Hypnotists Are Not All The Same

Way back when I first went professional I rang around a few entertainment agencies asking if they would list me on their roster of performers.

One conversation has stuck in my mind ever since. I was speaking to this guy called Alex and told him who I was, and asked if they would list me. He replied “no, we already have a hypnotist”. I nearly replied with “do you already have a band?”.

It is ridiculous to think that all bands are the same isn’t it? Or that all magicians are the same. But somehow many people seem to think that all hypnotists are interchangeable.

It is true that the hypnotic phenomena available to any stage performer come from a limited set (there are 6 basic things you can do), and that leads to many similar gags.

But the way the hypnotist behaves on stage, how they treat their volunteers and the material that choose to use can make a huge difference to your corporate entertainment results.

• Does the performer swear?
• Are all the gags “work appropriate”?
• Does the performer treat diverse groups with respect.
• Will people be offended? Shocked?
• Are they safety conscious?
• Are they insured?

For 18 years I have been careful to make my performances funny, inclusive and delightful. I want everyone to have a good time. The guests, the organisers, the venue staff. Everyone.

This is one of the way I distinguish myself from others. You wont do anything on stage that you’ll regret later.