What's On
The Las Vegas Guide

Tranzcendental Comedy
by Peter Francis

   What can you say about an entertainer who puts some of  his audience members to sleep? If his name is Justin Tranz - a lot.
   This charismatic performer will have you in hysterics from watching him put his volunteers through the paces during his R-rated evening show, "Hip-Nosis", at both O'Sheas and Flamingo.
   The Philadelphia native is, without doubt, a master hypnotist who is making hypnosis hip. So hip, that people are being turned away every night he performs in the 175-seat O'Sheas Theatre. Those who can't get in at O'Sheas can catch Tranz doing the same show next door at the Flamingo on Friday and Saturday at midnight.
   I have to admit, I went to see the show with a little less enthusiasm than normal. By the time it ended, however, I was hooting and hollering as loudly as anyone in the joint. It's funny, raucous, outrageous and naughty - everything you expect from a Las Vegas show, and Tranz works as hard as any entertainer I've seen.
   He is a master of his craft. Like a surgeon, Tranz skillfully operates on your psyche, fears and funny bone with the power of suggestion. After the show, as he talked about his career, he was quick to point out that hypnosis "is a natural state of mind. It's nothing more than the simple power of suggestion." That's why, he said, it is no more difficult to "hypnotize 12 people at once" - as he does in his show - "as (it is) to hypnotize one. You are getting them to concentrate on what you are telling them and those people who don't fight it will give in to the suggestion."
   His act is simple. He asks for 12 or more volunteers from the audience. The night I was there, 18 went onstage. He then proceeds to hypnotize them, giving instructions on what he wants them to do. After several of these exercises, he weeds out those participants who are either faking it or not responding. Then the real fun begins, with the volunteers' reactions to Tranz's suggestions becoming more and more hilarious. At one point all the volunteers seated onstage in black vinyl chairs think they are typewriters. Later they act as if they are washing machines on the spin cycle. During the show they become convinced they hear their favorite song from what they believe to be a radio (their shoe in reality) and sing it to the audience. Then they believe their shoe is a gas mask and that they are firefighters warning the audience to leave a burning building.
   Once finished, no one remembers a thing. Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, it's all been video recorded and volunteers can buy the tape for posterity, or maybe to burn. Family members are usually happy to shell out $19.95 for the tape to torture or blackmail their beloved at a later date.
   Although Tranz enjoys great success, this hypno-therapist, who has cured people of smoking, helped them lose weight and instilled confidence in athletes, would much like to play to bigger audiences.
   "I love what I do. I think I've got the greatest job in the world, but I would love to perform in a 500-seat theater, as well as television," he said. "People love this kind of entertainment because it's so much fun and I never tell the participants to do anything that I wouldn't do myself."

"Under the Tranz Spell
Hip Hypnotist Plays Head Games"
by Norma Restivo

    If the word "hypnotist" conjures images of spinning pinwheels and laser-eyed men with vaguely evil intentions, open your mind to a unique experience.
   
    Check out comic hypnotist Justin Tranz at O'Sheas, next door to the Flamingo Hilton, performing "Hip-Nosis". This funky, upbeat show will leave you roaring with laughter and spilling out of your comfort zone. Tranz serves up hypnotism Vegas style, seducing the audience with X-rated humor, while simultaneously prodding them to get out of their seats, get onstage and get down with their bad selves - all in the name of fun! Of course, if you don't have to be part of the show, you're always welcome to watch from the sidelines.
   
    The hour-long show starts innocently enough, although Tranz is quick to tell the audience that they will see no rabbits coming out of hats or mirrored trap doors. Again and again, he stressed the importance of a trained, focused mind. "There's nothing up my sleeves," said Tranz "Just the music in your mind."
   
    At one recent show a dozen audience members were apparently hearing that music. At Tranz's urging, they volunteered to get onstage and became willing puppets for his hypnotic suggestions. Forget achieving a meditative state in a one-on-one session; Tranz prefers the group dynamic. And for those of us who chose to watch the action rather than live it, that was just fine.
   
    For the others, the game had only just begun. Like chess pieces on a board, brave participants moved about the stage under the thunderous directions of Tranz, who continuously reminded them that "your focus determines your reality." For that moment in time, their reality was literally his every whim. Sweating and spouting off, Tranz urged them to assume the identity of a number of inanimate objects - a jack-hammer, a human typewriter and a musical instrument. Many of them did just that, gyrating and undulating, while the rest of us roared with glee.
   
    Tranz's laser-like hypnotic suggestions led the flock of individuals who appeared to be deeply under his spell. Like a preacher imparting his wisdom, Tranz led them through a series of interesting hypnotic suggestions to a surprising finale. When all was said and done, none of them appeared to remember a thing!
   
    A Philadelphia native, Tranz has been practicing magic and hypnotism for two decades. He originally delved into hypnosis to overcome an embarrassing stuttering problem.
  
     For him, hypnosis is a natural state of mind. "It's like daydreaming or losing your train of thought," he said. "Hypnosis is nothing more than the simple power of suggestion."