Hi,

I am recently interested in learning about hypnotism (sure this must be a redundant subject but couldn't find it on the search engine) and I was wondering what are the must-read books or must-seen DVDs (seems that it is more on books)? I also know that it is quite better to find someone to introduce you and guide you in the art of hypnotism, but how do you do that (I live in France)? I heard about reality is plastic and erickson, should I get these books first? What are the differences of schools?

Oh forget it I just saw the Zap demo on penguin and I think I'll stick to that (just joking, I didn't find it quite eleguant, didn't like what is said about the product, plus I have elbow tendinitis so I wouldn't like someone doing that to me!).

Thanks for answering for the hundredth time to this questions.

My opinion:

Best book:

Ronning Guide to Modern Stage Hypnosis by Geoffrey Ronning, Wendy Ronning, David Botsford, and Chris Frolic (Hardcover - Jan 10, 2008)

Also some friends have recommended a basic book I have not read...

Reality is Plastic. The Art of Impromptu Hypnosis. By Anthony Jacquin

Best DVD's for practical application to stage (and also reasonably priced)...the DVD's from these guys...

http://www.vegasstagehypnosis.com/

John and Richard both post here...ask them your questions about their products in this thread.

The link provided has a wealth of knowlege just a click away.

"Reality is Plastic" is very good for inductions and informal situations but not for putting on a stage show. I'd say the must read is Ormond McGill's "New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism".
http://tinyurl.com/7uc4et

Having said that, I should point out that I'm a hypnotherapist and I don't do stage hypnosis.

Barry

You will find many recommendations for Ormond McGills "New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism". For its time it was written it is good. The Ronning book is just far better in many ways...practical, complete, and written for more modern audiences. As I (and others) have mentioned before, it is about 80% of his expensive DVD course (which is his in-person stage course).

I have done many, many stage shows. I stand by my recommendation of Ronning's book as the new standard, over McGill's works. Ronning's book isn't just a little better, it is a lot better.

The link I gave above is still your best resource for learning stage hypnotism from DVD's...but just in case scrolling up is too tough today....

http://www.vegasstagehypnosis.com/

Thanks for the mention Barry, I like the fact that a hypnotherapist has found value in my book. You are right it though 'Reality is Plastic' is not a guide to stage hypnosis. I haven't read Ronning but will soon as the testimonials are just tooo good to ignore. If you plan to do stage hypnosis the one I also recommend is Deeper and Deeper by Jon Chase.

Anthony

Ronnings book should replace Ormond McGills outdated book as the standard.
It is excellent for a beginner.

For fear of being shot, hung, drawn & quatered..

If your starting out the less money you spend the better

Firstly I'd search for Richard Nongards Free Training clips on You Tube and also clips from Tom Silver,between them you can get started at no charge.

Then 100% Free of charge you can search for Jonathan Royle's Hypnotherapy Course Website and download a 513 page course which will teach you everything you need to know.

If Street Hypnosis is your thing then I'd say invest into Nongard & Cerbones Street Trance & Speed Trance DVDS and Anthony Jacquins Reality is Plastic.

Stage Hypnosis wise again Nongard, but also Jonathan CHase's Deeper & Deeper are great starting points...

And bang for buck wise you can get entire DVD courses teaching pretty much anything you want to know on certain famous auction sites at next to no cost.

Whatever you do please don't fall into the trap of becoming a seminar junky who is searching for the holy grail or those "magic words" which work every time and don't exist.

Real World Experience is by far the best teacher...

Photo-Wizard, I agree that those things can teach you a great deal ABOUT hypnosis. You can find many books at your public library, too. Here in the U.S., there is something called "interlibrary loan" where you can get books from associated library systems on loan from your local library for just a dollar or two. So the excuse of "it's too far to travel to get a book" just doesn't wash any more.

I further agree that there are "seminar junkies" who are searching for that "one more thing" that will give them the inner secret that puts it all together.

