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kevinuncanny Loyal user 264 Posts |
Simon---
Reread my post. I am not taking a shot at your or ANY of your routines. What I was talking about was the reason for doing it. If you feel that the routines that you are doing work with who you are and bond you to your clients and audiences more power to you. As far as your video goes: its to long. promo should be more then about 3min 30 sec Kevin ps I'd LOVE to defend my website but it was designed about 5 years ago and truely needs an overhaul---COMING SOON!
Kevin Lepine
Hypnosis Unleashed-THE Vegas Hypnosis Show www.Kevinlepine.com www.VegasHypnosisShow.com |
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themindreader Loyal user 254 Posts |
Hi Magnus,
Well - I'm happy with the type of material used in the promo, I'm just interested to see what people would make of it on here. I've shown the recording to lots of laypeople (who seem to love it), and I've also shown it to lots of performers (who have had very mixed views on it). For example - was chatting to somebody yesterday who informed me that they would not use it on their website due to the instance of bad language used by the chap in the college room. They said that if I had 'bleeped' that bit out then it would have been fine. I wouldn't mind doing this and it may even add some comedic value to the recording so I'll be doing this on the next edit. I'm interested to see what people make of the induction, general format, choice of volunteers and my general performing style also. I'm probably going to edit the recording down to 5 minutes on the next (and hopefully final) edit Simon |
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kevinuncanny Loyal user 264 Posts |
I meant to say no more then 3:30
Kevin Lepine
Hypnosis Unleashed-THE Vegas Hypnosis Show www.Kevinlepine.com www.VegasHypnosisShow.com |
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Nick Crown New user 9 Posts |
Hi Simon!
Just joined this site, So I thought I would make my first post to you!! For everyone else reading, I am not an hypnotist, I specialise in close up magic and mind reading and consider myself a good performer! Simon is a good friend of mine and I would like to make a comment!! I cant really comment on the induction because I'm not a hypnotist! But as for the rounines being too sexual, well I think that is a load of rubbish, it all depends on the type of performer you are. If you can carry them off without looking or being like a sleeze bag then its fine. You are being paid to entertain, and sex sells!! Turn on your tv and watch an advert!! People are out for a laugh and as long as your not getting people to strip off and give you a blow job I really don't see the problem!! Its time people stopped worrying about sex!! its not a bad thing!! Simon knows not to start including these routines whilst performing for the local church!! If people laugh and have a good time and no-one is offended then keep doing it! Sorry about the long post but it is my first time, I guess you can say I just lost my virginity!! Sorry if that offends anyone!!! Only a joke!! Simon give me a call!! Nick Crown |
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jerryshaun New user 5 Posts |
My views in regards to the "riske" contents of the video, more for the use of U.S. performers than the UK, are as follows (with a little background first). I was born in Germany, and spent my childhood mostly in Panama and Germany, and I think this video would work great in either of those places, and probably in parts of the U.S. However, I have lived in the "Bible Belt" for the last 15 years, and work in higher education (both in an administrative role and as an instructor), and have seen first-hand how some promo videos are treated here (ah, the trash cans fill with them at the first of every school year). The town I live in has three major colleges, one a state university and the other two are not religious institutions, but were founded by religious groups, and are extremely conservative. This type of thing would never get a gig in any of those colleges, and many others in this state (MO) would also reject them.
