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The Speakmans How to Be Happy tour Review Bimingham

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The Speakmans show live - Review of the How to be Happy Tour.

the speakmans tour review montage

When the celebrity therapists Nik Speakman and his wife Eva Speakman, best known for appearing on the ITV show This Morning announced that they would be hosting a live tour of a show they called "How to be Happy" it meant that they had a chance to show what they do when they are on the TV. Whenever they appear on This Morning, one of the problems is that they do not like to show the methods that they use to get the results that they appear to get. Many people who have suffered for many years seem to have miraculous changes and let go of all their problems in an hour. There is often critcism about them from therapists explaining that they give an unrealistic expectation of how long change can take. 

The How to be Happy Tour means that the Speakmans can try their methods live with people both in the audience and with people brought up on stage with them

Reviewing the show would be hard for me to do objectively as a fully trained and qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, knowing that Nik and Eva are not trained or members of any professional body, so the best way to share with you a review of the Speakmans show is to get someone else to review it for me.

This is a guest review by one member of the audience for the show at tha Birmingham Symphony Hall on Thursday 21st April 2016, They are also having shows at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, King George's Hall Blackburn, Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham and G live in Guildford.

If you attended any of the speakmans live shows and would like to comment or write a review then please feel free to use the comment box below.

 

 

What happened at the Speakmans How to Be Happy Show in Birmingham?

Jennifer's Review of How to be Happy Tour by the Speakmans

Symphony Hall Birmingham 21st April 2016

My name is Jennifer and I am a mum of two preschool age children, married to a lovely supportive husband and also the one who walks our shitzu Maisie. I have watched Nik and Eva Speakman on This Morning many times and I am always very jealous of seeing what they are able to do with people just while the show is on. I have always felt a bit wary of going and seeing someone myself and I don't think that talking all about my own phobia is something that I would want to do on TV in front of many people watching. I would just imagine their eyes on me and I think it would give me lots more pressure.

how to be happy speakmans review the set

 

My own life should be really happy, but to be honest I do sometimes feel down and so when I saw that tour was going to be called "How to be Happy" it seemed like a really good chance for me to go along. I had read that people would be able to go on stage but I wasn't sure that would be for me. My hope was that I would be able to get lots from just watching the show. Being a mum with a tired husband it was hard for me to be able to go out and see something that started at 8.00pm. I am not sure what the reason for this was. I certainly wasn't the only one wondering what that was all about. It's tough to get out in the week, but I really wanted to go and I persuaded a friend to come along with me, although she said that she thought that the Speakmans were just trying to get some more cash for their big house they show off on telly. That did make me laugh and I really appreciated that she offered to come along with me. I know I wouldn't have been able to go along on my own. 

As well as worrying about stuff on a daily basis I also have a horrid fear of spiders. They don't have to be bad ones but my phobia is something that I don't want to pass on to my kids, so if I could get some help to cure my phobia then I would be very happy indeed. As the day of the show arrived I started to get a little nervous about what might happen and I even questioned whether I would be able to attend or not. I think that I feel that if I actually go then what might happen? I don't really know what the Speakmans do to cure people of their problems, as we don't see that with Phil and Holly so I have started to get some anxiety about whether I can make it to the event. 

We arrived in plenty of time because I was a little worried about being late and there were lots and lots of other people who looked like they were very eager to see what would happen as well. The show was due to start at 8.00pm and you could tell that everyone was getting excited about it. I'm not sure why but in the end it was nearly twenty minutes late starting and I have to admit that this did start to make me feel a little nervous.

