Hypnotist, magician and Concord High School graduate (how many people can lay claim to all three of those distinctions??!!) Pete Mamos is visiting the Concord Public Library on July 11 for a show that begins at 5 p.m.
Tickets are free, but required. You can pick yours up at the service desk at the library or by calling 225-8670, option 2. The show is part of the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program.
We caught up to Mamos to ask a few hypnotizing questions!
How did you get into the profession of hypnotism? I saw a show when I was in high school and was absolutely mesmerized (pardon the pun!). While it was a hysterical comedy show, I was more fascinated by the “how/why” behind it and knew that I wanted to learn more about what I had just seen.
How is one trained/educated to be a hypnotist? After getting my master’s in psychology, I took classes in clinical hypnotherapy and earned a certification in the field. The base components of hypnosis are the same in clinical hypnotherapy and stage shows, though the suggestions and purposes are far different! I stick to the entertainment side of it now and admire those who use hypnosis in the clinical setting.
Can you describe how hypnotism works without giving away any trade secrets? Books can be written about how it works, but in a nutshell, when someone is very relaxed, he or she is much more open to new suggestions than in a normal waking state.
Can anyone be hypnotized? Are some people more difficult than others? Anyone can be hypnotized, though it does not work for everyone at a given time. An open attitude, intense concentration, and strong imagination are all necessary for someone to be hypnotized. If one of these is missing, it will most likely not work.
What can the audience expect from your upcoming show? If an audience member looks at him/herself or to either side, chances are one of the three will be a star of the show.
Any tips or pointers for viewers? Volunteer, please! No volunteers, no show!
What do you like best about performing in front of a live audience? The best part of performing is hearing the audience laugh. It always amazes me that with no props and no jokes that a hypnosis show can create so much laughter.
Any memorable shows/spots in New Hampshire you’ve performed at? I have been fortunate enough to perform all over the country … Alaska is one of my favorites (it is like New Hampshire on steroids), but Concord is always special and memorable. It is where I grew up and where I did my first show.
