Lee Darrow's Blog

July 19, Soldier Field, Chicago - I'm Performing for Special Olympics 40th Anniversary!

2008-07-16T08:11:00.001-05:00

Yep! You read it right! I will be performing magic at Soldier Field on Chicago's Magnificent Lake Front from 12:30 to 3:30PM, this Saturday!

This event, honoring all of the Special Olympians of the last 40 years, is a great honor for me as I will be sharing the venue with some of the most talented performers in the world as well as these wonderfully skilled and talented athletes.

I've included their Press Release, below, for your reference.

About the 40th Anniversary
“Born in Chicago”
Special Olympics Chicago's 40th Anniversary Celebration Festival

This year, 2008, marks an amazing milestone — the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first Special Olympics event. Chicago takes great pride in the history of this amazing global movement, having been the site of the first games at Soldier Field and the home to some of the early visionaries.

As an athlete, family member, official, volunteer, donor or other supporter of Special Olympics Chicago you know the power of our games, and what Special Olympics Chicago has meant to so many people. Just imagine how many lives Special Olympics Chicago has touched throughout 40 years, as the games have expanded from one day at Soldier Field in 1968 to thousands of competitions in 175 countries worldwide.

Special Children’s Charities/Special Olympics Chicago invite you to join us at the “Born in Chicago” 40th Anniversary Celebration Festival July 19 at Soldier Field! Come out to share your passion for Special Olympics Chicago with hundreds of other past and present athletes, families, volunteers, donors and other supporters.

The event will start with a traditional Olympic torch run, ending at Soldier Field and kicking off a day of live music, games for children, sporting activities, food and drink, jugglers, magicians, inflatable offerings and more! We will also be providing a family and athlete resource area with information from Special Olympics Chicago partners. In addition, we will be displaying photos from the past 40 years of inspiring Special Olympics games.

Festival admission and parking are free! No registration is necessary for the general public. If you are accompanying a Special Olympics athlete, please register the athlete, call Special Children’s Charities to request a physical registration form (312) 527-3743.

WHAT: Special Olympics Chicago 40th Anniversary Celebration Festival

WHEN: Saturday, July 19 – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Soldier Field Chicago, South End
PARKING: Free! Waldron Garage, just south of Soldier Field

I'll see YOU there!

Lee Darrow, C.H.

I Won the 2007 Talk Like A Pirate Challenge!

2008-07-15T02:59:00.001-05:00

I just found out!

My thanks to the folks over there!

July & August - Picnic Time - Book Me NOW!

2008-06-30T11:49:00.000-05:00

July and August - picnic months. Companies often do their employee picnics during these months here in the Northern Hemisphere - mainly because doing them in January would lead to frozen cold cuts and frostbite instead of the traditional sunburn and mosquito bites!

But July and August are also months for PARTIES!

And parties mean entertainment - and what better entertainment can you have than having your guests become the Stars of the Show, themselves?

No, I am NOT talking about karaoke - which some people contend is Japanese for "tone deaf," but HYPNOSIS SHOWS!

When an party gets to experience the wonders of their own minds, especially in a way that is embarrassment-free like my shows are, when they get to enjoy the free-floating deep relaxation that hypnosis offers, when they get to SEE their friends and family members discover their unique creativity and the depth of their senses of humor - that leads to a party that NO ONE will forget - even the people on stage with ME!

Even before being appointed to the Safety Committee that is helping to set the standards and practices for the entire stage hypnosis industry, I have worked hard to make MY shows fun and free from the usual attitude of "let's make everyone look like a complete idiot" and do my utmost to make my shows something that EVERY person attending will wish that they had been a part of when the show is over!

Different?

You bet!

FUN?

No question about it!

Now all you need to do is call me for available dates and rates!

Lee Darrow, C.H.
www.leedarrow.com
www.stagehypnosissafetyclass.com

George Carlin, 71, Comedian, Free Speech Advocate, has passed away

2008-06-23T12:16:00.001-05:00

George Carlin, Comedian, Free Speech Advocate, has passed away
George Carlin, 71, has passed away.

To some younger readers, this may fall into the "who's he?" category.

Well study up, campers, because George Carlin was a Very Important Dude!

George started out as a fairly mainstream comedian, doing routines like the The Hippy-Dippy Weather Man ("Que Pasa? Que what you call your pasa, man! Tonight's forecast: DARK! Continued dark until morning, when it will get progressively lighter. Tomorrow's low, 58. Tomorrow's high, whenever I get up!") and on into one of the most important comedy routines of the 20th century - The Seven Words You Can't Say On Television.

This routine actually led to a Supreme Court case that eventually affirmed the Federal Communication Commission's "right" to "protect the public from profanity on the public airwaves," which is why TV shows "bleep" certain words. Those words were the ones George Carlin called the FCC out on, loudly, humorously and often.

He stood for Free Speech - the right to speak your mind, to stand up to the government without repercussion BY speaking your piece and brooked fools not lightly.

In other words, he had zero tolerance for bullshit and politicians, but I repeat myself, as Mark Twain (and Carlin) said.

Free Speech lost one of its most outspoken, and funniest, advocates this weekend. We should observe it by shouting those Seven Words from the rooftops.

I am willing to bet that Mr. Carlin would appreciate the gesture and return it with one of his own - middle finger fully extended to those who would quash the civil rights of ANYBODY, ANYWHERE.

Robert Lynn Asprin - Friend, Mentor, "Brother" has Passed away

2008-05-23T02:04:00.002-05:00

What the hell do you say when you get a call from across the Atlantic, from an old friend, telling you that one of your best friends, someone that, although you'd had a falling out years ago, you still owed much of what's happened to you in your life, much of who you are today and much of what you've learned in life - died this morning?

How do you process that information that he was on his way to MarCon, decided to lie down to take a nap and will never get up again?

How do you handle the fact that you'll never get the change to try to make things right between you?

Bob was one of the most important people in my life from a lot of standpoints. He taught me to look at things in his oddly critical way, sort of. Taught me to question things, taught me to watch my OWN back more effectively, saving my life in the process, several times, and taught me the joys of filking, of the well-placed pun, the perfectly set-up practical joke and how to deflate a stuffed shirt when the situation called for it. And even though, compared to him, I am still very much a tyro at many of those things, I learned many a valuable lesson, sitting at his side, whether at science fiction conventions, surprising George "Mr. Sulu" Takei at StarCon 2 as his surprise Klingon Diplomatic Corps bodyguard, learning how to tell a good shaggy dog story, singing Irish drinking songs, exchanging bad puns or getting ready to step into the lists at a tournament in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

I learned to appreciate good Irish whiskey, a wide range of folk music, song parodies, women in a ways that had never been shown to me and an appreciation for the well-timed verbal riposte to an attempted jibe from some self-important jackanapes.

Yes, Bob was a flawed individual, but aren't we all - most certainly myself?

But Bob burned with a brightness that often outshone everyone else in the room. His wit, his joie de vivre, his insights and his sheer love of a good time could carry even the most depressed individual up out of the most suicidal thoughts and into the light. I've seen him do it on more than one occasion.

Yes, he had his demons - don't we all? And, like many who burn brightly, Bob's demons often were darker than those of those who could burn as brightly. But his brightness, overall, in my opinion and direct experience of him, FAR outshone his darkness.

Bob has left lasting legacies - his daughter Annette, his books, the ones he authored on his own and the ones he collaborated on with so many others and his legacy in the Dorsai Irregulars, a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing fan-based security and art show services to science fiction conventions which was originally licensed by fellow science fiction author Gordon R. Dickson, upon whose novels the group is based. This license continues through the Dickson Estate, proudly, by those of us who "wear the beanie," which is our term for the black berets that we wear and which we ceremonially bestow upon new members - members who included Gordy Dickson, himself, Robert Heinlein and his wife, Ginny, noted science fiction artist and winner of 12 Hugo Awards, Frank Kelly Freas (who designed the Dorsai Flag, seen on our berets) and many others.

Bob's impact on the world, especially the fantasy and science fiction world, will be felt for a very long time.

But his impact on the life of an unknown magician/hypnotist/mentalist from Chicago will last my lifetime - and throughout the lifetimes of many of my audiences - because Bob, along with my wife Nanci, later, was instrumental in teaching me how to ENTERTAIN. Bob by teaching me how to tell a story and to time certain kinds of jokes. By helping me select certain kinds of magic effects that I use in my act to this very day, because he KNEW that they would blow an audience out of its socks.

But most of all because Bob believed in me.

And to a young college kid who had grown up in the shadow of his musical prodigy brother - that meant more than almost anything else.

I know that one of my regrets in this life will be that I never got the chance to try to reconcile with him.

I also hope that he understands.

Shai Dorsai, my friend, teacher, brother, mentor.

You will be missed.

Stage Hpnosis Safety Class - Chicago 6/24

2008-05-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

Yep.

I have knuckled under to the pressure and am going to teach the full four-hour course in Chicago on June 14th!

