Hypnosis beside from being used as a tool for treatment of certain ailments, which requires behavioral changes, has also been used for entertainment. When it is used for entertainment, it is called a hypnosis show. The effect of hypnosis show is not lasting. It actually last until the show is over.

The hypnotist while performing in front of an large audience need to choose his subject matter wisely. The choices he makes regarding his volunteer have to be picked with care. Normally, the hypnotist has to pick out volunteers to put under a trance and once under a trance, he can plant any suggestions into the mind of that particular person.

Just like when hypnosis is used for therapy, for the hypnosis show, the hypnotist also requires the total cooperation of his volunteer for him to be able to put the volunteer under a trance. To help the hypnotist pick out suitable candidates for his show, he has to choose those who will listen to his command. By using a process call induction, he can tell from the audience who are more susceptible to his command. For example, he will ask the audiences to close their eyes and listen to his command. From this action, it is easy to see the willing participants from those who are not cooperative.

A person who resists the command of the hypnotist will never be selected. Any person who is sitting very alert in the audience is one such person. Any person who seems willing to participate in the performance of the hypnotist is the perfect volunteer.

When the hypnotist calls the willing volunteers onto the stage, this is when the actual show starts. One technique, which the hypnotist employs while calling upon the volunteers onto the stage, is to put a smaller number of chairs than participants on the stage. By doing so, this will create a competition among the volunteers.

Once under a trance, the hypnotist can command the volunteers to do whatever he wishes with them. The volunteers will totally be under his command as if they are sleeping. He can make the volunteers think that they are intoxicated. Or he can also make them think that they are from another planet speaking an unknown language. The volunteers will actually starts speaking in an unknown language. However, once the show is over, they will awaken from the trance and will show no effects or have any recollection of what just happened.