How to Plan & Present a
Memorable Comedy Hypnosis Show
Your Guide to Hiring a Comedy Hypnotist
Contents.
Introduction
1. What you need to know
- Where will the show take place?
- Will you need a stage?
- Is a sound system necessary?
- How long should the show be?
- Have the show start after dinner
- Hand out awards after the show
- Audience considerations
- Do you want to customize your show?
- Do you need a "name" act?
2. Your Budget and how much does it cost?
- A Professional hypnotist will have
- To find a reputable stage hypnotist
3. Understanding contracts
- Contract
- Deposit
- Final payment
- Cancellation policy
- Hotel
- Food
- Back of room sales
4. Promoting the show
- Dress code
- Arrival and performance time
- Show content
- Stage and sound requirements
- Food and drink arrangements
- Hotel
- Final payment
5. Showtime
- Set the stage
- Outdoor performances
- Present payment
- Start the show
- Pre-show announcements
- After the show
- Congratulations!
Introduction
So you're thinking about hiring a hypnotist, but do not know where to start. Booking a hypnotist requires a little industry knowledge. If you are an experienced or a first time event or party planner you'll find this guide useful for your private party or company event. We will focus clean hypnosis acts. A hypnotist without foul language, comments or sexual skits will be a hit with any audience. There is no reason to risk having a hypnotist that might offend your group. Whatever kind of event you’re planning a hypnotist that keeps their show clean is a good idea.
1. What you need to know
Where will the show take place? For groups of 50 or less a hypnotist should not need anything more than a sound system and 8 to 10 chairs and some space for the volunteers to move around. It doesn't get much simpler than that. For smaller groups a hypnotist that can provide a self-contained show is a plus. You can do show in many places from meeting rooms to outdoor picnics. Comedy hypnosis works best with few distractions. Places to avoid are loud noisy areas or heavily trafficked areas. The best venue is a private room that has comfortable seating for the audience, great lines of sight, little noise, excellent acoustics, allowing the show to be the center of attention.
Will you need a stage? It's not necessary as long as people can see from every seat everyone is happy. For larger groups, a raised platform can help. When looking for venues consider the performance area and availability of a stage.
Is a sound system necessary? Yes. Most hypnotists require a sound system. Most hotel or banquet halls have sound systems available. The sound system can make or break the show. A good sound system is required. The sound system will also be useful for announcements, awards and introductions. If your event is at a restaurant, make sure they allow you to use your sound system. If the hypnotist is local they may be able to provide a sound system for you.
How long should do the show be? A typical hypnosis show performance lasts 45 to 90 minutes. However, the majority of shows are 60 to 75 minutes. For most corporate and private parties a show between 45 minutes to 75 minutes works best. Most hypnotists can vary the length of their show. Don't force the hypnotist to stretch their show. If the hypnotist says they have a 45 minute show. Trust them. Don't push them to stretch it out to 60 or 90 minutes or two hours to fit your agenda. It will backfire on you. They know how much good material they have. Most private events consist of a single performer. You do not need a two hour show to have memorable entertainment. Quality is more important than quantity. If you need to fill more time considered either adding an opening act or hiring a different performer altogether.
Have the show start after dinner. Never start the show during dinner, wait till dinner is completely over, because people have a hard time dividing their attention between dinner and entertainment. Trying to compete with dessert will get less volunteers on stage, dessert will win. It's best to wait to start the show, until the audience can give their full attention to the show. Never ask the hypnotist to begin while people are still eating.
Hand out awards after the show, the show will set a positive tone for your grand finale.
Audience considerations - Clean comedy hypnosis is always in good taste at company events and private parties, the last thing you want to do is offend anyone or get yourself in trouble. Clean means no curse words, no sexual innuendo, no inappropriate comments from the hypnotist. Planners should never call a local comedy club for a hypnotist. The comedy club definition of clean is worlds apart from the average definition of clean. As an event planner go with a clean act, after all it's your reputation.
Let the hypnotist know the makeup of the audience, the age range of the group and the ratio of men to women. Are they blue collar or office workers. Friends and family.
It's an audience participation show. Members from your audience will actually get up and be part of the show. In fact, they are the stars of the show. The show will bring your group together, giving them of lots to talk about for months after the party is over.
Do you want to customize your show? Some hypnotist's can customize skits for your group. You will have to work with the hypnotist on skits you'd like to see. If you don’t ask for customization you won’t get it. If you have a goal for your event, share it with the hypnotist so they can help you to achieve it.
Do you need a "name" act? Planners often think they need a big-name act to draw a crowd. Your crowd size will depend on your promotion. It's that simple. An unknown hypnotist can draw a huge crowd if you promote them correctly.
2. Your Budget and how much does it cost?
Prices for hypnosis shows very greatly depending on the hypnotists experience, credits, demand and other factors. Professional acts can cost from $500 to $5000. Be realistic about what you can afford. Quoted fees may be all inclusive or may have travel expenses and hotel costs added on top of the show fee.
