Stage hypnotists employ the usual principles of achieving a hypnotic state. However, therapy is not undertaken and the purpose is to use the hypnotic state to enable the volunteers to accept suggestions for entertainment purposes. For example, they may be asked to imagine that they are sitting on a beautiful beach, with the sun beating down on them, they are applying sun lotion and then suddenly a fly is attracted to the sun lotion and the more they try to swat it the louder it buzzes and the closer it flies. Other popular ‘skits’ include the volunteers imagining they are ballet dancers, or space men. The volunteers’ capacity for imagination is fully utilised during this process. Due to time constraints, only the fastest responders to suggestion are often kept on stage and those who are slower to respond or less demonstrative are sometimes thanked and asked to return to their seats.
Whilst it may appear that the stage hypnotist is in control (and may even give that impression) they only have whatever control the volunteers give them. The volunteers co-operate with the hypnotist’s suggestions, allowing themselves to have fun. It is a common misconception that stage hypnosis shows only use people who are drunk or acting. In fact, being drunk and hypnotised is often not a pleasant combination and a good stage hypnotist will easily be able to spot someone who is not in hypnosis.
For reasons of safety and effectiveness a stage hypnotist will often give clear advice at the start of the show regarding those for whom volunteering would not be appropriate and this will often include those with heart conditions, on medication, particularly strong medication, those with epilepsy, those who are pregnant or who suffer any significant mobility, vision or hearing impairment, as well as those who are drunk or under the influence of drugs.
There is a Federation of Ethical Stage Hypnotists and their members must all be of a sufficient standard and suitably insured and the members follow a defined code of conduct.
