After Prom Partying, Springbrook Style

A parent created this awesome sign that helped point attendees to my show.

After Prom parties are a labor of love.

A group of dedicated parents invest hours of their free time during the months leading up to the event on planning, logistics, coordination and fundraising.  And then there’s the challenge of hosting and chaperoning a party that runs from midnight to the wee hours of the morning. 

 

All of this is for a group of teenagers who are in the final stretch of their senior year and anxious about what the next phase of their life may hold.

That’s why performing my “Hypnotic Experience” show at high school After Proms are perhaps the highlight of the year for me.   The kids are in a great mood, the parents are appreciative and the venues typically have a break-out room that presents the ideal environment.

My 2014 After Prom season kicked off this weekend with Springbrook High School.  Hosted at the pristine White Oak Community Recreation Center, the event featured the typical entertainment fare, including casino games, inflatables, billiards, DJ and temporary tattoo artists.

I was assigned to a well sized room with an appointment of comfortable chairs and couches.  The parents on-site then did an excellent job of promoting my show through signage and regular announcements.

The result:  a wonderfully fun evening for the kids who attended the show, the volunteers and me.

Here are a few observations:

--Although well promoted, it did take some time for me to attract a sizeable audience.  I was scheduled to start at 1:30 AM, yet gave it a few extra minutes to allow for about 40 kids to grab a seat.  I attribute much of this to the unfamiliarity with hypnosis, as many of the kids reported they had never seen (or even heard) of a hypnosis show.

--For younger audiences who typically have a limited attention span, I move more quickly through the pre-talk part of the show.  However, I always make sure to take the time to explain what hypnosis is and its applications for health, wellness, and athletic and academic performance.   I always want someone to come out of my show intrigued about hypnosis, rather than viewing it as some sort of parlor or circus trick.

--I had an amazing set of volunteers, eight of whom achieved a deep level of hypnosis.  Two volunteers in particular went incredibly deep and acted on several creative visualizations, including the American Idol competition skit.

--The instant re-induction always draws the biggest gasps from a high school audience.  Seeing a friend or classmate drop back into hypnosis through the simple “sleep” suggestion is what I like to refer to as a convincer.  Maybe there is something to this hypnosis, they conclude.

A special thanks to Karyn McCoy who hosted me and all of the parents who organized Springbrook’s After Prom.  You did an amazing job and I hope to be included at next year’s event!

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UPDATE: Karyn was kind enough to provide me a quote for my Web site.  Here is what she had to say about the Hypnotic Experience at Springbrook's After Prom party:


"Thanks so much for adding such a special event to our party. When I came in at the end, it was great to hear the students' thoughtful questions and their enthusiasm as they asked for a second show. Blessings to you for offering your time and talent to our students!"

Karyn McCoy
After Prom Committee
Springbrook High School
 

Casino games, raffles, caricature artists, food, music...and me!  Springbrook's After Prom had it all.