After 14 Months of the COVID Shut Down, the Hypnotic Experience Returns

A BIG thanks to the administration, teachers, and Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) at Chantilly High School in northern Virginia for hosting my Hypnotic Experience show as part of the celebration of prom for seniors.

It was a more intimate event with social distancing and other health protocols.  Yet, everything came together, I had lots of wonderful volunteers, and, most important, the students had an amazing time.

Let's go from here!

I will donate my time during the next six weeks to perform at senior events hosted by these high schools in the Washington, DC area:

 

 

 

Damascus High School

Magruder High School

Walter Johnson High School

Poolesville High School 

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School

Fairfax High School

George Marshall High School

Springbrook High School

South County High School

Robinson Secondary School

No inflatables.  No mechanical bull.  No games.  It was only the Hypnotic Experience in the gym to allow for social distancing.

After Prom Partying, Springbrook Style

A parent created this awesome sign that helped point attendees to my show.

After Prom parties are a labor of love.

A group of dedicated parents invest hours of their free time during the months leading up to the event on planning, logistics, coordination and fundraising.  And then there’s the challenge of hosting and chaperoning a party that runs from midnight to the wee hours of the morning. 

 

All of this is for a group of teenagers who are in the final stretch of their senior year and anxious about what the next phase of their life may hold.

That’s why performing my “Hypnotic Experience” show at high school After Proms are perhaps the highlight of the year for me.   The kids are in a great mood, the parents are appreciative and the venues typically have a break-out room that presents the ideal environment.

My 2014 After Prom season kicked off this weekend with Springbrook High School.  Hosted at the pristine White Oak Community Recreation Center, the event featured the typical entertainment fare, including casino games, inflatables, billiards, DJ and temporary tattoo artists.

I was assigned to a well sized room with an appointment of comfortable chairs and couches.  The parents on-site then did an excellent job of promoting my show through signage and regular announcements.

The result:  a wonderfully fun evening for the kids who attended the show, the volunteers and me.

Here are a few observations:

--Although well promoted, it did take some time for me to attract a sizeable audience.  I was scheduled to start at 1:30 AM, yet gave it a few extra minutes to allow for about 40 kids to grab a seat.  I attribute much of this to the unfamiliarity with hypnosis, as many of the kids reported they had never seen (or even heard) of a hypnosis show.

--For younger audiences who typically have a limited attention span, I move more quickly through the pre-talk part of the show.  However, I always make sure to take the time to explain what hypnosis is and its applications for health, wellness, and athletic and academic performance.   I always want someone to come out of my show intrigued about hypnosis, rather than viewing it as some sort of parlor or circus trick.

--I had an amazing set of volunteers, eight of whom achieved a deep level of hypnosis.  Two volunteers in particular went incredibly deep and acted on several creative visualizations, including the American Idol competition skit.

--The instant re-induction always draws the biggest gasps from a high school audience.  Seeing a friend or classmate drop back into hypnosis through the simple “sleep” suggestion is what I like to refer to as a convincer.  Maybe there is something to this hypnosis, they conclude.

A special thanks to Karyn McCoy who hosted me and all of the parents who organized Springbrook’s After Prom.  You did an amazing job and I hope to be included at next year’s event!

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UPDATE: Karyn was kind enough to provide me a quote for my Web site.  Here is what she had to say about the Hypnotic Experience at Springbrook's After Prom party:


"Thanks so much for adding such a special event to our party. When I came in at the end, it was great to hear the students' thoughtful questions and their enthusiasm as they asked for a second show. Blessings to you for offering your time and talent to our students!"

Karyn McCoy
After Prom Committee
Springbrook High School
 

Casino games, raffles, caricature artists, food, music...and me!  Springbrook's After Prom had it all.

After Prom Parents Try Hypnosis

As I poked my head in the door, I was met with a cascade of skeptical gazes and cautious hellos.

The parents who comprise Magruder High School’s After Prom committee are in the final planning stage and run-up to the all night event, which is scheduled for mid-May.  My “Hypnotic Experience” show is on the line-up of entertainment for the affair and they had requested an introductory meeting.

With relatively little knowledge about and exposure to hypnosis, I kept my talk informal, personal and education oriented.  Here are a couple of the highlights from my 45 minute talk:

Define hypnosis.  It’s a completely natural state of mind characterized by focus, concentration, creativity and suggestability.  Think of it as similar to day dreaming with a person’s imagination in hyper drive.

