Research and practice induction techniques to find one that you feel comfortable using. In several known variants of the eye-fixation method, you instruct participants to look at a stage light, track a watch or stare at their closed hands. Other methods involve counting backwards and insistent relaxation.
Begin your show with a brief speech dispelling common misconceptions about hypnosis. Explain that hypnosis cannot make you do anything you don't want to do, and that everything seen in your performance is completely voluntary.
Use the "handclasp" induction method, or one of several other instant induction methods, as your "convincer." A "convincer" is a brief skit between you and the audience which gives them a taste of what hypnotism feels like, and allows you to select people from the audience who will be easily hypnotized. To perform the handclasp induction method, tell the audience to clasp their hands together, fingers entwined, and then stare at the space between them. Then, tell them to imagine that their hands are super-glued together and they cannot separate them. Not only can they not separate them, but the more they try to get their hands apart the tighter they will be stuck together. Watch the audience and select people who are looking at their hands with intense concentration, or are unable to open them. Those are the members who are more susceptible to hypnosis.
Select volunteers from the audience. If you're not entirely comfortable with your stage presence, or worry that you won't be able to induct a large group of people into the relaxed mental state required for hypnosis, insert your friends randomly into the audience and invite them to the stage as volunteers.
Use your preferred induction method to soothe your participants into a relaxed and receptive mental state. Perform a test skit to see who is deeply under, and to allow you to select volunteers you wish to remain on stage. For example, instruct the participants to stand. Say something along the lines of "You are waiting in line at the post office. There is an annoying sound coming from the shoe of the third person in line." Guide the antics by introducing new elements cued by code words, taps on the shoulder and snaps, such as, "When you feel a tap on the shoulder, you'll notice your shoe is untied." Select those who perform well and send the others back to their seats.
Remind participants that every sound they hear -- laughter, applause, cell phones -- other than the sound of your voice will only make them more and more relaxed. Continue with your planned performance. End the show by instructing the participants that when you snap your fingers they will feel energized and alert. Tell them they will remember everything from the performance, then snap your fingers.