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The Saftey issue surrounding "the human bridge"

Know I have read books, seen shows, and even been a part of the "human bridge"
Where the hypnotist suggests total body catalypse and then places the induvidual on two stools or chairs and then attempts to stand on them... I had heard before that this skit/routine was very dangerous and that there was the potential for extream injuries to the neck and back... Having known this at the time, I was the human bridge, I held faith in the hypnotist and the way that I was positioned and even they way he stood on top, that it was okay... Given he had most of my back and half of my legs on either stool, and when he did stand on me, he was actually standing ontop of me over one of the stools... Now I have seen some other video's of other's doing it, and I question thier responsability with the saftey of thier volunteer... Before the skit they hypnotist did ask my if I had any pre exsiting conditions and if I was pregnant. the skit was a success. However I often question if this rutine is ethical when it comes to maintaining saftey of your volunteers. Just wondering what others think?

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Permalink Reply by Conrad Cook on September 4, 2008 at 12:14pm: I would not do that under any circumstances; nor would I encourage others to do it; and if a friend of mine were in a stage show where the hypnotist started to do that, I would extract my friend.

Conrad.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jason Linett, CH on September 4, 2008 at 12:38pm: You can ask the person if they have any injuries or not. They may answer honestly. Fast forward two weeks later. They hurt their back picking up something and don't associate it with the true cause, but instead remember you. Now what?

That person has a moment's hesitation, emerges, isn't lined up properly, etc. You both hit the ground, but you're okay because your volunteer broke your fall. Oops?

Your volunteer isn't pregnant, but becomes so within a few weeks, then suffers a miscarriage. Who put undue stress on her body? Hard to prove, but also hard to defend.

Your volunteer is okay with the idea, but her boyfriend or dad in the audience finds it disgraceful that you stood on their loved one.

There are just a ton of reasons not to do this.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by pickart on September 4, 2008 at 1:02pm: This effect is often described in magic books as a fake-hypnosis effect. Where the magician pretend to do some hypnosis and does then the body catalepsy often the shown with a big 'stone' that is smashed which is also a physical easy to explain effect. So also without hypnosis this remains a tricky thing to do.
It's in fact a very easy to do for a subject especially with shoulder (not neck) and calves supported.
You see often magician (fake) hypnotizing their assistant who is then lifted by two persons at shoulders and feet. Also very easy for that assistant to bear before she is put on a table before the levitation.
I think the risk is limited when nobody is standing on it. Try it yourself: you can even lift a leg and 2 arms without any effort.

Does somebody needs to stand on the subject? Isn't it impressive enough without load? Maybe another discussion?
A few years ago on german TV in a popular scientific TV program it was shown that this effect is easily to execute without hypnosis and that the weight on top of the person will not be felt be the subject since the forces will go to the chairs.
Of course many will think: why doing it then in a hypnosis show when it's easily to fake?
I think it's one of the most visualisations of a hypnosis show.
People sitting in a chair or dancing on stage: who thinks of hypnosis seeing e.g. a picture of it? So the only image that is so typical hypnosis is this body catalepsy.
That's why I made my logo out of it: it's fake, it's used in magic (I'm also a magician) and it's symbolizes a classic image of hypnosis.

I try to get a university doing an investigation on it.

regards,

PP

PS: sorry for my English errors.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Harold J. Hemberger on September 4, 2008 at 4:23pm: The insurance company that insures many of the stage hypnotist in the USA states that any injuries or claims arising from performing the human bridge or any variation of it, will NOT be covered.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Geoff Ronning - www.StageHypnosisCenter.com on September 4, 2008 at 4:25pm: Amanda,

I think anyone who does this with a volunteer is a nut. I think you have to have total disregard for subjects to even put them in such a position.

I take the same stance on every challenge effect such as eating a lemon, etc. Danger is just around the corner and to put someone in harms way (no matter how remote) is ridiculous.

Geoff Ronning; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reg Blackwood - The Quicknotist on September 4, 2008 at 5:35pm: Agreed.
It's a bit sad that a number of people I've spoken to recently remember this as "the highlight of the show" they went to.
Says a lot about the rest of the show, in my opinion!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - HypnosisGurus.com on September 4, 2008 at 6:13pm: Aside from safety issues, I think it is boring and anti-climactic. After all, we just spent the whole show making them stars, now suddenly we revert to 1950's "all powerful and mystical hypnotist". I have seen it done well as a closer, but more often than not, it comes accross as fake or has a poor outcome.
By the way, earlier today I did this with an UNHYPNOTIZED person (my son) in my office, just to demonstrate hypnosis has nothing to do with the effect...
(For those ready to call DHS, he is a high school graduate, knew what we were demonstrating, and nobody or nothing stood on top- it was a demonstration of the technique); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Justin James on September 4, 2008 at 8:01pm: Here is some definitive 1950's work!
Now that being said do what I say! Not what I have done!

The reality is that there are very few of us that have had the training necessary to do routines such as this... You go to a weekend course you are not going to have the skill nor the expertize necessary to do this routine..
And the ability to hurt someone is magnified a thousandfold with this routine.

As an advocate for the insurance industry I have had to deal directly with the insurers and this routine scares them period...

They see way too much liability and so the reality is if you perform this routine whether you are under Stephanie Weiss or NAME. you will not be covered..

Justin James
www.thehypnosiscompany.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - HypnosisGurus.com on September 4, 2008 at 8:18pm: Richard De La Font did it well, and so did Tery Stokes (who no longer does this), and I would imagine you do it well, you have the right personailty to do it well. But I hope people dont emulate you, as most cannot pull it off well, and as you point out, "do as I say not as I do!"; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Justin James on September 4, 2008 at 8:26pm: That's right I had training with Terry and I worked with many others over the years.... This is a very impressive routine however too dangerous... I have had problems with it as well and DO NOT DO IT anymore do to the dangers inherent in the routine....

Thanks for the complement Richard..

Justin; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by chris john on September 6, 2008 at 3:34am: Personally, i dont like seeing it done.
i just think its something that could go horribly wrong at any second.

also, i agree with some of the other replies, where they've said its an old fashioned skit.
mind you, dont know whats worse, this for physical boundries,
or turning people into barking dogs,chickens etc and degrading people ?
but i think thats another discussion.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Jonathan Royle aka Alex Smith on September 6, 2008 at 1:08pm: Here are two video links...

One is my promo which shows me th "Human Bridge" or Catalepsy sevral times at the end and the second is an explanation of how and why it works..

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-189281581587107333&ei=...

And:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqul1cS3f0I

I have nevr had any problems using this, and although nothing to do with hypnosis have found it to be A GREAT CONVINCER to audienece that Hypnosis is genuine and always gets me a huge Ovation (sometimes standing) due to the way I present it (which is not shown on these clips for obvious reasons) as its my pattter that makes it work

Cheers

Alex; ▶ Reply to This