "old fashioned" but it works and he discusses structure and performance and provides outlines of three shows with pointers on how they are performed and how he manages his business. It's not enough, but it's a start. The Ronning book has things Valley's doesn't so it would be a good book to have as well. I know a lot of folks are down on Ormond McGill's big blue book (The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism) but I love it and I don't believe it is too old fashioned, in fact I consider it one of the most MUST-HAVE books for ANY hypnotist's library. I believe he was trying to be comprehensive for the time he wrote it and it works and much of the gags, skits, and show approaches presented are still valuable for folks working today, with tweaking. Jon Chase has a book (Deeper and Deeper) worth looking at as well. Naturally, when and if I ever finish an actual book on the subject rather than the manual for my live course then I will likely change my reccommendations, go figure. Of course, if you can manage live classes that is worthwhile (every once in awhile I offer one but most of the members of the exchange list would find one of the US or UK courses easier to get to; although I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to take courses from me . . . but I'm just that way sometimes . . . then again, they should ALSO take courses from others, the folks who specialize and only take courses from one teacher are cheating themselves of rounding experiences that could take their practice well beyond mere competence and into true mastery). Then there are the DVD courses, snarf 'em, watch 'em, take 'em on and then breathe material and make it your own.
Anyone serious about becoming an entertainment hypnotist really needs to see shows by as many performers as they can anyway so you won't just be getting info from one source . . . see shows performed by a LOT of folks. You will notice someone like Marshall Sylver peforms very differently from someone like Ormond McGill or Gil Boyne or Mark Savard or Flip Orley or Richard Rumble or Richard Nongard or John Cerbone or Tom Silver or Martin St. James or Pat Collins or Paul McKenna or Frank Santos or Brian David Phillips or that guy in that little dive down the street – see 'em all! While some great stage hypnotists have passed on so you won't be able to see them live, search out videos and study them. If you can't buy that many shows, then trade with other hypnotists your show for theirs. When I was starting out with putting together a show, I watched hundreds of stage shows on video (I've seen a number live but as I live in Taiwan and we don't have many stage hypnotists – mine is the only show that has any regularity and since it's just not convenient for me to jet to Las Vegas every weekend then snarfing up videos was important to me). If you search on google video or youtube you can find a lot of clips but you can also find whole shows posted by folks and these are goldmind. Outline the shows, see the structures and notice how the performer has adapted and modified the classic formulae to make the show their own.
Key words . . . make it your own . . . inject your personality into the performance. Do NOT become another Marshall Sylver (there are already too many of those). Honestly, you could take the very old show outline for the Concert of Hypnotism from the McGill book and do the bits in the order as written and make it a completely new and updated show simply by injecting your own personality . . . and there are still a lot of folks doing very well with that very act. However, don't perform it as McGill did (his style was a bit slow and cramped for today's audiences) but perform it with YOUR voice.
Oh . . . and please gods . . . do NOT use that hokey "radio" or "salesman" persona voice that Paul McKenna or Marshall Sylver use . . . I know THEY think they sound kool but it's a cliche that comes off less personable than just using your voice but with a bit more stage persona thrown in. Just my personal opinion on that one.
Just some thoughts . . . take 'em or leave 'em . . .
Of course, those of you in Taiwan or close enough in Asia to enjoy a short hop-over can enjoy some live comedy hypnosis this weekend. On Sunday, Jan. 3, I will be presenting my FUNNY HYPNOSIS (http://www.comedy.com.tw/node/373) comedy show at the Live COMEDY CLUB Taipei (http://www.comedy.com.tw) at 7:30pm. This is a general audience admission program and is bilingual in English with Chinese translation so bring your friends . . .
We're going to have a HYPNOTIC Good Time! So, join us! Go to http://www.comedy.com.tw/node/373 right now and reserve your tickets. Be sure to get a bunch of friends together as the show is always so much more fun when it's you or your friends volunteeringfor the fun on stage. This is the only show in Taiwan where the audience are the actual stars of the show so come and bring your friends and have a wonderful time to start the New Year off right with some Hypnotic Hilarity!
All the best,
Brian
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Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH [brian@briandavidphillips.com]
Hypnotist, Hypnotherapist, Intuitionist, Trance Wizard
President, Society of Experiential Trance
Associate Professor, NCCU, Taipei, Taiwan
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