Reddit reviews The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism

Well, it depends on what you want to focus on as a hypnotist. There are great books for hypnotherapy, stage hypnosis, sexual hypnosis, self hypnosis, and so on. For me, personally, I've tried to spread myself across all the fields. There are lots of books I can recommend, but they tend to be pretty specialized. I mentioned in another threat that this book is a great start for learning sexual hypnosis. It's actually just a great book for beginners in general, I feel the author approaches hypnosis in a very friendly way, whereas a lot of the hypnotherapy books can be overly stuffy. For stage hypnosis, no other book has been as big of a help to me as Ormond McGill's The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism. Ormond McGill is a true legend in the field, and I can't recommend his book highly enough.

As for getting your start on the practical end, I'd say it helps just to have patient friends or loved ones who will let you practice on them. Remember, one of the biggest keys to hypnosis is confidence in yourself. That's hard in the beginning, but the best advice for confidence is always to fake it until you make it, in my opinion.

Occasional stage/ street/ bar/ event magician/ mentalist/ hypnotist here.

Step one is buy this book if you're serious at all: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-New-Encyclopedia-Stage-Hypnotism/dp/1899836020

Step two is the same as performing any effect: practice and confidence.

Different environments will offer different difficulties and opportunities. Minimize the difficulties, maximize the opportunities.

Even more so than for regular effects, hypnotism requires you get the right subject. Don't be afraid to perform tests on your whole audience on the street. It'll help you get the right subject, prep them, and involve you spectators.

Finally, rapid inductions. It gives you the ability to execute them when distractions are low, and the are very powerful visually. The keys are building rapport, and total confidence.

Also check out /r/magic, /r/magicsecrets (info on access on /r/magic sidebar) and /r/mentalism (same process to apply as /r/magicsecrets).

reality is plastic

and

The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism

those will give you both a surface level and super in-depth training.

The absolute best I have ever seen is Anthony Galie

watch all his stuff available for routine ideas, method, patter, suggestion cadence...

Yes! This book is amazing...

http://www.amazon.com/New-Encyclopedia-Stage-Hypnotism/dp/1899836020

I agree with the other comment, but if you have the money, I really enjoyed "Ormond McGill's new encyclopedia for stage hypnotism"