By Gabby Dacosta
In college, students expect to do homework, study and take tests. They don’t usually expect to battle imaginary zombies or carelessly dance on stage.
Around 40 students acted bizarrely in the University Student Center ballroom, thanks to the hypnotic spell of C.J. Johnson on March 22.
Booming music and excitement filled the air as Johnson welcomed anyone to come to the stage who was open to being hypnotized.
Although some audience members were worried about doing something they didn’t want to, Johnson explained that a participant couldn’t be forced to do something against their moral beliefs.
“Hypnosis isn’t like it is in the movies,” Johnson said. “You’ll be aware of what’s happening at all times, you just won’t care.”
From shivering due to sudden coldness to feeling a burning sensation in their eyes, the students experienced many feelings under hypnosis.
“My eyes were really burning, I couldn’t stop blinking,” said Kayley Klein, a junior education major.
At one point in the show, the students on stage felt as if they were being slowly submerged by warm, soothing water while a sensation of deep relaxation washed over them. From this, they fell asleep. Upon waking up, the participants transformed themselves into washing machines, vacuums and frying bacon.
The ballroom filled with laughter and the audience watched their peers feel things that weren’t there and partake in missions and acts that weren’t real.
At another point in the show, male participants were made to believe that they were in a boyband, and each confidently expressed themselves through comical dancing.
“I was in decent control,” said Marc-Antoine Poulin, a junior environmental science major.
Poulin’s carefree personality played a role in his ability to be hypnotized. He said that he’s used to focusing and listening carefully from meditating often.
The audience played a part in the hypnosis as well. Some applauded loudly to draw the participants into a deep sleep. Others allowed participants to imagine them naked during their hypnosis.
Johnson explained that he loves the challenge of being a hypnotist and having to be consciously present at all times during a show. He also shared the joy in making students laugh until their stomachs hurt and creating fun memories for them.
“All I care about is that they have a good time,” Johnson said.
A former magician-turned-hypnotist, Johnson has been in the comedy business for a long time.
In 1991, he was awarded “Best Comedy Magic Act” by the Texas Association of Magicians. Years before that, he auditioned for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Clown College. Though he wasn’t accepted, according to Johnson, this audition changed the path he was on after being told that he needed more experience in front of a live audience.
Despite never going to clown college, Johnson has been performing ever since. Of all the audiences he performs for, he says he likes college students the most because of their creativity.
“It’s not like pulling teeth to get them to respond and do something,” he said. “Whereas a corporate group with this size audience would be one of those things where I’d call my wife and be like, ‘Yep, that show would have killed a lesser hypnotist,’ or ‘Yep, that was rough.’”
As Johnson prepared for his exit from stage, he had one last command.
Just like that, a student took off chasing another student around the ballroom. One was pretending to be the Road Runner from “Looney Tunes,” at Johnson’s suggestion, and the other was Wile E. Coyote.
Michael Moore Jr. contributed to this report.
