October seems to be Hypnosis Month here on Noumenon. With the month being filled with twenty-seven back-to-back performances, along with the many memorable moments that come with the hypnosis shows, it’s not surprising that it’s on my mind. That and, between the shows, travel and an online course, I haven’t had much time to bring you anything else!
Above is a clip from one of last week’s shows. Please excuse the funny costumes - it’s at a renaissance faire, my once-a-year foray into dressing silly… I share it here because it really captures a subtlety that, as a hypnotist, I truly appreciate. Let me explain…
Everyone loves hypnosis shows because of the non-stop hilarity of the actions and reactions of the people on stage. The best hypnosis programs are often the most visual ones. But in truth, as a hypnotist, though I never get bored of the hilarity – it’s different every time – what I appreciate most are the more subtle aspects that often go unnoticed but truly demonstrate the power of hypnosis, even in a stage setting.
I’m very excited to report that the filming of the new indie short Cupcake has wrapped, editing is complete and the film is off to it’s next destination. Though I am not at liberty to divulge any more at this time, there will be an announcement made here on this site when the time is appropriate.
I was invited to participate in the film by writer and director Cheryl Cambras, and after exploring the script - and being stunned at the uniqueness of the project - thought that this decidedly bizarre film would be a good match.
Cheryl invited me to take part and to play - um - shall we say a pivotal role in my capacity as a sword swallower. We met in Stamford, Connecticut on the 28th of July and work commenced with the fantastic cast and crew.
By complete coincidence, the Saturday, June 2nd edition of the New York Times featured right on their front page (web edition at least) two stories that are near and dear to my heart (being both a Vermonter and a sword swallower).
The first is a ridiculous (but I couldn’t help laughing in delight) amateur rap video produced by three Montpelier, Vermont high school students. In the video, two extremely white boys walk the streets of Montpelier “rapping” about all the stereotypes of Vermont and Vermont life.
My good friend Cliff first blogged about it last month, long before it ever hit the NYT. If you’re a Vermonter you’ll probably get a kick out of it. Why the New York Times would cover it I have no idea.
Most artist statements are bunk. With a few stellar and authentic exceptions, the art world seems awash with inauthentic pretentiousness, poppycock and piffle when it comes to artists’ statements of their own work.
Though many would argue the point and counterpoint to their grave (and do, and do, and do and do…), I think that it’s hard to disagree with a statement like Matt Linderman’s over on Signal vs. Noise (original post here):
The thriving art scene here in NYC has exposed me to a lot more art shows than I ever experienced before in my life. And I’ve gotta say, the art statements that I read generally make me a bit nauseous. Sure, they can sometimes be helpful. But all too often they have that grad-student-thesis-feel, full of impressive-sounding words and pretentious ideas but somehow there’s no there there.
Regular readers will know that I make my living as a performing artist, swallowing swords and reading minds all across the country.
image copyright 2007, Amanda Bohart
As advertised on this blog just last week, I recently appeared on a number of radio programs to promote a show that was sponsored by Clear Channel Communications and Immix Wireless. We managed to record one of those interviews, which happens to contain a short performance of a piece that I created, present regularly and which has been causing waves amongst certain performing circles.
I’m pleased to be able to share that performance with you here – which also happens to be the first radio recording of the piece to-date. A few words of explanation before you listen, however.
Regular readers will know that I make my living as a professional sword swallower on theater stages across the country. As I have only around fifty active, living colleagues in my esoteric profession, general press mentions of my art are small in comparison to, well, just about every other form of performance art.
Though I tend to get a lot of press myself (for example), any mention of sword swallowing in the news is exciting to me, so when one of my favorite NPR shows made mention of sword swallowers I felt a surge of adrenaline rush to my fingertips.
Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me! Is the weekly comic news quiz hosted by Peter Sagal, judged by that ever-present NPR voice Carl Kasell and paneled by a somewhat-rotating group of writers, authors, humorists and assorted media personalities. Each show features a segment entitled Not My Job wherein a celebrity guest – this week, former SNL cast member Julia Sweeney – is invited on to answer a series of three questions designed to be as unrelated to their actual job as is possible.
His eyes closed, he submits to the touch, his face emerging out of dark shadows to provide a non-verbal sensory experience to himself and his explorer.
I choose this selection to quote because, in my humble opinion, it characterizes and conveys the artist’s profound strength as an explorer. Not only is Chehalis able to capture a subject in frank honesty, she has a remarkable and perhaps connatural ability to create a safe haven in which the subject can, as Art New England so astutely points out, completely submit. Submission, insight and honest humanity - be it beautiful or grotesque - is, from my vantage, a centerpiece of her work - and I speak here as a subject as well as consumer of her work.
As a performing artist I tour the country constantly, often finding myself in a new city every day. Not having the time that leisure travel affords, I’ve been perfecting the art of Hit and Run Tourism, learning how to take in a new city as quickly as possible. While I like to see the normal sights, I have a particular love of good coffee, good food, good art and anything exceptionally strange and unusual. This is what I’ve found in cities across America.
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First lesson learned in Atlanta: where not to stay. Due to a $1,100 airfare debacle, I decided to do what for me is unusual - book the cheapest hotel I could find. Already significantly over budget, I set my fingers to work on Orbitz to locate a clean if modest hotel to stay in for a reasonable price. I thought that they came through with the Stratford Inn on Parkway Drive. The pictures looked nice, decor not run-down and I even spoke with them on the phone, after which I was certain that the staff were nice people and the hotel would be more than adequate.
After four days in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania - during which time I had the pleasure of seeing Sharon Isbin play - and a grueling thirteen hours on the road through snow, closed highways and lack-of-sleep-induced delirium, I find myself this week in Nashville, Tennessee.
In town to book my solo show for dates late this year and next, I’m working from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center; a sprawling, massive city unto itself, and the largest non-casino hotel in the United States. Though not on the scale of some of the Vegas casinos, the Opryland Resort does feature some stunning indoor environments, including several conservatories and atriums, a series of stunning lobbies with soaring ceilings, beautiful furniture and elegant carpets as well as many restaurants and shops.
Without question my favorite and most-read blog happens to be Boing Boing. They keep me up-to-date with curious tech news, bring me bizarre and unusual stories from around the globe and I see many mentions of friends and affiliates come across their pages. I’m also a big fan of the editors individually. I especially enjoy reading the sci-fi work of Cory Doctorow and listening to Xeni Jardin on NPR. So when I had something to contribute to their wonderful blog, I was a bit happy.
The photographic work of my dearest friend Chehalis Hegner is featured on the cover of the February/March 2007 edition of the 
First lesson learned in Atlanta: where not to stay. Due to a $1,100 airfare debacle, I decided to do what for me is unusual - book the cheapest hotel I could find. Already significantly over budget, I set my fingers to work on 
