It seems incredibly to me that my first show was 10 years ago, back then I had trained as a stage hypnotist, learned rapid and progressive inductions, felt confident in my training and abilities as a newbie, and promoted myself at every opportunity I had!
My first show was a tough one, not the toughest I've had to date, but it was a challenge, I managed to get a show out of my 26 audience members, and 5 volunteers, numbers that even the best stage hypnotists to date would gulp in fear! And that's not me bragging, but rather showing evidence of my lack of understanding for numbers and success rate!
The show was a success, with 2 volunteers staying and entertaining till the end of the performance, and a massive sigh of relief for myself!
I learnt so much, and truth be told, I wanted more!
Unfortunately a stage hypnotists starting blocks are the more tricky venues, (pubs/clubs) these are the spit and sawdust venues, but absolutely vital for experience and learning, now I'm not saying it's impossible as a newbie to jump straight onto a stage such as a holiday park or a theatre and do your first performance, but your lack of experience and understanding of how to perform a show is highly likely to be seen by the audience members, and your reputation is at stake, not only your reputation, but also your self-esteem could suffer a big blow!
As the bookings build up so did my experience, confidence and understanding of how to entertain the audiences of pubs and club venues.
So, why are these particular venues more different and challenging to perform at?
Here are a few of these reasons:
The locals at these venues are most probably just wanting a nice social drink, and don't want to be asked to look a fool on stage (most common perception)
The venues need to promote your show with maximum enthusiasm and effort.(in my experience, many owners/management will only do a few posters)
Many venues won't have your performance as a ticketed event, (ticketed events mean they're putting value towards your performance and will be much more likely to get involved)
Most of the time you won't have any knowledge of how many people will be there, untill the night!(ticket sales are the best way to keep an idea of seat numbers)
You're much more likely to get non-conforming audience members (the jokers) that will test your patience and crowd control abilities!
The above challenges I have learnt over the last 10 years how to overcome or even better, totally avoid, some of the above challenges are completely out of your control, but there are ways to be prepared so that you can feel confident in any situation faced!
Performing for a pub or club when first starting off could seem so daunting, that it could potentially put new up and coming stage hypnotists off the whole idea of doing a show!
There is no doubt its not easy performing your first few gigs, but I genuinely feel over the last 10years with how I have constructed my comedy hypnosis show, right from the moment I walk into that venue, working on the rapport building with the crowd, the techniques used to induce hypnosis, even the positioning of the volunteers on stage and words used to gain and maintain dissapline(a vital component for success) I believe the training we provide helps teach a fantastic formula to help the new people in the stage hypnosis world, have a better understanding of not only what challenges to expect in these more tricky venues, but most importantly to have the techniques and tools at the ready to conqueror them!
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, if you're interested and wish to book your slot on our next 2 day stage hypnosis training course (March 8th & 9th 2025) take advantage of our early bird discount £250 (save£100) offer ends January 31st.
Follow the link below...
Comentarios