The FREE boot camp and advanced ultimate everything you want to learn about beings a stage hypnotist class.

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Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 3, 2011 at 7:19am

If you  want to book a high school show there are two very easy ways to do this. Some states have a book that list all the high schools in your state.  Call or email your state capital and ask for a list of all the public schools. Some schools are listed online and all you do is a Google search for high schools + your county and state. Once you have a list of schools make a flyer or post card and send it to the school. For grad night shows you should put "Attention Grad Night Committee" in the address.  Send out as many as possible and make sure your phone number and web site are clearly visibly on the flyer. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

James 

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 3, 2011 at 7:52am

Lets start at the beginning. You’ve never done a show and you’re wondering where to start and you’ve found HypnoThoughts. In a perfect world you would have a background in hypnosis but you don’t so that’s why your here.  The fist thing you need to learn is stage safety and I will talk about that more later but there are several free stage safety classes on line and the first thing you should do is read it and get your show off to a safe start.  I will get to the induction later but for now there are many more things to  learn before you even get them on stage.
A stage hypnosis show is different then hypnotherapy and here is a very important point. A hypnotherapists can get state certification in some states so they can accept insurance payments for there service. In California you do not need any training to be a hypnotherapists, you only need the state certification if your going to except insurance payment.  In stage hypnosis that is no such thing as state certification for stage hypnosis. You do need to complete a stage safety course to get insurance and I would defiantly say to get the insurance. In fact most schools, colleges and fairs will not book you without it.  What the stage hypnosis schools give you is there schools certification and if they have some kind of organization they have created like the “League of World Hypnotist” or some thing like that. But to be clear there is no such thing as  state certification in stage hypnosis and many schools lead you to believe that you can’t perform  without they certification or any certification.  What is important is that you know what your doing and how to do it.
Stage hypnosis is a very different type of show to do. Unlike magic or mind reading you are doing two shows at once. One show for the people on stage and one show for the audience. Remember you have to keep the audience entertained when your getting your show started and get the people under.   Your first five minutes of the show can make or break your show.  You need to show the audience you know what your doing and they have to like and trust you. You do this with your per show talk and I will go into what and how to get people to like and trust you more.  You need to understand that once the show is going and  the people on stage are under you are responsible for their safety, so the stage should have room for you to work with the people on stage and have a safe area in front of the stage where all the action will be going on.  Stage safety is more common scents than anything but there are things that can and do go wrong on stage and knowing what to look out for go’s a long way towards  have a safe and fun show.

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 3, 2011 at 3:11pm

Part 2 for complete newbies: 

The chairs and the stage/floor are the first thing you should know how to set up.  I like to put 20 chairs on stage and find that I can safely control and watch over 20 people without getting overwhelmed. The idea is to put the chairs next to each other so that they can lean on the person next to them when they are under.   When possible I like to spilt the chairs into two groups of ten and have a space in the middle. But if room is a problem I'll do two rows of ten, keeping room in between the rows for the people in the back to come up to the stage without stepping on the feet of the people in the back. The back row should have room for you to walk behind the last row. 

When on a high stage there should be room for the people in the front row of chairs to safely get up and move around so that they are never close to the edge of the stage. This also applies to the sides of the stage. I always use a wireless mic but if you do find that there is a wired microphone, make sure your aware of the microphones wire at all times. When on a raised stage make sure the steps to the stage are easy and safe for the people who come up. 

Your pre show talk is your chance to let the crowed know you and trust you. This is your chance to explain to the people why they should come on stage and what to expect. You can see how I do my pre show opening here . Many people don't have a idea how hypnosis works and only know what they have seen on TV or in the movies. So its up to you to make them feel comfortable with you and your abilities. At the time the show your watching was taped I was close to 380 pounds and used it to open show with.  

Some hypnotist like to do a pre test on the audience  but I never did. I find that you don't really know who is going to be good by one simple test and when done right you shouldn't need to pre test anyway. So I'll do the make a circle skit you've see in my pre show opening. The circle skit if for two reasons. One it gets the people in the audience involved in your show and second it breaks the ice by having a good laugh on them. 

As you see I make it clear in my pre show that its up to them to go under, a theme that runs throughout my induction.  I'll also make it clear that there are more people then chairs on stage so if they are picked they really have to give it there best. I ask who wants to come on stage and have them raise their hands. You can see I'm picking people at random with no reason for picking them other then they want to come on stage. In the past I would let anyone come up on a first come basis, but found out that sometimes people would rush the stage or that the people who did come up did so to joke around and not go under. Also being picked puts pressure on them to try harder.