Like I stated above, this does not really apply to the original market in question (UK) and is not meant to attack the video, but I wanted to add my thoughts, from my experience and from the colleges' point of view, to the discussion. Jerry |
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themindreader Loyal user 254 Posts |
Hi Jerry,
Thanks very much for your post. Just a question (and I'm not being sarcastic here) but do schools / colleges in bible belt or conservative areas actually books hypnotists at all? Simon |
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themindreader Loyal user 254 Posts |
Hi Nick,
I have called you - now please stop following me, Simon Quote:
On 2006-08-02 14:32, Nick Crown wrote: |
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jerryshaun New user 5 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-03 11:10, themindreader wrote: Most will, but if it is their first time, they usually have understandable reservations about it. I do know of a lot of colleges inside of the Bible Belt that have had a hypnotist every year for over a decade, but they ususally have the same hypnotist every time (may be a quality of show or a comfort thing). The college I work for, which is very conservative, hasn't had a hypnotist there since about ten years ago, but they do show interest in getting one in the future. I think there is still a lot of misconceptions about hypnosis, and as those are slowly dispelled, the market will start to heat up. I know of one college performer who did all three colleges in my town a number of years back (probably about ten), and has not been hired back to any of them, and I do not know of any of the three that have had one since. I do not really understand why---the shows went well and the hypnotist had a show that was very un-offensive, but he has not been rebooked at any of them. I think I am going to put some more thought into it and talk to a few people at the various colleges to get their perspective, and I will post a more-helpful answer than. Jerry |
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DaiBato Veteran user 310 Posts |
Also be careful with your lighting; the room in the opening shot is poorly lit and hard to see throughout your demo.
Dai Bato |
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shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
Sex in hypnosis sketches it isn't really about sex. I doubt if anyone ever gets turned on. The humour comes from putting the audience members in really surreal and crazy situations. The audience reacts by trying to put themselves in the place of the volunteer. This is what elicits the laugh and entertainment.
While I agree with the commercial considerations depending upon the market I don't feel adult content in hypnosis shows is a problem. Its all about presenting it properly. Needs edited. Cut out the start when you are selecting volunteers it is like watching paint dry. Minimise the shots of the inductions. Fast cuts between just one or two. You really need to be much gentler with the handshake you are far far to rough. Listen to Lee he is correct. Don't try and fill 8 mins. 4 mins would be much better by being very selective to what you put in. plus as said before better camera shots and editing. Also the venue doesn't give the impression you do well paid shows. Hire a nice venue or offer to share door money and film a nice venue. That looked like the local youth centre. It doesn't give the right impression. Shrink |
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Promo videos are about perception, not about actuality. When a corporation like, for instance Siemans, views a promotional video, they view it in several ways - including how the performance will reflect on THEIR company.
And sexual material being presented at a corporate event, unless it is a closed, employees only event, is NOT going to be booked. Period. This would rule out trade show work, hospitality events and banquet work for performers who want to work for these mega-corporations - I speak from direct exeprience on this one because I work FOR these corporations, including the one I just mentioned. Upper management is VERY strict with regards to propriety and corporate image when it relates to anything that THEY sponsor. However, for the more private, employees only events, this may not be as true, DEPENDING on the division and the managers and VP's you will be dealing with. If someone had presented a promo like that to Jurgen Kurpa, who was the head on North American Operations for Siemans Data communications back in the 80's when I did my first series of trade shows for their Canadian data com test equipment division, it not only would not have flown, but that performer would have been black-balled throughout the entire Siemans organization. Akzo-Nobel is another good example of the same kind of corporate mentality. VERY conservative and, frankly, even at an employees only event, just getting volunteers on stage is difficult because of the corporate ecology - no one wants to screw up their career by making a fool of themself in front of the "top brass" from Switzerland. And sexually oriented material is right out. And even stated so in the contract. So, I disagree with several people on here who do not seem to be working for the kinds of clients that I am discussing. With regards to Bible Belt colleges, yes, they DO hire hypnotists, but you had better be SQUEAKY CLEAN in your act - no kissing and, in some cases no TOUCHING even! I did one Uiversity show in Tennessee last year which had one of the most restrictive codicils attached to the contract that I have ever had to work with - and it was really NO problem because I had a long sit-down with the Administrator and made SURE I knew EXACTLY where the line was and made SURE that I didn't even get close to it. because, if I HAD crossed that line, I would have been paid only HALF of my fee as a fine for violating school regulations! The promo in question, if she had seen it, would have closed the doors of that institution, permenantly, to ALL hypnotists, in my opinion. However, some venues will allow that kind of material and, if one wants to work that way, it's up to the performer, as I said. Personally, I like keeping as many options open as I can. Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
