What’s the difference between ‘Speed Trance’ and 'Stage' or ‘Street' Hypnosis - and why would I want to learn it?

What’s the difference between ‘Speed Trance’ and 'Stage' or ‘Street' Hypnosis - and why would I want to learn it?

For those of you ‘in the know’ this may seem like a silly question, but for those who aren’t the terms may be confusing, so it’s a valid learning question, and one I’ve answered dozens of times over the past 6 months or so from curious students.

“Stage Hypnosis” is an entertainment presentation; it’s performing a show, from start to finish - pre-talk and convincers, induction, deepening, skits and routines, post-hypnotic suggestions, awakening.... It’s an organized, structured, and generally pre-scheduled event for a specific audience. (Or at least it should be :)

“Street Hypnosis” is the catch-all term for less-organized demonstrations of hypnosis, such as impromptu performances at house parties, bars, restaurants, or literally out on the street with random passersby.

“Speed Trance” is a style, a method or technique for inducing trance, just darn near instantly. Depending on where, when and how it’s used, the performance of Speed Trance techniques can almost be a “show,” as the demonstration can surely be attention-grabbing to onlookers - but truly it’s just a really, really fast hypnotic induction method.

“So, why would I want to learn Speed Trance - buy the video or attend the class - if it’s not going to teach me how to do stage or street hypnosis?” That’s the next question I generally field from those looking to expand their hypnotic horizons with new learnings.

>>>> Speed Trance techniques are highly effective and useful tools (for induction, but also for marketing purposes) for any practicing hypnotist - stage, street or clinical. (Plus they’re just way cool!)

“Well, I’m a clinical hypnotist, so I don’t need to know about that fast stuff.” Oh really?

If you are a Clinical Hypnotist, you can use these methods to shorten induction time with returning clients, to overcome resistance or skepticism or nervousness with new clients, to impact trauma and crisis victims, to work with fidgety children or special populations, and many other pertinent scenarios.

“But I’m a stage hypnotist; so I have to use a longer induction, fast ones just won’t work for what I do.” Is that so?

If you are a Stage Hypnotist, you may use these techniques as an astonishing convincing act to jump-start your show, or to deepen a subject who is in very light trance. > And, tell me, what better way is there to demonstrate what you can do - right here, right now - for someone who might want to book you, than a 5-minute, 1-subject stage show, kicked off with a 7-second induction?

If you want to do Street Hypnosis, you pretty much have to use Speed Trance style instant inductions, because you won’t hold an impromptu audience’s attention by doing a 20-minute PMR induction…

The same goes for putting up demonstration videos on youtube - you’ve only got 10 minutes of video to play with, and you don’t want to waste 5 minutes of that time on an induction - but you want the viewers to believe you’re not using actors - so impress them with a 10-second or less Speed Trance induction - wow the folks watching at home - and then get on with the fun stuff. It makes for awesome video.

Marketing. As mentioned above, you can use the methods to quickly and powerfully demonstrate the possibilities of hypnosis and your personal skills, in order to get stage show gigs and even clinical clients.

>>>> Each and every time you demonstrate hypnosis, you are advertising your services. Do a 5 or 15-minute mini-demonstration at a party, and you just might book a stage show and several clinical sessions.

So, these are the answers I give customers who call and ask, and I hope they’ve been helpful to you as well.

~ Paula Saxon Nongard
Professional Relations Director

For more information on the Speed Trance DVD set or the upcoming live Toronto training class with Richard Nongard and John Cerbone - or if you have any other questions - please click the links or feel free to call our office at (800) 684-9766.