2010 Campground Season is Officially Over

Wow... what a busy season this was. Starting in May and ending in October, this was one very long campground season. I peformed 52 shows at 16 different campgrounds in every New England state except Vermont.

My estimation is over 14,000 campers watched my shows. There were just over 800 on-stage voluteers this year. And everyone of them was "TERRFIC!" I wish I had more room for volunteers on the stages at these campgrounds, as thousand of campers wanted to be hypnotised. I am always sorry when either I didn't chose them or they didn't pass the testing that goes on before a show.

Strawberry Park Resort in Preston, Connecticut hosted 16 shows this season. I perform every Monday night from late June to end of August, plus a spring weekend show and for their 4 Halloween weekends. This marked my 18th year at Strawberry Park and is absolutely one of my favorite places to perform.

The largest crowds of the season were at my six shows at Bayley's Camping Resort in Scarborough, Maine. I believe some of the shows had between 300 and 400 people watching. I could be wrong but I believe one of the shows had a lot more. It's hard to count that many. Bayley's is famous for their quality entertainment (amoung a lot of other things) and I am very grateful to be included. This was my 17th year here and it is another one of my favorite places to perform.

Most campgrounds only hosted a single show with a few campgrounds hosting 2 or 3 shows a season. I get very excited for these shows as well because I only have the one chance a season to impress. I am humbled when campers tell me they schedule their vacation at a certain campground depending on the date of my performance. I always appreciate these comments.

As always, I took a lot of pictures at these shows. I have sampled just a couple here.
You can see them all on my SWFB web site.

             

   

Shows for the 2011 camping season are being book now.
Have a great winter campers and I'll see you next season.

Steve

10 Myths About Hypnosis

No other subject inspires as much mythological fodder as hypnosis. It is surprising that during the age of information that many of these myths still remain and that people believe them to be true. Below you will find the truth behind 10 of the most prevalent myths about hypnosis.


MYTH 1

The first of ten myths about hypnosis and the one that seems to cause the greatest fear among people is the assumption that under hypnosis you have no control over your mind or your actions. This is simply not true. In a hypnotic state you do become more conscious of what you are thinking and feeling, but you do not become a puppet to a masterful hypnotist. A hypnotist may use suggestive words to help you focus your attention in different ways, however, you do not lose your ability to think on your own or to control your behavior while experiencing hypnosis.

MYTH 2

Hypnosis has ties to satanic practices. Hypnosis has no ties to Satanism or satanic ritual practices whatsoever. Satanic practices are seen as dark and unseemly with demonic undertones. Helping people to improve their lives is what hypnosis is really all about. That is in sharp contrast to the harmful practices that most satanic rituals are comprised of

MYTH 3

Once you enter a hypnotic state you run the risk of getting stuck in that state permanently. It is almost unbelievable that people still believe this, but there are many who unfortunately still do, but hypnosis is nothing more than a deeper awareness of what you are thinking and feeling. It is not another realm of existence as some would have you believe.

MYTH 4

You have to be a specific personality type to be hypnotized. Wrong! In actuality we all enter into a hypnotic state almost every night. When we go to sleep our conscious and unconscious mind meet and go over the days events or even over past ones, creating the dreams we experience. Even if after wakening up you have no recollection of having had dreams while asleep, research has shown that all humans and animals dream while sleeping.

MYTH 5

Hypnosis can only work for weaker minded individuals and not for those with a resistance to hypnosis. In fact resistance is suggested by many hypnotists so that individuals can recognize the experience as being their own and not a product of a cleverly skilled hypnotist.

MYTH 6

Hypnosis is just a clever illusion that has no real useful purpose. Magicians put forth illusions to confuse what the eye and mind are seeing. A hypnotist is attempting to clear away any confusion that is acting as an obstruction to a person.

MYTH 7

Going to a hypnotist when you can learn how to hypnotize yourself is a waste of money. Self hypnosis has its value and it can be a safe and effective method of self improvement. However self hypnosis can exasperate mental conditions and traits such as negative thinking, and this should really be taken into consideration before writing hypnotists off as a waste of money. Your overall health should take precedence over financial considerations.

