Wichita State students were treated to the unique experience of watching hypnotist Chris Jones perform his talents live on stage on Feb. 6. As someone who finds hypnotism fascinating, I was excited to see it happen right before my eyes.

Hypnotism started as a hobby for Jones during his time in college, but it would lead him to a career of entertaining audiences and challenging skeptics. Jones gained national prominence after impressing the judges on “America’s Got Talent” by making known germaphobe Howie Mandell shake both his and the judges hands.

At his WSU performance, Jones was adept at making the audience feel as comfortable as possible. He was personable, addressed the skepticism of hypnosis and helped make an introverted-leaning crowd come out of their shell.

The show had a slow start while Jones prepped his victims, or volunteers, into being hypnotized. Within minutes, people both on stage and in the audience were being put to sleep and following his commands.

I found myself only becoming more impressed as the night went on. Jones ramped up his hypnotic skills from simply putting people to sleep to making them believe they were superheroes or characters in a video game.

One person, whose superhero alias was “The Mighty,” also began to strut in front of the audience at Jones’ direction, while giving the occasional “sexy face” over their shoulder.

I was personally brought into the fold when Jones told the volunteers they were at a party, and I had called the cops on them. 

I seemed to have let the partygoers down, as their response to this news invoked phrases such as, “How could you?” and “I trusted you.” 

I then received a nonstop stare from “The Mighty” after Jones warned him that I could do something else and he should keep an eye on me.

Those hypnotized were also instructed through many other scenarios, like hiding audience members, dancing with them, or simply sitting next to them and staring at them without stopping.The show was quite entertaining and a pretty big departure from other stage acts. Many attendees left still grinning from what they witnessed, and skeptics were certainly challenged, if not outright converted into believers.