In his show, “Cards Against Hypnosis”, David Hall stunned the audience as he was able to hypnotize a group of about 20 to do anything from dance backup for Beyoncé, to take a call on their shoe, to relax like they’re in the Bahamas.
Q: What is your hometown?
Hall: Boston, Massachusetts.
Q: How did you get started in hypnosis?
Hall: Growing up my whole life, I’ve been interested in it, so I think that’s what got me started. I studied at Suffolk University, and then I also went and got proper training in stage hypnosis after college out in Las Vegas.
Q: What social media do you use most, and what is your handle on it?
Hall: We have a website; it’s called ‘Cards Against Hypnosis’.
Q: Do you have three words to describe how the show went?
Hall: Really excited audience.
Q: Did you have any thoughts or expectations about Winthrop itself?
Hall: I could tell from talking to the Campus Activities Board that brought me in today [about] how excited they were for this show, so I was really looking forward to coming. That’s why Antonia also came, because we thought it was just going to be a really, really awesome crowd, which you clearly were.
Q: Is there something you want the audience to take away from this show?
Hall: I think ultimately, this show for me is more about making the audience feel like they are the stars of the show … so my job is to really make the volunteers on stage look good.
Q: Is there something you learned from working in hypnosis that you want to translate to the audience?
Hall: When I’m doing the hypnosis, I ask the person to relax, and I think sometimes people get so overwhelmed with work and school and just running around with life, that for a minute they can sit and they can see their friends relax, and enjoy themselves. They can relax and forget about all the distractions out there, and that’s what hypnosis is. It’s just trying to let go of all the distractions so you can just focus and relax.
Q: Are there any misconceptions about hypnosis?
Hall: People think you can hypnotize to do something you wouldn’t want to do, which isn’t [what] you can do. So typically, you’ll see the suggestions I try to give throughout the show are ones that people would be excited about … They don’t have to, but most likely they’ll accept that suggestion … My job as a hypnotist is to make the right suggestions to get everyone to be excited about doing it.