talkmagic.co.uk

Did anyone else hear the discussion (If you can call it that) on Jeremy Vines Radio 2 Show. It was about this Stage Hypnotist who was supposed to have knocked himself out whilst people were still hypnotised. It turned out to be a hoax. An experiment for a cable tv channel programme (Planet???) to see what the reaction would be from people, mainly the media.

The people on stage were in on it and once the hypnotist went unconscious the audience laughed thinking it was part of the comedy act. When they started to realise it wasn't leaflets were handed out explaining what was happening.

Anyway on the show the hypnotist initially came on and held his hand up and every one thought it was a bit weird. Jeremy asked why did you wait until they were sat down in a waiting relaxed state why not try it when they were all trying to be aliens (This is what they were doing previously) the reply was that may be interesting to do another time when it could be done safely, because he did not know the answer.

The Hypnotist was called David Days

Then came on Ken Webster; Chairman, Federation of Ethical Stage Hypnotists. He came across as if he was hypnotised to behave a little dim.

I don't know what other peoples views are on this organisation, they don't even have a proper web address this is the current one. http://www.s127815135.websitehome.co.uk/21432.html
His views was that they would just wake up but when asked if or when this or anything similar had happened he said no bot to his knowledge luckily Jeremy Vine realised what type of people he was dealing with and got rid of them both very quickly.

The result was not a very good picture painted for stage hypnotists.

Then came the phone in, three calls if I remember correctly.

Only one stood out this was by a man who said...

A hypnotist who is now a well know household name was performing a stage hypnosis act. The man on the phone said he volunteered. The other people on the stage "Went under" very quickly the hypnotist leaned over to this man and said "If you wont play along, get off my stage"

Jeremy replied if that is true it is very interesting.

There ends 15 minutes of rubbish about stage hypnotism on radio 2

I didn't hear the programme but I read the stories on line and it all sounded very 'iffy' right from the start. Stunts like this cheapen what could be fascinating and really entertaining events if handled correctly by proper performers - the name Jaquin comes to mind as an example of how things ought to be done!

This all has the feel of a retrospective hoax to me... First the manager comes out and says there's a special tape for bringing people out of it, then it's a hoax, then its a carefully planned experiment. Hmmm, tedious.

Besides, there is no "next time". That's not how it works in psychological experiments of this kind.