 

Permalink Reply by Joe Homs on March 3, 2011 at 3:57pm

This is a great resource James.  Thanks for sharing.

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 5, 2011 at 3:21pm

Thanks Joe. I've posted a blog for the advance hypnotist who are ready to start printing with a logo on them, will have an idea what kind of format it should be created in.  If you have any questions including marking your show ask away.

Permalink Reply by Joe Homs on March 5, 2011 at 4:03pm

My main questions are around marketing the show and getting clients.  I've gotten a few corporate gigs and private parties, but only through people I've known.  Anything good you can teach us about that would be much appreciated.

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 5, 2011 at 4:09pm

@ Joe. That will take a few hours to write, then have my wife spell check it. LOL But I'll make it the next article.

Permalink Reply by John B. Lee IV on March 5, 2011 at 4:18pm

How cool is this... I literally told a friend 2 days ago that the stage is probably my next logical progression. Thank you for the opportunity...and the perfect timing

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 7, 2011 at 8:52am

How to market your show part one.

Marketing is where most hypnotist go wrong or at least don't know how or where to start. Why do you thing there are so many people teaching stage hypnosis, one word Marketing.  Stage hypnosis is a 40 hour a week job and most of the time off the road is spent on marketing.  So where do you start? With a web site.  Your web site and business card will get you started. Why you ask? Because your doing a show that most people have never seen or your competing in a market with other hypnotist. Your web site should have in my opinion your contact information and a link to your email or a booking form that they can fill out.  You should have your promo video on the first page and it should be easy to find and play.  If you don't have any video of your show you can use then try and find some good still pic's to use and build it around that.  Your web site should be a reflection of you, and try to give them on idea of what kind of show you do and a short biography about yourself.  Your business card should make it clear your a comedy hypnotist and not a hypnotherapist.  A good business card should be unique looking and a good looking card will get the conversation started. Pass them out to friends, family and anyone you meet.  You need to decide what kind of show you want to do or what market your going for like , Comedy Clubs, Fairs, Corporate or Private Parties.  You can see on this site how to book a Grad Night show and if this is the field you are going for then your site should be clean and I would never post any videos of your self doing a R rated show giving someone an orgasm. Why? Because the parents will see this and  freak out.  I do a very funny R rated show at clubs and some colleges but you will never see me doing anything to adults  on my YouTube Channel.  I work all the markets except Curse Ships and the only reason I don't do the ships is the pay is not worth the time you put into getting to and staying on a ship. It can be up to seven days of travel and time on  board a ship for as little as $1500 a week. The up side of doing curse ships is you get to travel an see the world but for me after years of plane flights and car rentals I find that a vacation for me is staying at home and sleeping in my own bed at night. Also keep in mind that it is called show business for a reason, this is the way your going to pay your bills and feed your family so its' always good to look at the big picture and build your show and your reputation over many years of work so that you make a name for your self, not as the worlds fastest or best or greatest but someone they can call when someone wants good entreatment at a fair price. What market would you like me to explain first? I've started on Grad Nights and you will see a easy simply way to find and book them here.  I've also have a blog here on how to get your artwork ready so that you can print it at any sized from a business card to a billboard with the same file.

Permalink Reply by Steven F. on March 9, 2011 at 6:09pm

James, this info is very much appreciated! When you talk about marketing can you touch on how far in advance you send your direct mail to schools for post proms / grad nights and how often you mail to each school if more than once? Thanks for everything!


James Szeles said:

How to market your show part one.

