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Zoto New user 32 Posts |
Hey All!
Been a very busy year for me, mostly clowning and hypnotherapy, but shows are starting to pick up as the high school season winds up. I was asked to put on a show at a local church. Nothing went to plan and it still Turned out pretty good. The worst part is me stumbling over my own improvised materials.. Hardware failures.. You'll see I am not using a microphone.. I thought about using Ormond McGill's Guardian Angel induction but forgot and just did a straight Elman count down induction. Criticism is appreciated.. http://www.youtube.com/jerrybolduchypnotist Thank you! |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10604 Posts |
Let me first ask you, what were your thoughts and how did you think it went?
Tell us a bit about yourself and background. How long have you been doing hypnosis and hypnosis shows? |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
Yea those were my first questions as well, though the how long one pretty much answers itself. Mind you there is nothing wrong with having just started. Everyone started at some point so that is not a big deal.
Tip on the magnet thing and pretalk as it was all I could really watch. First remember the closer the hands start in the first place, the more likely that they will be drawn together, because the less distance they have to go. If you notice the people with them WAY apart had almost no change. Start with them pretty close. Can you even imagine a magnet that would have to pull the hands from 3 feet apart? Nobody has experience with magnets that big, so give them something within their experience. Also the pretalk was sort of rambling. Why would you tell them you only get one chance to do this? Don't set yourself up like that. Also why were you dressed like the janitor? Was that a flashlight hanging from your belt? Think about it... who wants the janitor to hypnotise them? Dress the part at least. If you want to be taken seriously, make yourself look serious. Maybe you used it later I have no idea but it was odd to see. I think you seriously need to dress and look the part. Hypnosis is so much more than just saying the words. It is BEING A HYPNOTIST. They won't likely believe, if you don't make it easy for them to.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10604 Posts |
Yes, but I believe he's been doing this for 5 years or more if I am correct, but wanted to be sure that is correct.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
OH oops. Sorry.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
visionquest Regular user 140 Posts |
I must congratulate him for being so brave as to invite public criticism of his work. That does take a bit of guts. I hope what he hears is helpful to him. He does have one thing going for him at least. He actually looks like a hypnotist. The standard joke among stage hypnotists years ago was that a hypnotist was large, imposing, strong voice, had a beard and always wore a medallion. Only the medallion was missing here!
I watched only a little bit here and there because I have a low attention span with these things. The first thing I noticed was the dress so rushed back here to mention it but was highly irritated to see that Danny had beaten me to it. Still, it shows that great minds think alike as we both came to the same conclusion without consulting with each other so that tends to add validity to the conclusion. It is important that a hypnotist has prestige and should dress in an authoritative manner. Especially when he has a beard! If the performer exudes authority it becomes easier to get the subjects into trance. I had a feeeling that the pacing could be speeded up but that may well be a feature of my already mentioned low attention span. On one video I noticed him standing in front of the subjects a little too much obscuring the vision of the audience. But then that is a very common fault of even the most experienced hypnotists including myself. I have to constantly keep reminding myself not to stand in front of the subjects too frequently. One tip, and this is not a criticism but a useful suggestion for any hypnotist, is to use a Jerry Valley technique which I have found invaluable. It occured to me watching one of the videos and I apologise for not remembering which one. After giving a suggestion and just before the subjects carry out the suggestion it works wonders to say,"If you understand me nod your head" or sometimes I vary this by saying,"If you agree to this raise your hand". It reinforces the suggestion and when they do nod their head or raise their hand you know you are going to get a positive result and it ensures the suggestion is absolutely clear. There it is for the moment. I may go back and have another look and then comment again. |
RSD Special user Toronto, Ontario 534 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-03-20 21:20, Zoto wrote: First of all, good on you for coming on here and asking for advice and feedback. 1. Like others said, dress up a bit! You have the hypnotist look - go big! 2. As for stumbling over material - we all did this at the start. I suspect its because you lost track with where you are going. To combat that you may want to consider having a small table to the side with bottles of water. Hidden on that table is your cheat sheet. Everyone once in a while, have a sip of water and glance at your sheet. 3 As for nothing going to plan. The audience does not have to know when things don't go as you planned. Only if you bring attention to it, or if its glaring with they be able to spot it. If things mess up, keep going like a smooth cat. Cover it up. Make a joke. don't make a big deal over it. 4. don't pace back and forth while talking. Most of us do it. I had to fight this urge consistantly. Its usually a sign of nervousness and the audience can pick up on it. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
One more bit of advice and MANY make this mistake. Do the show in front of you, not the one in your head.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Zoto New user 32 Posts |
Thank you for the criticism.
