I can get you a gig in vegas tomorrow. All it takes is money.

Your competition is going to be the very best, so why would you not want to be?

You're learning to ride a tricycle and worried about getting a speeding ticket.

Spend 5 - 10 years developing an identity, an act and your skill set then look at the talent currently in Vegas at the time and see where you stand in relationship to them. Then you can feel out your potential to compete with the best.

You're learning to ride a tricycle and worried about getting a speeding ticket.

Spend 5 - 10 years developing an identity, an act and your skill set then look at the talent currently in Vegas at the time and see where you stand in relationship to them. Then you can feel out your potential to compete with the best.

Well, not ceasers or anything like that... a smaller casino ... off strip.

Ok are you joking with us?

If not here is a serious answer. It is called 4 walling. Now there may be some debate as to how much money you have to put in to do the deal but here it goes.

ANYONE can put ANY show in a room like you speak of in Vegas. You rent the room, you do the ads you pay the staff and you keep the ticket money. Pretty easy huh?

You can do it as many days a week as you want to. Heck you can do it for 2 shows a night every night of the week if you choose. You are so confident in a show you havn't even done yet, why not give it a shot?

Really it is that simple. You can do it in Vegas, Laughlin, Reno, and any number fo other gambling towns in America and abroad. The show can run till you run out of money to do it. Usually that is what happens. It takes nothing more than that. You don't have to be experienced or nothing. You can do this with your first show.

If you are not confident enough to spend your money to do this, then perhaps it is possible you are not quite ready to do it in the first place.

You are not nearly ready for this, or it is just a big internet leg pull. Either way have fun with it.

I am being sincere-- I'm mostly naive about the whole performing arts. I've never been in a theater performance or show. My only group speaking experience (besides the few stage hypnosis shows I've done) was teaching a social psych class and toastmasters.

It's not that I'm wary about investing in my performance, it's just that I suspect I'm the type of learner that may not need direct mentoring. And if that's the case I could put the $$ else where.

Actually, the more I think about it-- I just need a system where if I have a question, someone can answer it. Problem with the internet is that everyone has a different opinion.

Take the simple question of how to arrange the seats. The Marc Savard and Dean Martin DVD's have two rows, one behind the other. Jon Chase has one straight row, as does Duvall. But the Ronning text suggests arranging the chairs in a U, with a specific recommendation against having two parallel rows. Who do I go with?

In therapy we have a similar problem-- but efficacy studies take care of that because they objectively show which variations are good, bad, or indifferent.

What you are going to run into is the annoying fact that each is right! Seriously.

If you have done a "few" shows and think you are going to jump on to a Vegas stage, well denial is not just a river in Egypt I guess.

Seriously dude. Slow down. WAY down.

You may not think you have a lot to learn, but you obviously do. You are doing nothing but cutting corners and this is never a good thing.

Danny is correct. You have a lot to learn. I would suggest a mentor. How much? Call them and ASK....
Danny is also correct, to get a Vegas gig you BUY it. And you survive only if you are the best. That is simple how it is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXlh_z0LbWY

As far as u-shape, rows, straight line... There is not a right or a wrong way, it is all up to you and the style YOU develop. All of hypnosis is like this, other than safety concerns, there is rarely a right or a wrong way, as long as you entertain, ultimatly that is what the audience is there for.
Take a training course. Ronning offers great live courses, I have a DVD course (Ronning does too), I will offer a live course in the UK and Vegas this fall.
I also know Sevard offers courses, and I am sure his are excellent as well.
And go to the comedy clubs or Vegas and see some shows...

All right. Cuz, you can get a Vegas show if you want, once you're ready; Danny's already told you one way of doing it. Danny and the others are correct as well in stating that you have a lot to learn, but I'm sure you already know that.

Danny, we don't know what he's doing or not doing; all we know right now is he's researching and investigating his options. I realize you're just trying to make sure he doesn't cut corners and only end up hurting his chances, but for all we know, he may end up getting a mentor (normal kind or paid, either way) or even going to a live course. Don't jump to conclusions about what he'll end up doing once his research is done.

Cuz, Richard Nongard is correct as well; actual instruction is very useful and even if it doesn't match your particular style, at least you have a basis to work from. You can always change and adapt things to your particular style later.

You may be one of those rare(ish) people who can learn and become successful through self-teaching, but if you have the opportunity to learn from experienced people, take it. If nothing else, it'll give you valuable practice time on actual live volunteers, etc. ... with someone watching to give you pointers and suggestions.

That's assuming a live course, obviously. If you go with a DVD training (and I recommend either Richard's or Geoff Ronning's; both are excellent instructors), there are benefits to that as well.

In short, keep investigating, but don't rule out paying for training. I know you want to save money and not pay for something that you don't need. Nothing wrong with that. You also want to go into this as prepared as you can possibly be.

Joshua

>>>It's not that I'm wary about investing in my performance, it's just that I suspect I'm the type of learner that may not need direct mentoring. And if that's the case I could put the $$ else where<<<


Here it is straight to the point. You have the attitude of an amatuer. Stage hypnosis is a business. There can be no better use of funds than hooking up with someone whos already doing it. Your the type of learner who wants everything for free. So it usually follows you don't really understand the value of stage hypnosis as a business proposition. Whicj probably means you will fail miserably at the actual money making business side of things.

you need a mentor that not only knows how to do the show but is also making very good money from it.

Otherwise what you really want is another amatuer hypnotist to teach you what they know for free.

If you were serious about the business you would go and get a bank loan. Which you would easily be able to pay back assuming the market and the mentor is any good.

So why not stop kidding yourself and just come out with and ask for free help.

You pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Though harsh and unfiltered, the punisher does make a point.

Had another show yesterday... this was at a senior center-- but a senior, senior center. those who weren't asleep or too busy eating lunch asked a few questions but no one really interested in being hypnotized. Alas.

I'm taking everything said here to heart.

After some contemplation, I realize I do have time on my side.

my battle plan is to get perhaps a weekly gig or a weekly 4-wall where I don't lose too much money... focus on selling some hypnosis products I have.
Then just spend the summer learning the craft and getting better. I'll pursue that theater director-- shouldn't be hard to find given then I'm in l.a.

But I really don't need to do a vegas show-- you guys are right-- I do have a lot to learn-- so no need to rush!

Thanks! And of course-- forgive me for my insolence

Did you receive my PM?

Are you saying you did a hypnosis show and no one was hypnotized? What did you end up doing?

Ive done a senior center. Mentalism not hypnosis but nonetheless. I used some of the workers and family members as helpers which helped move the show along.

Best

Candin

Oh, the tried and true Q&A. About hypnosis or psychology.

My show was during lunch (grrr...). So most were more interested in their tuna casarol than what I was talking about. When I did a group demo, only two responded.

I live near a long coastline, so I might advertise a show by the beach for anyone who's having a house party by the beach. Should be fun and a good way to build my experience/create a good demo cd.

Thanks for sharing. I am leaning more and more on doing a stage show. Since Im pretty much established as a mentalist, hope some inquiries will come in.

Candin