My first presentation - hypnotherapy for actors

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Permalink Reply by James Malone on January 19, 2011 at 9:14am

Samantha, what a wonderful opportunity for you!  First use your hypnotic skills to get yourself in the mindset that you are playing the role of a supremely confident and entertaining speaker-how does she move, sound, feel etc? How does she relate to the crowd "I love these people and they are going to love me back." Anchor in that state with a post hypnotic cue. 

Get the crowd involved. Use some suggestibility experiments with the group to show that whatever is vividly imagined is experienced by the subconscious mind as if it were real. Its my understanding that a lot of acting methods draw upon this idea already, so it shouldn't be hard for them to relate.

 

Share how a hypnosis professional can help alleviate unhealthy fears like stage fright. You might also mention how a hypnotist can help with eating and exercise habits as appearance is often very important with performing artists. Or with quitting smoking as that habit can be rough on the voice. Good luck! Jim

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on January 19, 2011 at 9:35am

I do similar workshops for bellydancers, music majors, stage magicians, ballroom dancers, actors, and so on. I typically take about an hour and a half for my workshop.

 

First off, realize that they will be perfect, because good acting involves self-hypnosis.

 

Second, teach them the lemon experiment. Stage fright causes dry mouth, and the lemon visualization gets rid of it as well as being a great tool for teaching how hypnosis works.

 

Stress ball and circle of excellence are good techniques to use here. Circle of excellence can be adapted to stepping into character as well.

 

Have fun!

 

James

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on January 19, 2011 at 10:07am

Hi Sam,

You will be presenting to 100 actors -- How cool and exciting is that? I mention this because it is wise to consider that the sensations that you are experiencing are more likely to be excitement than nerves.  Didja know that Sir Lawerence O. the great actor/director taught his students at the Royal Academy that their internal "butterflies" were a signal that they were primed for a great performance...The power of the reframe works because in this case the only difference in the sensations that we call excitement or nerves -- is what we think about the experience -- 

 

Notice - how I utilize acting with this self-hypnosis exercise--

 

 

 

Self-hypnosis is a lot like acting - It involves activating beliefs and suspending disbeliefs - By the time you leave this room you will realize that you already have a black belt in self-hypnosis and you will leave with some techniques that will help you be more effective actors and performers--

 

My advice is to teach them how to create a resource that state they can use to overcome stage fright, build confidence, memorize lines and access emotions-- And remember to put the fun into it--

 

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Samantha on January 20, 2011 at 5:48am

Thanks for your input Jim much appreciated and you're right a little self hypnosis myself would go a long wy to making an outstanding presentation.

 

As we say in England Cheers :-)

James Malone said:

Samantha, what a wonderful opportunity for you!  First use your hypnotic skills to get yourself in the mindset that you are playing the role of a supremely confident and entertaining speaker-how does she move, sound, feel etc? How does she relate to the crowd "I love these people and they are going to love me back." Anchor in that state with a post hypnotic cue. 

Get the crowd involved. Use some suggestibility experiments with the group to show that whatever is vividly imagined is experienced by the subconscious mind as if it were real. Its my understanding that a lot of acting methods draw upon this idea already, so it shouldn't be hard for them to relate.

 

Share how a hypnosis professional can help alleviate unhealthy fears like stage fright. You might also mention how a hypnotist can help with eating and exercise habits as appearance is often very important with performing artists. Or with quitting smoking as that habit can be rough on the voice. Good luck! Jim

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Permalink Reply by Samantha on January 20, 2011 at 5:50am

I'm loving the lemon visualisation for the dry mouth cause by nerves - I will definitely be incorporating this thank you x

James Hazlerig said:

I do similar workshops for bellydancers, music majors, stage magicians, ballroom dancers, actors, and so on. I typically take about an hour and a half for my workshop.

 

First off, realize that they will be perfect, because good acting involves self-hypnosis.

 

Second, teach them the lemon experiment. Stage fright causes dry mouth, and the lemon visualization gets rid of it as well as being a great tool for teaching how hypnosis works.

 

Stress ball and circle of excellence are good techniques to use here. Circle of excellence can be adapted to stepping into character as well.

 

Have fun!

 

James

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Permalink Reply by Samantha on January 20, 2011 at 5:52am

Michael, wise words indeed - I love the butterflies in the tummy reframe - I really appreciate you taking your time to answer my query I've watched a number of your clips in the past and absolutely love what you do.

 

Thanks again Sam :-)

Michael Ellner said:

Hi Sam,

You will be presenting to 100 actors -- How cool and exciting is that? I mention this because it is wise to consider that the sensations that you are experiencing are more likely to be excitement than nerves.  Didja know that Sir Lawerence O. the great actor/director taught his students at the Royal Academy that their internal "butterflies" were a signal that they were primed for a great performance...The power of the reframe works because in this case the only difference in the sensations that we call excitement or nerves -- is what we think about the experience -- 

 

Notice - how I utilize acting with this self-hypnosis exercise--

 

 

 

Self-hypnosis is a lot like acting - It involves activating beliefs and suspending disbeliefs - By the time you leave this room you will realize that you already have a black belt in self-hypnosis and you will leave with some techniques that will help you be more effective actors and performers--

 

My advice is to teach them how to create a resource that state they can use to overcome stage fright, build confidence, memorize lines and access emotions-- And remember to put the fun into it--

 

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Dennis Robinson PhD on January 20, 2011 at 8:59am

My friend, I think James hit the nail on the head and that's exactly what works as in my former life I was a trainer of the art of Public Speaking and it is the same as in everything related to this field of the mind and that is it all begins with visualizing the outcome you're wanting to achieve and as you actually see yourself performing successful and they will all want to be you as you're up there being so successful and speaking fluently and playing your part so well and it doesn't matter the size of the class it is all the same you define your role and you rehearse it and then just do it.

I would like to hear about your success story afterwards, because it should prove an interesting experience.

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Permalink Reply by Samantha on January 21, 2011 at 7:46am

Thanks for that Dr Dennis - I shall indeed look forward to reporting back how it went on Sunday .... Bring it on!!

Dr. Dennis Robinson PhD said:

My friend, I think James hit the nail on the head and that's exactly what works as in my former life I was a trainer of the art of Public Speaking and it is the same as in everything related to this field of the mind and that is it all begins with visualizing the outcome you're wanting to achieve and as you actually see yourself performing successful and they will all want to be you as you're up there being so successful and speaking fluently and playing your part so well and it doesn't matter the size of the class it is all the same you define your role and you rehearse it and then just do it.

I would like to hear about your success story afterwards, because it should prove an interesting experience.

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