Q and A

Q and A

No one becomes a stage hypnotist sitting in a classroom.

Thom Kyte @ the Ellensburg, WA boot camp

No one becomes a stage hypnotist reading books.

Mark Mallett came to the Wyoming State Fair Bootcamp in 2017, returned to the Lane County Fair, Eugene, Oregon Bootcamp in 2018, and KILLED IT! He was the star performer the second time around!

No one becomes a stage hypnotist watching videos.

Misty Knight doing stage hypnosis shows at the Lane County Fair, Eugene, OR

There is only one way to become a stage hypnotist; you must get on a stage and do shows!

How Alan became a stage hypnotist

In high school, I did hypnosis at parties and put on a few small shows for friends. Then, life took me on a different path, and I set it aside for about 15 years.

Fast forward to 1992, when I performed comedy magic in South Africa with a fantastic cast: juggler Fred Anderson and puppeteer Bob Hartman, in a theater show called Laugh America. Each night, after the show ended, I invited the audience to stay for a treat—Bob was developing a brand-new hypnosis show, and it was a thrill to watch him work.

Watching Bob try new things, sometimes nailing it and other times figuring things out on the spot, gave me the spark I needed to jump back into hypnosis myself. I realized that every show didn’t have to be perfect; it was all part of the learning and discovery process.

When I returned to the States, I threw myself into developing my show with fresh energy and confidence. Sure, I had a few quirky shows along the way, but every experience helped me grow, and before long, I was performing with ease and excitement.

At Bootcamp, you’ll have those “aha” moments, some playful surprises, and maybe a curveball or two—but it’s all part of what makes learning hypnosis so much fun. And, hey, you’ll get to watch, laugh, and support your fellow hypnotists as they navigate their own exciting journeys.

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Mark Adams 2018 did a one-on-one Boot Camp at the Whoop-Up Days in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. He returned for a refresher in 2021.
2017 Queen Jacqueline Buchanan ~ Robeson County Fair, Lumberton, NC ~ Jacqueline joined me three times one-on-one.
What You Get ?

The SandMan’s Stage Hypnosis Boot Camp

Joan Sands and Misty Knight – there is much to say about wearing costumes when performing at a fair. People will stop and watch. So bring clothes that stand out!

Why is BootCamp only held in the summer?

Summer is when schools are out, and fairs run all day and late into the night, which means we can pack in more shows than we could at fairs that only open on weekday evenings or weekends. Plus, summer fair audiences are often large and enthusiastic, making it easier to deliver successful shows.

That said, sometimes the audience is smaller, and those moments are the most valuable — they make this training real! When you can put on a show for an audience of under 20, you gain the skills and confidence to entertain any crowd.

Colin Fisher came from Great Britain to Fargo, North Dakota, to learn stage hypnosis at the SandMan’s Stage Hypnosis Boot Camp.

Earning Potential

A Realistic Earning Progression

  • Start with a few free shows to get your feet wet, build confidence, and learn how real audiences respond.
  • Begin charging around $100 per show as you develop timing, structure, and stage control.
  • Move up to $400 per show as your consistency and confidence improve.
  • Before long, $600–$800 per show becomes realistic with solid performances and repeat bookings.
  • Eventually, reaching $1,000–$1,500+ per show is achievable with experience, polish, and professionalism.

Making $2,500 per show doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from experience, consistency, and delivering strong shows again and again. Sorry — I won’t BS you.

Your Investment

Letter from Dr. Jim Eggold

Dear Alan & Lisa,

Thank you again, Alan & Lisa, for your support and constructive critiques
of my shows. You really honed in on several fundamental errors I was making,
which, combined with a review of the shows, will be extremely helpful in
correcting these moving forward.

As I mentioned to Alan, I will be forever grateful for having had this
opportunity to learn and gain the confidence to get on stage and do it.
As helpful as they are in preparing, no amount of classes can substitute
for getting on stage and then actually doing it.

So, thank you again, and I hope our paths intersect again in the future.

Take care,
Jim

PS: I, too, was impressed with Frank’s shows — from his
words of encouragement to the young folks in his groups, to his
post-hypnotic suggestions of “come back” as they moved toward the stage
in slow motion as Chariots of Fire played in the background.
Not only a good hypnotist, but a genuinely nice individual.

My moral compass

“Treat everyone as I want them to treat my daughter.”

That principle guides how we teach, how we coach, and how we treat every student who comes through our doors.

That’s why we credit your deposit toward any future Boot Camp or classes that Lisa and I teach. I call it the “Southwest Airlines Policy.”

A Letter From Dr. Jim Eggold