Because of some issues in the insurance field, and because of some other people who are trying to co-opt the entire safety initiative away from all of us for their own profits, I've decided to put the full course - the one I couldn't teach all of at the NGH 2006 convention because of schedule conflicts - on for any practicing stage hypnotists OR anyone who does lecture/demonstrations OF hypnosis.

Where: Crown Plaza Hotel - Rosemont, IL on River Road (near O'Hare Airport, with free shuttle service)

When: June 14th, 2008

Cost: $175

Early Bird Registrants get a $25 discount if they register by May 25th.

We accept PayPal, too!

Drop me an email for details.

The class will include a FREE copy of my book on stage Safety, Certificate of Completion, hands-on demonstrations, Q & A sessions on all portions of the course and much much more!

Register soon - seating is LIMITED!

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Author of the FIRST book on Stage Hypnosis Safety
Accept No Substitutes!

Vauseville Affair May 4, Portage Park Theater, Chicago

2008-04-29T15:36:00.000-05:00

"VAUDEVILLE AFFAIR! May 4th!! Portage Park Theater!!!" 4050 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago. Starting 6PM, I'll be doing strolling magic, mentalism and maybe even hypnotism!

At 7:30, Silent Theater will take the stage with their unique brand of theatrical production - including magic, performance art and all sorts of amazing things!

Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for students

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR READERS OF MY BLOG! - Just say "Hypnotize Me" at the door for a special discount rate on your tickets - which could be up to ten dollars off the adult price!

Remember, you MUST say HYPNOTIZE ME to get this special discount rate!

For more information, contact Silent Theater, directly through their web page at:

www.silenttheatre.com/Vaudeville_Affair.html

I'm on Ghost Divas TONIGHT at 10PM central!

2008-04-09T10:54:00.000-05:00

They're calling it Mind Freaks Meets Phenomenon on their web page. Me, well, since I actually have college course hours in parapsychological research methodology from Northeastern Illinois University, am a certified hypnotherapist and professional magician and mentalist, I'll let you draw your OWN conclusions!

Tune in LIVE for this interactive call-in show!

That's right - you can actually talk TO me and the hostesses of this show that brings common sense BACK to ghost hunting!

10 PM Central Time www.para-X.com just click the Ghost Divas link!

I'm looking forward to talking to YOU!

Lee Darrow, C.H.

2008-03-24T10:47:00.001-05:00

Find more photos like this on HypnoThoughts.com

This is some of what I do for a living. I know - it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!

Enjoy the slide show!

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax - R.I.P.

2008-03-04T16:37:00.000-06:00

Gary Gygax, age 69, it was announced today, has passed away. Arguably, GG along with his former business partner Dave Arneson, literally created the upsurge in fantasy interest among many of the collega-age crowd during my college years and even before that as it was in about 1970 or so that I remember purchasing the White Box set of D&D, not knowing that I needed a copy of the miniature rules titled "Chainmail" to PLAY the (*^#ed thing!

But it wasn't until about 1976, when I met Tom Smith (www.tomsmithonline.com) that I actually started playing RPG's. And working in the industry for a while - both on the retail side at Campus Bike & Toy in Ann Arbor and, later, as Manager of several of the Gamers Paradise stores in the Chicago area. And, indirectly, it was D&D that got Tom taken to his first science fiction convention by me... scary thought, to be honest... a game leads to a friendship, leads to a convention leads to Tom's career...

All because Gary Gygax wanted to put some rules to the child's game of "Let's Pretend."

Say what you want about him, but Gary Gygax was actually a major social influence in the latter part of the 20th century. He made role-playing games and, from them came a spreading interest in fantasy and science fiction and that led to a whole lot of other things... including a number of artist friends of mine making a living doing fantasy figures and artwork for novels that wouldn't even have existed if not for D&D and Gary and Dave.

Not to mention a certain GenCon show that Nanci and I did a few years ago... even though Gary had long since left the company and GenCon...

Last Night's Show - FUN!!!

2008-03-02T17:34:00.001-06:00

Last night, March 1, I performed for a family's celebration of their patriarch's 80th birthday.

When I was initially contacted, it was to do either my hypnosis show or, possibly, my close-up show on a "formal" basis, where the guests would sit around a central table and I would perform, using a couple of people from the group to interact with.

Well, the next day, I got a call from the very nice lady who was organizing the event saying that my program "just wasn't quite what she wanted" for her Dad. "He's been an observer all of his life - an avid reader on a wide variety of topics and really not a participant, even though he gets a kick out of watching everyone else participate in literally everything!"

Well, I actually have a program for something like that! I do a lecture/demonstration on Perception, Memory and Persuasion that uses magic to illustrate how everyone perceives things differently using everything from a routine where I cut to the Aces using only one hand, illustrating how someone can overcome the limitation of the lack of sight, or the loss OF a hand by compensating by an increased sense of touch and dexterity to someone not being able to see something obvious (a card stuck in my eyeglasses) due to their being "too close" to the situation!

Well, this was EXACTLY what she was looking for and, when I got there, the reception that I got was nothing short of amazing!

In one segment, I do a demonstration of reading someones "tells," the subtle body language cues that we all give away, to reveal a chosen playing card. In fact, they had me repeat this demonstration not once, not twice, but THREE times, each time, under more difficult circumstances until I did it with what amounted to a card that the volunteer simply thought of as she looked at the deck!

When I told her that I actually persuaded her to select that card, she didn't believe me, until I had her take out my Palm Pilot and turn it on. There, staring at her from the screen, was the name of the card she thought she had merely THOUGHT of! Hidden persuasion at its best, it would seem!

When this was followed by the revelation of a freely-chosen word from a novel, using muscle-reading (the tension and relaxation of the muscles of the body), they were stunned.

It was a night to remember and even the man celebrating his 80th birthday made it a point to seek me out after the demonstration and say, "That was one of the most remarkable things I've seen in all my years. You really made this a wonderful night."

Sometimes, things just go perfectly. This was one of those times.

Weekend of Horrors - Meetings and fun

2008-02-27T13:07:00.002-06:00

On my right is Monet, the daughter of the lovely lady on my left, Monique Dupree, the First Black Scream Queen (tm) just after my meeting with some of the production crew at Troma Films (the folks who brought us such classics as "Surf Nazis Must Die" and the whole "Toxic Avenger" series). these two were so dazzline that I had to wear shades! She, her husband, new son and daughter were ALL there and a classier, nicer family one could not hope to meet. Monique and I met on MySpace and, then, for the first time face-to-face at last year's event. The photo above is courtesy of her.

I also had a great meeeting with AutumnNight Films from Green Bay, WI. Noelle and Matt and the crew were there and I'm looking forward to working with them on a couple of upcoming projects as either a consultant or on-camera talent or both. Only time will tell.

Over all, it was a great weekend and I made some fantastic contacts.

Minas Tirith in Candy - and Poem

2008-01-11T15:37:00.000-06:00

Some folks have WAY too much time on their hands - these people did a recreation of the Battle of Minas Tirith from The Lord of the Rings in CANDY!

Their commentary on the page listed in the link is pretty good, too.

http://missedmanners.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/battle-of-pelennor-fields/

It also inspired me to a rare bit of poetry (if you can call it that!)

The Candied Battle
Lee Darrow
January 11, 2008

In Pelennor's fields
did marzipan men
fight with candy canes
toothpicks and whips.

Gummi-Bear orcs crossed
sweet-frosted tables
their bright candy-asses to kick!

The riders of Rohan,
on saccharyne steeds
did slaughter them
on that dark chocolate day

And old Minas Tirith
though sore plagued with rot
sank its remaining teeth
into their flanks.

And one of the Nine,
winged steed dead and lame,
bought the farm from
a marzipan maid.

Though victory is sweet
and the field cherry red
with the blood of the
Gummi-Bear foe,

If you ate the whole
candied battle and all
the cavities would go
right through to your toe!

Lee Darrow

Happy Holidays .. and The Bet, part Two

2007-12-22T04:14:00.000-06:00

First off:
Happy Holidays to ALL of my friends, colleagues, clients, family and readers!

Your support over the years has been, in good portion, what's kept me going, kept me inspired and kept me focused. I am humbled and honored to have you all in my life.

Now, on to the odd stuff... several years ago, a friend of mine made a bet with me - he bet me that I could not pass the Illinois life insurance agent's exam on the first try. Now, when you consider that the exam, at that time, consisted of about 300 questions and covered everything from matters of law to types of insurance to figuring coverage costs, it was a pretty daunting challenge.

When you add into the mix the fact that I suffer from called dyscalculia, which is a type of dyslexia that applies to numbers and mathematics in general and the challenge becomes even greater.

Well, with the help of my friend Wendi Freisen, a world famous hypnotherapist and her CD on memory improvement for students, I managed to pass the test... in 38 minutes... this was, according to the head of th testing center, "an unofficial Illinois record."

I was happy.

