WARNING - The Truth about Stage Hypnosis by Chris Doc Strange

If you look around the web trying to find a competent Stage Hypnotist, here's a few SECRETS you need to be aware of, lets call them...HYPNOTIPS:

"ALL HYPNOSIS, IS SELF HYPNOSIS"

Get your Head round that one try you must . Complicated it is not my young Jedi.

I make this very clear when I work, that EVERYTHING you do on stage is because you are HAPPY to do it.

The name Hypnosis sticks as does Stage Hypnotists and Comedy Hypnotist because unless you are REALLY GOOD (and I'm OK) you have to call it something otherwise your just a Bloke in a Suit on a Stage Telling Strangers what to do.

"I've seen Reps at Club 18-30 tell people what to do better than most hypnotists."

What makes a good "Hypnotist" is someone who makes it look like they have a certain Power over someone else, while this is in fact nonsense.

People can be fooled, because people want to be fooled - When they Feel safe to do so.

After all, you're on stage, in front of lots of people, your friends and family, it's not like your going to do anything really bad. You just wouldn't let yourself.

It is really nice to be in the hands of someone who have guided many people before into self hypnosis. When you've done it once, you can do it yourself.

Truth is, you use self hypnosis all the time anyway, when your driving, at work, day dreaming, reading a book, watching a movie, its all self hypnosis to a certain extent.

I Wish there was a Better Word for what I do, but I'm kind of stuck with HYPNOTIST.

Hypno is Greek for Sleep from the Personification of Sleep "Hypnos". It's not Sleep at all you know, it just looks like it because people have there eyes shut. I mean, I sit down on the Loo to poo and I sit down on a chair to sit. Just because i'm sitting on a chair doesn't mean I'm having a poo.

INSURANCE:

We used to be covered by our Union "Equity" who at any other time I work I am covered by £10m Public Liability Insurance, But as a Hypnotist I am not covered unless I go to a separate insurance company.

Anyone who claims they have Insurance because they are a Member of Equity is wrong if they are performing stage hypnosis.

"It is not difficult to get the insurance, almost anyone can, you just have to be willing to pay for it."

"HAVING STAGE HYPNOTIST INSURANCE DOESN'T MAKE A BETTER HYPNOTIST!"

"Though it does make the lesser hypnotist feel more confident in taking risks as he is "Insured"

In fact, if they've been doing hypnotism for five minutes after watching some street hypnosis DVD they bought from a magic shop , they could then blag their way into getting insured.

What it does need a Experience to know who to use and who to send away, what kinds of things will make an audience laugh without embarrassing the volunteer.

Being Funny is Very important when performing Stage Hypnotism - Tough to do when you are also trying to be Serious at the same time!

TRUTHFULLY

Because I'd be accepting every gig I was offered. I did that when I was a kid and Experience has taught me to be very choosy when accepting work.

But then I've turned down TV shows that could have set my career alight, I'm not always right ya know "

EXPERIENCE:

If you're having an extension built, do you go with the bloke who has more tattoos than the Queen (Have you seen her naked? No? Then be quiet) he looks like Charles Manson but he's built thousands of great extensions over the years and you have friends who swear he's amazing, or do you go with the guy who has a nice web site, is a lot cheaper, he's watched a few DVD's and built a BBQ for friend?

a Hypnotist could have loads of certificate printed up that would impress you. They wouldn't be worth the ink.

Look at that Dr woman who helped people get slim on TV by checking their Poo, all her qualifications where bought of the Internet. I could do that. I know one entertainer who has a few doctorates that mean nothing.

TRAINING:

Some Stage Hypnotists like to bang on about Hypnotherapy Training and how they have been helping people stop smoking, lose weight and they cold Help You Too.

ANYONE CAN BE A HYPNOTHERAPIST (and stage hypnotist) WITHOUT ANY TRAINING AT ALL.

Do You want an Experienced Entertainer at your Event?, or someone trying to sell you DVD's for Feeling more confident and help you lose weight?

For heavens sake, it's harmless entertainment, not a self help therapy session.

Lesser stage hypnotists ALWAYS harp on about training, because that's what Normal people expect to hear when someone has learned something. You've GOT to have Training, right? I bet there's nothing you're good at that didn't have professional training and heaps of certificates right?

Good Point, Did you even read the the Number One Factual Statement at the top of this page?

MEMBERSHIP:

There are a few clubs that offer membership to hypnotists. Again, if you are willing to pay the subscription fee, you can become a member.

DVDS, BOOKS and ONLINE TRAINING, FORUMS etc:

I get requests. Not every day, or every week. They come in spurts. What a lovely vision that presents.

When these requests
"Can you teach me to hypnotize"
"I want to be a stage hypnotist, where do I start, do you run a course?"
"Are you gay? You look gay"
come in, I tend to answer with a question (annoying that).

To be a Stage Hypnotist, you have to be a Middle of the road Stand up Comedian, Crap Magician, Useless Juggler, Bad DJ, Tone deaf Musician and have No taste in clothes.

You can't get a normal job and you think bossing people around on stage is exotic.

Why do you think hypnotists, generally wear those Suits? Because they want to look important.

Sadly, you don't get gravitas just from a suit, but a nice suit is an easy way to dress when you want people to thing you are more important than you are.

I only did a comedy hypnotist show for a laugh one year and intended to join the comedy scene. That was 20 years ago and I'm still thinking about joining the comedy scene!

Oh, and I go on stage looking like a complete dick and do a great act. Pah, who needs gravitas.

Throw money at it, get a decent web designer (don't do what I've done, it looks like its been done by a blind monkey. To be fair, I have got bad eyes, but it's unfair to suggest that I am as intelligent as a Monkey) .

I have found that the better the entertainer, the more poxy the web site. I would say that though.

Then, Slag off everyone who isn't in the same club as you, or have been daft enough to jump through hoops and pay too much for insurance which they should have from Equity anyway.

DOC'S TOP TIPS FOR BOOKING ANY 'HYPNOTIST'

get a recommendation from someone who has seen them in action, or you have seen yourself.

2/ Hypnotists (all people do this) want you to believe certain things about them:

that they are better than others, they have insurance, they are a hypnotherapist, they are a member of a secret society etc .

GO WITH YOUR INSTINCT! If you don't like the sound of them, move on, you are probably right.

If they sound like they are trying to hypnotise you into booking them, either they are mental or you are paranoid, don't go for that one.

Everyone knows there is going to be a hypnotist show that night. Don't surprise everyone or the poor hypnotist will struggle to get volunteers.

If there no willing volunteers, that's not the hypnotists fault. So the Tip is this.

But we might just get along, so call me 07976884254 or 0800 652 444 or 01454857001

Chris Doc Strange, 34 School rd, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2DA, UK.
Tel: 0800 652 4442 - SMS/MOB +447976884254

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