by Jessica Del Curto
Daily Lobo
Rusty Z thinks that hypnotism shouldn't be taken so seriously.
In fact, he said this may be the only thing that sets him apart from other hypnotists and he prides himself at having fun at his shows.
"I've seen plenty of other hypnotists and I found that a lot were very serious and eerie," he said. "They called themselves 'The Great so and so' or the 'Fantastic whatever', like they're some guy with special powers trying to mystify everyone. I just made it a big fun party."
James R. Zingleman, known as Rusty Z in the world of hypnosis, knows how to make an audience laugh. Originally from Denver, Colo., he began doing stand-up comedy 12 years ago appearing on shows such as A&E's "An Evening at the Improv" and "The Dennis Miller Show."
He wanted to add another element to his performance, so he began studying hypnotism. He learned from some of the best stage hypnotists and hypnotherapists, becoming a certified member of the National Guild of Hypnotists.
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"I saw what was out there and I thought I could do better," Zingleman said. "I don't know if I have or not."
Skepticism is certainly an issue hypnotists have to deal with, but Rusty Z. thinks that this is part of the fun at his shows.
"People will tell me that they can't be hypnotized or that I paid people to act on stage," he said. "Often, they become the star of the show."
He said although most people can be hypnotized, not everyone will let it happen. He describes hypnosis as the loopy feeling of being drunk, without the morning hangover.
"You won't do anything you normally wouldn't do after a couple of drinks," he said.
Although Zingleman is a certified hypnotherapist, he doesn't practice it often.
"I've hypnotized a guy who had to quit smoking and he hasn't smoked since," he said. "I've also performed self-hypnosis so that I could cut back on cigar smoking, but I prefer performing more than hypnosis so I usually stick to that aspect."
He said at his shows, he makes people feel comfortable by joking with them.
"I don't play the spooky music like many hypnotists who come from a magic background do and I am not trying to fool anyone."
As a result, Zingleman gets repeated visits from members of his audience.
"That is the beauty of the show," he said. "Once they are involved, they keep coming back. I've never had any negative reactions at my shows."
He says that hypnosis is one of the better forms of entertainment because it involves the audience. He encourages people to get rid of their "stage fright" and enjoy the state of being hypnotized.
"I've seen amazing things as a hypnotist," he said. "We will have fun, that's my only message."
