Wow! I can’t believe the CNE is almost upon us again…I don’t know how many years I’ve been performing at the Ex in total, but it’s at least 6 years in a row. And every year I go through the same process of getting mentally psyched‐up, so I can mentally psych-out the packed crowd that shows up every day without fail, to experience the reality of hypnosis. There’s always a final countdown that begins in my head in the last week before it all starts. It’s physically gruelling to do hypnosis for 18 days straight under the (usually) hot sun, and as I drive along Lakeshore Blvd. from my Toronto home, the excitement starts to build. I head through the Midway and all the familiar sounds of the rides and the smell of hot dogs and cotton candy remind me that I’m back again. I find the stage and check in with the soundman, and he tells me everything’s set to go, and the audience starts showing up. It always amazes me when I look at the broad spectrum crowd I attract; everyone from twenty-something metal-heads in Ozzy shirts, to grandparents who (dare I admit it?) saw me when they were young, and have now brought their grandkids to see “that weird hypnotist who performed at my high school”. Yes, this is my 34th year of full-time performing! How is that possible?
I lounge in the sound booth and delay for as long as I possibly can, sipping water and saving my strength for the nearly 3 week grind of shows. But then Thunderstruck starts playing, the energy rush hits me and the show starts.
I’m back onstage at the Ex. And there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
- Dr Mike Mandel
