TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SHOWS
Tips For A Successful Hypnosis Show
Following the guidelines of this document and understanding hypnosis will ensure a successful and safe performance. Please read this very carefully and forward a copy to the necessary parties such as sound technicians, committee members or facility managers. If you have any questions regarding this document, please contact your booking agent.
Audience:
-A Stage Hypnosis show is based totally on audience participation. The larger the audience the more successful the show can be. We want your guests to have a great experience and therefore it is great to have full focus on the entertainer and for the audience to be seated and ready to watch at the start of the show.
-You don’t want to do a "Surprise" show (i.e. the guests are there to experience a hypnosis show and know about it before-hand). Audiences should know that they are going to be seeing and partaking in an amazing and fun hypnosis show.
-A hypnosis show works best as stand-alone entertainment rather than combined with a variety show.
-You don’t want to coax, insist, embarrass, pressure, or otherwise manipulate anyone in attendance into volunteering to be hypnotized. Our stage hypnotism experience and a fundamental principle of hypnosis prove time and again that no one is hypnotizable against their will. Hypnosis is NOT something magical done to a person without their consent. Rather, hypnosis is entirely the result of what a person allows themselves to experience with expert guidance. Only sincerely willing and interested people become hypnotized; all others simply won't let it happen for them. Therefore, anyone forced to participate will be turned away from the stage and sent back to his or her seat. The hypnotist will be the one who picks the volunteers. No one else should pick them for them.
Staging:
-A performance area with a minimum area of 12'x24' and with a minimum of 10' foot floor to ceiling clearance, is preferred. Gymnasiums, cafeterias, common areas are totally fine. You just want to make sure there is space for the show. It is a big show!
-If a riser is used it should be sturdy and with no cracks in between sections. The riser should be placed flush against a wall for the safety of the volunteers. If the show is going to be performed on a ground floor without a stage or a riser, it should be in an open area that is visible to all audience members.
-The stage area should be unobstructed and clean. You will want to remove any plants, podiums, pianos etc. from the performing area.
-There should be a distance of no less than 5 feet from the performing area to the audience.
Chairs:
- Ideally you should have ready 15 to 20 identical armless chairs.
-Chairs should be arranged in a straight line across the stage.
Sound:
If performer is providing their own sound it is best to:
-Have access to the performing area 30 min before performance
-Have an electric outlet or extension cord plug within 3 feet of the performing space
If client is providing sound, the show will go best if you provide:
-A modern, well working sound system
-Two handheld wireless microphones that have brand new batteries
-A sound technician that is available 1 hour before the performance and through its completion. The technician may be responsible for sound cues.
-An mp3 jack for sound cues
Lighting:
-General room lighting is fine for a performance, although stage lighting with a technician is awesome when available
Photos, Audio and Video:
-Due to the nature and effects of hypnosis, flash photography is prohibited
-Audience members can feel free to take short videos and photos of the show, but recording and distributing full copies of the show is frowned upon.
What does a hypnosis show look like?
-JR will give a short talk about what will happen, how hypnosis works and how they pick volunteers
-JR will get volunteers onstage, often they will ask that they leave all personal items behind, and take off any loose shoes, hats or jewelry
-The participants will sit onstage and do some basic focus tests, these can be just as funny as the show!
-Some volunteers may be asked to go back to the audience. This is usually because they aren’t focusing. It’s nothing personal. The focus test is like an audition. Josh is looking for the candidates who are going to focus, and also help make it a hilarious and safe show. Not everyone who volunteers will be able to fulfill a role that for that specific show.
-JR will then do an induction and bring them into a trance.
-The participants are then ready to play and have a fun, safe and exciting time under hypnosis.
-JR will then have them perform a wide variety of comedic acts and demonstrations.
-When the show is almost over, the participants will be fully brought out of the trance feeling amazing and ready to have fun. They will no longer be hypnotized.