About me.. Seven Years ago I came off my first circus with a natural high that carried me for monthes. I don't know what got me interested in hypnosis. Could have been a casino bill board... My place of employment has/had tuition assistance so I thought I'd go take the Vegas 'How to do Stage Hypnosis' class and be ready for my retirement career.. But no they wouldn't pay for anyone school, though they almost passed Mark Savards school.. So I went the other way. What would TAP pay for? Clenical Hypnotherapy. So I was trained by Dr. Anna Spencer and was certified by the IMDHA as a hypnotherapist. A year later I joined the National Guild of Hypnotists. I started working out a chiropractors office who had heard about me completing my training. Got me started but the commute sucked when gas prices were high, plus I needed time to get in my therapist costume before seeing clients. So I moved to the healthfood store here in Clio Michigan, just minutes from my house. I see people in the evenings for the usual things and occasionally the strange. I never really wanted to be a therapist but I found myself channeled that way. Jerry |
visionquest Regular user 140 Posts |
Don't tell anyone I said so but you really do not have to take "training" or attend a hypnosis "class" or "school" to become a good stage hypnotist. I learned it from a book. But keep it a secret. Shhhh................................
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
Worlds worst kept secret. Some of the WORST hypnosis shows I have ever seen are from guys who are certified this or that.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Devious Inner circle 2120 Posts |
Wonderfully productive and constructive discussion folks!
Fascinating comments. Thanks for the insight. Many thanks. Signed, Sleepy in San Diego.... |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10604 Posts |
Well let me say I agree with the sentiments that "at least you are out there giving it a try and doing it". I agree. I also do think it's a good think you were clinically trained, as it can only help you and your knowledge/skills for however you apply it, clinically or on stage.
With that said, let me be honest and offer you some constructive criticism. For doing it as long as you have you should have a more fluent structure. One of the pet peeves I have is when a hypnotherapist attempts to do a stage hypnosis show. Yes, they have they skills and knowledge of hypnosis, but one thing is often missing. One HUGE thing...they are not entertainers. Actually most are just the opposite, they are un-entertaining! There are exceptions, but they are almost always stiff, and almost always boring. They can't work and audience, they can't control an audience or the volunteers, they don't move, walk, talk, interact, and engage. They don't have mic technique, staging or blocking and so many other factor that come into play in being an "entertainer". When I watched your videos, that was my very first initial thought - this was not very entertaining. A good show should have a flow, you should get laughs when you are giving out the suggestions, these are anticiapatory laughs of your setup and what they think is about to come. This was missing. The routines and your execution were very flat, stiff, tight, and not very universally appealing in my opinion. As Danny's first thought may have been, this was okay for a beginner or perhaps a first year stage hypnotist, but not someone at it for years. Although I suspect you have only done very few shows, and yes, I do know everyone has to start somewhere, I would strongly suggest now that you have some basic hypnosis experience and skills, to work on being an entertainer. Staging, phrasing, less mechanical, fun, mass-appealing, more relatable to both your subjects and the audience. I must say, and again this is just my opinion, I would have thought coming from "clowning", that more natural fun and entertainment would have been present. Stay away from odd or unfamiliar references, as subjects won't respond if the can not relate. Look the part, act the part, you are an entertainer first, hypnosis is just the means, the tool you use to entertain. I'll agree with the appearance thing as well. People attending a stage hypnosis show have expectations, it is your job to fulfill and exceed those expectations. The problem is for audiences that are being exposed for the first time to stage hypnosis through your show, their final perception ultimately affects all of us. Yes, we all have to start somewhere, but there is also something to be said for not performing until you (not just you but anyone) are ready, with a well-rehearsed, structured and polished show. This is where coaching or mentoring is invaluable. |
Devious Inner circle 2120 Posts |
@Jerry,
I would highly recommend, "Maximum Entertainment" by Ken Webber. It will raise your insight into the art by several levels, if you approach it with the proper attitude(honest opinion of your work,) which you certainly have sir. Do not purchase anything else before this book, if you haven't procured it already. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21245 Posts |
An UNBELIEVEABLY good recomendation.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Zoto New user 32 Posts |
Thank you all for the criticism.
This was my sixth show, and I learned a lot from it. Working in a church really threw me. Most of the materials I had been rehersing I found unacceptable. It was definately a growing experience and I know the next one will be better. The two shows I did before this one were so small that I hypnotized everyone there. More of a seminar really.. I think I'm going to go Ringmaster on my costume.. Jerry |
findthejake New user Sun Valley, ID 7 Posts |
I think Ringmaster would be a great fit Jerry!
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