Marketing is where most hypnotist go wrong or at least don't know how or where to start. Why do you thing there are so many people teaching stage hypnosis, one word Marketing.  Stage hypnosis is a 40 hour a week job and most of the time off the road is spent on marketing.  So where do you start? With a web site.  Your web site and business card will get you started. Why you ask? Because your doing a show that most people have never seen or your competing in a market with other hypnotist. Your web site should have in my opinion your contact information and a link to your email or a booking form that they can fill out.  You should have your promo video on the first page and it should be easy to find and play.  If you don't have any video of your show you can use then try and find some good still pic's to use and build it around that.  Your web site should be a reflection of you, and try to give them on idea of what kind of show you do and a short biography about yourself.  Your business card should make it clear your a comedy hypnotist and not a hypnotherapist.  A good business card should be unique looking and a good looking card will get the conversation started. Pass them out to friends, family and anyone you meet.  You need to decide what kind of show you want to do or what market your going for like , Comedy Clubs, Fairs, Corporate or Private Parties.  You can see on this site how to book a Grad Night show and if this is the field you are going for then your site should be clean and I would never post any videos of your self doing a R rated show giving someone an orgasm. Why? Because the parents will see this and  freak out.  I do a very funny R rated show at clubs and some colleges but you will never see me doing anything to adults  on my YouTube Channel.  I work all the markets except Curse Ships and the only reason I don't do the ships is the pay is not worth the time you put into getting to and staying on a ship. It can be up to seven days of travel and time on  board a ship for as little as $1500 a week. The up side of doing curse ships is you get to travel an see the world but for me after years of plane flights and car rentals I find that a vacation for me is staying at home and sleeping in my own bed at night. Also keep in mind that it is called show business for a reason, this is the way your going to pay your bills and feed your family so its' always good to look at the big picture and build your show and your reputation over many years of work so that you make a name for your self, not as the worlds fastest or best or greatest but someone they can call when someone wants good entreatment at a fair price. What market would you like me to explain first? I've started on Grad Nights and you will see a easy simply way to find and book them here.  I've also have a blog here on how to get your artwork ready so that you can print it at any sized from a business card to a billboard with the same file.

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 9, 2011 at 6:20pm

@Steve I'll send out the Grad Night postcards around November of the year before. That gives them time to get back to school and by November they are starting to get the Grad Night commit together. I'll still get calls for grad nights as late as April or May. The parents have no idea what they are booking so sometimes if they have never booked a hypnotist for their Grad Nights, I'll mail them a DVD or a show, so that they have an Idea of why it has to be quit and why the stage has to have room for the kids to move around on stage. Sending the DVD saves me a lot of hassles by giving them an Idea of what is involved with the stage set-up.

Permalink Reply by James Szeles on March 10, 2011 at 10:03am

Booking a Corporate show.

Corporate and some private party shows can pay the most but there is a down side, they are some of the hardest shows to do. A lot has to do with the company and how well the employes like and trust each other. When your doing a small corporate show 100 or less (yes I'll do a corporate show with as little as 35 people) you really need to enforce the idea that no one will do anything embarrassing, this is their biggest fear. You also need to stress the value of hypnosis and how it can make you relax, I like to tell them it can improved their golf game and even help them make more money. Larger groups are a little easer and many time their spouse will come on stage. But with a good pre talk and a little longer induction will help go under.

Getting booking for corporate shows takes time and most hypnotist use agents.  But if you put a corporate page on your site with a few clips of past shows it go's a long way toward getting a booking. Most of the time the marketing manager or their assistants book the show. When  I send out postcard (cheeper to mail) I'll put Attention: Marketing Manger on the second line of the address below the companies name. If they don't book the entertainment they know who does, and by having that line in the address keep the post card from being thrown away at first glance.

Booking Private Parties

Private parties are a little easer then Corporate shows and are a mix of different people getting together for the event. Once again you have to take your time and expand to the people that your not there to make fun or humiliate them and that they will fill relaxed and refreshed, not to mention their will be the stars of the show. For both shows you have to make it clear that this is a audience participation show and if people don't want to come up you can't make them.

If your just getting started in stage hypnosis and you want to get booking then you need to be your own PR person.  Call your local paper and tell them you have a great idea for a story about how to reduce stress with out and medicine.  If you have a local cable channel, most of them do fundraising for the station by having a online auction. I'll give them a show to auction and send them a poster or my press photo to go along with the discerption of what the show. I'll tell them its a $1500.00 value and that the person or company must be within 120 miles of me.  Get your web site up in the ranking by adding a links page to your web site. I have four links pages on my site and link other non hypnosis related web sites like a UFO site.  The more links the more people who have a chance to see your web site.  Early November is a good time to send out the post cards because that is when most company start planing their holiday parties , and the trend over the last ten years has been some companies have there Christmases parties in January to save money. Talk to everyone you meet and let them know what you do. I had jury duty last year and had to say my name and what i did for a living, I said I was an entertainer. The judge asked my what I do and when I said I way a hypnotist he was fascinated by it and keep asking me questions.  Everyone wants to know if hypnosis is real and this is your opening to give them your business card and a short explanation about what hypnosis is. I'll tell them to check out my YouTube channel. You are your best agent and by taking the time to take to stranger you never know where it will lead.

 

 

 

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