When Nik and Eva came out it was lovely to see them in person and finally get started. The told us all that we have things called schema and these are the things that cause us problems and that by changing these we can change the way that we would feel. There was a big screen and we could see some clips of things that they had done. One of the things they did was get a girl called lousia out on stage to cure her phobia of spiders. Nik Speakman started off by showing her a spider in some glass and she didn't like it. They also hooked her up to a heart rate monitor so they could show us how fast her heart was beating. After a while they talked about how she was scared of spiders but each spider eats 2000 flies so would she rather have 2000 flies on her or a spider. They then brought out a real tarantula which she was able to hold which was fab.

speakmans spider phobia cure live

After this we were having a break and they told us they would tell us what they did when they came back after the interval. I talked to a lovely lady during the interval who asked me how I was finding it. I said that it was lovely to see someone with a spider but I wasn't sure if I was cured of them myself. lol. In the second half they bought on a big mirror and got a lady out of the audience who felt a bit sorry for herself to talk about boosting her confidence. It reminded me a bit of Gok Wan. She was a bit upset and crying so to be honest I did go ourside for a bit as I felt uncomfortable watching her when they were getting her to say lots of sad things about herself. I should probably have stayed to get the benefit but I just didn;t like it.

They also showed us some film of Vicky Pattison talking about how much she got from working with the Speakmans. That was so sweet and she seems lovely. I just wish that I could afford to go and see them myself, because I can't realy afford it, and I wouldn't want to go on the television with This Morning.

They also brought on an army veteran who they cured of PTSD which was so amazing to see.

I think that the best thing I took from the night was that you can change bad things that you think. I am just not sure that all that has happened yet. I think that actually I need to get some help as it is too hard to do alone, and I now know that it is ok to ask for help.

 

  • Comments and further reviews from the audience: 
    • Donna  
    • I went to the show last night as a friend wanted to go. I didn't know what to expect as I had never heard of them. Bringing that spider onto the stage made me so anxious, I am completely arachnophobic and it was such a bad idea for all the people like me sitting in the audience. It was irresponsible and I would never have paid if I had known what it would entail. I went in feeling happy, and i came out a shaking mess. I left after that, having been through quite enough trauma. Add to that the fact we were kept waiting till 820pm for them to come on stage, they boasted about their home and the size of it, and said that they wake up every day grateful to be alive. It was cringe worthy to watch. The stuff they came out with is nothing new, it's CBT and its been around a long time. Complete con, don't bother going. 

 

  • Julie   
  • I went to the show last night and today was looking for the reviews on line when I found this so thought I would have my say. It was disappointing, weak and very long. The show over ran by 45 minutes not finishing until 11am. It didn't get started until 8.15 and there was a long break in the middle from about 9.15-9.40. Frankly they spoke like amateurs (Nick seemingly needing an autocue throughout, Eva trying to inject some personality) and seemed very under-rehearsed, and at times seemed ill at ease and irritated with each other. To be honest they looked very anxious as if they had bitten off more than they could chew. Not a great advert for their brand. The attempts to inject humour were juvenile & embarrassing. Many TV clips used were from This Morning some of which I had already seen. Using Vikki Patterson as a role model and live testimonial for their work when as yet we have not seen the results of her 'dramatic change of lifestyle' seems rather premature and unconvincing. We watched a 'live' demo of a spider phobia, a discussion of a woman afraid of ice (first seen on This Morning), a case study on low self-esteem which was better and a rather feeble attempt at PTSD which was by now so late I was anxious to get on my way home. The Speakmans have clearly cornered a niche and made a name for themselves using the media to court some 'celebrity' clients but inspirational speakers able to command the Symphony Hall they are most definitely not. The whole thing seemed poorly designed and under rehearsed almost as if they thought could take a 5 minute set hosted by Phil and Holly and turn it into a show without much effort by themselves. However they seemingly have a simple formula for curing phobia which if it works then that is a good thing and should be shared but as a show it definitely needs a rethink. 

 

  • I like many note the national advertising campaign " How to be Happy" by the Speakmans promoting their tour.

    In a nutshell what a load of bo''@~@cks. If the Speakmans " Were so Happy, they wouldn't be spending so much time touring the country trying to earn a crust.