Well, yesterday, the 21st, I took my friend up on his follow-up challenge - to pass the Illinois State accident & health insurance agent's license exam on the first try. The exam is another monster - 65 questions about everything from health, accident, Medicare, Medicaid, disability, Workman's compensation and supplementary insurances plus another 50 questions or so about Illinois state-specific laws regarding all of the above!

There was more math than on the life insurance exam, too.

However, the really big problem with taking this exam was that I went in to it with a massive, comprehensive, skull-crushing migraine headache!

And it was a bad one. A sinus headache on top of a regular migraine, to boot. My regular medications didn't even dent it. Tylenol-3... the stuff with codeine in it ... didn't dent it... and it was running into the ranges where it was threatening consciousness (which has happened only once in my life, I hasten to add!)...

Fortunately, I managed to suffer through the exam until about half-way through the second part - the Illinois law portion, when, outside the testing center, a dozen kids started a drum line using those big plastic buckets for drums!

Even though we were on the 4th floor of the office building, it sounded like they were right outside the window!

I guess the center has had this happen before, though, because sitting right there on my desk, in a neat little sealed plastic package, was a pair of green foam rubber earplugs! But even with them in my aching ears, I could STILL hear these kids slamming away on their buckets, but not quite as loudly...

The exam was timed, of course. The time allotted was about 140 minutes. This time, I finished with only about 27 minutes remaining on the clock and staggered out to the proctor's desk for the bad news.... and saw that it was the same lady who had graded my first exam there, back when!

She clicked her mouse, and, as I was gathering my stuff out of the locker (they make you empty your pockets, leave your cell phone, pager, wristwatch, everything but one piece of photo ID), she said:

"Congratulations. You passed."

My head still hurt - this was not a stress migraine - but I have to admit that I was pretty happy about the results. Not to mention being more than a bit surprised.

And again, my friend lost his bet.

I really should have put some money on this bet, instead of it merely being a gentleman's wager...!

Happy Holidays everybody.

A THREE Show Day

2007-12-15T18:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a busy day for me. THREE shows in less than 18 hours...

It started out with my leaving the house at about 8:30AM and driving 90 minutes to South Bend, Indiana to perform my Holiday Hypnosis Show for a real estate management and sales company for their holiday party. The drive was fine, the audience was wonderful, the venue was quite nice, but the sound system almost blew up!

All during the part where I hypnotize the volunteers, the sound system kept emitting these incredibly loud and random POPs and CRACKLEs and BANGs!, even after I had turned the microphone and my computer (where I keep the shows music) off!

Fortunately, I have a good speaking voice for large groups and the show went very well, although in a slightly different direction that I had originally planned.... the client, however, was absolutely delighted and that's what counts!

Then, it was off to the North Side of Chicago for another company party for two regional offices of AFLAC Insurance (yes, the duck advertisement people). Unlike the first show, this one was my Strolling Magic Program, working the crowd, doing coins, cards, rubber bands and my trademarked magical mania. These folks are a great group, too!

Finally, it was off to the United Center for a 90 minute set doing Magic and Mind-reading for the crowds for the Chicago Bulls vs the Knicks game. This is my fourteenth year of working for the Bulls organization, through their event planning contractors and I am deeply appreciative and honored to be a part of these shows.

So, if you ever attend a Bulls game and see me performing in the halls as part of the paid entertainment, please stop by and introduce yourself and mention that you saw this page!

Yesterday was a busy day for me. THREE shows in less than 18 hours... and I loved every minute of it!

Happy Holidays!

A Different Christmas Poem

2007-12-09T02:30:00.000-06:00

Regardless of what anyone may feel about the war and the politicians who have sent out troops into harm's waym I DO support our troops 100% and have, over the years even gone, uninvited and unpaid in to USO centers at places like O'Hare Airport on Christmas Eve and even Christmas Day to perform magic for the troops who are traveling through there.

I recently received the following from an email list that I belong to and felt that it was a fitting and powerful tribute to the men and women who have voluntarily put themselves between us and "the war's devastation," as the song goes. I offer it as I received it, unedited, except that I have placed it in italics, fo you know that it is a quotation....

Please remember those who serve, both here and overseas during this holiday season - and always!

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people
as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who
sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum , Iraq .

Bless them all.

Lee Darrow, C.H.
Proud son of one of America's first Airborne Rangers, Bruce Darrow, late of the 517th ABN/RCT, 1941-1945 served.

See me at Vida Lounge Aug 29th in Chicago!

2007-08-20T15:11:00.000-05:00

Place: Vida Lounge, located at 1248 W. George St. in Chicago, Illinois. (That's just north of Diversey on Lincoln for those of you not familiar with the area)

Date: August 29th, 2007

Time: 8PM to 11PM

What: A talent showcase for event planners, club owners, hotel programming managers, talent agents and anyone else interested in using great talent for their upcoming events!

I (Lee Darrow), will be performing both standup material (possibly some short parts of my stage hypnosis act) AND strolling magic as well as doing some sit-down magic and mentalism during the evening along with about 20 other artists, musicians, poets and performance artists.

Price: $10 (we have to pay for the space after all)

The bar will be there serving drinks and I understand that there may even be some food as well...!

So contact me directly for tickets because you will not get in without one!

Come see why magic is on the upswing in Chicago and just how hypnotic your evening can be!

Another Scare

2007-08-02T14:54:00.000-05:00

First, to address those effected by the collapse of the bridge in the Minneapolis area, please know that my prayers are with you all and will be in the months and years to come.

Speaking of which, I went to the doctor yesterday.

You see, I found a lump about 2 weeks ago. With my history and my family's history, this was a scary thing, in and of itself.

What made it really scary for me was that the lump is sitting on my right hand. In the middle. On the back. On a tendon.

Well, you can imagine what went through my mind... being a cancer survivor, that's always the first thing to run through the little gray cells... the Big 'C' sitting on your means to a living... or could it be the start of some lumpy form of arthritis? The crippling kind? Or maybe a calcium deposit?

Well, the doc took one look at it, poked and prodded it, had me flex my hand a few times and made his pronouncement - it's a ganglion cyst.

Sounds scary, doesn't it?

Well, it's not. It's really nothing more than a hernia of the sheathe of the tendon - and, if there is no pain happening, it's essentially a "nothing to do" issue. No loss of mobility, sensation, flexibility or future ability. Just a little lump that looks like I have an alien critter or implant in my hand...

Hmmmm.... I wonder if I can come up with some sort of magic effect that actually USES the silly thing...?

May all of your scares be as lacking in real substance!

Harry Potter Prediction - no I haven't read it yet!

2007-07-20T17:22:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter actually is Godric Griffindor.

Harry pulled Godric's sword out of the Quizzing Hat in book 1 - "only a TRUE Griffindor could have pulled THAT out of the hat!"

Harry is a member of the Order of the Phoenix - a phoenix dies and rises, reborn from its own ashes, like Harry did, from the ashes of his "parent's" house.

JK's been hinting at this throughout the books - all of the long life spells and methods of extending life, building a new body and so on. THIS is the way that Griffindor is able to take on the heir of Slytherin (who becomes possessed of the spirit OF Slytherin, himself!), throughout the centuries!

It's a neat plot twist and one that JK would not get lynched for by her fans nearly as badly as actually killing Harry for, but which would still end the series just as definitely.

Lee Darrow, July 20, 4:21PM CDT

Janet Macy, R.I.P.

2007-06-19T22:01:00.000-05:00

Janet Macy has been a friend and hypnotherapy colleague of mine for a long time now. We first met on line, through one of the old hypnosis chat rooms over on AOL, years ago. We shared a number of mutual interests - the paranormal, hypnosis of course, comedy (she had a wonderfully eclectic sense of humor) and communication of all kinds.

Janet was, above all else, a healer. She focused herself on helping people to grow into who and what they could be and what they wanted to become, sometimes even helping them realize that there was something even better than what had originally been imagined that they could achieve.

As a hypnotist, her technique was superb. She was one of the people that I would call on for advice or even for the occasional adjustment inside my own skull during some of the tough times after my very unpleasant divorce or "just because we can." She was one of the best. Period.

We finally met at the National Guild of Hypnotist's Convention 2000, in New Hampshire, where I was performing. She did me the singular honor of volunteering to be in the show and, later, at an informal "hypno-jam" with some of the other conventioneers, showed her stuff as an expert at rapid and instantaneous inductions as well. Again, her mastery of these difficult techniques was truly a delight to behold and, to be honest, experience.

Janet introduced me to Reiki as well, she was a rated Master, in 2004 at the NGH convention after I had been inadvertently injured while a volunteer, myself, in someone else's stage hypnosis show. She made a believer out of me in a matter of seconds, working on my throbbing knee and proving that there IS a connection that will cause the maxilla to drop when the patella is suddenly rendered pain-free without being touched!

We last saw each other in 2006, at the NGH convention, outside Boston. We were unfortunately unable to have much time to chat as we both would have liked - she was on a very busy schedule, as was I.