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shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
Lee,
As far as I am aware in this part of the world few companies would employ hypnotists anyway. We don't seem to enjoy the diversity of opportunities you seem to have over in the States. I respect the discipline and your knowledge in your market you seem to be very professional. I agree that material on a promo should match the market. That really is common sense. It is different over here. And even so adult material will close doors but it can also open them depending on where you are performing. The real trick is to find the right venues and be good no matter what type of show you are doing. When I was performing I exclusively performed adult shows. Hopefully very skillful shows. At least eventually they became skilled beyond "cheap shots". However I hired a theatre and sold out for about three years around 1000 seats and made a small fortune. Mostly with students and drunks. I did the University circuit too and would say that if you did the kind of shows you do for your clients they probably would've went down like a lead balloon. It really depends upon the market. Personally I have no problem with any material so long as its done well and in the right context. And personally I wouldn't enjoy working to some of the audiences you mention. Sometime keeping too many options open can be worse than closing a few doors. You can't be everything to everybody. "Branding" is about catering to a certain market. Shrink I saw an opening the timing was right so I went in a certain direction. Sure it closed a few doors but I didn't want to walk through them anyways..If I were to perform now I may take a completely different stance depending upon what opportunities were open to me. |
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Shrink, you make a very compelling argument and I have no problem with "horses for courses" as the saying goes. However, we also have a different problem over here and that is the problem of the professional associations.
Literally ALL of the professional associations have fairly strict bans on the use of X-rated presentations in stage hypnosis shows. Period. If a member gets caught doing such material, their membership in the organization gets pulled, their certification gets revoked and, because of the insurance requirements, if their insurer finds out, their liability insurance gets pulled out from under them as well as the insurers are now more and more requiring certification by a professional hypnotherapy organization in order for ther underwriters to approve a liability policy. No certification means no performance liability insurance. And that means no work. Period. Which is why I tend to work pretty clean. But it is ALWAYS a matter of choice for the performer and I have no problem with that at all. To each his own. Heck, I've been booked blind into a "lifestyles" convention as a magician before - and the "lifestyle in question was NOT the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but had more to do with things like chains and such - but the agent didn't see fit to TELL me about it! And, because the cancellation clause had some real teeth in it, I had to work the *@@^%( thing, too! Fortunately, that was about fifteen years ago, before I met my current wife...! But that gig was a bit of a shock... not because of the people running around a major hotel in the nearly buff and wearing all sorts of kinky gear, but because of how many people I ran into there who I KNEW from my daily life and that I had NO idea were into that kind of stuff! :wow: Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Ok I would like to chime in here on a couple misrepresented points.
First Lee you know fully well you don't have to be "certifiec" in anything to get insurance. Not for what it is we do. Yes I believe in certification, yes obviously you need insurance,( unless the venue covers it for you ) but it is really easy to find without the paper. Second shrink, something I tell all comics when they start. Many use "blue" adult humor, as it gets an "easy laugh". And it indeed does. BUT if you learn to be funny without it, then you are funny no matter what. This is the same thing. Being funny with the show gets you work anywhere, even in "adult" places. I do NOT believe for one second that adult material is "required" in any situation. The material used can be a bit more than "squeaky clean", but you can do a fantastic, engaging and funny show, without crossing over this line. You can be a fantastic comic without crossing it too. Many use it as a "crutch" and never stop. Nobody in particular mind you. The point is you close 0 doors by working for everyone, and close LOTS of doors by spacifically working in this fashion. Funny is funny and sells no matter what. Not so with adult humor. Just my 2 cents.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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cheesewrestler Inner circle Chicago 1157 Posts |
US commentators should note that Benny Hill was mainstream TV entertainment in the UK. Generally audiences there are much more tolerant of that kind of thing.
