Students were dazzled by comedic hypnotist Eric Mina in Tucker Theatre on Friday night during the MTSU Week of Welcome.
After earning a degree in psychology from Penn State and becoming a certified hypnotherapist, Mina has gone on to perform his hybrid comedy and hypnotism act in places such as Times Square, Las Vegas, Australia and now MTSU.
About 15 volunteer students were asked to come on the stage and be hypnotized. Mina said that the participants actually hypnotized themselves and he was just a guide to getting into the subconscious state that they were in.
His key word: “sleep.”
The volunteers would perform crazy and hilarious acts while hypnotized; in one instance, a girl was asked to act like a dog and proceeded to chase around an invisible ball that Mina threw around. Then, there was a moment where everyone pretended that there was a dance party going on, dancing to songs by Beyonce.
The crowd stayed laughing as they watched their fellow students perform ridiculous and completely hilarious tasks.
The volunteers for Eric Mina’s hypnotist show in Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Students are asleep and in a subconscious trance in Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Eric Mina starts his hypnotization process on stage in Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, august 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Eric Mina performs at Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Comedic hypnotist Eric Mina asks his volunteers to act like sad puppies in Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Students act like they are dogs while comedic hypnotist Eric Mina guides them at Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Students hypnotized by comedic hypnotist Eric Mina prance around on the Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Students flex for the crowd at Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
The volunteers for Eric Mina’s hypnotist show in Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Friday, August 26, 2016. (MTSU Sidelines/ Jamie Cooley)
Feature Photo by Caitlyn Hajek
Story by Ephraim Rodenbach
MTSU club hockey made history this past week by earning its highest ranking in team history.
After a series sweep of in-state rival Vanderbilt that included an 8-0 shutout, the Blue Raiders climbed to the No. 5 spot in Division II club hockey rankings.
