So, you want to be a stage hypnotist but you have no idea where to begin?

Well, you could read a book. You could watch at DVD. Or, you really should attend the ‘Advanced Stage Hypnosis’ seminar with Brian Dean in Vegas, October 6 - 8, 2008.

I met Brian Dean while sitting at the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) convention in 2006. Never knowing him before, he just walks up to me and asks, “Hey! Are you Bryan Dean?”

Not having a name tag or anything to identify myself to onlookers, I was amazed. You see, my “stage name” is Bryan Dean. His is Brian Dean. We’re both stage hypnotists. Weird.

And, so began our friendship.

Who Is Brian Dean?

Brian Dean is an amazingly accomplished stage hypnotist since 1999. He performs regularly on world-class cruise lines and at corporate shows nationally.

He’s also trained many (now) successful stage hypnotists who are literally making well into 6 figures income-wise. These persons paid — and I am NOT exaggerating — between $10,000 and $15,000 for a week-long training with Brian.

Fortunately for YOU, Brian is beginning his Advanced Stage Hypnosis seminar in October. And, it’s just at a FRACTION of his regular fees.

Why?

Brian has his mentored students pay the large fees because they will work with him, train with him and work FOR him. It’s limited and very exclusive.

People like me — and probably you, too — have a career (I’m a clinical hypnotist, as you know) and don’t “need” a $15,000 training. You just want to know what Brian knows, right?

Well, I and several other hypnotists have been bugging Brian to put together a seminar like this one. I don’t plan to work for Brian or live on a cruise ship…

…but I do want to know what Brian Dean knows!

So, when this offer was put together — I was the first one to sign up! (Yep. I’ll be there and NO, I didn’t get a discount. Hmmm.)

So, What’s So Special About
THIS Stage Hypnosis Training?

Brian explains, “There is a colossal difference between success and failure. But there is only a ’small difference’ between good and EXTRAORDINARY. However, this ’small difference’ requires that you recognize and master several essential details often regarded by mediocre performers as unnecessary.

“Is it hard to recognize and master the details? Well, unless you know the strategies, possess the knowledge and take the proper steps needed to do it (and do it right) it can be downright difficult.

Here’s the good news – It doesn’t have to be. I don’t teach you how to improve 1 element of your show by 100% — I teach you how to improve 100 elements of your show by 1%”.

This training will focus on teaching you how to perform, implement and master the essential details of show structure, delivery and execution.

Folks, this is what I, personally, want to know more about.

Yes, my show is good. It COULD be BETTER. So, I’m going to Vegas in October.

Why do YOU need to go to this seminar? Because THIS IS THE SEMINAR THAT WILL TEACH YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. (That’s why.) If you miss out, you’ll be kicking yourself.

Want to be like “all the other” stage hypnotists… doing the same ol’ tired routines… from show to show…

… or do you want to TAKE YOUR SHOW TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

The most successful professionals in every industry never stop learning and growing. Learn and grow. Come to Vegas.

The fee? Just $1850 per person.

But, Here’s The Bad News

It’s limited to twenty (20) persons. Period. That’s it… and it’s filling up f-a-s-t.

The good news is that you can reserve a seat now for just $350.

Go to his web site and check out this seminar:
Advanced Stage Hypnosis — Be SURE to mention my name.

Then, register and I’ll see YOU in Vegas!

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! - Bryan

So, what’s the connection between cigarettes and Martians?

Many people wonder why I have the idea that being a stage hypnotist is one of the most important skills a clinical hypnotist needs. At a recent seminar with Scott McFall for his mentorship program (ask me if you are interested in hypnosis mentorship, by the way!) the topic of stage hypnotism was discussed. One of the conclusions is that if you know how to hypnotize your subjects on stage, you will be a better hypnotist in your clinic or office.

Why is that?

Well, first… you need to have the attitude of the stage hypnotist. Meaning, you need to know who to keep and who to kick off the stage. Sometimes, in your office, it’s important NOT to accept a client. Sometimes, people come into my office just to challenge me. I have better things to do than to talk to these people and, like I do on stage, I send them away.

Second, do you realize that if you can have a group of people acting like Martians on stage that you are skillful enough to get almost anyone to quit smoking cigarettes? Yep! It’s really that easy.

But you need to be as convincing and confident as you are on stage. This takes time and practice and rehearsal.

Don’t know stage hypnotism? Take a class. I studied with Dr. Scott McFall in Bismark, ND. (If you are interested, email me as he will only take people who are recommended.)

They are sexy. They are enticing. They are cool. They are impressive.

Rapid inductions — they are also a waste of time to learn (for the most part).

Kind of ironic, don’t you think?

I was at the National Guild of Hypnotists convention in Massachusetts last weekend and had the opportunity to network with many good (and not-so-good) hypnotists. At one of the booths (a stage hypnotist whose wonderful products I am reviewing right now) I met a very interesting woman who just came back from a class on rapid inductions.

Classes on rapid inductions are always filled up. Hypnotists like rapid inductions because they are like learning a new magic trick. They are kinda “cool” and, well, who can’t use another 25 inductions, right?

But, just like magicians who do card tricks (and I was a professional magician for over 30 years so I know what I am talking about), a card magician only needs to know two or three ways to get a card to the top of the deck. However, there are a bazillion books, DVD’s, lectures and newsletters on how to do the variation of that move. Magician just like to know it all. I know… I was one myself.

Many hypnotists do the same thing and “collect” inductions. But, you only need about three: An Elman Induction, a good Progessive Relaxation Induction and — perhaps —one more. In my office, I only use the first two; I never need anything else.

Then, there’s the rapid induction. In my opinion, they are useful in two ways:

First, if your client needs to leave the room (they forgot to go to the bathroom or whatever) and you just want to get them back into state, a cute rapid induction will save time and energy.

