Iowa State alumnus Steve Mead will be hypnotizing students and their families tonight for Family Weekend in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union from 8 to 10.

Chad Rieck, senior in agricultural studies and one of two special events co-chairs, said he and his co-chair are responsible for planning all of Friday night’s activities.

“We were looking for some kind of entertainment for Friday night … that was going to fit our budget needs, and it came down between a hypnotist [and a comedian],” Rieck said.

He said a hypnotist’s act seemed more family-oriented than a comedy act.

“We had seen a couple [of hypnotists] perform, and we thought [the act] would be great for a family atmosphere,” he said.

Rieck said he thought it may have been more difficult for a comedian to aim a performance toward families.

“The hypnotist picks 10 to 15 volunteers to be hypnotized, and will lead them through a variety of [tasks],” Rieck said. He said the hypnotist might tell people that they are on a beach and then have them act out the scenario, for example.

“After it’s over, they have no recollection of what happened,” Rieck said.

Rieck said the act is “kind of a comedy type thing,” and that friends and family might see a side of a person they’ve never seen before. He added that hypnotized people do not do anything they would not normally do if they were not hypnotized.

This will not be the first time that Mead has performed at ISU, Rieck said.

“This particular hypnotist performed three or four years ago for Homecoming,” he said.

Rieck said the fact that Mead is an alumnus of ISU was a determining factor in the committee’s decision to go with him.

“That’s how we decided to go with him,” Rieck said. “Because we are now focusing on all families … We thought by him being a part of the Cyclone Family already, that would be great.”

Rieck said Mead is a student of popular hypnotist Jim Wand.

“[Mead] learned from the best,” Rieck said.

Rieck said he is expecting about 400 people at tonight’s show.