A Stage Hypnosis Show is so Much More Than Comedy (Part Three)

Incorporating various elements such as drama, comedy, adventure, action, fantasy, romance, science fiction, and thriller into your show can make your show more engaging and appealing to a wider audience. Only having one of these elements is sorely failing your audience. Think about it: does Hollywood only make comedies? Of course not; they make movies for everyone, and that includes all genres.

Here’s how to blend these elements seamlessly into your narrative:

Drama

  • Focus on emotions: Create emotional depth by developing complex characters and situations that evoke empathy from the audience.
  • Raise the stakes: Increase tension and conflict to keep the audience invested in the outcome.

How does this work? You create a crisis! (Note it does not have to be a real crisis you could say: in a few moments you will act like this is the worst thing ever. You are out of milk for your cookies, it is horrible and it’s all you can focus on. You will act as if it is the end of the world. What skits can you come up with to create drama?

Comedy

  • Use humor in character interactions: Write your show with comedy always at the forefront and know that different people like different comedy styles. Part of being a good hypnotist is being able to step back and let your volunteers shine. A glib comment can be fun -but is it degrading? Well you just lost a booking. Did it embarrass the CEO? You just lost a booking. The comedy comes from the skits, doing silly things and your volunteers reactions. It is all about the volunteers you are a conductor they are your instruments – Treat them right!
  • Balance with other elements: Use comedy to lighten the mood and provide relief from tense moments.
  • The easiest comedy to do on stage is often physical comedy. Something as small as sticking out a tongue can get a huge reaction. The instrument skit? Yep there is comedy there! Big instruments, small instruments, played with different body parts, it’s all physical comedy.

Adventure

  • Set your story in exciting places: Create a journey or quest with exotic locations and challenges.
  • Introduce a sense of discovery: Characters encounter new cultures, creatures, or puzzles along the way.
  • Call your volunteers up for a wild adventure where they and the audience will never be the same!

Why do a show on a stage where you are instead change the scene and make it happen in space, a castle, the moon, your parents bedroom. The possibilities are just in your imagination. 

Action

  • Include dynamic scenes: Create thrilling action scenes with movement and conflict.
  • Keep the pace fast: Use quick and intense moments to keep the audience on the edge of their seat.

Car races, spy actions, kung fu, flying to the moon. All action. Movement on stage is eye catching, it breaks up the journey and can redirect the story to a new scene.

Fantasy

  • Build a unique world: Create a magical or mystical setting with its own rules and history.
  • Introduce supernatural elements: Add fantastical creatures, powers, or phenomena to enhance the story.

Changing our normal world to something magical, What if the volunteers were wizards but lost their powers? What if the only power they have is making the hypnotist do strange things? What if those powers were ultimate and they controlled everything! What stories could be told!

Romance

  • Develop strong relationships: Create chemistry and emotional connections between characters.
  • Add romantic tension: Use misunderstandings or obstacles to keep the romance interesting.

There are many ways to go with this, fall in love with hypnotist, fall in love with others on stage, is it given back or is it not? What if they fall in love with an object what can you turn that into? What if they fall in love with themselves, what if something they love disappears?

Science Fiction

  • Incorporate futuristic or advanced technology: Imagine new possibilities and use them to shape your story.
  • Explore themes of ethics and morality: Address how new technologies or discoveries impact society.

Aliens, a world without a specific technology, futuristic vehicles ect! Maybe to defeat the aliens they have to come up with a technology themselves. What can your imagination come up with? A whole show themed on star trek – yes Captain! 

Thriller

  • Maintain suspense and tension: Keep the audience guessing with unexpected plot twists and turns.
  • Create a sense of urgency: Give the characters a time-sensitive challenge or mission.

This is where the twists and turns come in! How will they resolve the issues! What parts of the show can you make thrilling? What can you do to guide your volunteers down a path of excitement?

Blend the elements naturally

  • Understand your story’s genre and tone: Choose the main elements that best fit your narrative and target audience.
  • Balance the different elements: Use them in moderation so the story doesn’t feel overwhelming or disjointed.
  • Tie them to the characters and plot: Make sure each element serves a purpose in advancing the story or developing the characters.

Many of us just want to focus on the funny and it is a great base. The problem is comedy is subjective and it has so many different styles that may not fit everyone’s tastes. Seeing Uncle Bob give birth to a unicorn? That’s funny. Especially to the people Bob came with. Taking it further – it’s also funny to all of the mothers in the audience. Even further – it can deliver a message of loving others… How? I wrote it that way.

You see your show can be anything. It is up to you to choose. BUT – BE ORIGINAL, do not steal others skits. Even putting out this article I would be willing to bet that some of my original skits are taken. The question you have to ask is what journey do you want your volunteers to be taken on? Is it just comedy or are you giving them something more?

By skillfully blending these different elements into your story, you can create a rich and dynamic narrative that keeps your audience engaged and entertained. I like to think of my show as a blockbuster movie. I take all of these elements and blend them into something full of comedy, action, drama, and motivation. It works for my audience – will it work for yours? 

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