Hypnosis on the High Seas

The main room on the Carnival Freedom cruise ship buzzed with anticipation.  More than 500 guests anxiously awaited the start of Richard Barker’s comedy hypnotist show.  An hour later they filed out well entertained and many in a state of disbelief.

I was on board with my family for a spring break vacation and had the opportunity to check out Richard’s show.  The self-proclaimed Incredible Hypnotist is smooth on stage, engaging, interactive and has a wonderful sense of comedic timing.

Here are a few additional observations about the show by another performing hypnotist:

--Richard does an excellent job of hyping how smart and talented someone must be to serve as a good candidate for hypnosis.  He consistently told the audience that he’s looking for the “cream of the crop” in volunteers, which motivated many to participate.  This type of positive reinforcement is something I need to do more effectively in my Hypnotic Experience show.

--He kept his pre-talk to about five minutes with little discussion about what hypnosis is and its applications for health, wellness and exceptional living.  In comparison, my pre-talk typically runs about 20 minutes to make my show more informative.  Of course, I recognize the audience is there for entertainment which is why I pepper my pre-talk with funny anecdotes.

--Richard employed a basic hypnotic induction utilizing focus and relaxation.  He then deepened the volunteers’ trance through a rapid induction.  This is similar to my methodology, although (admittedly) Richard is more experienced and skilled, resulting in a number of volunteers achieving a deep level of hypnosis.

--Towards the conclusion of the show, the skits became a bit over the top, including the classic pregnant man skit and a funny scenario involving volunteers acting like their favorite exotic animal.  While appropriate for the venue, many of the guests who attended the show walked out thinking they would never try hypnosis.

That’s where my show and the traditional Las Vegas style act differ.  My goals are to entertain and inform, and leave the audience intrigued about how hypnosis can help them achieve a higher level of happiness, health and success.

Again, the venue demanded Vegas.  I just wish Richard had invested a few more minutes on education.

The Incredible Hypnotist Richard Barker performed last week on the Carnival Freedom.