Renaissance Performers & Merchants

1. What is it that you do?

In my real world I work with people who struggle with anxiety, depression or fear. I use a very simple and effective process of coaching & hypnosis to help them quickly and easily let go of what isn’t serving them so they can be happy, joyful and healthy. At festivals I am a comedy character/stage act — Master Ticktock – Mind Wizard. I entertain with the #1 themed comedy hypnosis show in the old world – Master Ticktock’s T.Y.M.E. Machine (Trance-forming Your Mind Entertainment). I love it because I get to take all the things I love, theatre, comedy, costuming, performance, hypnosis, and roll them together! 

2. Where are you located?

I am located in Wisconsin, near La Crosse. My office is in Onalaska, WI where I see clients one on one, but I also have virtual clients from all over the world. I also train nationally and internationally. I do historic (my specialty) or modern stage hypnosis wherever I’m hired — Historical events such as the Renaissance, Civil War Era, Steampunk events, Schools, Colleges, Fundraisers, Corporate events —  I’m no stranger to travel. 

3. What got you interested in starting out in this business?

Really simply, JOY. I wanted to feel joy at the festivals again and I wanted to give others joy and help them forget, at least momentarily, all the unpleasantness in their lives. I’ve been a clown, actor & comedy character for the theatre and renaissance for many years. My most notable character is the Queen Mum. I took a break from Renaissance work for a long while because it just wasn’t fun any longer for me and I saw the festival drastically changing.  It’s festival though and always pulls at the heart stings and I wanted to get back into it . . . but wanted to do something different using my skill set as a hypnotist. I noticed there weren’t many people who did stage hypnosis at renaissance festivals and thought it would be a great niche for me. I do a very family friendly show and as far as I know it’s the only 100% renaissance themed show with no modernism. 

4. Do you travel and if so, how far will you go?

Yes I do travel. I’m available to perform across the country and beyond at any festival that would be interested in adding value with a show that is never the same twice and has audiences coming back time and time again! 

5. What advice do you have to give to others that are just starting out in this business?

So much, but I will boil it down to a few points. Keep it simple and fun. Yes AND. Try things, take risks, it’s how you grow and learn. Know your audience. Be a character, but be human and a decent one to others. Don’t worry about writing bits, just be. Be your persona, think and speak like your persona, just react to the world around you. If you are having trouble figuring out your character, start with a job. What is your job, the reason why you are at fest. Build around that or think about who you know that is interesting, funny or has an odd quirk or foible. Play that. Be the Renaissance Mr/Mrs. Kravitz (from Bewitched), the nosy busy body. Look to classic TV characters, they are all archetypes, play the Ren version. To quote the best entertainment director I ever worked for, David Pipho, “You are only as good as your last performance. Make each performance count!” 

9. What is your favorite food at fair?

My one fair food I have to always have at least once is a scotch egg. I love them with horseradish sauce! More than one food though I loved picnic — For as long as I’ve been involved with fair I’ve had a picnic with an eclectic group of street characters. We do a pot-luck and took our break on the street and had lunch. It was a win win! We continued to ad value and we got to eat! Guests would stop by and we would chat with them. Other performers would stop by and do a song or a dance then be on their way, It was all very real and organic. Sometimes lunch was 2 hours long! You really can make ANYTHING interesting and entertaining! 

10. What would you say (nicely) to a fair manager or owner?

Be a director like a theater director — have a singular vision, work with people to create that vision & story. Do this because each audience, every day, deserves the same quality show. When you do that your show quality will go up, your cast will feel cared for, your audience will come back bigger and better and you will earn respect and money in the bank. If you don’t things will become very disjointed, slip through the cracks a million different visions will be played out and disrespect and unprofessional things will persist. To that end, If there are people or things that aren’t aligning with the vision than those things/people need to change or go. Quality breeds quality, You and your show will only be as good as the people you fortify yourself with.

11. What is your setup for your performance?

Well it depends on the fair I go to. Sometimes I have a full tent area that is the “house” where people can stop in and visit, see demos and purchase merchandise like full MP3 hypnosis sessions, fairy lanterns and other merchandise, then I set my Stage area where I will actually be doing the hypnosis show. Other times it’s the bare minimum of 10 chairs on the stage, my banner and my speaker / mic system and my bags to collect hat pass. I can keep it as simple or as complex as needed / wanted. 

17. In five years (or less) my goal is to: ___________________

In five years or less, I will have my mobile tiny house! I have my hypnosis show in the very best renaissance festivals & other events across the country. I will do 2 to 3 shows each weekend with a few more in the evenings for other venues. I will also continue to work with my clinical clients virtually or one on one from my tiny house. I will continue to teach and deliver my workshops all over the world. I will have great friendships, family time and a happy/healthy relationship. I also have an outstanding team working with me so I can outsource some of my business stuff so all I need to focus on is delivering quality hypnosis & education. It’s always different, fun and evolving. Better and better every day in every way!

18. At fair, what garb/attire is your usual go to?

I’m a trained designer/builder. I do take private commissions (shameless plug) I’ve costumed professionally for theaters and worked in Disney’s Costuming/Cosmetology Dept. in Florida for a time. So I do all my own clothing. My clothes have many pieces and parts that I can take on or off or dress up or down. I’m not a “reproductionist” I’m a “representationalist”, meaning I go for the idea, flavor and look of an era rather than reproduce what is in paintings. I take a bit of this and that to build the character with clothing. I want them instantly recognizable. For instance My garb has a lot of pocket watches and clocks, as I’m Master Ticktock, and watches are a symbol of hypnosis. I also dress him a bit more “showy” for stage. He’s wardrobe is colorful and dapper, His Jerkin has a slight nod to a tail coat, and a renaissance top hat and flared bell sleeves as a nod to Wizards. With Ticktock I go more middle class to noble. The key thing is I want to be comfortable and I have to be able to move in it when on stage. I also have other garb for different time periods that I do and of course modern wear of jeans, a t-shirt and flashy blazer for modern stage! 

19. How many Fairs other than those you are vending or performing do you go to?

As many as I have time for. More and more all the time it seems! 

20. Plug your website or fan page here (or both)

Website: mdlhealingartistry.com

Website: mdlhealingartistry.com/stage-hypnosis

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mdlhealingartistry

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MasterTicktock

Thanks to Master Ticktock! How fabulous! You or your group may be featured on this site which I also share on the Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/renperfmerch and also on Medium page which you can find here! https://medium.com/@giavolterradesaulnier