Feb 26, 2015

Here's something you won't catch me doing: Teaching a "Stage Hypnosis" class. 

Why won't I? Even though I could make a few bucks off a few unsuspecting rubes? For the same reason no one teaches a "stage guitar playing" class or a "stage tap dancing" class. Because, to do your skill on stage requires learning your craft backwards and forwards and then…. here's the big secret… doing it on stage! Yes, it's that simple.

However, there are scoundrels out there who, through marketing lies and deceit, manage to convince people that they will not only learn how to hypnotize in a weekend or so,  but that they can also be taught to be entertaining at the same time!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with my prejudice against this type of scoundrel; to me they're up there with faith healers, Nigerian princes who need your money so they can get theirs', and those who post 5 year old pictures on online dating sites.

Sure, the scoundrel will sort of give you what they promise; You'll learn to "hypnotize" in a weekend. (Not very well, but you will be able to do it.) But… if you're not already the entertaining type; one who can move an audience and make them care while reading the phone book, you won't be an entertainer. It's just not in your genes. The truth isn't always pretty, but it's the truth.

And worse, you may actually be duped by the scoundrel into believing you're being entertaining! Then, heaven forbid, you might try out your new self-delusion on a real audience, who'll politely smile (if you're lucky) while inwardly vowing to never attend a hypnosis show again. You, yes you, can blow it for an entire form of entertainment.

So, I won't be teaching a "stage hypnosis" class. What I'll do for you instead, should you really, really want to be a stage hypnotist, is invite you over to read the phone book. Aloud. And with feeling. If I'm moved and I care, I may let you tag along and learn the craft. For free. If I'm not moved and I don't care, I'll save you thousands of dollars. I'll advise you to learn hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Help people. Do some good. And leave the stage to the entertainers, the ones who were, for better or for worse, born to entertain.

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