I just got back from the Hermosa Beach Walkabout Trance Getaway out in LA.

Which even led to me finding this site, so its an appropriate first blog, yeah?

I've personally been living in my own little trance world, where I was really the only person I knew who found hypnosis, and all the surrounding phenomenon, completely fascinating.  It was kind of boring, actually.  Stifling might be another word we could use.

I've been to a couple of Essential Skills seminars, but those people aren't overt "hypnotists".  A lot of the point of what those guys teach is, ssh, we gotta keep this secret.  Which can be cool, don't get me wrong.

I've been studying and honing my skills under a veil of secrecy, cause that was how I was taught to view it, and I think I assumed from that veil that ALL hypnosis needs to be covert, or that even someone who's willing, you still have to trick them.  That's been my approach, basically.

What a shock this past weekend was!  Here was a room full of people who live and breathe this stuff, most of whom are successful at it. 

I kind of assumed there would be lots of "amateurs" like me there, curious types, etc.  Then I see Wendi Friesen walk in and sit next to me, and I was pretty sure I'd seen her on youtube with Gerry Kein (hope I'm getting these names right).  Later on, someone points out this guy Scott Sandlin who's kind of a big deal, and Richard Rumble, etc al.  Honestly, if I'd have realized how many "big names" would have been there, I might have chickened out and not gone at all.

I'm so, so, so very glad I did.

Me, and approaches, not a good mix.  I could only get one kid to let me play, and even he was sent to me by Mindy.  We're standing on the boardwalk, hundreds of people milling about, his buddy is working with someone else in my group and looks to be having fun, so he tells me he wants to be hypnotized to feel drunk.  Heh, easy enough.

Several people that I tried to play with were *really* interested.  But not enough to let me do THEM.  A girl at a bar Saturday night, she kept telling me, "man, you know I REALLY think you ought to go down the bar and hypnotize people.  I'll stay here and watch your coat..."  "Paul, you should hypnotize THAT guy...!" 

She was a really enthusiastic observer.  I bet she'd even have clapped for me, to root me on.  But she wasn't gonna let me do it to HER...  It would have been nice to have gotten to work with more of the people on the streets, but I'm really not complaining.

Cause, see, as I mentioned above, everyone that I know thinks this little hypnosis hobby of mine is a little hokey.  "Oh Paul, you're always trying to be different, aren't you?"  But in my boring factory job, I've often sat there with my hokey books daydreaming about starting my own hokey practice. 

Two of my hopes for this seminar, was to explore how possible that little dream might be, and also to just be around other people who shared my interests for a change.  I got both of those two wishes met, and I'd like to thank anyone who happens to see this who was there, the whole thing was great. 

Because at no time did I detect "hokey".  I mean, I did, the whole thing was just a goofy trance party.  But everyone there enjoyed what they were doing.  Including myself, though it took a day to loosen me up.

As a factory worker, I've never had a need to go to "industry events" or conferences or any of that, and I've always been kind of curious about why people go to those things.  Now I get it.  This is how you meet people with your interests, in similar lines of work, this is how you network, oh yeah, and you ought to have some fun, too.

Its like a whole new world for me.  So, like I said, thanks to everyone!

Maybe some of you are curious about Brian David Phillips, since few of you have met him?  I found his style to be a 50/50 mix of "serious" hynotist, and the guy who's doing magnetic-orgasmic-butt tricks in his stage show.  A very pleasureable guy to be around.  He'd be explaining some theory or other, disussing the strategies or theories, and then he'd turn right around and stick someone's hand to their head, with no noticable switch between the two roles.  I went to dinner with a group on Sunday, and got to talk to him for a while, and at no time did I find him argumentative, overbearing, full of himself, um, and really anything else unlikable.  Just a really peaceful guy, who seemed completely at ease with whatever he is.

But really everyone I met was friendly and fun.  Good times!