Stage Hypnosis Business & Marketing
Stage Hypnosis Business & Marketing
Stage Hypnosis Business & Marketing
Stage Hypnosis
The Best of the Stage Hypnosis Center
Volume 1
ISBN 1448697379
Printed in the United States of America
For Wendy. Everyday I love you more. GR
For my boys. CF
Comments about Authors
Geoff Ronning and Chris Frolic
I’ve been a hypnotist for more then forty years, and I still learn new
things from Geoffrey Ronning, Geoff ’s words are pure gold!
Rick Allen, Ohio
Meeting and working with Geoff Ronning has been one of the high-
lights of my life. I am forever grateful for his impact on the quality of
my performance as well as the increased income from his sharing his
knowledge of marketing.
Ronnie Baras, Maryland
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 7
Chris Frolic 7
Geoffrey Ronning 8
SECTION ONE: PERFORMANCE ARTICLES 11
3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Hypnosis Show 12
The American Idol Lesson for Stage Hypnotists 14
How to Get Even the Most Stubborn Audiences to Volunteer
for Your Stage Hypnosis Show—Part 1 16
How to Get Even the Most Stubborn Audiences to Volunteer
for Your Stage Hypnosis Show—Part 2 19
All About Hypnotic Show Pre-Tests 22
Quick Tip: How to Boost Your Ability to Hypnotize
Anyone, Immediately! 25
Performance of Stage Hypnosis 26
Most Important Part of a Successful Show 30
Show Leads 30
How to Protect Yourself from Hypnotic Show Lawsuits 33
Simple Steps to Create Successful Callback Stage Hypnosis Suggestions 36
3 Ways to Make Your Performance more Powerful 38
Four Items that May Save Your Next Show 40
Stage Names? Fake, Real or Something Else 43
How to Avoid First Show Pitfalls and be a Successful Stage Hypnotist
from the Get-Go 45
How to Solve Every Induction Problem You May Encounter 47
No Volunteers 50
“Great Show! But from Now On We Will Go With Karaoke” 52
How to Rock a Room; What Stars Know that We Don’t 54
You’re the Devil! 57
The Zone 59
What a Stinker of a Show 61
Quick Tips for Successful Radio Station Appearances 62
Story from the Front Lines 65
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
Chris Frolic
I can’t remember how I first came across the Stage Hypnosis Cen-
ter, but it certainly was a serendipitous chain of events that lead me
there. I was like any of you, someone interested in stage hypnosis
and the possibility of a new career. A few weeks later I found myself
in Las Vegas for his renowned training and met Geoff Ronning for
the first time. It would be the start of the best education I’d ever
receive in my life.
In a short amount of time I went from stage hypnosis newbie to
a national performer, appearing on several television programs and
meeting and exceeding my financial goals.
The articles presented in this book are a big part of my success.
I don’t think a book like this has ever been produced. You won’t find
anything on how to hypnotize someone, but real applicable tips to
make you and your hypnosis career a bigger success than before you
read it.
Some of the tips in this book have been hugely profitable to me
and I’ll give you an example of one.
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
"#$%&
Geoffrey Ronning
When the idea arose for this book I was very excited. As I review the
contents I’m ecstatic. I know I should probably be humble and down
play it but I’m not going too. I’m amazed at the content.
Inside is a combination of content from the StageHypnosis-
Center.com and some brand new items that are just being released
for the first time. And while I think the content is excellent it is not
without its errors. I considered going back over each one and mak-
ing the corrections to improve the grammar, etc. I then decided
against it.
You see, 20% of the net profits of this book go to support the
following two non-profit organizations:
!! ! !!Introduction!! ! !!
So, while on one hand I would rather have spent some big bucks
on an editor to make this perfect (and hide my mistakes). On the
other hand I thought retaining the original content mistakes and all,
and donating the maximum amount of money far outweighed the
benefits of tweaking the content.
Besides that, it stands as a reminder that what we do—we im-
prove at. Frankly some of my early writings are pretty poor. But you
can see article-by-article improvement in my written communica-
tions. I think that is cool. I bet I’m really good in about another 4
books.
But the bottom line is I hope you get far more from the book
than what you invested. I hope your ROI is astronomical. Peace
and love to everyone… but more to our better clients than anyone
else. !
I will see you at the StageHypnosisCenter.com,
GEOFF
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
Your Induction
Ask yourself:
1) Is your induction reasonably fast?
2) Is it entertaining for the audience?
3) Is it theatrically satisfying?
Your Blocking
Blocking are the movements on stage. We analyze videos from per-
formers from literally around the world, and if there is one thing
I see more than anything else it is improper blocking, which usu-
ally shows up in the form of pacing. In fact, if the majority of stage
hypnotists would stop pacing, it would immediately, substantially
improve the quality of their show.
If you are pacing onstage, plant your feet and move consciously,
with purpose and notice your show quality improve. You will relax
!! ! ! Section One: Performance Articles !! ! !!
the audience, direct the attention of the audience and make their
experience as an audience richer and more rewarding.
I don’t know one full time professional hypnotist who has not
at one time or another, called for volunteers and looked out into the
audience to see nothing but frozen bodies, especially in the corpo-
rate sector.
Sure it is piece of cake to get volunteers at a school or fair, but
other times, it can be a little challenging. Particularly if you are play-
ing to very conservative groups who are image conscious. Those are
the groups I’m referring to.