    Yours sincerely

    J 

  •   
    judith   
  • How to be happy? Charge desperate people lots of money to listen to self serving cranks 

  •   
    Linda 
  • As a qualified therapist myseilf it has always amazed me that ITV is prepared to promote unqualified therapists on their programme. And, having watched their programme I am stunned bytheir unethical pracrices and lack of professional boundaries 

 

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Comments

  1. Georgina wakefield

    Just watched these two on this morning a woman who had been petrified of statues for decades they asked her who did you blMe she replied the statues and they took her to look at statues and a miracle occurred she was completely cured lol lol Phil and holly said how amazing they are and I thought how can anyone intheir right mind fall for this complete nonsense gullible isn?t the word thick as s... is more like it lol

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  2. Georgina wakefield

    More than anything I'm astounded by how gulable people are , the fact that they pay to go and listen to these two morons blowing they're own trumpets is incredible as for the treatment all I can say is they are better magicians that Houdini lol so you are petrified of spiders have been for decades they say it's not the spiders fault and hey presto you are 100 per cent cured they are an insult to any sane persons intelligence as for the people who believe in this PIFFLE put the money down the nearest drain lol

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  3. Emma J

    I attended the Speakmans? show last Thursday (21st April) and thought I would share my thoughts here. To give a brief bit of background, I have suffered with anxiety and, more recently, low mood for around four years now. At times it has been debilitating and I still suffer currently. I wanted to go along to watch Nik and Eva because the title of their show ? ?How to be Happy? sounded like just what I needed. I will begin with the good points. Nik and Eva were very warm and encouraging and seemed, for the most part, to be genuinely keen for everyone to get the best out of the experience and take things from the evening that could make their lives better and happier. They were generally quite articulate and spoke at length about the ?schemas? that the show was broken down into. The part that particularly grabbed my attention was the part that explained how panic attacks worked, with the ?fight-or-flight? response and also how fears and phobias can snowball by the unconscious mind attaching fears to different situations. This is something I have personally experienced and makes sound scientific sense. The programme that was on sale to accompany the evening?s material was well laid out and offered comprehensive and detailed information. I was initially put off by the cost of it being £10 but having read it, I can now see why. Now, for balance, I will expand on my thoughts by covering what I thought was not so good about the show. First of all, it started ten minutes late and the Speakmans did not apologise for this when they eventually came on stage ? I believe this would have been courteous considering people had paid a not insignificant sum to see them. The lateness may also have been triggering for people with anxieties, myself included. Second, I think at times the general attitude of ?be happy? may have been a little simplistic. Eva actually used the words, ?every morning, we wake up grateful to be alive?. That?s great for them, but the fact of the matter is, not all of us do. I have no doubt it was not intended in a negative way, but it may have been a little insensitive for people struggling with low mood/clinical depression. Such states cannot simply be cured by ?choosing to be happy?. They require hard work and a huge dose of reality ? above all, it is important to be realistic. Thirdly, I had to disagree with some of the ?schemas? that were promulgated. One was that ?there are no bad people in the world?. On the contrary, there are plenty. Another focused on not accepting everything you?re told. That?s fair enough in a general sense, because it?s important to develop the skills of assertiveness and confidence. However, Nik used an example of not accepting a medical prognosis from a doctor. I think, out of all times in life, a conversation with a medically qualified person is one where it is reasonable to accept what you?re told. I had to question the need to have a live phobia cure session on stage, because it seemed a little incongruous. Furthermore, there was a strong possibility that there were arachnophobes in the audience and so bringing a live spider on stage with no prior warning was probably not the most sensible. I agree with other reviewers that the comedy element was not necessary, but if other people enjoyed it then there is no harm in it being included. Above all, the show had many good themes and N&E exuded a strong desire to help people. I just think that at times, the presentation of that desire needed a little work.

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  4. Clive O

    I attended out of interest to see what they would get up to. I am a psychotherapist and when they brought up a lady with a spider phobia on stage she was clearly drunk. It is completely wrong to work with anyone whilst they are under the influence of alcohol. Flabbergasted at this and the way they seem to forget that their audience is composed of people looking for real help.

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  5. Kay

    Manchester, Bridgewater Hall. Left at the interval. Very disappointing and sadly under rehearsed pantomime. All I know is that they're happy in their 13th century big house. Save your money and treat yourself instead!