Sadly, I learned from her later that year that her cancer, which had been in remission, had reasserted itself in a very aggressive form.

We last talked about three weeks ago. She was tired, but still upbeat, looking forward to this and that, but the call ended on an uncharacteristically awkward note. I think she knew her time was short, but, true to herself, didn't want to burden me, or anyone else, with that idea.

My well wishes go out to her family, especially her husband, children and her grandchildren, of whom she was so very fond and proud. They can all take great pride that this special woman was a part of their lives.

I will miss her, as will all of those who loved her as friend, colleague, client, mother, grandmother, wife or even employer.

In deepest sympathy,

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Post Proms, long drives and why they are worth it!

2007-04-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

I just got back from doing a 3AM post prom in the wilds of Iowa.

If you don't know what a post prom is - check my blogs on this either here or ovr my my myspace page (www.myspace.leedarrow and follow the link to my blogs - it's there, trust me!).

This one was in a mall, which is a pretty unusual location for an event of this kind as many merchants get a little paranoid about damage happening to their shops while the mall is closed and things like that. Well, I can say that this event, complete with bungee runs, a blow-up crawl-through maze, karaoke, turkey bowling (using a frozen turkey as the ball!), a Guitar Hero (tm) playoff against a regional champion and the usual poker blackjack, food and music, was one of the most well-run events of its kind I have been to in a long time!

And, with almost 500 kids in attendance, we had a great hypnosis show as well and I even got to do some close-up magic for some of the students and faculty as well before the hypnosis program got underway!

But the real issue here is not this great party for these kids, but whether the effort is worth it - for the parent's group that had thrown it, for the mall, who has to pull in extra security and cleanup crew or for me because the drive, one way, was in excess of six hours, partly because of the construction on the Dan Ryan and the Bishop Ford highways here.

In a word, the answer is a resounding YES!

Here's why: prior to the start of the post prom lock ins, this particular town had suffered a rash of teen deaths due to drunk driving. In a period of less than three years ovr 10 kids had died in alcohol and drug-related traccif accidents and about a dozen more had been seriously injured.

Since the beginning of the post proms - NOT ONE KID HAS DIED or been seriously injured in alcohol or drug related traffic incidents on prom night! NOT ONE!

That makes it worth it.

And for me, it makes it more than worth it because on my graduation night (another night that many schools do these "lock-ins") a friend of mine was killed in just such an "accident" - by his own hand - in a single car incident.

So, you see, for me, it's personal. And rewarding. And, to be honest, a whole lot of fun, too!

If your school doesn't do a post prom or grad night lock in, contact either Mothers Against Drunk Driving or Students Against Drunk Driving for information on how to get the ball rolling in your community.

The life you save may be your own kid's.

And that's not anything but fact.

Spread the word. I am.

Lee

March Madness in My Life

2007-03-11T14:07:00.000-05:00

March seems to be a month of changes for me. I don't quite understand why.

Last year, it was my appendix (see my April 3, 2006 blog for details) with the carcenoid growth on it - making March the month of "holy crud, I could DIE - like SOON!" Back in 1996, it was when my divorce was finalized and when I was accosted in the parking lot at Medieval Times, forcing me to get a court order to protect myself, leading to several years of litigation (which I WON, I hasten to add!).

It was the month when I got the German Measles (two weeks before my 13th birthday), the mumps (just before my 11th birthday) and broke my arm in 6th grade. It's also the month that I managed to finish some dispute issues with the IRS this year, to my satisfaction.

So March has always been a month of change, upheaval and, very often, medical problems.

This year, it's a celebration of being one year cancer free.

Unfortunately, a couple of my friends aren't so lucky. And to them, I raise my glass and say, "MAY YOU BEAT THE BASTARD!"

I was lucky. May that luck also come to you.

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Moving later this morning!

2007-01-07T02:00:00.000-06:00

Well, Sunday morning (later this morning, technically), we will be moving both our home AND both of our offices into our new home on the other side of Chicago.

Unfortunately, this means that I'll be offline - or online very sporadically, until about Tuesday morning or early afternoon.

if you need to book me for YOUR next event, please CALL or EMAIL me from the link on my regular web page at http://www.leedarrow.com (the phone number is there, too, but may be changing soon as well - AT&T/SBC (they're merging here, you may have heard) is being a royal PAIN about porting the line to the new location for some reason!

But PLEASE KEEP TRYING, I WILL do my very BEST to return calls in a timely manner!

Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
The contact phone number still works!

New Year's Eve Opening & announcements

2006-12-26T18:24:00.001-06:00

New Year's Eve Open for bookings! Because of a last minute cancellation by a corporate client (they got bought out and the new owners have cancelled everything,) I am now OPEN FOR BOOKINGS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE!

Call me on the number on my web page at http://www.leedarrow.com to take advantage of this last minute opportunity!

Also, tomorrow night, 12/27, I will be appearing at the United Center, in Chicago, as part of the pre-game program for the Chicago BULLS! The doors open at 6PM and I will be there doing my special style of in-your-hands, in-your-face close up magic and mindreading!

See you there!

New Year's Eve Opening & announcements

2006-12-26T18:24:00.000-06:00

New Year's Eve Open for bookings! because of a last minute cancellation by a corporate client (they got bought out and the new owners have cancelled everything,) I am now OPEN FOR BOOKINGS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE!

Call me on the number on my web page at http://www.leedarrow.com to take advantage of this last minute opportunity!

Also, tomorrow night, 12/27, I will be appearing at the United Center, in Chicago, as part of the pre-game program for the Chicago BULLS! The doors open at 6PM and I will be there doing my special style of in-your-hands, in-your-face close up magic and mindreading!

See you there!

12 Days, Blogger & Magician style...

2006-12-14T18:01:00.000-06:00

On the 12th Day of Yuletide, my True Love Gave to me:

12 Journalers posting
11 bloggers blogging
10 fingers flinging
9 magicians magishing
8 flamers flaming
7 multiplying bottles
the 6 card repeating card trick

5 LINKING RINGS!!

4 cards Elmsley counting
3 monte men monte-ing
2 20th century silk tricks
and a Tom Smith punning on his RSS feed!

Joyeaux Noel, Glod Jule, Blessed Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka, you get the idea...

Lee

Correction on 13/13/06 show

2006-12-14T13:13:00.000-06:00

Due to a slight confusion somewhere, my show last night at the United Center was for the Chicago BULLS, not for the Chicago BLACKHAWKS! I wanted to make sure that this confusion was cleared up before any rumors started up.

Somewhere, there was a minor communications glitch and I apologize to both organizations for the notices given here, prior to last night.

Also, my show at the United Center on December 30 will also be for the BULLS! so please note the correction.

Lee Darrow, C.H.
Hypnotist, Magician & Mentalist
http://www.leedarrow.com

Free Tarot Readings on 12/13

2006-12-11T02:56:00.000-06:00

That's right, fans! On December 13, you will get a chance for a free tarot reading from me at the Chicago Blackhawks pre-game festivities at the United Center in Chicago!

Doors open at 6PM, I believe, and I will be somewhere in the lobby area (the agency never assigns our stations until we arrive, unfortunately), so you will have to look around for me.

I will be all in black, with a gold watch & chain and either a black or silver tie (I haven't decided which, yet, as the theme is "Gangsters").

You know you've done a good show when...

2006-12-09T14:00:00.000-06:00

You get great responses from your audience and run out of business cards before you leave the venue.

You have women from the group coming up to you and demanding that you hypnotize them because it "looked so relaxing! and not at all what I thought it would be!"

You have the Hotel General Manager called in to see your show by the Captain - and the Hotel GM demands your business card and says: "We will have more work for you. I promise."

And the BIG clue that you have done a good show is when the client comes up to you and books you for another party, right then and there and then tips you $250!

All-in-all, it was a pretty good night in Chicago on Michigan Avenue, working for a financial planning company's holiday party at the Peninsula Hotel!

Setting up for the Big Move

2006-11-27T07:57:00.000-06:00

Moving, especially when you have to move the stuff from a relative who is no longer with us out first before we can move in, is difficult. Now add all of the rehabbing we've done to the house over the past several years, which we JUST finished this week and the fact that we're both going in to busy season and stress levels are climbing just a little bit.

You see, a few years ago, Nanci's Mom passed away at 80 years of age. We, after a minor bit of squabbling with her sibs, got the house, mainly because WE had been the ones paying all of the bills ON the house for years!

Now, finally, we get to move in. But first, we have to take care of about 50 years worth of built up STUFF. Old furniture, papers that are SO out of date that they are almost (but not ever going to be!) collectibles, clothes that are worn out and out of date (ANY date!), you get the idea.

So it's really like moving twice.

Except that we're also moving both of our offices into the new house as well!

Yes, we'll have more room, a wonderfully secure home, complete with wrought-iron security fence with an AUTOMATIC gate, and a bunch of other new things, including a whirlpool bathtub. But the digging though the old stuff is a challenge. Especially when the charitable organizations SAY that they will be by to pick up the clothing, or furniture, or whatever, but then NEVER SHOW UP!

