The Daily Orange: First off, why hypnosis? When and how did you discover it?

Doug MacCraw: Ha, I’m supposed to be flying planes – I have a bachelor’s degree in geography and a minor in aviation from University of North Dakota. I had done some theater in high school and one night, I decided to try the stand-up comedy contest. I won and was named House MC for the last two years of college. After graduation I had enough jokes to be a professional stand-up comedian, but it wasn’t until a few years later that I came across a professional hypnotist. The practice intrigued me, and my colleague recommended I go back to school to learn the ins and outs of how to be a successful hypnotist.

What kind of training and schooling did it take to become a professional hypnotist?

I was clinically certified as a hypnotist after spending a summer at a school in Florida that is certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists. Practical application takes years and years of experience and working with people in order to have a good working knowledge of how to do things properly.

So, how exactly does hypnosis work?

I always joke with people and tell them that I bore them into hypnosis. It really just comes down to the hypnotist using a repetitive form of speech to relax the person into a trance-like state. When you say the same things over and over in a monotone voice, the person’s conscious mind gets bored when it hears repetition. When that little critical factor – the analytical part of mind – steps aside, the pathway to the subconscious mind is opened. At that stage, you are in a trance. Once the subconscious mind starts accepting the suggestions the hypnotist gives it, you are in a hypnotic state.

What does it take to perform hypnosis on stage versus in a doctor’s office?

Stage hypnosis is a lot different. There is no real guild or professional training for it, but with my hypnosis therapy experience and stage background, it was simple. It’s like any other form of other acting; you need charisma and presence. Stage hypnosis has actually grown to become one of the most popular forms of entertainment because when you see someone on stage that you know, you can connect with them, and it makes it that much more fun.

What do you want your audiences to get from your shows?

I want people to come out having had a positive experience, with an open mind and feeling great about themselves. Whether they are on stage or in the audience, by participating, they have shown themselves that they can do anything they want. I want them to think that anything is possible. Unfortunately, we live in a world where TV, media, teachers and friends are constantly telling you what you can’t do. That becomes your hypnotic programming, and you begin to think you can’t do anything. I like people to come out thinking they can excel, be a leader, get involved, set goals and go after them.

Published on September 6, 2007 at 12:00 pm