Hypnotist Matt Hale guest blogs for BroadwayWorld ahead of bringing Funbelievable! 90s Rewind to the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Top Questions You've Always Wanted to Ask About Hypnosis (But Didn't Want to Sound Stupid!)
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Q: Let's just ask what everyone's thinking, is hypnosis actually real, or are people just pretending to go along with it to be nice?
Totally real, and no, they're not just being polite! I've performed comedy hypnosis shows for years, all over the world, and I can promise you: no one can fake the kind of hilarious, unexpected things that happen on stage without breaking character at some point. What most people don't realise though is that hypnosis isn't some weird mystical thing. It's simply focused imagination. You focus on a thought so much, it starts to feel real in that moment. That's it. Much like when you watch a movie and you end up in tears, even though you know all the actors are fine in real life! Your brain simply makes it feel real in the moment. Same thing. And once your imagination does that on stage, incredible (and very silly!) things happen.
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Q: So how do you make people do those fun things we see in your show - think they're members of a boy band, driving the Venga bus, become the lead in the Titanic movie?
First of all, I don't make anyone do anything. That's the fun part, they do it themselves! Again, it's about focused imagination. I guide people into a relaxed, suggestible state, and then offer ideas that they latch onto. If I suggest they have the attitude of a Gallagher brother, and they're focused enough on that idea, it feels real in that moment. So audience, beware, you BETTER be singing along with Wonderwall!
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Q: Could you hypnotise someone to give you their bank password? Asking for a friend...
Haha — tell your "friend" no chance! You can't use hypnosis to override someone's values, morals, or free will. It's not mind control. You can't force someone to do something they genuinely don't want to do. Hypnosis is a collaboration. The person being hypnotised always has control but when they're just so zoned in, their brain may choose to go, 'Yep, this makes total sense right now,' and run with it like it's the most natural thing in the world.
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Q: So if someone's suddenly becomes Buzz Lightyear or gives mad girl power vibes like a Spice Girl, they're just... imagining it's real?
Exactly! That's the magic. If you vividly imagine that you're a Backstreet Boy mid-performance, and that thought is all you're focused on, your body and brain start responding like it's actually happening. The line between "pretending" and "feeling real" disappears. That's focused imagination doing its thing. And the results are often hilarious, and hugely joyful.
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Q: Can anyone be hypnotised? Or are there only certain people who "go under"?
Most people absolutely can...if they want to. Hypnosis isn't about being gullible; it's about being open and willing to focus. Some people naturally go into that focused imaginative state more quickly: creatives, performers, people who daydream. But even if you've never been hypnotised before, chances are you've slipped into a similar state watching a film or reading a book. That moment where your body is in one place, but your mind is totally somewhere else, that's the same zone I tap into.
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Q: What does it feel like to be hypnotised? Do people know what they're doing?
Absolutely! Most people are surprised by how normal it feels. You're still aware, just super relaxed and focused. Some people say it's like daydreaming with purpose. I say it's your imagination fully engaged, like you're starring in a movie your brain is making up on the spot. You're aware of what's happening, but the suggestions feel so real because you're so zoned in on them. That's the power of focused imagination. Your mind sees it , and your body follows.
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Q: Is it safe? What if someone gets "stuck" in hypnosis?
Oh, we simply chuck them in the storage container marked "Stuck People" with everyone else who got stuck! Ha! Obviously totally safe, and no one gets stuck, because....IT'S JUST YOUR IMAGINATION! You choose when to stop imagining at any point, you choose when you want to open your eyes, but you go in and out of similar mental states every day - like when you're driving on autopilot or zoning out in a meeting. Hypnosis is just a more deliberate version of that.
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Q: What's the weirdest or most unexpected thing that's happened during one of your shows?
Amazing things happen every night as people interpret suggestions differently. One that springs to mind though is the grandma who started attempting to breakdance when her cue was to "dance like no-one's watching." That gave all of us on and offstage a huge laugh, and obviously ended with massive applause. Turns out her grandson was a b-boy back in the day and would teach her a few moves she'd obviously not forgotten!
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Q: Outside of comedy, can hypnosis actually help people with real-life stuff?
Definitely. As a qualified hypnotherapist, I've used hypnosis for a whole range of things people want help with: quitting smoking/vaping, sleeping better, overcoming stage fright, public speaking, fear for spiders etc, you name it. It's a brilliant tool for change because it bypasses the overthinking part of the brain. When you plant a positive suggestion while someone's deeply focused, it can stick in a really powerful way. Comedy and entertainment is where I focus now, but the tool itself is incredibly versatile and positive.
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Q: What's one thing you wish everyone understood about hypnosis?
That it's not weird. It's not scary. And it's definitely not mind control. It's just focused imagination, and we all use that every day without realising it. Whether you're visualising your goals or imagining the worst-case scenario (hi, anxiety!), your brain is constantly responding to the pictures you feed it. Hypnosis just gives you a way to direct that power in a fun or helpful direction. And when you mix that with laughter...boom, magic happens.
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BONUS Q (the one you tried so hard not to ask) : If I come to your show, will you turn me into a chicken?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! As someone who's always tried to stay away from traditional cliches of hypnosis shows past, I run a "100% Chicken Free Guarantee"!!! Nor will you find any swinging watches or spirals either! However you could end up believing you're the world's foremost Macarena expert and performing your amazing moves in front of a cheering crowd. (Which, let's be honest, sounds kind of awesome.)