Overview its applications.  I focus on four high value areas when sharing and teaching the practice of self hypnosis – stress management, sleeping well, self confidence and performing in the moment (i.e. school, career and sports).

Explain the show.  It’s fun, entertaining and includes audience participation, which makes it ideal for an After Prom event.  Yet, I have a message as well:  positive visualization can help a person achieve a higher level of success, happiness and health.  This is a theme that plays well with younger audiences.

Be professional and flexible.  My priority is to help the committee host an exceptional evening for the kids.  Organizing an After Prom event is a whole lot of work and the parents are all volunteers.  I arrive on time, well prepared and always stay flexible.

So, how was the talk received?

The parents were so intrigued they expressed interest in experiencing a simply hypnotic induction.  Fifteen minutes later the meeting wrapped up with everyone feeling positive and refreshed, and jazzed about my participation in Magruder’s After Prom.

Here’s the note I received the next day from the committee lead:

Hi Marc, thank you again for coming to our meeting last night and giving us a session.  I slept great.  Deby, woman to my left, thinks she fell asleep while you were talking.  It really was relaxing.  I think we need to keep your show to an hour because I have a feeling you will be talking with students and parents for quite a while after the show. It really is interesting. 

Taking a volunteer through a hypnotic induction at last year's Richard Montgomery HS After Prom.

Cherishing Mom

It’s true, even hypnotists have moms.

Thanks to mine I had an easy and care-free childhood.  I was active in team and individual sports, successful in school and part of a wonderful group of friends.

I steered clear of drugs, was never suspended from school for misbehavior and, with the exception of a few minor scrapes, rarely got into physical altercations with peers.

Yet, like most kids I dealt with a mix of anxieties, feelings of insecurities and personality flaws.  I was (and still am) hyper-competitive and often curt to others when stressed.  Plus, I had my share of verbal mix-ups with mom, often tossing typical childhood frustrations on to her.

Through it all, she was always there to listen, to offer a kind word and, when needed, splash me with a dose of reality.

For instance, when I was a sophomore in college I attempted to seriously date two women at one time.  While home on summer break, I was hanging out with one young lady at my parent’s house when the second woman unexpectedly arrived.

I pleaded with my mom to run interference by going outside and telling the second woman that I was sick and highly contagious.  My mom brushed this request aside and explained I needed to accept the situation and deal with it myself.

Yes…I was pissed at the time as both women quickly ended the relationship.  Yet, I soon realized that accountability, respect for others and commitment are all attributes of tremendous value.  It’s helped me be a better husband and father.

That’s what mom’s are for. 

Source:  PowerChurchInternational.com

   

The Perfect Entertainment for this Year's Holiday Party

Next weekend I return to the stage with an appearance on both Friday and Saturday night at the Bradley Farm Haunted Mansion festival in Herndon, Virginia. 

Admission is $5 which gets you access to a scary (yet family friendly) haunted house and an impressive line-up of entertainment -- which includes a DJ, bands, magician, dance teams and me with my Hypnotic Experience show.  Plus, proceeds from the event benefit a not-for-profit organization that provides support to families that have experienced a crisis.

Performing at events, fundraisers, community festivals, high school homecoming and prom celebrations, and parties is a lot of fun.  It gives me an opportunity to share the wonderful benefits of hypnosis with a large group of people in a relaxed and entertaining environment.

It also helps me fulfill my desire to perform.  Yes...I've taken a stab at stand-up comedy and found it incredibly challenging, which is a nice way for me to write that I bombed.  It is a whole lot of work to be laugh out loud funny with all eyes in the room on you.

Rather than a traditional comedy club hypnosis show, my Hypnotic Experience is a demonstration of hypnosis for stress management, career achievement, health/well being and a bit of fun.  Think of it as hypnosis for physical and emotional well being presented in an entertaining fashion as I incorporate funny anecdotes and perhaps a joke or two.

If you are responsible for selecting entertainment for a holiday party (office or personal), community event or fundraiser, consider the following about hypnosis:



1.  It's unique and memorable

2.  The guests who want to participate are the stars of the show

3.  It is easy to organize, requires very little set up and can be scheduled around other activities and entertainment

4.  The content is very appropriate for a family-oriented environment

5.  Guests can capture photos and videos of the show, and then share them with family and friends (makes for wonderful memories)

I am here by Email at m.russell.hausman@gmail.com if you'd like to learn more.

Hypnosis is a crowd pleasing entertainment option.