[bbgapril]

Dominant forms of speech work best; even when I discuss hypnotizing someone, I make definitive statements. "You've mentioned you're interested in hypnosis. I want to try it with you. I've had excellent success with others and you appear to be a good candidate, shall we try it now?" This is going to work better than "I think I'd like to try to hypnotize you. I bet you'd really like it." The reasons are simple - a subject is going to be letting down her guard, and to do that she needs to trust you. If you don't seem certain of things, she'll assume you don't know what you are doing, and that doesn't lead to trust.

My pattern usually starts with "Listen to my voice. Nothing else matters right now, just focus on the words. Let everything else drift away. My voice is soft and soothing. Focus only on my words. There is only you and I, and my voice is soft and calming, but compelling. Listen only to it..."

About all the technique I employ is to talk calmly, and more and more softly as I go, forcing them to concentrate more closely over time, and to slow down my speech as they appear to be getting drifty. The pattern of words can be repetitive in theme, but don't simply repeat the same phrase over and over.

If something distracts them, simply fall silent until they can focus again. If you're trying to compete for their attention, you can't succeed in hypnotizing them. They have to want to give it to you.