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I didn't know if to post it on the Mentalists Only forum or here so I post it here and if the mods wish they can move it.

I have been doing a pseudo-hypnosis act for the second part of my mentalism show, basically it's a bunch of mentalism routines that I present as done "under hypnotic trance":
*A matter of taste
*My take on Derren Brown's "lift"
*A suggestion test of danger and safety (with ET as the danger enforcer^^)
and lately:
*Needle through arm on a spectator under "guided hypnotic dream" presentation.

Now, I start this part of the show by doing a group hypnotic test to "test the participants ability to receive suggestions" which is mostly for me a way to spot the trouble makers. So what I basically do is to bring 8-9 people up to stage and pretend to put them under trance. Then I do several very easy suggestion tests like hand rising and dropping, hands stuck together, etc.
I was really interested in how much people were responding to these suggestions, even though they are easy ones that can be done when the person if fully awake, usually at least 7-8 of the 9 people responded to the suggestion, and in a pretty bold way too. Once I was brave and I tried to do a suggestion that their legs are getting weak and they just have to sit down (I do this bit with them standing) and amazingly 6 out of the 8 people left on stage set down on there floor, some of them almost immediately as I started to plant the suggestion.
So this got me very interested in the less "pseudo" side of hypnosis and I was wondering whether some of you could point me to some books or maybe even DVDs if there are any on the subject, probably ones that are best suited for people with some basic knowledge in suggestion but not in hypnosis.

P.S: this thread is not made for the argument whether hypnotic trance is real or not, so mind you, don't start one!

Kenton Knepper! Especially Kentonism. And if you get Kentonism you'll probably be interested in Twists and Trances, which takes the principles of Kentonism and explores more effects, many of which come right from Knepper's stage act.

There's also Trance This and Act of Imagination (by Enrique and Kenton) which is a whole act built along these lines!

I also, absolutely believe you should check out Hypnosis and Trance States: A New Psychobiological Explanation by Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell. It's a book I'll always keep pushing to people interested in hypnosis. After all, if you don't know how or why it works, how do you know the trances you are supposedly inducing aren't actually real ones?

On top of those I recommend Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis and Deeper & Deeper by Jonathon Chase. Both can be found on Amazon.

Lord Freddie wrote:On top of those I recommend Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis and Deeper & Deeper by Jonathon Chase. Both can be found on Amazon.

If you are looking for an incredibly in-depth look at real hypnotic phenomena and how to safely (and not so safely, in some cases) induce hypnotic trances, word suggestions, etc. then McGill's The New Encyclopedia ot Stage Hypnotism is exactly what you are after. It's a fantastic and detailed tome, written by the 'Dean of American Hypnotists'.

I haven't yet picket up Deeper and Deeper and so cannot comment on it, but have been told that it is a good book.

Did I mention the book Hypnosis and Trance States already? Seriously, anyone interested in hypnosis should check this book out. Add to the fact that it's so cheap it'd be criminal not to.

Cardza wrote:Did I mention the book Hypnosis and Trance States already? Seriously, anyone interested in hypnosis should check this book out. Add to the fact that it's so cheap it'd be criminal not to.

I think I missed your last post - I didn't see your recommendation of that book! Looks like something I'll have to have a look at though.

On a side note, Danny Wallace is great. His books were great too

It's well worth the five quid, definitely one of the best explanations of hypnosis I've come across.

And yep, he most definitely is! I met the man last year, really is a very cool and kind fellow. I agree, love his books but it'd be nice for him to do something with Gorman again.

I am at present writing a book on stage hypnosis which will be finished around the year 3000 or so. I expect it will be the most practical book on hypnosis for people that want to learn the subject reasonably quickly.

I myself had a hypnosis video course which was heavily advertised. The course is still available but it has now been cut down to the core material.

I would only recommend stage hypnosis to people who are very used to being on stage. In fact the stage should be your second home. If it isn't then I shouldn't bother.

If however through your magic or some other entertainment art (or public speaking) you feel comfortable on stage then go for it. You cannot be a master of hypnosis without being a master of the stage first.

mark lewis wrote:I am at present writing a book on stage hypnosis which will be finished around the year 3000 or so. I expect it will be the most practical book on hypnosis for people that want to learn the subject reasonably quickly.

Sounds fantastic Mark. My great-great-great-etc. grandchildren are eagerly awaiting its arrival!

Good. By then it will have been discovered officially that "hypnosis" is a load of baloney.

But wait! I see that the originator of this thread has requested that we don't start an argument over whether this self delusion of "hypnosis" is real so I won't mention again that I consider it to be a load of baloney. As anyone can tell I am not the argumentative type.

However I will merely remark that today in Canada it has been announced that evidence produced by hypnosis will no longer be allowed in trials as it is considered unreliable. I could have told them that years ago but for some reason they never consulted me.

I did get stage hypnosis legalised in Ontario though. Another story for another time.

But wait! I see that our original poster is from Israel. I must inform him that an Israeli mentalist told me that stage hypnosis is illegal over there. I can't verify the veracity of his statement but I just thought I would cheer the person up who started this thread.

I'm not going to get into a debate - as I have so many times before with Lewis - about hypnosis; all I will say is please, do not treat hypnosis and the hypnotic state as if it is a load of baloney because they really aren't as the new findings in the book I mentioned quite conclusively show.

Whatever your view - better safe than sorry.

I certainly agree that we musn't get into a debate about how real "hypnosis" is. After all there really is no need to do so since I am MARK LEWIS and obviously whatever I say on the subject is gospel. As for various books about the subject that say it is real I am always highly amused to speak to SOME of the authors afterwards and find out that they don't believe in it either!

I will certainly agree that there are lots of daft people who do believe in it and they even do write books supporting their theory.

I am merely saying that for stage hypnosis performing purposes you will make far faster progress once you realise that the whole thing is a load of cobblers. If you believe in the scientific mumbo-jumbo then of course your progress in becoming an effective stage hypnotist will be slowed because you will be hampered by belief.

Not that I want to get into debate about if of course. As I have already indicated I am never wrong so there is no point arguing.

Besides I do it for a living.

Is this the same Mark Lewis who has a website "Mark Lewis Entertainment?

You know, the one that has a section which has him saying that 75% of what he does is real, when commenting about hypnosis?

The same Mark Lewis that says he tells people to go to trained hypnotherapsists to be treated for illness?

If so, it just proves that you will say one thing to promote yourself, then say something else on forums just so you can have an argument.

It isn't funny or clever. It is just sad and childish.

So much of what you spout on forums contradicts what you say in your promotion "junk."

Although it was asked that this thread wasn't hijacked, you just can't help yourself.

I agree with the suggestion of Kenton Knepper.

If you want to delve deeper into the theory and concepts that his work is more or less based on (giving for the fact that he probably did a fair amount of his own field research, along with his buddy Rex Sikes who is an NLP practitioner.) I would recommend these two books.

Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H Erickson Vol 1

and

Trance Formations

Both by Richard Bander, John Grinder and maybe 1 or 2 more people thrown in the mix there.

TranceF is a good one to start with if you want to learn some basic hypnotic technique.

Patterns is good to learn more indepth theory behind what you are doing.

Both of these are good to learn and then be able to get a better understand of what YOU ALREADY ARE doing and to treat it with more respect and care.

Darrel wrote:It isn't funny or clever. It is just sad and childish.

You want sad and childish? Try this: http://www.magicbunny.co.uk/phpBB2/view ... highlight=