See You at the Fair for Hypnotic Fun

An intimate setting and a super group of volunteers made for a fun Hypnotic Experience show at last year's Arlington County Fair.  (Photo credit:  Lauren Klummp)

For four decades the Arlington County Fair has brought to local residents a wonderful and eclectic mix of games, carnival rides, presentations…and…yes…entertainment.  You can follow what is happening on-site at the event on their Facebook page at this link.

This coming Friday, August 19 at 7 PM on the indoor stage you can enjoy my Hypnotic Experience show for free.  It’s an intimate setting, so every seat is a great one.  Plus, the venue is air conditioned, which makes for a nice break from the sweltering August heat.

This is my third year in a row performing at the Arlington County Fair.  It is an honor and privilege to be associated with such an exceptional community organization.  

Thankfully, the feeling is mutual.  Check out the kind words sent my way last year after my performance.

I hope to see you on Friday! 

Dear Marc,

On behalf of the entire Arlington County Fair Board of Directors, please share my thanks with all who provided support for the Hypnotic Experience in performing at the Arlington County Fair on August 8, 2015!  We truly appreciate the fact that you all donated your time and talent to make it a memorable fair for our attendees.  You put on an incredible show, and provided a wonderful way for our fair attendees to experience our Summer Nights and Lights Fair. 

We hope you will consider returning to the Indoor Stage next year as we celebrate our 40^th year! Looking forward to seeing you all again!

Best Wishes,

Lisa Barrera

Entertainment Committee

Arlington County Fair Board of Directors

Perfect Day at Burke Centre Festival

A musical puppet show is a hit with younger guests at the Burke Centre Festival.

This past Sunday was one of those perfect weather days in the Washington, DC area.  Lots of sunshine, a temperature in the mid-70s, low humidity and a pleasant breeze.

It created an ideal setting for my “Hypnotic Experience” show at the Burke Centre Festival, a must-attend community event in Northern Virginia. 

This was my third year on-site as part of the entertainment line-up.  The professional staff at the Burke Centre Conservancy (the event organizer) is a pleasure to work with and I always attract lots of volunteers who are open to giving hypnosis a try. 

In five hours on-site, I had more than 75 people experience a simple hypnotic induction.  It was a wonderful mix of younger kids, teens and tweens, and adults.

Included below is a nice note I received from my contact at the Burke Centre Conservancy, as well as links to the articles I have written the past two years about the event.

I look forward to seeing my Burke friends again in early September 2016! 

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“Many thanks for joining us again this year (at the Burke Centre Festival). We sincerely appreciate your time and interest in this worthwhile community outreach effort.”

Jeannie Winslow, Director of Administration

Burke Centre Festival Shines

I had the pleasure and privilege to be part of the 37^th annual Burke Centre Festival in Northern Virginia.  This was my second year performing at the event, which attracts thousands of attendees for rides, games and entertainment.  Here are a couple of observations from yesterday’s festival…

Photos from Hypnosis Show at Burke Centre Festival

On Saturday evening I was one of the entertainers at the festival's Wine Garden, a relaxed gathering that featured tastings, light snacks and performances from local musicians.  It was a family friendly environment, yet attended mostly by adults.

Main stage at the festival hosts performances by local groups.

Kind Words

Perhaps the most rewarding part of performing my Hypnotic Experience show for community based organizations, non-profits, public schools and family owned businesses is the sincere appreciation expressed by event organizers and guests.

Here is the most recent example.  A wonderfully kind and considerate Email from the head of the entertainment committee at the Arlington County Fair, where I headlined the indoor stage on a Saturday night earlier this month.

Check out Hypnotic Experience this coming Saturday, August 29 when I return to Clifton, Virginia for a series of shows at Peterson's Ice Cream Depot.

Dear Marc,

On behalf of the entire Arlington County Fair Board of Directors, please share my thanks with all who provided support for the Hypnotic Experience in performing at the Arlington County Fair on August 8, 2015!  We truly appreciate the fact that you all donated your time and talent to make it a memorable fair for our attendees.  You put on an incredible show, and provided a wonderful way for our fair attendees to experience our Summer Nights and Lights Fair. 

We hope you will consider returning to the Indoor Stage next year as we celebrate our 40^th year! Looking forward to seeing you all again!

Best Wishes,

Lisa Barrera

Entertainment Committee

Arlington County Fair Board of Directors

3 Considerations With Hypnosis on YouTube

A question I ask a volunteer at a high school after prom party or community festival is whether they have ever seen hypnosis before.  A prior experience helps me determine what to discuss during the pre-talk, as well as how to best structure the hypnotic induction.

Most people have had some exposure to hypnosis.  They’ve seen it in a movie or on television.  Or, they have attended a comedy hypnosis show.

Interestingly, another source of hypnosis experience is YouTube and other Web-based video sites.  A quick search using the phrase “hypnotic induction” generates more than 50,000 videos.

I took a look at videos on the initial three pages of search return and came away reasonably impressed with the quality and effectiveness of the inductions.  It could be a good way for a person to give hypnosis a try. 