However, your implication seems to be that getting an in-person training is overrated and unimportant. If that was not your intent, I apologize. However I would respectfully suggest that the most effective and best way to learn hypnosis is through an in-person training. It saves lots of time, allows you to practice with a variety of people while a trained and experienced instructor is observing and there to give specific guidance and help.

IMO, once you have some real, in-person training, the books and videos are great for expanding upon your skills. I have several hundred books, audios and videos. They range from great to really bad. But I've learned from all of them. I've learned the most, however, from in-person trainings.

I realize there are some people who will say, "It's too far away to get the training" or "It costs too much." To you, I'm calling you out and telling you the truth: that's B.S.

Brown bag your lunch, stop going to movies and clubs, get rid of cable or satellite TV, cancel your cell phone or go with a cheaper plan, get a second job or after school job. Within two or three months you'll have plenty to take any workshop. Take the class and the go back to your old lifestyle with a new and valuable skill.

The truth is, if you want to learn, you can. It's up to you.

Hi DmKraig

I agree completely with every word you have said and would encourage anyone (who can afford it) to get personal training.

However I'd hate themto be brainwashed into needing the next seminar and the next....and the next

And lets not forget how many Excellent Self-Taught hypnotists there are around the world (ironically a large majority of the most successful and richest hypnotists around the world actually taught themselves)

As I wrote, I agree with you about seminar junkies. I'll add, I strongly agree with you. I've attended too many trainings where people passed and were certified basically so they could attend (and pay for) the next set of trainings. I've seen people certified to be hypnosis trainers who shouldn't be certified to tie shoe laces. Luckily, most of them never actually use their certifications. In most cases, they attend because they like attending workshops and the trainers give them certifications to keep their money rolling in. It's the dirty secret of seminars.

However, that does NOT invalidate the usefulness of any seminar. In NLP they say that the meaning of any communication is the response you get. Similarly, the value of any seminar is what you get out of it. While email and even phone calls or video conferencing are valuable, the best answer to a question, the best correction to a problem in technique (IMO) is the one you get immediately from an experienced trainer.

You are correct that, indeed, there are many excellent self-taught hypnotists. But most of those are ones who learned ten and twenty years ago when the world (and especially here in the U.S.) wasn't quite so litigious. Further, it is easier, more inexpensive, and much faster to learn correctly from a trainer than it is to spend months or years learning through trial and error (and potentially legal trials from your failures). The truth is, hypnosis can be taught to any interested person of average intelligence rather quickly. But if you've looking on the internet and read some of the books I have you know there is lots of highly dubious material (can we say, "Zap?") out there that could potentially cause harm. There are scads of books with questionable concepts and ideas that are likely to lead people away from success rather than toward it.

Some people may point out that even hypnotists can't agree on certain definitions. That's true. But when it comes to the ethical practice of hypnosis, the techniques are established. Some of the concepts out there (if I have to read one more PR induction as the "best" thing available I'm going to S C R E A M !) are outdated or even dangerous (see some other people's comments on McGill's book).

Plus, if you're starting out, try getting insurance for your shows without showing proof that you know what you're doing.

Thanks guys!

From a budding Hypnotist.

Great resources and ideas.

Really, thanks...

Ormond Mcgills. I second that one. good books.

Forget the free stuff. Spend all of your kids college money on everything out there and learn all you can. Then get hypnothearpy for OCD.

Candin

McGill's book, as has been pointed out, is out of date and vastly over-rated. For the pure beginner the best I have come across is Eddie Burke's Secrets of Stage and Cabaret Hypnosis. It will guide you well through your first show. Reality is Plastic, while not dealing with stage hypnosis, will also get you there, as well a book by David Knight, but the name escapes me now.
Jonathsn Royale, while he is long-winded, is bang on the money too.
You do not need personal coaching. It can be learnt from books. All it takes is neck - and presentational skills.
If you want to learn about hypnosis, all the recommendations on this thread will be useful. If you want to learn to do it, then joint a Toastmasters Club and become a brilliant presenter.