Oh well. At least we're staying IN Chicago and none of this will effect my availability for ANY of my upcoming shows.

By the way, there are still a few openings for show bookings for this holiday season due to some corporate take overs causing some last minute cancellaions, so CALL me for the BEST in Hypnotic, Magical and Mentalism entertainment!

Lee Darrow, C.H.

http://www.leedarrow.com

I Got to Entertain CARLOS MENCIA Last Night!

2006-10-27T16:59:00.000-05:00

Last night, after his Punisher Concert in Chicago, I got to do a little magic for the man I consider to be the bravest comedian in the world - Carlos Mencia! WHAT a gracious and nice guy he is, too - not to mention that the show was off the hook, da bomb and F^%#in' FUNNY!!!

I got to do my version of Tai Cheat (some of the magi know it as "Crazy Man's Handcuffs") for Carlos, Brad Williams and Carlos' brother Joseph.

Carlos cracked up when I did the effect in HIS hands and Comedy Central TAPED IT!!

What happens next is anybody's guess, but the guy from Comedy Central who did the taping asked for a Performer's Release and said that it COULD wind up on Carlos' page (www.carlosmencia.com) and on his page over at www.comedycentral.com as well!

Talk about One Free Ticket to an Air Walk for a week for this magical dude!!!

THANKS CARLOS, Brad, Joseph and Comedy Central!

You made my anniversary night something to remember!

Lee Darrow
The Interactive Entertainer
http://www.leedarrow.com

Mad Scientist Magic for the Chicago Blackhawks!

2006-10-26T15:20:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, October 28th, at the world-famous United Center in Chicago, I will be doing my world-class strolling mgic and possibly even some strolling HYPNOSIS for the pre-game show and during the game itself for the great Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team!

As a part of a Special Halloween Magic Night promotion, through Productions USA, in conjunction with the Chicago Blackhawks and the National Hockey League by extension, I will be decked out in my infamous lab coat and slightly manic expression, performing deeds of mystifying magic, dazzling dramaturgy and enchanting ESP and, possibly, time permitting and the crowds allowing, even some hysterical hypnotism!

So drop by and see the Blackhawks kick some ice and see ME kick your brains into that space we call the Thoroughly Amazed Zone!

Appearance at Children's Memorial Hospital Promotion

2006-09-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

I will be appearing at Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital on 9/12 for a special media event! I've been selected to assist Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital to inaugurate their new Magic Therapy Program called "Hospital Magic." The event is going to include the lead magician from the upcoming Disney Live! show "Mickey's Magic" as well! My appearance is part of a special media event at 2PM CDT at the hospital - local media will be in attendance to help publicize the program.

Watch your media feeds on this - you might get to see me actually performing some sleight of hand on this one!

Teaching at the National Guild of Hypnotists Convention

2006-08-14T19:35:00.000-05:00

Back from the National Guild of Hypnotists convention in Marlborough, MA.
Over 2,000 (that's right, 2,000) hypnotherapists an hypnotists all in one place, together to learn from one another over a very busy three days.

This is the largest convention of hypnotists in the history of the Commonwealth, according to the local paper, even with the problems some members had getting to the event because of the terrorism alerts that were going on, worldwide.

Saturday afternoon, I had the honor to teach the world's FIRST class devoted solely to Safety on Stage for lecturers and stage hypnotists to a full room, which was VERY surprising to the convention management - one of them told me, afterward, that they weren't expecting a very good turnout because most of the attendees "weren't stage hypnotists."

My response was, "Yes, that's true, but many of them also teach and do lecture/demonstrations and this class was geared towards them as well."

The class covered everything from getting people on and off stage safely, the dangers of microphone cords and blinding spotlights and even slippery stages and the correct kinds of chairs to use to insure the safety of the volunteers on stage during a show. The class also covered such things as performing in a safe manner in a wide number of other ways and watching out for some of the backstage "traps" that anyone in show business can run into - groupies, alcohol and drugs.

As I am the author of the ONLY book on this topic as well and was recently interviewed by the Oregon State University Law School for an article on stage safety for magicians and hypnotists, this was quite an honor as well. I am indebted to the Guild for their request, the time to present and their trust in me to present what I believe to be an important topic.

On Friday night, I was the closing act of THREE stage hypnosis shows - the so-called "star" spot, and worked a Standing Room Only audience with Marcy Proctor handling my sound for me. Aside from a sound system that had some initial technical difficulties, the show came in at about a 7.5 on the Richter Scale and pulled a Standing Ovation.

My thanks to my peers in the Guild for paying me and the volunteers who participated in this show such a high compliment.

Now, it's time to set up for tomorrow night's promotion for the new Edward Norton movie, "The Illusionist," then, I'm off this weekend to Marietta, OH for a special show for the university basketball team there and, next week, off to Sandals Resorts in Ocho Rios, Jamaica mon!

Relay For Life Press Release

2006-07-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

For Immediate Release - Hypnotist Lee Darrow - Cancer Survivor - Donates Show So Others Might Live

Dateline: July 29, 2006, Grayslake, IL, Relay For Life event. at midnight, Hypnotist Lee Darrow took the stage in his fourth annual appearance for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event, celebrating cancer survivors and helping the event to raise funds to continue research to defeat the many types of cancer that plague the earth.

In a surprise award, the events coordinators presented Darrow with a complete Survivor's Package, including a Survivor's Medal, commemmorative sash and T-shirt in congratulations of his early detection and successful treatment by surgical removal of a carcenoid tumor on his appendix, earlier this year, making him eligible for such an award as a bona fide cancer survivor.

"Honestly, all I did was go to the hospital and have my appendix removed. It wasn't until afterwards that we discovered that there was a cancerous growth on it. Fortunately, we caught it before it had spread and, according to my doctors, I am 100% cancer free. If my doctors weren't as perceptive as they are, the growth would have spread to my liver and that would have been fatal. I am extremely lucky that we caught it in time."

Darrow was also asked to autograph a memorial quilt, which had also been signed by all of the other attending cancer survivors and which was subsequently auctioned off.

The event, which runs through this morning, expects to raise several thousands of dollars for cancer research.

"I'm proud and humbled to be asked back again to perform, this year," Darrow said, "I gladly donate my show, every year to this event and now, after my close call, it means even more to me than ever."

The Relay For Life committee has stated that next year's event will be even bigger and better - and Darrow's show, which featured almost a dozen deeply hypnotized audience volunteers ranging in age from young pre-teens to a grandmother, has been a major attraction since he first appeared there in 2003.

Lee Darrow can be contacted via his web site at http://www.leedarrow.com

The Grayslake Relay For Life is an annual event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Grayslake, IL Chapter.

- 30 -

Relay For Life Public Show Saturday

2006-07-26T11:23:00.000-05:00

For those of you in the Chicago area - I will be appearing at the Grayslake Relay For Life Marathon in Grayslake, IL this Saturday night, July 29th, doing my hypnosis show at about 11:55PM. This is an outdoor event, in the middle of the night, and my 4th year doing it - donating my fee to the event - it's being held in the Esper A. Petersen Grayslake Family
Aquatic Center parking lot, Grayslake, IL. Information about the event and directions can be found on their web page at
http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=171388

This event is a part of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life program and I've been honored to have been asked to come back again to perform my midnight hypnosis show, so PLEASE spread the word - ADMISSION IS FREE, but donations are EXTREMELY APPRECIATED!

On completion of the show volunteers will EACH receive (if they are over 18 years of age) a FREE PASS for TWO to the pre-release screening to the new Edward Norton film, "The Illusionist" that will screen at the Century Mall Cinema on North Clark Street on August 15 at 7PM.

This is a fun event with street vendors, some exhibit booths and other entertainment as well. There are always LOTS of kids present, of all ages, cops and other responsible adults galore make it a very "kid safe" environment as well.

This is one of my "give backs" to the world so please come and show your support in the fight against cancer. This year's really special for me since my little brush with a carcenoid growth on my appendix back in February/March...
so come on out and help us win the fight and beat cancer!

Going to Jamaica!

2006-06-30T02:44:00.000-05:00

I will be concluding the Sandals Tour in Jamaica instead of Los Angeles - and the date will be in late August, so watch this space for updated information! This is a BIG bonus for me as I will now be the focus of the show there, instead of just the closing act for a trade show after dinner program! A win-win, if ever there was one! A BIG "THANK YOU" goes out to the Sandals Resorts people for their kindness and faith in my shows! You folks are the BEST! (And they STILL run the most highly awarded all-inclusive resorts in the world, too!)

My programs at the National Guild of Hypnotists Convention have been confirmed as well! I will be teaching AND performing! The convention runs from August 11-13 at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, MA and information on attending (the shows may be open to the public - I am NOT sure about this) can be found on the Guild's web site at www.ngh.net

I hope to see many of you there!