However, like nearly everything on the Web, a viewer has to be guarded and cautious when engaging with one of these inductions.  Here are three considerations:

1. Know the source.  Take a few minutes to read about the person who posted the induction.  What is their background?  Are they a trained hypnotist?  Take a look at the other videos they have posted.

2. Read the comments.  YouTube is a social network that gives viewers the opportunity to post comments about a video.  Check them out.  Have other people who followed this induction had a positive experience?

3. Try it with a friend.  There is comfort and security in numbers.  Have a friend present when trying a hypnotic induction posted on YouTube and ask them to turn the video off should you have any sign of discomfort.  

Scenes from the Arlington County Fair

Today I had the pleasure (and honor) of being part of the line-up of entertainers at the Arlington County Fair.  My “Hypnotic Experience” show was a headline act on the indoor stage.

Like other community-based events where I have performed, the Arlington County Fair brings together an eclectic mix of family friendly activities.  There are midway games and rides, local musicians, dancers, funny animal acts and cultural-based presentations.

Most important is that these events foster a sense of togetherness among neighbors.

I have included below a couple of photos I snapped at the Arlington County Fair.  For more images, check out their Facebook page at this link.

A special thanks to Kim Le and the rest of the Arlington County Fair board of directors for including me.  Their dedication and commitment to the community inspires!

PS  So…how did my show go?  It was ride in stride with what I hope to accomplish at these events.  A bit of stand-up comedy and entertaining anecdotes combined with the creativity and imagination of volunteers who were open to giving hypnosis a try.

The Outdoor Stage featured local musicians and drew an enthusiastic crowd.

The Racing Piglets are always a crowd favorite at the Fair.  My show conflicted with the running today, so I'll have to check out the piglets in 2015.

The Indoor Stage featured a mix of entertainment, including some old fashioned country dancing.

 

I'm not quite sure what this ride is called, yet it was popular with the kids.

When an Audience Smiles

Members of the Welcome Club of Northern Virginia enjoyed my entertaining anecdotes.

In the two years that I have performed my Hypnotic Experience show I have had the pleasure of participating at community festivals, street fairs, charitable fundraisers and parties with a group of exceptional entertainers.

I’ve shared the stage with comedians, musicians, dancers, clowns, magicians, puppeteers, sword swallowers, jugglers and…yes…even mimes.  The best of the lot have two things in common:  1) they are professional and well prepared; and 2) they know the audience.

I have taken this to heart and follow a well defined process when gearing up for a show:

1. Schedule a prep discussion with the event host to confirm logistics, audience demographics and size, and expectations.  For instance, the organizer of tomorrow’s “J Fest” at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia spent 30 minutes on the phone with me to ensure I am well set for success.

2. Based on the prep call, I map out the structure and content of the Hypnotic Experience show.  I’ll identify which jokes to use, skits to incorporate and, if needed, write new material.  I spiced up my recent hypnosis demonstration at Walter Johnson High School by writing a couple of “in good fun” jokes about a rival high school.

3. Prepare for the unexpected.  I sweated through my mid-July show for Professionals in the City because the temperature touched the high 90s.  At the Bradley Farm Haunted House show I encountered an audience younger than I anticipated.  There are curves at nearly every performance and you have to learn to roll with it. 

I love to perform and find positive feedback to be incredibly gratifying.   

However, the most important lesson I’ve taken away from other performers is that a successful show is about the audience.  When they come away with a smile and having enjoyed themselves, then it’s all good. 

Fall Performance Line Up - Wonderful Events

Five volunteers achieve a deep state of hypnosis at a performance of The Hypnotic Experience.

It is going to be an action packed fall season for me with eight shows in eight weeks currently on the calendar.

I’ve included below a list of my scheduled performances with links to the Web site for each event.  With the exception of my visit to Georgetown University which is a private show, each performance is open to the public.

I encourage you to come out for the Hypnotic Experience.  It’s an entertaining, fun and family friendly show with an incredibly positive message:  success in academics, athletics, career and life can be achieved through positive visualization.

If you’re an event organizer, I encourage you to contact me by phone at (301) 538-8100 or Email to m.russell.hausman@gmail.com to learn more about my show.  And remember, I do not charge for a performance that benefits a community group, charitable organization, school or non-profit.

Georgetown University Welcome Week for Students (private show)

Copley Lawn, Georgetown University

Friday, August 30 at 9 PM

Burke Centre Festival

6060 Burke Centre Parkway, Burke, Virginia

Saturday, September 7 at 8 PM in the Wine Garden

Sunday, September 8 at 11 AM strolling entertainer on festival grounds

30s/40s Meet-Up Group

Chinatown Cultural Center in Washington, DC

Sunday, September 22 at 6 PM

South Silver Spring Street Fest

8040 Kennett Street, Silver Spring, Maryland

Saturday, September 28 strolling entertainer on festival grounds

South Riding Fall Fest

43055 Center Street, South Riding, Virginia

Saturday, October 5 at 2 PM strolling entertainer on festival grounds

Bradley Farm Haunted House

13159 New Parkland Drive, Herndon, Virginia

Friday, October 25 at 9 PM

Saturday, October 26 at 9 PM