Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: Features

Tom DeLuca hypnotises junior Adam Scheiner into thinking he's lifting weights during the Feb. 1 show in the University Union Ballroom. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Dante Fontana Tom DeLuca hypnotises junior Adam Scheiner into squirting himself with a squirt gun during the Feb. 1 show in the University Union Ballroom. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Dante Fontana Tom DeLuca hypnotises students into thinking they are driving during the Feb. 1 show in the University Union Ballroom. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Dante Fontana Tom DeLuca gets students to move on stage during the Feb. 1 show in the University Union Ballroom. [Click to enlarge]

Hundreds of students and community members filed down unending rows of chairs in the University Ballroom Thursday night. They were all eagerly anticipating the renown "hip" hypnotist Tom DeLuca and his nationally acclaimed hypnosis show.

DeLuca has been coming to Sacramento State for years now and if you haven't had a chance to see his show, one word may sum it up: hilarious. But why use only one when there are so many other great things to say about it?

If you were one of the few people who missed this event, I'll give you the run through, and you better believe you won't be missing it next year.

The University Union Ballroom broke into screams and applause as DeLuca stepped onto stage. The very second he began to ask for volunteers, people throughout the audience jumped up, waved their arms over their heads, stood on their chairs and shouted at the top of their lungs to get DeLuca to notice them.

Craziness ensued as the 20 volunteers chosen leapt on stage and were under DeLuca's spell in a matter of minutes. As each volunteer slumped into their chair in deep relaxation, DeLuca seamlessly swept across the stage dropping suggestions to each one.

To ease them in to their hypnotic state, they were brought back to slight consciousness thinking that everything was funny, very funny, which had them laughing in hysterics until they almost fell out of their seats. But this was only the beginning.

From driving Ferrari's, milking cows, eating as much ice cream as they could in 30 seconds, to feeling like they had "lost their butts," the hypnotized 20 had the audience rolling.

"We really got them going," DeLuca said.

One student was deemed the "chief-of-the-fun police" and grabbed the microphone from DeLuca. She stood up and scolded the audience for having too much fun, and threatened to have the people from UNIQUE programs escort them out if they couldn't get their fun down to a "moderate" level.

"I liked the chief-of-fun police chick," health science major Shar Rauch said. "She was really funny, especially when she told people in the audience that she had her 'eye' on them."

Another student was instructed to be Sac State's top cheerleader every time he heard the school's name. The only problem with his school spirit was that he couldn't remember the school's mascot, deciding to call Sac State the bumble bees and the bulldogs.

The most heartfelt moment was when one student was convinced that fruit had feelings just like a pet. Unfortunately, he was also convinced that he was very, very hungry and the only thing available to him was a banana and an apple. Sad to say, he ate his little friends.

To conclude this out of control show, DeLuca had all volunteers dance like there was no tomorrow in a big "dance party." And of course, a dance party wouldn't be complete without at least one student doing "The Carlton." Oh, and the audience was satisfied when one student took on that funky dance all by himself.

"My favorite part was the Carlton dance. When he busted out with that, I mean I never thought he'd do that," health science senior Becky Zwingman said.

When the show was over, DeLuca brought all the volunteers out of their hypnotic state and said that they would all feel like they had gotten a seven to eight hour night of deep sleep. As students, we know how valuable a great night of sleep is, and it was a good pay off for those who were brave enough to entertain the huge audience for over an hour.

"I'd freak out if I saw a video of myself doing that and not being able to remember any of it," music freshman Stephanie Gosney said.

A standing ovation ended the show as audience members hustled out of the building laughing about the show with their friends and telling the volunteers what they had done in front of almost a thousand people.

This event was great, a truly memorable one. If you missed it, make sure you catch it next time around.

Casey Farrell can be reached at features@statehornet.com.

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