Question:
Can you name some famous stage hypnotists?
Answer:
Derren Brown: His shows are much more mentalism shows rather than straight hypnosis shows, but there are many elements of hypnosis in them, and he is a fully qualified hypnotist, making his inclusion here relevant.
Paul McKenna: Neither as famous nor as popular as he once was, and is disliked by many in the industry for bringing hypnosis into ill repute due to the legal cases brought against him. Despite this, he still fits the remit of the question.
Justin Tranz: Much more of a traditional and immensely popular stage hypnotist, known for his vibrant performances and innovative use of hypnosis in media, including campaigns like IKEA’s ‘Time Travel Experiment’.
Michael C. Anthony: Stage hypnotist and author of several books on the topic.
Sean Michael Andrews: Uses “The World’s Fastest Hypnotist” in his promotional material, but the claim is very debatable, however he is still widely respected for teaching rapid induction techniques globally.
Ormond McGill (1913-2005): Stage hypnotist, magician, and instructor who was considered to be the “Dean of American Hypnotists”. He wrote several books on the topic and trained many people now prominent in the industry. One of his books, ‘The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism’ is considered ‘the bible of stage hypnosis’.
Dave Elman (1900-1967): Incredibly influential in the field of both stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Famous for the “Elman Induction,” a rapid induction technique still widely taught in hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis.
Abbé Faria (1756-1819): The father of modern stage hypnosis and advocate of the power of suggestion. Early advocate for the concept of hypnosis as a psychological phenomenon, rather than a mystical or magnetic force.
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