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  6. Simon roberts

    Hi just got back from the speakmans show at bridge water in Manchester,and never been more unhappier! Sat through the first 15 minutes listening to them thank the audience for turning up and how they feel so humbled that we have come to see them,the next five minutes about their house and how they went on their first date when it was a restaurant liked it so much they bought it,then a video about him growing up next her growing up!then the spider therapy. Next came the interval (thank you happiness at last) Came in feeling positive showed us a video about Vicky who won I'm a celebrity how they made her feel happy,next a video when they were on this morning on a woman who they cured she was scared about ice and snow,oh and the crunch of pork scratching so at this I had to remove myself from the show. Such a shame they haven't got it right perhaps they should of started rehearsals longer than just nine days ago as it states on their Facebook page.there was a lot of desperate people their whom i felt for as the show was full of absolute dribble. MODERN DAY ROBBERY My wife managed to stay for the remainder of the show and her first comment was how she felt depressed not happy. The shows headline says how to be happy we thought they would give you tips and info about how to to see life in a more positive way,I truly do believe that they help people on a two to one basis but please give up the stage shows.

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  7. Donna Flowers

    I went to the show last night as a friend wanted to go. I didn't know what to expect as I had never heard of them. Bringing that spider onto the stage made me so anxious, I am completely arachnophobic and it was such a bad idea for all the people like me sitting in the audience. It was irresponsible and I would never have paid if I had known what it would entail. I went in feeling happy, and i came out a shaking mess. I left after that, having been through quite enough trauma. Add to that the fact we were kept waiting till 820pm for them to come on stage, they boasted about their home and the size of it, and said that they wake up every day grateful to be alive. It was cringe worthy to watch. The stuff they came out with is nothing new, it's CBT and its been around a long time. Complete con, don't bother going.

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  8. Pat

    I went to the show last night. I really wanted to see how they could transfer their TV show onto the big stage. I really like Eva and Nik and I don't care about their lack of training because all the training in the world doesn't guarantee that you can put someone at ease and empathise with them. To be able to talk to the every day person in simplistic terms that they can understand is something that training can't give you. Yes there were teething problems. I think a slightly smaller venue would have been preferable. They were clearly very nervous (Who wouldn't be for the first time). Nik's voice was difficult to hear at times. The comedian was unnecessary. The girl with the spider was unconvincing. But they are reaching many people in a personal way and the audience stayed throughout a long evening extremely focused. I am glad that I went along last night. Their message is very important and necessary. I worked with teenage girls in a mainstream school and every thing that the Speakmans talked about last night is spot on and the schemes they talk about definitely work. The programme is worth every penny full of helpful advice and information and a real useful tool for the future I believe that Eva and Nik should continue with their show and a few tweeks will sort out the moaners and complainers.

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  9. Julie

    I went to the show last night and today was looking for the reviews on line when I found this so thought I would have my say. It was disappointing, weak and very long. The show over ran by 45 minutes not finishing until 11am. It didn't get started until 8.15 and there was a long break in the middle from about 9.15-9.40. Frankly they spoke like amateurs (Nick seemingly needing an autocue throughout, Eva trying to inject some personality) and seemed very under-rehearsed, and at times seemed ill at ease and irritated with each other. To be honest they looked very anxious as if they had bitten off more than they could chew. Not a great advert for their brand. The attempts to inject humour were juvenile & embarrassing. Many TV clips used were from This Morning some of which I had already seen. Using Vikki Patterson as a role model and live testimonial for their work when as yet we have not seen the results of her 'dramatic change of lifestyle' seems rather premature and unconvincing. We watched a 'live' demo of a spider phobia, a discussion of a woman afraid of ice (first seen on This Morning), a case study on low self-esteem which was better and a rather feeble attempt at PTSD which was by now so late I was anxious to get on my way home. The Speakmans have clearly cornered a niche and made a name for themselves using the media to court some 'celebrity' clients but inspirational speakers able to command the Symphony Hall they are most definitely not. The whole thing seemed poorly designed and under rehearsed almost as if they thought could take a 5 minute set hosted by Phil and Holly and turn it into a show without much effort by themselves. However they seemingly have a simple formula for curing phobia which if it works then that is a good thing and should be shared but as a show it definitely needs a rethink.

    Posted on

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