Stage Hypnotist for Corporate Events, Festivals & Private Parties

There are very few forms of live entertainment where the audience becomes the star of the show. Stage hypnosis is one of them. Volunteers from your own guests take to the stage, relax into hypnosis and respond to suggestions in ways that are hilarious, surprising and completely unforgettable for everyone watching.

James Anthony is a stage hypnotist, mentalist and member of The Magic Circle. He has performed hypnosis and mind-magic shows to large standing crowds at the Manchester Tattoo Show, as well as at corporate events, private parties and on international stages. His shows are fast, funny and carefully controlled, so the audience gets big laughs and every volunteer has a great time.

Because James is also a magician and mentalist, his shows offer more than a standard hypnosis act. Impossible moments of mind reading and prediction sit alongside the comedy of hypnosis, giving the audience variety, astonishment and a show that keeps building to a big finish.

The show begins with a short, friendly introduction that explains what hypnosis is and what it is not. James then invites volunteers to join him. Nobody is forced to take part, and the people who come forward are those who want to have fun.

James guides the volunteers into a relaxed, focused state using simple suggestions. Within minutes, the people best suited to the show are clear, and the rest return to their seats with a round of applause. From there, the show becomes a series of comedy routines built around the volunteers, who might forget their own name, believe they are famous singers, find their chair is suddenly freezing cold or become convinced the person next to them is an alien.

Every routine is designed to be funny without being cruel. The volunteers are the heroes of the show, and James makes sure they leave the stage feeling great and remembering it as one of the best nights out they have had.

Yes. Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention, similar to being absorbed in a film or a good book. Volunteers remain aware and in control throughout, and nobody can be made to do anything against their values or wishes. Anyone can leave the stage at any time.

James takes the welfare of his volunteers seriously. He selects volunteers carefully, avoids anything harmful or humiliating, and ensures every suggestion is removed before people leave the stage, so they return to their seats relaxed, refreshed and feeling good. Organisers can brief James on any sensitivities in advance, and the content is tailored to your audience.

Hypnosis needs confidence and control, especially in front of a large audience. At the Manchester Tattoo Show, James performed hypnosis and mind-magic sets to packed crowds in a busy exhibition hall, with volunteers deeply hypnotised on stage in front of hundreds of people.

If James can hold the attention of a noisy, standing crowd at a festival, a seated corporate audience or a room full of party guests is a natural fit. The same skills mean he can adapt the show to the venue, from a ballroom stage to a small function room.

A hypnosis show is one of the most effective ways to bring a corporate audience together. Colleagues get to see each other in a completely new light, and the stories from the night become part of the team's shared culture.

For awards dinners, Christmas parties, summer parties and incentive trips, a 45 to 60-minute hypnosis show makes a perfect after-dinner feature. For conferences, a shorter demonstration of hypnosis and mentalism can open a session on focus, mindset or communication, with the content adjusted to suit a professional audience.

Many corporate clients combine James's close-up magic during the drinks reception and dinner with a hypnosis show afterwards, giving guests a complete evening of entertainment from a single performer.

Big birthdays, anniversaries, stag and hen events and private celebrations are perfect for hypnosis because the audience already knows the volunteers. Watching your friend or family member become the star of the show is the highlight of the evening.

James tailors the content to the group, keeping things fun and appropriate. For mixed audiences, the show can focus on comedy, imagination and mind magic, while adult-only groups can enjoy a slightly cheekier show if they would like one.

Most hypnotists only do hypnosis. James is unusual because he is also a professional magician and mentalist. That means his shows can switch between the comedy of hypnosis and moments of genuine astonishment, such as revealing a word a volunteer is only thinking of or predicting a choice made by the audience.

This blend keeps the show varied and lets James adjust the balance to your audience. Some clients want a full comedy hypnosis show, others prefer a sophisticated mind-magic show with a short hypnosis section. Both are possible.

Shows typically run between 30 and 90 minutes. A 45 to 60-minute show suits most corporate and private events.

James needs a stage or clear performance area, a row of chairs without arms for the volunteers, a radio microphone and the ability to play music through the venue's PA system. Many venues already have everything required, and James can bring his own sound system if needed. Full technical details are provided once you book.

James is based in Manchester and performs hypnosis shows across the North West, the rest of the UK and internationally. Book a discovery call to talk about your event, your audience and the style of show you would like, and James will recommend the right format.