October seems to be Hypnosis Month here on Noumenon. With the month being filled with twenty-seven back-to-back performances, along with the many memorable moments that come with the hypnosis shows, it’s not surprising that it’s on my mind. That and, between the shows, travel and an online course, I haven’t had much time to bring you anything else!

Above is a clip from one of last week’s shows. Please excuse the funny costumes – it’s at a renaissance faire, my once-a-year foray into dressing silly… I share it here because it really captures a subtlety that, as a hypnotist, I truly appreciate. Let me explain…

Everyone loves hypnosis shows because of the non-stop hilarity of the actions and reactions of the people on stage. The best hypnosis programs are often the most visual ones. But in truth, as a hypnotist, though I never get bored of the hilarity – it’s different every time – what I appreciate most are the more subtle aspects that often go unnoticed but truly demonstrate the power of hypnosis, even in a stage setting.

The girl in the clip above – the one made to forget the number six – is truly and entirely distressed over her inability to remember the number. She knows she’s missing something, it’s on the tip of her tongue, but she simply can’t get it out and it’s throwing everything into chaos for her.

As a viewing audience, this distress truly comes through by watching her while she’s not the center of attention. Throughout the entire subsequent routine, she is quietly – not in a flashy way, almost secretly – trying to find that missing number. She makes no show of it, she draws no attention, but the distress is so profound that she must continue working it out.

This frustration comes through in her voice as well. Though she’s aware enough to see the humor in the situation – in fact, it’s that very awareness that causes her distress – you can also hear the uneasiness, then relief, when the situation is ultimately resolved.

I’ll be sure to post some of the more visual and uproarious clips soon, but I thought that the reading audience here would appreciate the subtlety contain within this one.

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[tags]Connecticut Renaissance Faire, CT, CTRF, Hebron, hypnosis, hypnotist, Roderick Russell, stage hypnosis[/tags]