Spring Break
The Daily OrangeHypnotist promises to astonish students
By Allison Kostka
Posted: 9/7/06, 1:39 AM EST Section: Feature
When he snaps his fingers, students will open their eyes, get out of their seats and prepare to be amazed.
Doug MacCraw, a well-known hypnotist and comedian, will return to Syracuse University for his fourth performance tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Goldstein Auditorium in
Schine Student Center.
Acacia fraternity, of which MacCraw is an alumnus, is sponsoring the event in conjunction with the Student Association, both as a fundraiser and as a way of increasing the fraternity's recognition.
"We're really trying to get our name out," said Jordan Rennert, a senior and the community service chair of Acacia. "This is a fun way to do it."
Rennert said that during past shows MacCraw encouraged anyone who wanted to be hypnotized to listen to him during the first few minutes of the show. About 20 audience members were usually brought up on stage and encouraged by MacCraw to perform unusual antics.
"It's unbelievable," Rennert said. "You see people do things you never thought they'd do. They're completely under his control."
Previous stunts have included participants dancing with audience members and forgetting the number four in the elementary sequence of numbers. However, Rennert stressed the performance is not aimed at embarrassing the participants.
"(MacCraw)'s not trying to make anyone feel bad," Rennert said. "It's all in good fun."
In past years, MacCraw has performed to a sold-out audience due to publicity generated in part by positive word of mouth.
"I've never seen it, and I wanted to experience it before I graduated," said J'Nisha DerWeer, a senior biology major. "I've heard it's a really good show and my friends have told me to go see it."
Rennert is confident this year's show will be as good as those he's seen in the past.
"Anyone who goes is going to have a good time," he said. "Last year, it was a hilarious show. It sounds like an exaggeration, but I was literally falling out of my seat laughing."
Doug MacCraw, a well-known hypnotist and comedian, will return to Syracuse University for his fourth performance tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Goldstein Auditorium in
Schine Student Center.
Acacia fraternity, of which MacCraw is an alumnus, is sponsoring the event in conjunction with the Student Association, both as a fundraiser and as a way of increasing the fraternity's recognition.
"We're really trying to get our name out," said Jordan Rennert, a senior and the community service chair of Acacia. "This is a fun way to do it."
Rennert said that during past shows MacCraw encouraged anyone who wanted to be hypnotized to listen to him during the first few minutes of the show. About 20 audience members were usually brought up on stage and encouraged by MacCraw to perform unusual antics.
"It's unbelievable," Rennert said. "You see people do things you never thought they'd do. They're completely under his control."
Previous stunts have included participants dancing with audience members and forgetting the number four in the elementary sequence of numbers. However, Rennert stressed the performance is not aimed at embarrassing the participants.
"(MacCraw)'s not trying to make anyone feel bad," Rennert said. "It's all in good fun."
In past years, MacCraw has performed to a sold-out audience due to publicity generated in part by positive word of mouth.
"I've never seen it, and I wanted to experience it before I graduated," said J'Nisha DerWeer, a senior biology major. "I've heard it's a really good show and my friends have told me to go see it."
Rennert is confident this year's show will be as good as those he's seen in the past.
"Anyone who goes is going to have a good time," he said. "Last year, it was a hilarious show. It sounds like an exaggeration, but I was literally falling out of my seat laughing."
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