Under the Spell - Darragh Quinn

On Wednesday the 26th of September I was one of the lucky (or unlucky) few to be hypnotised in the venue. This is the tale of my experience.

When I entered the venue I didn’t believe in hypnotism. I was determined to beat it and as many audience members realised, I didn’t … in fact I failed miserably.

When we were asked who wanted to get hypnotised a friend and I ran onto the stage with some lads even jumping over the stage barrier for a chance at this experience. Before the hypnotism process began, we were all sitting on the stage laughing and joking about the whole situation.

I have to admit for the first few minutes of the hypnotism I felt nothing but some on stage were hypnotised immediately. Everyone that was there that night remembers the outspoken girl at the back of the venue before the act began – and even more so when she passed out on stage! In fact, that was the last thing I remember because after that, I can honestly say the hypnosis set in and I didn’t realise the extent of what I had done until I watched the show on video.


Many people came up to me after it and were asking me all about the “James Bond” incident especially that blonde girl to whom I must apologise for strongly frisking as I believed she had captured James Bond and was holding him hostage in her belly button. We were told that when the hypnotist said, “I see you,” we were all to hide. The first time we heard that I jumped across a row of people and hid on their laps…much to the discomfort of a few girls and guys. As we were called back to the stage, I did a legendary James Bond roll in the middle of the aisle and, in true spy form, I leaped over the stage barrier and tumbled gracefully across the stage. Back on stage the other “victims” of hypnosis were holding hostages on stage. I feel that I should also apologise to that guy who two other guys and I properly assaulted while he was being held hostage. We were unknowingly kicking and slapping him on stage but it all done in good spirit.

Another memorable moment was the X-Factor singing contest. Five of the ten people remaining on stage had to sing “Mary Had A Little Lamb” but all with there own equally embarrassing twists. One guy had to do it Elvis style, another with a lizard tongue, a girl had to do it S&M style, another Britney Spears style and myself well I was a Chinese student doing it. My version of the song was “Mary wing wong wing wong wang wing wong wang etc”.

“Giving Birth” was another highlight of the night. I have a serious lack of flexibility skills so I can’t imagine ever spreading my legs as wide as I did that night…. The highlight of that part of the night had to be pushing and cursing the Hypnotist for dropping my imaginary kid on the floor and in my eyes making her, Mary, to bleed. I’d like to thank the girl who helped me through the labour process as I’ve been told by many that we portrayed a graphic yet realistic portrayal of giving birth sadly I do not know her name but you know who you are.

To end my account of the night I’d like to take everybody back to the Chippendale dancing moment. I don’t think anybody will argue with me when I say that undoubtedly it was a guy named Dan and myself that stole the show for that part of the night. I certainly regret modelling my yellow boxers, which for the record, for all of you who were wondering, were not Spongebob Squarepants Boxers; they in fact said, “For a good time call me”. I can only imagine that Dan is also regretting showing off his “Tighty Whities” that night.

It is quite hard to explain the whole hypnotism feeling the best way I can describe it is its almost like buzzing on booze and just going with the flow yet you couldn’t stop yourself if you wanted to. I’d recommend this experience to anybody. Lastly, I’d like to thank everybody involved in the organisation of Freshers Fortnight; for me as a First Year it was a great introduction into the college.