Hypnotist Alan Sands is visiting Council Bluffs on March 30 with a show at The Gathering Room. Sands has performed at more than 220 fairs, exhibitions, and festivals along with visits to colleges, casinos, amusement parks, and more. His show has been in 46 states, Canada, China, Malaysia, South Africa, and Dubai.
Though busy traveling and performing, Sands was able to answer some of our hypnosis questions in advance of the show.
How did you get into hypnotism?
My father was a full-time comedy magician and also did a hypnosis show when I was a teenager. I started out copying him, and then went to hypnosis schools, took classes, read books, watched other hypnotists, and, most of all, got on stage and did shows for the last 20+ years.
What does hypnotism consist of?
[Hypnotism is> not possible to define in a short essay. There are thousands of books written on the subject. It is a spiritual state of mind where you lower your conscious critical mind and heighten your subconscious mind. In a show, I suggest improvs and your imagination plays them out.
What can the audience expect to see at your show?
Comedy and improvisation but more directed than the average improv show since I do not ask for suggestions from the audience. The show is 60 to 90 minutes, and the audience will laugh while the volunteers play!
What is your favorite part of the show?
That is difficult to say. When something new happens I have not seen happen before, probably.
What do you enjoy about hypnotism?
It's unpredictability. Every show is different since you have a whole new cast of characters on stage. You can go to a fair and watch a hypnotist do three shows a day for ten days and every show will be different.
Why should people come out to the show?
Well, for one, if they have seen a hypnosis show before, then they know what to expect and they will be looking forward to it. If they have never seen a hypnosis show before, then—well, it is different than any other medium of entertainment they have ever witnessed. It is comedy, it is improv, it is audience participation, but it is also unique in its own class of show.
Ready to be hypnotized? Get your tickets today! Tickets for Sands’ Council Bluffs show are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Visit our event page for more information.
