William Corey's Psychodynamic Entertainment
Frequently Asked Questions
The following is a list of frequently asked
questions proposed to William Corey's Psychodynamic
Entertainment. All questions contained within have been directly
responded to by William Corey.
The questions, listed below, are linked to the respective
answers and are divided into the following categories...
Performance Questions /
Booking Questions
& Miscellaneous Questions.
-- Performance Questions --
Question 1:
I've never heard of "Psychodynamic
Entertainment". What is it? Did you come up with the term, and if
so, how?
Question 2: Are you a hypnotist / do you hypnotize people?
Question 3: William, I would like to have you entertain
for my group, as your Psychodynamic Entertainment offerings seem
really new and different from what we have seen before - yet, I'm
concerned that you might be a bit too serious for our group. Can
you settle my concern?
Question 4: I'm putting together a small party and am looking
for something different to offer my guests. I think an
entertainer would be great and am considering having you perform
for us, but it seems that your performances are really involved
and deep, so I'm not sure if my guests would "get" what you do.
Can you help me?
Question 5: I've noticed that there is a lot about
magic, the supernatural, and things considered "occult" on your
site - how do you respond to those who find this
disturbing?
Question 6:
I'm confused, it seems you have a
lot of adult themes, yet you also seem to be a children's
performer. So, are your shows for children or adults? I don't
understand how you can do both.
Question 7: I like what I've read, but I'm
concerned about the storytelling aspect of what you do, I can't
help but thinking of this as being "children's entertainment".
Considering my event is for adults, I'm not sure how my group
would feel if I hired you to perform for us. Please explain the
whole "storytelling" thing?
Question 8: Is what you do real?
Question 9: Do you keep your performances exactly the same
i.e. do you always do the same thing? Let's say, if I were to hire you for
"The Wizard / Wizardess Magical Discovery Workshop" as my child's
entertainment one year, would it remain the exact same show the
next year?
-- Booking Questions --
Question 1: How far in advance do I need to book
you to perform?
Question 2: Why don't you list your prices on your
website?
Question 3: I work for a non-profit charity and
wanted to know if you would be willing to donate a performance
for our group?
Question 4: Do I need to fill your performance form out
completely in order to hire you?
Question 5: Why do you have so many questions on
your performance form?
Question 6: I've noticed that for some of your
performances, namely the titled shows, there are approx.
time-lengths listed - yet, they do not fit in with my plans - how
flexible are you when it comes to adjusting them?
Question 7: In what languages can you perform?
-- Miscellaneous Questions --
Question 1: I found out about you through another
website several months ago. Since there was no direct contact
information given, I wrote to you using their form, in hopes of
getting you to perform for us - having just found your site, I
want to know why you have never responded to my writing?
Question 2: Are you a part of any social-networking
sites? If not, why?
Reply To Performance Question 1:
I've never heard of "Psychodynamic Entertainment". What is it? Did you come up with the term, and if so, how?
Answer:
As far as I am aware of, the term "Psychodynamic
Entertainment" is unique to me. Even though I am not a
psychologist, I came up with this unique description of my
performances while studying psychology. Sigmund Freud used the
word "psychodynamic" (taken from his study of thermodynamics) as
a metaphor to explain that the human personality has three
distinctive and interacting parts. His theory was based upon the
idea that energy can be neither created nor destroyed, while
emphasizing the influence of the unconscious mind in regards to
ones' behavior. Carl Jung later expounded upon Freud's ideas.
While learning about this aspect of psychology, I was also
reading history and thinking about the way various myths and
legends seem to be repeated time and again throughout various
cultures. The correlations discovered, combined with other
artistic endeavors I was involved in, led me to develop a
performance style that is a mix of cultural / philosophical
beliefs, psychology, history, myths, legends, and ancient
understandings that, when communicated, touch upon and can access
various layers of the psyche in regards to behavior and
motivation. Comprised with both verbal and visual enchantments, as an entertainment art form, it breaths new life into notions that are often overlooked or abandoned in lieu of perceived certainties. As such, I have found that this mix can be a very powerful experience for an audience.
Since I
could not find another description that concisely exemplifies
what I do - "Psychodynamic Entertainment" was born.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 2:
Are you a hypnotist / do you hypnotize people?
Answer:
I hate to disappoint if you are looking for one, but I'm not a hypnotist nor do I believe that a person can "hypnotize" another. However, for reasons ranging from the boredom of monotony to complete concentration, I do think that individuals are able to hypnotize themselves and enter trancelike states, from time-to-time.
As an entertainer - my goal, as I think the goal of anyone who participates in entertainment or artistic endeavors, is to provide an opportunity for an audience to see things from a different prospective and / or, to a certain extent, get lost within the work presented. Based on the reactions and comments received, it seems that my offerings can be especially powerful for those who are able to look beyond what I do as being simple diversions. For those who like to occupy themselves with speculation of methods, there is plenty of room for theory in regards to what is seen / experienced during my presentations. Likewise, those whose knowledge of hypnosis comes from fictional portrayals, or wish to relate their accounts to others, then hypnotism provides an easy explanation.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 3:
William, I would like to have you entertain for my group, as your Psychodynamic Entertainment offerings seem really new and different from what we have seen before - yet, I'm concerned that you might be a bit too serious for our group. Can you settle my concern?
