I just had a visit from two wonderful hypnotists from Miami Beach, Florida. They both trained with Dr. Scott McFall and used to only work with smokers.

Smokers are so easy; it’s like turning off a switch! They used to smoke… now they don’t. Nice!

Now, they are interested in working with weight loss clients and they are worried that the success will be different. They heard about my hypnosis clinic and the 600+ testimonials from my clients and wanted to know how to do the same.

It was a fun time showing off.

The thing is, weight loss clients are more difficult than those who want to quit smoking. It’s not “eating right and exercise”. If it was, weight loss would be a lot simpler. Many times, it’s that the client is way too busy — too “self-important” — to take care of herself. She’s got to fix her world around her… and while that is happening, she’s gaining a ton.

I had a prospect, “Charlotte”, come to my office in 2003 for a free screening appointment. She was very overweight, took care of her husband, her kids, her kid’s kids… no time for herself. Well, she went home to “think about it” (whether or not to join my program, that is) and I never heard from her.

Until about six months ago.

Charlotte made a second appointment for a screening and she had to remind me who she was. Since the first appointment, she gained 65 pounds, lost both breasts, one kid was in jail, she’s taking care of all the grandkids… and she’s stressed to the max. She hasn’t been to the movies in over 15 years and she’s miserable.

Big surprise, eh?

I explained to her that she’s basically “martyred” herself to her life and she needed to change it. Told her my fee and she said, “I’ll think about it.”

I told her to keep thinking, but I won’t accept her as a client. When she asked me why, I told her that if she didn’t “get it” by now… if she continued the way her life was going, she’d keep getting the same results.

And, if she needed to think it over after 5 years, well, forget it.

Was that mean? No. I saved her money because she wouldn’t have done the program anyway. Probably one to pay, complain and quit.

My current weight loss clients are quite happy. They are losing weight and fitting into clothes that make them feel better and look good.

Why?

Because they know to put themselves first in their lives.

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The other day I got a call from a prospective client.

He wanted to “surprise” his wife with a weight loss session. He would just “bring her over to be hypnotized”.

What a nice guy!

Can you just imagine the conversation:

“Hey, honey… let’s go for a ride”, he says.

“What for?” she asks.

“It’s a surprise!!”, she exclaims.

“Ooh! I love surprises…!”, she coos.

They get to my office. “Well, honey, here we are!”

“Here we are… what?!?” she asks.

“Here we are at the hypnotist’s office!”, he explains.

“Ummm. For what, dear?”, she inquires.

“Well, honey… I thought you needed to shape up and
lose a little bit of weight”, he says. “He’ll put you out, and…”

*punch!*

She says, “You mean like that?!?”

I told him (nicely) that I wasn’t that interested.

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.)

“So, what’s with all of the time off, Bryan? Where have you been…?!”

Good question.

I’ve been a busy guy these few months. Especially moving my hypnosis office… all the way across the hall to a bigger space.

And, since it’s January… a wonderful time for hypnotists since this is when many people are making their New Year’s resolutions, this place has been buzzing! So, no time for reviews the past several weeks.

But, now…

Things have changed. I have more time.

See you soon…!

Bryan

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.