A couple of weeks ago we played to a group of banking execu-
tives. There were about sixty people, in a very sterile environment
(a hoity toity museum). They had flown in from all over the country
and did not know each other. The average age was about 55. Those
are the types of groups I’m talking about!
Those are the fun shows, the ones that give you a sense of satis-
faction. I’ll take a fire alarm in the middle of my induction any day
over the “another average show without challenges.”
So, in this series lets talk about getting volunteers under difficult
situations. I’m going to share with you some of our techniques so
that you can insure that you have volunteers for your show!
!
The Beginning Could Be a Good Place to Start
If you are having trouble getting volunteers, ask yourself: Why isn’t
the audience coming up to volunteer? When you really consider it,
there are very few reasons. The majority of them being that your
audience is:
• scared of being embarrassed
• uncomfortable with the other people in the audience
• lacking trust in you
!! ! ! Section One: Performance Articles !! ! !!
is a drunk and a low life, bars may not be the best place for you to
work. You must get rapport.
It is hard to sail against the wind, so why not turn the boat
around and harness it the power it offers. Get rapport with your
audiences and you can ride it for as far as you desire.
If you don’t know how to get rapport with audiences, or struggle
to get rapport, study rapport development tools. You are nothing
without rapport, and everything with it.
space) completely. Walk out into the audience and around the room.
Have fun with people in a light, non-confrontational manner. While
you are doing this, participants will begin to take the stage. You just
have to give up control of the stage territory.
In the End
You dictate the show, not your audience. Be smart, be prepared and
understand this is a audience participation show. You must work
with them, not against them. You have the expertise; you now know
many methods of getting volunteers even in the most difficult of cir-
cumstances. Will this solve every problem you ever run up against?
No, but it will solve the majority. That is all we can ask, in a legiti-
mate hypnosis show.
!! ! ! Section One: Performance Articles !! ! !!
2) Your Market
Your market should dictate your name. Each market has different
needs. A name that is appropriate in one market could be totally
inappropriate in another. Analyze the market you are working and
determine a name that is appealing and does not conflict with…
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
Done.
Joke people, that is a JOKE!
The Issue
Back in the old days, a performers skill was often his “brand.”
Many stage hypnotists, mentalists, etc. never had to do any
branding because there was literally no one else in their business.
Today that has changed, but only slightly. But that slight change
comes predominately from the internet, and as you are probably
aware, most stage hypnotists on the internet are not professionals,
so the impact is really a false one, but an impact none the less.
So, I’m actually really surprised at the number of older perform-
ers that never had to deal with marketing and branding issues in the
past that now see this as some sort of competition issue. It is not, it
is a business issue. Of course this attitude is not limited to the older
performers only, it also affects younger performers that don’t know
any better.
!! ! ! Section One: Performance Articles !! ! !!
What is Branding?
Branding is the way you:
• Look
• Answer the phone
• Arrive
• Dress
• Talk
• Your vocabulary
• Poise
• And support materials
Putting it in to Play
Obviously you will not increase the fee of every show. Some clients
will not want your options and will not have the additional budget,
and that is fine.
But you will certainly increase your average show fee and in-
crease your total dollars generated, and do so easily and quickly with
this strategy.
!! ! ! Section two: Booking Strategies !! ! !!
Respond in Like
The next time someone asks you, “Why should I use you over some-
one else?” I recommend you say: “Why should I book your show over
someone else’s?”
Just as the customer has the right to do business with those they
desire, we have the right to not do business with those we detest.
Life is too short to deal with anyone but those you choose.
!! ! ! Section two: Booking Strategies !! ! !!
Making of a Marine
That reminded me of an excerpt of a book I read in my high school
English class a long time ago called “The Making of a Marine”. It was
the story of a Vietnam-era soldier’s training.
I can vividly recall one particular passage when the author talk-
ed about his first trip back home, and on the bus ride as he looked
at the passing countryside. He no longer looked at it as that, but be-
cause of his training his mind now was always thinking about mili-
tary tactics. How he would lead an assault on that same countryside,
where were the best defensive positions, how to engage an invisible
enemy.
Now when I travel, I apply this same “Marine” mindset. A busi-
ness district in a small community takes on a whole new meaning.
It’s no longer quaint, but full of potential shows. A bar on the corner,
a service club hall down the street, a hotel with a banquet facility, a
nightclub that features bands. This is one particular town I’m think-
ing of and I translated it into 4 additional bookings.
I wasn’t born into this mindset, it came over time through frequent
application over the last several months, and there’s definitely a mental
wall you have to break through before the world opens up to you.
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
But once you do, and you begin to look through the world with
your “Hypnotist Marine” eyes, there’s a never ending list of oppor-
tunities out there for you.
Challenge Yourself
Challenge yourself today to see how many you can spot during your
day, and then do it again tomorrow, and continue every day after
that.
You don’t have to necessarily book all of these places, but the
exercise will help you find those real gems when you least expect to.
You’ll roll your eyes at anyone ever saying “there’s no work out there”
forever after.
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
7) I read every post on the SHC forum and used some nuggets in
there to make me a ton of money.
I would spend each day going back in time in the forum and
reviewing old threads until I had read all of them. There were some
!!! ! ! The Business of Stage Hypnosis !!
unbelievable golden nuggets just sitting there for the taking. Two
in particular that come to mind single-handedly shot me into orbit
when I implemented them. I didn’t have the skills or tools to use
them initially, but when I did they were waiting for me.
about anything I’ve done, yet most people won’t take those neces-
sary steps. I look forward to continuing to update the SHC on my
progress and sharing further experiences in upcoming articles.
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