Prom party hypnotist casts spell on students

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, May 14, students were hypnotised at the after prom party. Dr. Al Snyder put about 31 students under his spell, making them do insanely ridiculous things.

Perhaps the most entertaining part for the audience was simply watching the way people interacted with each other. When hypnotized, the brain becomes ultra willing to follow suggestions, as well as increasingly emotional. This means lots of hysterical laughter, sometimes followed by hysterical crying. For the audience, these huge emotional shows can be quite comical.

It is very unclear as to when hypnosis began being practiced. Many religious books reference it’s use, though usually as a form of meditation. It didn’t start being a form of entertainment until supposedly the 1950s.

Hypnosis has it’s fair share of doubters. It’s effects and strange simplicity make it hard for people to believe in it’s legitimacy. However, the science is there. Hypnosis is a genuine, real practice. Whether or not it’s legitimacy is constant, especially in a large social setting, can only be confirmed by a participant.

Senior Summer Pieters was eagerly awaiting the show to start. When Snyder asked for volunteers, Pieters was one of the first hands up. Sadly, she was not called on, but she wasn’t out of luck. The hypnotizing isn’t just for those on stage. Those who follow the same directions in the audience can end up in a hypnotized state. Lucky for Pieters, it not only worked for her in the audience, but a chair on staged opened up. And in her confused, adrift state, she made it on stage for a better part of the show.

“I don’t remember anything about what happened on stage. People told me I shouted and laughed a lot. I also yelled something about being vegan, but it was as if I was asleep for the whole thing.”

Pieters said she would likely be in the minority due to the simple fact that she remembered nothing. Snyder stated how hypnosis is nearly identical to sleepwalking and dreaming. If one is able to remember dreams, it is likely they’ll remember their actions and emotions during hypnosis.

Most people who got hypnotized described the experience as funny. The dream-like state resulted in the illusion that time was slower. The participants awoke from their hypnosis state feeling refreshed and energetic.

Pieters only has one tip of advice for doubters. “You just have to try it. That’s all I’ll say,” she said.