On a small side note, because of this travel shift and because of a schedule conflict with the facility that we were planning to use, the stage hypnosis class that was previously announced for the Los Angeles area has been postponed. We are working on having it either later this year or early in 2007. We will keep you informed.

Lee Darrow, C.H.

Teaching - I Have Caved In To The Pressure

2006-05-24T18:55:00.000-05:00

I just got back from doing the first leg of my 5-city promotional tour for Sandals Resorts. Atlanta was quite an experience! First, I had the opportunity to work with the great people from Sandals again, Including many old friends. Second, I got to follow the really great Operatic singers from Sandals Dunn's River Resort - WHAT a tough act to follow! They are FANTASTIC!
Third, after a really great show of my own, if I do say so myself, I got an offer from a colleague of mine in the Los Angeles area.

So here it is: July 22-23, I will be TEACHING a 2-Day Seminar on Stage Hypnosis! That's right - This is a How-TO program for people who already have some knowledge about hypnosis and who want to expand their business into doing shows and lectures!

To be honest, I have been resisting doing such a seminar for almost a decade because there are a number of them out there that will take ANYBODY. Well, let me tell you - WE WILL NOT!

This program is limited to people who can prove, ahead of time that they have a competency in basic hypnotic techniques - who know the basics of how to induce hypnosis, the basics of safety and how to manage suggestions with their volunteers. This is NOT a class for the newbies, but for SERIOUS practitioners ONLY!

Space will be limited and the price will be, ready for this? UNDER $380! The class will include notes and some other materials that you will need, and possibly some other surprises as well. Details will be available shortly, but if you are REALLY interested, right now, email me at mstrhypno@earthlink.net to get on the list RIGHT AWAY!

Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com

5 City Tour for Sandals Announcement!

2006-04-28T01:50:00.000-05:00

By special arrangement with SANDALS RESORTS, I will be doing a five-city promotional tour for Sandals Resorts in May, June and July. The schedule, which was just finalized, is:

Atlanta - May 23rd, 2006
Chicago - June 7th, 2006
Atlantic City - June 15th, 2006
Toronto - July 13th, 2006
Los Angeles - July 20th, 2006

These promotional parties are, unfortunately for some of you readers, open only to travel professionals, by invitation only. I will be posting more details as to locations as they become available to me.

As this is the beginning of my tenth year of working with the Sandals organization, I just want to take this opportunity to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their kindness to me and for their loyaltiy to my company and my act. You folks are the BEST!

The Touch Factor

2006-04-12T16:40:00.000-05:00

Since 1980, when I started focusing on corporate programs, I have done quite a few trade shows, hospitality suites and corporate events as a magician as well as a hypnotist.

Nothing seems to get people's attention like being INVOLVED in a presentation - something I call the TOUCH FACTOR.

Magic brings the TOUCH FACTOR into play better than any other means and anchors a corporate message inside a potential client's mind. Psychologists tell us that the more senses that are involved in an experience, the more details of that experience we will remember in the long term.

A product demonstration, like a software product, or an advertising campaign, is a feast for the eyes and the ears, bringing in two of our most-used senses: sight and hearing. MAGIC, especially close up magic, which is one of my specialties, brings into play another sense, one psychologists call one of the two predominant senses - TOUCH.

How many times have you heard someone say that they wanted to "get the feel" of a product or service, or to "grasp" what you were presenting to them? A magicial presentation at your next event can ad that PERSONAL TOUCH, quite literally, to that presentation and help "wrap up the deal" for you, even if only by locking in a set of good feelings, some laughs and a sense of amazement that will come to mind when the client thinks of your company, your product or your service.

Companies including Siemans, Serta Mattress, Kraft Foods, Toshiba America,Belkin Technologies, Sandals Resorts, Discover Card and even Oprah have all used my magical and hypnotic talents successfully.

Add the TOUCH FACTOR to your next event!

A GREAT Birthday Gift!

2006-04-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

A GREAT Birthday Gift
Current mood: thankful

Less than a month ago, I had an emergency appendicitis. When the doctors removed it, they found a tumor on it - a charismatic growth, I was told, later. It was under two centimeters in diameter, but, I was told, it still could have spread to the liver and other areas and further testing was necessary to rule out the possibility of something "life threatening."

So, when I thought I was going in for what I had been told was initially was nothing more than a possible hernia, I was then staring down the barrel of the proverbial gun. This is a very sobering thing to have happen at my age - hell, it's a sobering thing to have happen at ANY age!

Yesterday, the second, was my birthday. This morning, I got the news from my Doctor - the tests have all come back negative. So, unless something in another major system comes up bad, I have missed the bullet!

Needless to say, I am giving sincere THANKS today!

Part Two: This weekend, I started my tenth year doing magic for the Chicago Bulls organization at the United Center in Chicago. Crowds mobbed the place for the game with the Boston Celtics, I got mobbed by the crowds, who I enjoyed watching as they enjoyed watching my magic, if you can figure out THAT sentence!

Go BULLS!

Part Three: I am now compiling many of the posts and articles that I have made on the TheMagicCafe.com and several other of the magic and mentalist boards I post to (sorry, no trade secrets, just good advice to budding performers) and will be putting them together in an ebook, sometime soon, to go alongside my ebooks on Safety for Stage Hypnotists (the ONLY book of it's kind, anywhere) and Back Stage Considerations for Stage Hypnotists. Email me for information on ordering these two CD's (they are in Adobe .PDF files, so you will need either Acrobat Reader, which is free from Adobe, or something like Apple's Preview to read them).

Keep an eye out for me - I am touring all this Spring and Summer - contact me at www.leedarrow.com via the email button there, to either find my show near you, or to book an open date - but HURRY! Dates are filling up FAST!

Modern Medical Surprises

2006-03-03T10:54:00.000-06:00

On Monday, I tagged along with my wife, Nanci, to see if my "hernia" had gotten worse and to try to set up the surgery to get it taken care of. Nothing went quite as planned.

After the usual obligatory poking and prodding, my Doctor, who was the only one who was able to figure out that Nanci had fibromyalgia after we had gone for over six years without any real diagnosis that helped, decided that he wantd some photos for his scrap book, so, it was off to the hospital for a CT scan.

2PM, we arrived and, again, I got poked, prodded and looked over. Multiple times, by multiple people. Blood drawn, other samples taken and the usual questions were asked before I went up to be put through the mini-Star Gate gizmo that is used to see what's going on inside when an X-ray won't do the job.

No big deal there, except that the barium drink tasted like a bad pina colada that needed more rum. LOTS more rum.

By 11PM, after more poking and prodding by several more Doctors and a surgical team, it was finally revealed to me that I didn't have a hernia at all but, "one of the oddest presenting appendix issues we've seen in quite a while." Only the cery end of it was "annoyed," and the decision was that, just to be safe, they were going to remove it first thing in the morning. Evidently, the problem was not acute and, honestly, was probably the source of what had initially been diagnosed as a hernia in the first place, which is not all that off. However, appendix problems usually go acute and need to be dealt with within a week or so of their initial presenting problems.

Not me. This went almost six months.

Surgery went fine, but I evidently gave the Recovery Room people a bit of a hard time as I woke up under a piggy pile of people who were yelling "Calm DOWN!" as they were removing the anesthesia tubes from my throat. I have this phobia about choking, see ... and I'm a retired black belt in karate... No injuries reported, however, so no problems, there, either.

That evening, I did get to see a digital photo of the appendix and it WAS really odd - only the end was expanded and discolored, the rest of it was perfectly normal, which even the surgeon said was very strange, indeed. Well, I have two trick knees, so, I guess a trick appendix isn't all that over the top, either!

I'm home now and will even be able to do my show tomorrow, which is a Good Thing as the client is really looking forward to it. I wonder how she'll feel about getting the abridged version of her performer - one without an appendix!

The Strangeness of opposites

2006-01-29T01:34:00.000-06:00

This has been a strange day (Saturday, the 28th). It started very early for me, as I usually work evening events. The alarm went off at 7:30AM after we got to bed at almost 3AM after pulling photos for an event that neither Nanci nor myself wanted to attend - another funeral.

This one was for a mutual friend, Patrice Lee, someone I had known casually from back in my days at Gamer's Paradise at Century Mall in the early 1980's, when I was still a part-time professional entertainer (and still making more $$ doing that than working at the full time retail job, that's for sure!) and who Nanci had met through her hairdresser, Mary.

Patrice was a firey ball of energy, a "walking tonic," one of only two people I have ever met who truly fit that description. She worked at the hair salon there and she would constantly come up to the store and buy games from us. She even had her 10 year-old brother come up and beat the store's challenge on the Rubik's Cube - for which he won a prize - and still talks about to this very day.

I lost touch with her when I left that store to assist at the Harlem-Irving Park store and, later, manage the Deerbrook Mall store. Almost 15 years later, we met at a party at Mary's house and almost didn't recognize each other. It was a delightful meeting.

