Chicago's most-booked comedy hypnotist
Chris Jones is a Chicago native who learned hypnosis in grad school and never stopped. Today he's a resident performer at the iO Theatre, a Zanies regular, and one of the most-booked comedy hypnotists in the country — blending hypnosis, close-up magic, and mind reading across 200+ live shows a year, with a national TV credit representing Chicago!
Where you've seen him in Chicago
Chris performs his live show "Yes, And... Hypnosis" at the iO Theatre on N. Kingsbury — combining improv games with real audience hypnosis in a show that's part comedy, part mind-bending. He's also a familiar face at Zanies Comedy Club, one of Chicago's most storied stages, and has been featured on Fox 32 Chicago. An avid runner, you might also have run the Chicago Marathon.
A familiar face across Chicagoland
Chris Jones didn't move to Chicago to make it. He's from here. And over the years, the city has taken notice — booking him on local television not once, but repeatedly, because the audience reaction speaks for itself. No script. No plants. Just real people, genuinely hypnotized, on live TV.
Hire a comedy hypnotist in Chicago for your event
As a comedy hypnotist and magician for hire in Chicago, Chris tailors every performance to your crowd — whether you're planning a corporate event in the Loop, a private party in Lincoln Park, or a company holiday show anywhere in Chicagoland.
Two ways to book him: the full stage show for big rooms, or close-up magic and mind reading for smaller gatherings — offices, dinners, and private parties where the impossible happens right at your table. No stage, no AV, no travel costs anywhere in Chicagoland.
Fresh off the Beverly Arts Center stage
This July, Chris headlined a two-show special at the Beverly Arts Center on Chicago's South Side — "Kid Control," a family hypnosis show where kids took charge of their parents, and "HYPNO Beats," a late-night collision of hypnosis live beatboxing with Sung Beats and dash of magic from Magician Mister Danny. Two audiences, two completely different shows, one night. That's the range you're booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Chris is a Chicago native who grew up here, went to grad school here, and still performs regularly at Chicago venues including the iO Theatre and Zanies Comedy Club. He tours nationally 200+ shows a year but Chicago is home base.
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Chris performs his show "Yes, And... Hypnosis" at the iO Theatre at 1501 N. Kingsbury St. Check the Shows page for upcoming dates. He also appears at Zanies and other Chicago venues throughout the year.
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Absolutely. Chris performs at corporate events, private parties, holiday shows, and company gatherings across Chicagoland and nationwide. Use the booking form to share your event details and he'll follow up with availability.
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Kind of where he started — Chris got his first taste of performing doing card tricks and magic at UW-La Crosse, where he once tried to levitate a driver's license with a string under a spotlight. (It didn't go well.) After watching a hypnotist perform on campus, he chased him to the parking lot, got a book recommendation, and never looked back. Today he's a hypnotist, mentalist, and comedian — though he still knows his way around a card trick.
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Yes — Chris Jones appeared on America's Got Talent and famously hypnotized Howie Mandel, a self-described extreme germaphobe, into shaking hands with a stranger on live national television. He's also appeared on The Steve Harvey Show, Facebook Watch's Double Take, and Penn & Teller. And yes, he's from Chicago.
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Use the contact form on this site. Include your event date, expected audience size, and venue if you have it. Chris responds to all inquiries within 24–48 hours.
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Yes — alongside his stage hypnosis show, Chris performs close-up magic and mind reading, ideal for smaller Chicago gatherings like office events, private dinners, and parties where a full stage show doesn't fit. The impossible happens right at your table.
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Most corporate and private-event performers at this level charge $3,500–$7,500 for a 45–60 minute show, and Chris's pricing falls in that market range. Weekday shows between 10am and 4pm offer the best value, and Chicago-area events include no travel costs — Chris is local. Smaller close-up shows are scoped separately, so just ask.
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Yes — his all-ages family show (most recently "Kid Control" at the Beverly Arts Center) puts kids in charge and parents in the spotlight. Clean, interactive, and built for audiences where grandparents and grade-schoolers are laughing at the same moments.
Make your next event truly unforgettable!
From university stages to memorable events, Chris tailors every experience to your audience: making sure they feel seen, heard, and inspired. Use the booking form below to get started.