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Hypnotist Wand casts spell on SCSU
By Emily Pryor
 Media Credit: Jason Risberg Hypnotist Jim Wand, left, laughs with the crowd as a student who thinks he is Richard Simmons does leg kick exercises Friday.
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The SCSU Kickoff Committee was proud to present the "Master of Persuasion," hypnotist Jim Wand on Friday.
Beginning at 7 p.m., the restless crowd gathered inside Ritsche Auditorium. Less than ten minuteslater, Jim Wand began the entertaining, yet absolutely real hypnotism program.
Wand has a doctorate in psychology and has been involved in hypnosis for more than 20 years. He has worked with Jay Leno from the Tonight Show, and many athletes, such as football players in the NFL and Michael Jordan. He has also worked with musicians, including George Strait and the Judds. Wand has also appeared on "The Sally Show" and "The Judge Joe Brown Show."
Wand began the program by selecting 24 random people from the audience to participate. After seating them he explained what hypnosis was all about.
When a person is hypnotized, their conscious mind is submissive, which allows the subconscious mind to bemore responsive. As the hypnotist speaks to the person, their subconscious mind listens better than the conscious, which leads the person to do as they are told.
Therefore, information that would normally be passed through the conscious mind first and then passed to the subconscious, is given directly to the subconscious.
According to Wand, it is easier to become hypnotized after one has been hypnotized previously.
One volunteer, who had been previously hypnotized, confirmed this theory. He was quickly hypnotized into forgetting his name.
Wand then brought out a blinking red light. By staring at the light and listening to Wand, the participants became hypnotized. Wand counted down from five to one, putting them, as well as some audience members, to sleep.
With a single touch of Wand's hand, the participants slumped into a deep sleep.
Throughout the program, Wand had the volunteers do plenty of activities. In their hypnotic state they traveled to Las Vegas and went to the beach, where they put on lotion and were attacked by bugs.
They went to the casino, where they won their dream cars, then were pulled over by the police for driving 162 miles per hour. Each was asked to show identification and give a reason for going so fast, which resulted in laughter from the audience.
"There were girls chasing me and I didn't want to get raped," one male participant said.
Another said,"I was trying to go home and get my driver's license."
After a close encounter with the law, the hypnotized volunteers were contestants in the National Kissing Competition. Wand instructed them to imagine their favorite celebrity standing in front of them.
Soon the hypnotized students pantomined kissing their respective favorite celebrity.
Audience response suggested the final segment was the most entertaining.
Wand hypnotized three men into thinking they were the pop singers Britney Spears, J-Lo and Pink. One of the women was hypnotized into the persona of Ja Rule.
Wand also selected participants to form the back-up band and singers for the stars.
Each "celebrity" put on a solo performance.
To conclude the program, Wand explained that hypnotism is also used for purposes other than entertainment.
"It can help with smoking, addictions, study habits,stress relief, self-confidence, and improving athletic abilities," said Wand.
For more information on hypnosis, visit http://www.hypnotism.com.
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