MYTH 8

The belief that hypnosis wipes away all memory of the hypnosis experience. Your memory skills are not lessened by hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis can be used to help you improve your retention skills and as mentioned earlier in this article, hypnosis is not another realm of existence. You do not lose knowledge of whom or where you are or become completely unconscious of the thoughts and feelings you are having.

MYTH 9

Hypnosis can be used to force people to confess to crimes they have committed. First of all, if a person is not open to disclosing a fact, hypnosis will not make it happen. Hypnosis can help a person to feel comfortable enough to make disclosures, but this is still a conscious choice. This is why confessions made under hypnosis are can not be used in criminal proceedings.

MYTH 10

A very dangerous myth is that hypnosis is a cure all. Hypnosis is useful in conjunction with medical treatments for a number of diseases, but it cannot cure them.


I found this info from a Twitter friend who found this on RoFx.net. I hope it is helpful because I get asked about these things all the time.

The funniest 3 videos from my show I have ever seen

This will be quick....

I really love what I do. I have said this many many times. But then every now and then there comes a show when everything goes as planned and then some. Last Wednesday night was one of those nights. Now don't get me wrong, there are many shows I should be writing about as they are extremely funny. But then, year after year, there is Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. For some reason they are what I believe every school show should strive to be. We fill the auditorium year after year with students, teachers, coaches and members of the community. I get so many great volunteers I wish I could use them all but there is not that much room on stage. And then the fun begins.

I do many of the same routines from all my other shows but these volunteers take it to the extreme. I am going to stop here and jus say you've got to see it to believe it. Here are 3 routines that were captured on video taken by a student from the audience. Enjoy...

Thanks Jenn for sharing.

Busy busy busy

I know it's been a while since my last entry but that's a good thing. I means I have been busy. Lots of shows. Lots of different shows. I have done a few corporate shows, high schools, middle school, Elks Clubs, VFWs, Lions Clubs, sweet 16 parties and a first for me... a 21st birthday party. And they all have been a lot of fun. I've put some serious miles on my car since the first of the year.

One thing that has caught my attention, was all the great fundraising the schools did even though the holidays just ended. Many schools raised hundreds of dollars with 2 schools raising over $2500 each. It just goes to show you that a little hard work can pay off with big dividends. Nicely done everyone.

As I watch another snow storm from out of my office window, I will leave you with a few of the fun photographs from a few of the shows I mentioned above. And all I have to say is... everyone, you were TERRIFIC!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving into the next decade

As I sit here getting ready to write about the new year, the new decade, I start to reflect on the past Year, the past decade. This was an interesting time in my life. Since the last 10 years, my career as an entertainer really took off. And I am greatful for this. My hypnosis show as a whole took on a sense of value. I am very proud of the show I do and I appreciate being asked to perform at the same places year after year. Just a few of the highlights of the past decade include my 6,000th performance, performing over a hundred shows each at Bayleys, Resort, Strawberry Park Resort and Point Sebago Resort and performing for my youngest son Geoffrey, at his high school graduation party.

For 2009 year end totals were: 146 hypnosis shows, 32 magic shows, 18 seminars/workshops. Yet there were times I wish I had more shows, as sitting home in front of the computer (or worse... the TV) is no fun. I feel alive on stage. I want that feeling more and more. So as we all go into the new decade I have made my list of resolutions for this new year...

Resolution #1... Continue to have as much fun during each show as I always have.
Resolution #2... Change my show for the better. This includes a shorter introduction and new or revamped routines.
Resolution #3... Make the after show suggestions more memorable. (You'll see what I mean at my shows)
Resolution #4... Continue to have as much fun during each show as I always have. I know I said this already but I have always said that I must enjoy what I do. This way everyone else can as well.

So I will leave you with this:
“2010 is an unwritten chapter…love deeply, live boldly, and go after something big!”

Happy and healthy new year to all. See you soon.

Steve