Plus does anyone here actually know what role faculty advisors play in selecting acts over there? (And remember that said UK advisors may well find Benny Hill-type comedy totally acceptable.) I'm not sure how useful comments from a "mustn't risk offending even one person" US perspective are in this context. |
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shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
Danny,
While you can express an opinion based upon your experience it is just an opinion. You dislike adult humour then that's your preference and I respect that. And perhaps your market gives you plenty of opportunities that makes it work well not to ever indulge in adult humour. That doesn't mean its the same for everyone everywhere. In scotland and probably the rest of the UK hypnotists clean or otherwise don't get work "anywhere" opportunities are very few. And our student circuits are different from your high school circuits. It is very different. And certainly the venues I hired and played in the past would've flopped with what you suggest. They wouldn't have bought the tickets. My shows sold mostly on word of mouth. I am not disagreeing with you or Lee what you do works best for you in your circumstances and within your value system. If the opportunity came around again to pack out 1000 seaters with an adult show I would be booking venues tommorow. Packing out a theatre for three years isn't easy no matter what type of show you do. You don't have to be squeaky clean either to be successful. that's all I'm saying You don't "have" to do anything. Adult shows done poorly can be awful. But that doesn't mean they can't be done well. Or that they can be highly commercial which was the reason for doing them! I said it before its not about sex or turning anyone on its about creating ridiculous situations that are funny. Funny is a matter of taste and tastes vary according to the market.Not everyone finds the same things funny or you would find adult shows funny. Because some adult shows are very funny. There are also trends and timing to consider. The market over here is different from yours. Shrink The insurance situation for one makes it a market I am no longer interested in. |
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Danny, when I went to get MY insurance from my insurer, they DEMANDED a copy of my Certification. Period. And they were adamant that they could not get underwriting for the policy without it.
When I renewed the policy this year, I asked if they needed a copy of my renewed Certification and I was told that they did not, that the copy that they had on file was sufficient. But when I originally applied, I was REQUIRED to supply them with a copy of my Certification. In checking with several insurers that I work for (I hold a Life Insurance license in Illinois, but not a property and casualty license), I was told in no uncertain terms, by no fewer that FOUR insurance companies that NO policies would be issued by their companies without a copy of the performer's Certification being on file with the Insurer. Some companies may have different rules, but that has been MY experience. Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
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shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
While we are on the topic of humour:
I believe that there is a level of stage hypnosis that few hypnotists are aware of or ever reach. For me the real skill and art of high level stage hypnosis is not about getting audience members to do silly things. The real skill is to be vigilant to naturally occuring quirky behaviour and language that comes from the volunteers. And whenever possible tease and develop that so that as much as possible you let the volunteers "trance personalities" expand into something surreal and wonderful. This means sometimes stepping back, sometimes provoking it gently and setting up situations where the show becomes almost organic and takes on a direction of its own. This takes a lot of self control and skill to get the best out of people. It has nothing to do with being funny yourself. Its almost like being an explorer of the minds of your volunteers. You can't get it every show. But when your audience sit in their seats after the show is finished and don't want to leave you know you have touched on something special. It has nothing to do with being funny yourself. Or even a performer its about being a master stage hypnotist and I don't mean the title given away on three day certificates either. That is just my point of view of course Shrink Also shock confusion suprise are all techniques that can be used on the audience to allow them to experience something special as well on the volunteers...I also consider the mental states of the audience as well as the volunteers.. |
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Shrink, you have just nailed the method that makes a Pat Collins what she became and what keeps many people from being employed as stage hypnotists. In improvisational comedy, it's called "feeding" the other players. Giving them something more to work with than just the basic set up of the skit or routine that you are going with.
In one show I did, I had only two men, and about twenty women on stage. Both men were grossly overweight. So,m when I did the macho man bit, I asked them what they did to make themselves so macho. The first guy practically yelled "I bench press!" The second guy yelled, "I bench press!" Sensing an opening, as they were on opposite sides of the stage, I said to the second guy, "Well, the guy down there says he's more macho than you are. What do you say to that?" The fellow leaned over, looked down the row of people at the first guy, smirked and said, calmly, "That's the guy I bench press!" You can't WRITE better material than that! You can only engineer situations where people can be creative and hope that they WILL be. And, more often than not, you will not be disappointed! Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
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Spinnato Elite user 428 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-08-20 07:06, shrink wrote: My opinion EXACTLY! |
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