Patrice came to our wedding, helped out with the hair dressing for the fun of it, flirted outrageously with the Knights from Medieval Times, who were our ushers (more on the wedding some other time) and had a great time. She was in a lot of the photos and had a true gift for making friends instantly. Such was the magic of Patrice.

She died of cancer on the 21st at age 49. It was detected too late and she chose to treat it through unconventional means. She died as she lived - on HER terms - and bless her for it in many respects.

The funeral was held in Chinatown at a Christian church there, where, it turns out, that the pastor is related to a girl that I went to high school with. Small world. Lunch was at a Chinatown restaurant and was fabulous. I wound up performing some close up magic for some of the kids there, and some of the adults, at the request of some of her relatives. Patrice loved magic and would have appreciated it, they said. So, since they asked, and since Patrice had been Patrice, I did.

There was laughter. And that, too, was the magic of Patrice. She always brought laughter, even through tears.

And tonight, Saturday night, I finished the night with a hypnosis show in Clarendon Hills, an affluent suburb of Chicago, for a family that had hired me before. This time it was for a multiple birthday event. An Irish Catholic birthday party. For Mike and Kelly Reilly. Complete with flowing Guinness, Harp and Bass ale, good music and lots of people.

So, from a Chinese Christian funeral for a former Miss Chinatown, through traffic from hell on a rainy Chicago Saturday afternoon, to an Irish multiple Birthday Bash hypnosis show in the far western suburbs, I've had quite a day.

But only in America could something like this happen and no one would think much about the diversity of the events.

And that's the magic of America!

New Year, Hypnosis Shows, Wedding Party Magic

2006-01-16T20:02:00.000-06:00

New Year's Eve was spent quietly at home for a change. For once, I didn't have to be out car-jousting with the amateur drinkers and the pros who believe that New Year's Eve is the Olympics of Drinking. I hope yours was as safe and as warm as ours was.

Fidelity Financial Services brought me out for their January Holiday Party at the W Hotel on Jackson St., in Chicago, doing the HYPNOSIS SHOW along with the STROLLING MAGIC program and we had a BALL! Despite poor accoustics in the room, the DJ team was great to work with and we had some sterling volunteers, including the wife of the Big Boss, who was a delight to work with! My thanks to their team, especially Ms. Pertle, who coordinated the event with me, for my second year with them. I'm looking forward to many more as the attendees were eager to set up future events right there on the spot in places ranging from New Mexico to Cape Cod!

Medline Industries, makers of health items for hospital and home use, had me out to their January holiday event as well for their Information Services group. Again, this was for the HYPNOSIS SHOW and we had some of the funniest moments I've ever had on stage with the group of great volunteers we had that night! Very creative people, with some amazingly innovative ideas on how to follow suggestions, believe me!

Tomorrow night, I'm doing my THIRD year at Delta Delta Delta Sorority House at Northwestern University (yeah, it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!) - and my thanks to the Sisters of Tri-Delta for having me back, once again! Last year, we had a huge group of volunteers for the STAGE HYPNOSIS SHOW and this year looks like it's shaping up to be an even bigger group! Watch my web page (www.leedarrow.com) for details and maybe even some pictures!

WEDDING PARTY MAGIC - you heard it here! I am now partnering with http://www.amagicalwedding.com to help out a brother magician who is losing his eyesight to cover his wedding business and to help him build his business as an agent, booking special WEDDING MAGIC programs! So if you have an interest in booking me, or any of the other fine Chicago-area magicians (and several of us travel internationally as well!), contact Daryl at www.amagicalwedding.com and ask about my availability. If I'm not available, one of the other fine mages that work with him will be more than able to help YOU make YOUR Special Day Truly Magical!

Sandals, Puerto Rico and Airline Fun!

2005-12-04T00:19:00.000-06:00

For some reason, whenever I work a gig in Puerto Rico, there is a challenge to overcome - whether it's sound system issues, the audience being seated almost a football field's distance from the stage with a buffet service area between them and me or insect problems, it's always something that makes the trip interesting.

Sandals Resorts brought me down to Puerto Rico recently for a promotional show for Classic Vacations, their biggest travel agency partner. Knowing this I wondered at what challenge would present itself during the show this time out.

To my surprise - no surprises happened with regards to the show itself, at all!

However, the trip was not without its interesting points!

I left Chicago on an earlier flight than I originally had planned for, due to a change in my other plans, and arrived at O'Hare International Airport with plenty of time to get on board. As this was a one-nighter, I was carrying on my luggage, thank heavens!

The flight took off precisely on time and, about ten minutes out, the pilot came on the intercom with the following message: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are having a slight technical difficulty with the airplane, nothing serious, but we are returning to O'Hare so that it can be addressed. Please return your seats to their upright positions and restore your tray-tables to their stored positions. And when we land, please follow the directions of your flight crew TO THE LETTER."

At this point, I noticed that my flight attendant was strapped into her seat and kept pulling on her crash harness to tighten it, every few seconds. Her experssion was NOT conducive to a calm feeling in the pit of one's stomach!

We landed without incident and, as we were exiting the aircraft, I overheard two maintenance workers talking on the jetway: "Yeah, they brought this bird in on flaps. The rudder's frozen solid."

I was NOT thrilled to hear that, as the rudder is the big thing on the tail of the plane that steers the blasted thing!

We saddled up and left on the next flight out and arrived in San Juan about 3 hours late. As we landed, the passengers broke into spontaneous applause and the pilot, the same one we had flown with on the first flight, came on the speakers and, in a credible Elvis imitation, exclaimed, "Thank you, thank you very much!" We all got a good laugh out of that.

I barely made it to the hotel in time to shower, change and get to the show on time.

The show went quite well.

I got to bed at about midnight and was up at 4AM to catch the shuttle back to the airport. Showbiz is SO glamorous!

The 8:02Am flight did not depart on time. It seems we had a "slight technical problem" with the air conditioning system. Those of us with connecting flights, that would be me of course, were asked to de-plane and speak to the ticket agents at the counter to arrange alternate flight plans. As I was in the tail section, this did not bode well. As I had a show that night in Chicago, the delay did not bode well, either.

When I finally got my carcass off the plane, the line to see the ticket agents was stretched down the hall for TWO gates! My hernia (a gift from having pneumonia this summer), was acting up and I was not feeling comfy at all, so, when I saw a customer service representative next to the ticket counter, I approached her and explained my situation as follows:

"Hi. I don't usually do this, but I have a hernia and I am kind of hurting. I also have a connecting flight in Miami to Chicago that I really have to make or I will miss making a show that I have to do tonight." I gestured to the line, which hd stretched to another gate further out by then, "Frankly, if I stand in that line, it's pretty certain that I will fall down and completely certain that I will not make my flight. I don't think either of us wants either of those things to happen. Can you look into what might be done instead?" I smiled. She nodded and asked me firmly to sit down and headed for the ticket counter.

A few moments later, she came running to me. These people never run, it upsets the passengers. "Go to Gate 19. They're boarding right now and will wait for you. I'll catch up with you with your ticket."

I was at Gate 4. Gate 19 was a good 2 city blocks away. I hauled it as best I could.

I arrived with the CS rep in tow and loaded onto the jetway to the plane, only to be stopped in the jetway by two Immigration and Naturalization officers, who had some guy splayed up against the wall. One of them growled, "Country of origin?" at me, to which I replied, "United States, Chicago, Illinois, sir." He then grinned and waved me on my way with a surprisingly cheery, "Have a good flight!" I kept waiting for the shots to be fired as the guy they had up against the wall did NOT look happy nor cooperative in the least.

Nothing happened.

I loaded into my seat, noting that the flight crew was the SAME crew that I had flown down there with the day before! They recognized me and asked about my return. "They broke the other plane," I replied, to which they looked at me and said, "Oh dear...!"

In my seat, departure time came and went... "Ladies and gentlemen, we are having a slight difficulty with our air conditioning..." You have GOT to be kidding, I thought to myself.

No. They were serious!

Ten minutes later, we were airborne and it was then that I looked at my ticket - instead of a 2 hour layover in Miami, this flight was straight through to Chicago, landing at almost the same time as I would have with the layover!

Finally, something had gone right!

Showbiz teaches you many things. What I learned on that trip is to NEVER check your luggage if you can help it. If I had, it would not have caught up with me in time to do that evening's show - which went quite well, I might add!

WindyCon - Shows, workshops, and news

2005-11-24T02:57:00.000-06:00

WindyCon, the Chicago science fiction convention was, as usual, a fun time. Hired by the convention to perform my magic workshop, as well as do a lecture demonstration on hypnosis and a panel on Buck Rogers (my father worked for Rick Yager, who was one of the artists who drew Buck Rogers from the very early days) as well as a panel on the Marx Brothers, the convention was a blast.

The hypnosis program was graced by the appearance of Terry O'Brien, owner and creator of the website www.hypnosisinmedia.com, which is THE definitive web page for information about hypnosis on radio, TV, film and just about any other medium you might want to think about. He's a great guy and it was a pleasure meeting him.

