Want to be performing hypnosis on a Las Vegas stage? It requires timing, pacing, and showmanship to present a truly entertaining show, but a little glitz and flash will go a long way.

Bright lights and spot lights. The perfect music to achieve the perfect ambience. Lots and lots of sound effects and visual effects. The use of a smoke machine. Loud bangs and sudden flashes of light. Dazzling costumes and props. Bring on the atmosphere!

You want to create an environment of a fantastic, altered world for your audience. Make them feel they are at the cinema watching a movie, or better yet, in the movie. You want them to suspend their disbelief and be open to believe anything and everything they get from the stage, no matter how strange or irrational the story may be and no matter how its plot twists and turns, you want the audience to be willing and open to wherever the story leads.

The use of tricks and effects are employed by all stage hypnotists often with spectacular results. The more complex and dangerous looking the stunt the better. The more startling and spectacular the effect the better. As I stated above this all goes to bring your audience into your story, and they will follow right along with you.

This was just a little teaser to get you thinking, we will cover stage hypnosis in more detail in another article.

Although scientists aren’t entirely sure how to hypnotize someone, they have recognized three key factors in successful hypnosis. The subject must want to be hypnotized; he or she must believe that they can be hypnotized; and, finally, they must be comfortable and relaxed.

There is a small number of people who are not susceptible to hypnosis. Most of us, however, can be hypnotized, according to a standard classification system.

Hypnotherapists usually test a patients’ susceptibility to hypnosis at their initial appointment. This can be done by ushering the patient into deep relaxation and then asking them to relax their arms completely. Slowly, the therapist makes requests that require increased distortion of normal thought. For example, he or she may ask the patient to believe they are weightless.

When you are beginning to learn how to hypnotize someone, it is a good idea to begin with a similar test. Be aware it can take as little as a few minutes or as much as 30 minutes for someone to fall into a hypnotic state. Be patient and do not try to rush things.

Fixed-Gaze induction or eye fixation: this is the form of hypnosis most common to Hollywood. The subject is asked to stare intently at an object, eventually they will block out all other distractions. At this time, speak to them in a low, soft voice, lulling them into relaxation.

This technique is rarely used anymore as it no longer works on most people.

Rapid: this is known as stage hypnosis. It is performed primarily for show. If you wanted to learn how to hypnotize someone with this technique, you would overwhelm them with loud, sudden commands. If you were forceful, the subject would temporarily give up control of their conscious mind.

This isn’t a recommended technique for most people. It works for stage hypnotists because the novelty of being in front of an audience makes the subject easier to influence.

Loss of balance: a hypnotic state can be brought about by slow, rhythmic rocking, which upsets the equilibrium. This is why babies are soothed when rocked.

Progressive relaxation and imagery: This is the form of hypnosis most commonly used for CDs, DVDs and face-to-face sessions today. To learn how to hypnotize someone using this technique, follow the guidelines below.

* Relax: The key to successfully inducing hypnosis—a state of hyper-attention and hyper-awareness—is to be mentally relaxed and absolutely absorbed in the task at end. It should feel as if it every action is effortless.

When you first learn how to hypnotize someone, it could help to follow the Jacobsen Progressive Relaxation procedure. To do this, ask your subject to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Find an environment with few distractions. Slowly and quietly, ask them to tense each major muscle group. Then, relax. Begin with their feet and progress all the way to the top of their head.

* Enter into a deeper state: The best way to learn how to hypnotize someone is to count backwards from 20. With each count, remind your subject to relax deeply and completely. If distracting thoughts arise, encourage them to brush them aside.

* Auto Suggestion: Now comes the fun part. Ask your friend questions about an issue or goal agreed to prior to the session. Try to enlist his or her subconscious in the problem-solving process.

* Count to three: to end the session, given them a warning before counting to three.