Second, they impress the hell out of hypnotists. Hypnotists love these things and like to show them off like the latest card trick.

But, are rapid inductions useful?

Okay… picture this: Your client just paid you over $600 to quit smoking, for instance. You do the pre-talk (you do a pre-talk, right?) and then you do that new-fangled rapid induction you just learned at the NGH. It takes about 20 seconds and you proceed.

Chances are:

1. They won’t “feel” hypnotized.
2. They won’t be impressed by the new technique.
3. They may not get the desired result.
4. They may ask for a refund.

Hmmm. Why is that? Well, for one thing, they paid a lot of money for your services as a hypnotist. They want to “be hypnotized”! They want the show! They want to stare at a blue light, arm stuck in the air, eyes glued shut, etc., etc.

They need to get the whole nine yards and rapid induction deprive them of that.

However, many hypnotists try to impress their clients with the rapid induction. And, they fail. Unfortunately, the client doesn’t know the difference, doesn’t tell the hypnotist, they may not achieve their outcome and the hypnotist thinks he has succeeded.

Too bad for both parties.

And for the stage hypnotist who does a rapid induction, you are cheating the audience of the full experience of the drama of a real induction.

However, a rapid induction in a stage show is very powerful in this one instance: You see someone in the audience in a trance or she has her eyes closed. You go over to her, bring her up to the stage and do a rapid induction. Poof! “She’s hypnotized!” It’s very impressive to the audience and is a real crowd-pleaser.

But, for the clinic… no. Save the rapid inductions for the next hypnotist convention.

What’s the best way to show how well you can change someone’s outcome with hypnotism? Do you just show them your certification? Your pendulum? Your NGH coffee mug?

The best and most often disregarded sales tool is the testimonial.

On my desk is a book with over 600 client testimonials from the past five years. It’s over three inches thick and very heavy. On my web site are more testimonials. On the office walls, my ads, etc.

It’s hard to argue with success.

So, how do you get a testimonial? Well, first (and I can’t believe I need to write this) — they must be from your own clients. I just read a post on the NGH Forum:

“Does anyone have any good before/after hypnotic weight loss pictures that they would be willing to share. I’ve started a clinic in the last couple months and I’m trying to get started with my outreach/advertising work. If you’d be willing to share any pictures I’d really appreciate it. “

Photos, like testimonials are powerful. But, unless you put a disclaimer on the photo or testimonial that isn’t your own, it is misrepresentation. And the disclaimer kinda nixes everything anyway.

Second, just ask. I have a testimonial form that my clients use to tell their stories. One thing though: They need to do it right there. They will never, ever mail it to you — even when their promise and swear they will.

The best time to get a testimonial is when they are happy with some results. When they quit smoking, lost some weight, stopped biting their nails, etc. And, when they are happy, get a testimonial form in their hands immediately.

You will find that, after some time, when you’ve compiled a nice collection of testimonials in a book that you will hardly have to answer the question that every hypnotist gets…

“Does it really work?”

By the way, if you do any kind of stage hypnotism, you have got to get testimonials. They best kind are on video — right after a good show.  Most people won’t hire anyone without a great set comments from past customers who love you. Put them on your web site, business card, video, etc.

Remember, it’s not you saying how good you are — it’s your clients!

One of the most common questions that a hypnotist may get is:

“Was I really hypnotized?”

If you have never gotten that one, you haven’t been doing this long at all. When I was taught hypnotism by Dr. Scott McFall, one of the first things he drilled into my head was to make sure that my hypnosis clients (or stage hypnosis show participants) knew — absolutely knew — that they experienced hypnosis and the trance state.

The reason is that if your client doesn’t know that she was hypnotized, chances are, she’ll sabotage the entire session by analyzing it and judging it.

If you ever knew anyone who went to a group session for smoking cessation, for instance, they usually say that it didn’t work because they didn’t think they were ever hypnotized. (I hear that from potential clients all the time.)

So, how do you get them to realize the they were actually hypnotized? It’s easy. You need convincers.

A convincer is a tiny, but very effective technique — usually done during the induction — to “prove” that they are/were, in fact, hypnotized.

Good convincers are:

• Eye catalepsy (Catalepsy: A condition characterized most often by rigidity of the extremities)
• Arm catalepsy
• Saliva flow
• Heaviness
• A “floating” sensation
• Tingling hands/feet
• Time-distortion
• Glove anesthesia or analgesia

There are more, but those are the ones I mostly use. It’s enough to make the point.

Now, many hypnotists do this, not to show their clients/participants that they were hypnotized, but to show or “test” hypnotic “depth”. Hypnotic depth is a subject for another article, but just to let you know what I think about it: I ignore it completely. (How’s that?)

Note: In stage hypnosis, convincers aren’t as important because they are experiencing the phenomenon as a part of the show (forgetting the number “eight”, feeling hot or cold, smelling something odd, etc.). Usually their friends convince them they were hypnotized by all the stories they tell and the photos they took.

So, during the induction I do most of the above convincers. After emerging them from trance, I then review the convincers for them. This is vital. I ask them if they remember this and that, only continuing to the next one when they affirm that the phenomenon did happen.

“How long do you feel you’ve been in this room in hypnosis?”, I may ask.

“Oh, not long… about 10 minutes?”, they inquire.

“Well, let’s see… Oh! It’s 4:30! You’ve been in here for about an hour!” I exclaim.

They always look shocked.

Time distortion is a great convincer and usually the first to bring to their attention.

I many see about 20 clients a day and never do I hear the question, “Was I really hypnotized?” Then, we never have to discuss it, they start to change and everybody’s happy.

Do convincers and your results will skyrocket.