A Professional hypnotist will have
Promotional materials
Testimonials and reviews
Professional affiliations
Insurance
Guarantee
Clean material
Experience
Length of performance
Technical requirements
A large part of what you’re paying for comes from the hypnotist’s experience. You want someone you can count on to get the job done no matter what happens. That dependability comes with experience. Your entertainment will be the most memorable part of your event. Everyone will be talking about the show afterwards, not the desert.
To find a reputable stage hypnotist search online for comedy hypnotist or stage hypnotist. If your budget is limited, search for local hypnotist’s. You can often negotiate a better deal if you’re close by. If you have a budget of $1500 or more there are a lot of good acts and that will jump on a plane for under $2000.
Look for hypnotist’s that post a wealth of information online. Ask for online promotional packets, with bios, photos, videos and testimonials from satisfied clients are a must. When you ask for contract, look for quick and responsive follow-up. You want it quickly, not weeks later.
After the show is booked you need access to online materials to promote your show. You want full color print ready photos and posters.
Make sure you have the phone number and e-mail address of the hypnotist.
3. Understanding contracts
Contract - Once you found a hypnotist you like and have agreed on a fee, you want a written contract. Contract’s can be simple agreements or filled with legal mumbo jumbo. The agreement includes contact info, date, time and location. Technical requirements are often included or on a separate sheet as a rider. Make sure you read everything.
Deposit - Expect to pay a percentage of the total fee as a deposit. The amount it is negotiable. The agreement is not considered final to both parties sign and the deposit is paid.
Final payment - The balance of the payment is typically required the day of the show. If your organization can only cut a check after the show has been done. Let the performer know at the time of contract.
Cancellation policy - Some hypnotist's may have wording in the contract that’s lets them out of the contract. They will usually send somebody else. Another reason may be for health reasons or acts of god.
Hotel - check the contract to see if you’re responsible to provide a room for the entertainer.
Food – it is customary but not required to provide a meal for the entertainer. You should provide at least two bottles or glasses of water for the entertainer during the show.
Back of room sales – hypnotist’s often supplement their income by selling CDs and DVDs at the show. The hypnotist’s may request a small table to sell their products before after the show. If you’re not OK with that let them know before you sign the contract. You might consider buying some of the performers merchandise to give away as keepsakes of the event.
4. Promoting the show
You need to get the word out about the show. Professional performers will have a Bio, an introduction, full color pictures and posters that you can download from their website. Use testimonials from past clients to build excitement. The hypnosis show should never be a surprise. Because it’s an audience participation show, you need to give people a chance to think about being in the show. Always promote the show ahead of time to get people excited.
The week prior to the show the entertainer should call you to let you know they’re coming. At that time go over with the performer the following items.
Dress - Let the performer know if the dress will be casual, semi formal or black tie. So they can dress appropriately for your event.
Arrival and performance time - Confirm the hypnotist’s arrival time, who and where to meet. Check performance time in case plans have changed. Go over directions to your event.
Show content – go over any special requests you have.
Stage and sound requirements
Food and drink arrangements
Hotel - If you’re providing a room for the hypnotist put the reservation under the hypnotist’s name. Make arrangements for the room to be paid for, not just held by a credit card. Let the hotel know the performer may be arriving late. Get a confirmation number.
Final payment - If your contract calls for the hypnotist to be paid after the show, have the check ready.
5. Showtime
- Set the stage. If you don’t have a theater setting, here’s how to turn any space into a good venue. In a rectangular room position the stage area in the center of one of the longer walls. Leave an area of 5 to 8 feet in front of the chairs for the volunteers to move around in.
- Seat the audience close together. For events with lots of seating block off the back of the room. Fill the front the first.
- Make sure the stage area is not near noisy or heavily trafficked areas.
- If you have a bar or buffet area put them as far away from the stage area as possible.
- If there is a large window behind the stage area curtain it off so it does not distract from the performance.
- Use stage lighting when possible. Dim the lights in the audience area when possible.
- If you have table seating, candles add atmosphere.
- Ask the hypnotist if they have pre and post show music.
- Little things like this go a long way to making your event as successful as possible.
Outdoor performances – Wind, rain and direct sunlight can cause problems. The performance area should be covered to keep the volunteers comfortable. Keep the audience covered if possible.
Present payment - Pay the performer before they go onstage or immediately after they come off stage. Never have your performer tracking someone down asking to be paid. Give the hypnotist permission to leave after their performance.
Start the show - Half the work of a successful show is done in the setup. Before you start the show eliminate any distractions. For your bar or buffet make the last call announcement 5 to 10 minutes before show time. Shut down anything that makes noise. Turn off any televisions or music. Close any pool tables. Unplug any video games. Turn off cell phones. Put water in the stage area for the hypnotist.
Pre-show announcements - Wait for everyone to be seated and quiet down before you introduce your hypnotist. Now is not the time for bad news or emotional stories. Keep it light and upbeat. If you’ve been given a script for the introduction, just stick to the script.
After the show - Come back up and ask for another round of applause for the show. Provide a testimonial that the hypnotist can use for future references.
Congratulations! You just gave your audience a wonderful comedy hypnosis show. That feels great doesn’t it!