The Artist Guest of Honor was Bill Holbrook, creator of Kevin and Kell, www.kevinandkell.org, one of the finest comic strips online today. Take the time to look it up as it is reminiscent of Pogo and Bill has won several Walt Kelly Awards, a high honor, given to those comic artists and writers who are keeping alive the spirit of Walt's ideas.

Tom Smith, the insane, funny and, surprisingly deep filk (folk songs for folk who ain't been born yet) singer and composer, was also there and who is among my dearest friends as well. Check out and buy his works at www.tomsmithonline.com. Tom recently won Filker of the Year at the Ohio Valley Filk Fest AND Best Song for "Rocket Ride!" My congratulations to him on that double win!

A small bit of trivia - I was the guy who took Tom to his first SF convention and to his first filk sing, so, if you wind up loving or hating his work, I guess I am partly to blame. But anyone who can tell the stories of the first two Alien movies to the "Tiny Toons Theme" can't be ALL bad, can he?

Science Guest of Honor was my fellow Dorsai Irregulars member and swing dancer, Mark Osier. He is one heckuva guy as well as being a Board Certified Toxicologist.

The Guest of Honor was Erin Grey, Wilma Deering from TV's Buck Rogers and all I can say about her is WOW! She is a VERY nice lady and let slip something that I can't discuss - yet. Keep your eyes on this blog, though. Something BIG is coming in the SF field and Erin's involved.

The report on the Sandals show is coming up, so stay tuned!

Sandals Promo Trip!

2005-10-29T19:42:00.000-05:00

Once again, if all things go properly, I will be doing a promotional show for Sandals Resorts! In mid-November, I will be flying down to beautiful Puerto Rico for a one-night event doing magic and hypnosis for a special VIP event for some of Sandals Resorts' most prominent and important Travel Agents and Travel Partners. This show marks my 7th year working with the Sandals and Beaches Resorts people and I want to take this opportunity to formally thank them through this Blog.

It is ALWAYS a pleasure to work with the wonderful people and everyone associated with Sandals and Beaches and I can, without any hesitation, give their resorts my unqualified endorsement (which is unpaid, too!). If you are looking for a great experience at an all-inclusive resort, look no farther than Sandals and Beaches Resorts. There are many, many reasons that they have won every major travel industry award, multiple times. Book your next vacation there and find out why. You will NOT be disappointed!

Red Hats, Northwestern, Windycon and more...

2005-10-19T03:59:00.000-05:00

Well, the season is picking up! I just worked a wonderful program at Northwestern University's Allison Hall, for the students there, doing my hypnosis show - lots of great volunteers and some memorable moments as well. It looks like I will be doing my FIFTEENTH YEAR at Dance Marathon, the longest running collegiate charity event in the nation, too!

I also have the honor of doing a special event for the Red Hat Ladies this month. I can hardly wait for that! They are a force to be reckoned with, from everything I have read.

November 11 - 13, I will be appearing at Windycon, the Chicago-area Science Fiction convention, doing BOTH my Magic Cabaret act on Saturday afternoon AND my Stage Hypnosis Show on Sunday. The Special Guests of Honor for this event are Erin Grey and Gil Gerard, the stars of TV's Buck Rogers! With luck, they will attend one, or both of the shows! I understand that Ms. Grey is very interested in hypnosis, so...!

I will also be a panelist on several panels, so come on down! More information is available at www.windycon.org.

NEWS FLASH - if you haven't seen SERENITY, the movie based on the tv series Firefly - go see it! This is science fiction with a decided kick to it! Created by Joss Whedon, who also was the creator of Buffy, The Vampire slayer on tv, the movie is fast, fun, has a solid story, interesting characters, good acting and some really snappy dialogue. best of all, you can follow it even without having seen the series! (but pick up the series on DVD anyway - it's well worth it)

It's Been An Odd Season

2005-10-07T04:45:00.000-05:00

Well, Summer's over and quite a bit has happened - one of my oldest friends has passed away. Actor Alan "Hal" Frank, known for his role as the Stage Manager in Somewhere In Time and the fence in the movie Thief. He was a great guy and I'll miss his wonderful sense of humor.

We are currently rehabbing our house on the East Side of Chicago (yes, there really IS an East Side, kids, the Lake curves over there) and the work has been progressing very slowly, but the results are stunning.

I have been honored by fellow Award Winning Magician and Mentalist T.C. Tahoe who published several of my original effects in his professional journal Magic Over Mind! Thanks T.C.! I'm honored and humbled.

I have also been honored with an invitation to join the new marketing and professional association for magical and mentalist entertainers called Magical Raconteurs. This is an invitation-only organization and is made up of magicians and mentalists who offer programs that more more story-driven than your typical bar or even after-dinner show might be. Again, I am very flattered to be so honored by my peers in the Art.

Recently, the disasters in the South due to the twin hurricanes have created a lot of publicity and have also stirred a lot of scams from phony fund raising companies. Please beware if you are approached either by mail or by phone by any company that claims to be soliciting funds for disaster relief and do everything you can to verify that they are legitimate before sending them your hard-earned money or giving them your credit card number. Millions have already been lost to these bottom-feeding slime-suckers. Don't get taken!

The holiday season is booking up rapidly and my new hypnosis show, complete with several new skits, is just now available for YOUR next event so CALL TODAY! If you snooze now, you and your guests won't get to snooze on stage at your holiday party! The number hasn't changed - it's still 773-728-3005 for ALL BOOKINGS, so CALL TODAY!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

May 14th Passages

2005-05-14T14:50:00.000-05:00

Just returned from the road - post proms across Iowa, Missouri and central Illinois with great results. Wonderful people, great shows and bad directions from a certain unnamed online map service! Oh well, can't have everything.

I'd also like to take a few moments to offer some words on the passing of a great magician, ventriloquist and friend, Jay Marshall, the Dean of toe Society of American Magicians. Jay was 85 and had seen them all - from Houdini to Copperfield, Henning to Blackstone and beyond. Over 40 years ago, I dragged my Dad clear across Chicago, from our home in Oak Park, to Magic, Inc. for my first visit to a real magic shop. Jay was the one who met me. I had seen him just the Sunday before on the Ed Sullivan Show, doing his famous Lefty routine. He had appeared on Sullivan's show 14 times during his career, opened for Sinatra in Las Vegas and played the Palace and the Palladium - the tops in their day.

A funnier, nicer, more informed man, you couldn't hope to meet. And now, he's "up there" wowing the crowds again. He always called himself "one of the better, cheaper, acts." To me, he was one of the best. Period.

Now, it's off to do another show, magic this time, in Barrington. The show must go on!

Welcome to my blog!

2005-01-25T18:04:00.000-06:00

I'm Lee Darrow and, among other things, I am the Official Hypnotist to Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean. My work takes me all over the world doing corporate shows, university events, trade shows, private parties. I offer world class stage hypnosis shows, magic programs and mentalism presentations.

Drop by my web page at http://www.leedarrow.com for more information, photos, client list and the like and please, keep me in mind for YOUR next event!

Jan. 27, 2005

I just confirmed that I will be presenting my hypnosis at Northwestern University's Dance Marathon's. This year, Dance Marathon is working to benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as their primary charity and over 92% of the donations will go to that charity. Another 7.5% of all funds raised will go to the Evanston Community Foundation. Tickets are available at the Northwestern Dance Marathon web page at www.nwu.edu - just follow the links or search feature to Dance Marathon!

Dance Marathon is the longest running collegiate charity dance event in the USA and I am proud to say that this will be my 14th year performing for the event. My hypnosis show will be at 7PM, March 5th in the Purdue Room in the Norris Student Center at Northwestern's Evanston, IL campus. Tickets will be $3 and the event is open to the public. Dance marathon is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization as recognized by the US goernment. All donations and ticket purchases are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

February 26, 2005

That's right! I'll be teaching TWO courses at this year's National Guild of Hypnotists Convention, near Boston! I am honored to be doing a repeat of the Dual Inductions workshop that I did with my esteemed colleague Marcia Proctor, C.H. and will also be doing a NEW workshop on Safety For Stage Hypnotists!

The Dual Inductions workshop will feature an overview of how to use two voices (whether two hypnotists or a live hypnotist and a recording or binaural recordings), a demonstration and questions and answer time. Marcia Proctor is one of the finest hypnotherapists I have ever worked with and I am really looking forward to co-teaching with her again!

Stage Hypnosis Safety will cover the areas where new, and even experienced, stage hypnotists can run into trouble - managing volunteers, suggestion management, abreactions, misinterpretations of suggestions, and lots more! With luck, we will be able to use some computer generated slides to enhance the program and will even be doing a bit of Socratic Method in the presentation to help get the attendees thinking about where they might be able to insure their safety and the safety of their volunteers while on stage!

For details on the National Guild of Hypnotists and their convention, visit www.ngh.net!

Hope to see you there!