While trying to advise someone as to what to include in their “Stage Hypnosis Pre-talk” (the stuff we spout while trying to convince you to volunteer) it occurred to me I was having some difficulty beyond the usual key points because it’s not necessarily about finding the right words.
My good friend Jon Chase says you must also exude confidence, and I agree.
However, in my experience you must also demonstrate congruence.
Your actions and demeanour must be consistent with your words.
Potential volunteers seem to have an inbuilt radar for incongruence.
If they pick up subconsciously on some kind of inconsistency, the chances are they either won’t volunteer or you’ll lose them at some stage.
Stage Hypnosis, Walkaround/Street/Roving Hypnosis and Hypnosis for change-work (or Hypnotherapy) are three different disciplines requiring different skillsets.
But the one thing they all have in common is Hypnosis. To do any of the above you must be able to “do” Hypnosis.
Then you can apply either the stagecraft, the street tips and tricks or the therapy techniques.
Once you are confident in your own skills, your story and your mere presence combine with a few standard statements to become a big part of your pre-talk.
That kind of confidence and congruence only comes from experience.
Remember – Whenever you perform Hypnosis, you are not just representing yourself, you are representing me and every other Stage Hypnotist, Street Hypnotist and Hypnotherapist out there.
Do us all a favour. Make sure you know exactly what you’re doing before you even attempt to Hypnotise anyone else. Some of us are big and mean and like nothing less than paying for the mistakes of others.
These are just a few of the important questions you should be asking yourself:
Do I know how to wake them up?
Will I say and do the right thing?
Can I tell if they’re hypnotized or not?
Do I know how to make this safe for the subject, the onlookers and me?
What will I do if something goes wrong?
Can I truly call myself a Hypnotist?
Pre-talk” (the stuff we spout while trying to convince you to volunteer) it occurred
to me I was having some difficulty beyond the usual key points because it’s not
necessarily about finding the right words.
My good friend Jon Chase says you must also exude confidence, and I agree.
However, in my experience you must also demonstrate congruence.
Your actions and demeanour must be consistent with your words.
Potential volunteers seem to have an inbuilt radar for incongruence.
If they pick up subconsciously on some kind of inconsistency, the chances are they
either won’t volunteer or you’ll lose them at some stage.
Stage Hypnosis, Walkaround/Street/Roving Hypnosis and Hypnosis for change-work (or
Hypnotherapy) are three different disciplines requiring different skillsets.
But the one thing they all have in common is Hypnosis. To do any of the above you must
be able to “do” Hypnosis.
Then you can apply either the stagecraft, the street tips and tricks or the therapy
techniques.
Once you are confident in your own skills, your story and your mere presence combine
with a few standard statements to become a big part of your pre-talk.
That kind of confidence and congruence only comes from experience.
Remember – Whenever you perform Hypnosis, you are not just representing yourself, you
are representing me and every other Stage Hypnotist, Street Hypnotist and
Hypnotherapist out there.
Do us all a favour. Make sure you know exactly what you’re doing before you even
attempt to Hypnotise anyone else. Some of us are big and mean and like nothing less
than paying for the mistakes of others.
These are just a few of the important questions you should be asking yourself:
Do I know how to wake them up?
Will I say and do the right thing?
Can I tell if they’re hypnotized or not?
Do I know how to make this safe for the subject, the onlookers and me?
What will I do if something goes wrong?
Can I truly call myself a Hypnotist?
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