Answer:
I understand this concern, as my form of
entertainment is new to those who have not been in one of my
audiences, or participated within my performances. For better or
worse, my style of entertainment is not as easy to classify or,
for want of a better term, as predictable as, let's say, a
singer, dancer, juggler, or clown may be. As a performer, I know
there are times to be serious, times to be light-hearted, and
times just to have fun. As such, you may be relieved to know that
much, but not all, of what I do can go in any direction.
Depending upon the type of performance desired, I have a tendency
to play off of those around me. As such, separate audiences might
have differing thoughts as to what Psychodynamic Entertainment is
- concerning the presentation style. Granted, you know your
friends and acquaintances better than I do, so if you are
concerned about the performance in this regard, feel free to
contact me and I'll be better able to assist you in determining
which offering will best fit your group's needs and
personality.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 4:
I'm putting together a small party and am looking for something different to offer my guests. I think an entertainer would be great and am considering having you perform for us, but it seems that your performances are really involved and deep, so I'm not sure if my guests would "get" what you do. Can you help me?
Answer:
I've found most don't understand that the role
of entertainment at a party / event is to provide a new dimension
to the proceedings and stimulate positive interaction between
those present. As such, I see my simplified role as an
entertainer as someone who is able to bring people together
providing what has been described as "a uniquely individual, yet
common experience" that can later be used to spur discussion -
thereby making the party / event something that will be better
remembered and talked about.
Unfortunately, since I don't know your group, or what sort of
party you are planning, I can't really recommend something
specific at this point. Yet, if you have a theme in mind, are
willing to provide me with an idea of your guests (their age
range, likes and commonalities, etc.), I could better guide you
in making a selection from my offerings, or even put something
together for you. As far as my offerings being "involved and
deep" - well, generally speaking, some people look to
entertainment as a superficial diversion, while others seek deeper
understandings. As such, my offerings are layered in such a way
that no matter how deeply one allows themselves to get into the
offering provided, it will not negatively affect the performance
value, itself. This is assuming that the individual or
group in question desires to be entertained in the manner offered
and they are not there to disrupt the proceedings for others.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 5:
I've noticed that there is a lot about magic, the supernatural, and things considered "occult" on your site - how do you respond to those who find this disturbing?
Answer:
I realize that there can be some hesitation in
regards to my offerings, as the prospects of magic, the
supernatural, and things considered "occult" - especially if
one's personal belief system regards these subjects as taboo.
Yet, all too often in today's world, the trend seems to be that
people often disregard things that cannot be seen or easily
explained by science as being fantasy and / or superstition -
having little to no relevance in ones' life. The fact is that the
ideas of magic, the supernatural, and things considered "occult"
are intrinsic within human history and is the basis of religion
and all sciences, as mankind has sought to find answers and
reasons for our personal existence and the workings of the world.
As much as one may desire to relegate such notions to the
un-enlightened, many great thinkers have found power,
inspiration, and new outlooks on various problems (both internal
and external) by opening themselves up to things as Einstein once
described as "the mysterious". In this manner, my performance
goal is to not only entertain but to offer the opportunity for
others to regain the magic that resides within the self and
surrounds all.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 6:
I'm confused, it seems you have a lot of adult themes, yet you also seem to be a children's performer. So, are your shows for children or adults? I don't understand how you can do both.
I can understand your confusion yet, everyone has
it within himself or herself to be many things to many people; it
all depends on the situations encountered as to how one presents
one's self that helps others form their own perception.
Unfortunately, those who have seen me perform for children are
unable to think of me outside of that role, likewise those who
have seen me perform for more mature audiences have difficulty in
imagining my performance ability with younger audiences. Simply
put, I have several performance offerings - some are designed for
children as the key audience and others designed for adults or
mature audiences, as well as performances that can go either
way.
To better explain…
My performances for mature or what can be classified as "adult"
audiences are not due to anything that may be considered
risqué or "blue" but ,often (not always) carry intricate
themes with heavier or darker tones that are not intended for
young audiences.
My performances for children are simpler, kept on a light and
more positive note that, as a general rule, encourages the power
of belief in oneself and the importance of knowledge.
I also offer performances for engagements in which there is no
set age focus, such as family nights, fundraisers etc.. For such
events I have and do offer some things that strike a balance
between these performance modes mentioned above, most of which
are not defined by a specific title but based upon the needs of
my client.
With the explanations above, I'd say that adults present for my
performances designed for children will more-than-likely find it
enjoyable, perhaps not for the same reasons or way that the
children present do, but enjoyable none-the-less. However,
children in attendance for one of my performances designed for a
more mature audience may not have the same reaction. In fact,
during my "Journey's Through the Veil" entertainment offering,
one parent who had seen me perform during a child's birthday
insisted in having her 9 year old sit (in against my urging
against it and that of the wishes of my client). Unfortunately,
the parent got her way and even though some if the performance
(by request of my client) was "toned down" - from what I heard,
the child suffered with nightmares for several weeks after.
After all, just because you and your young child may enjoy
watching reruns of the 1978-'82 science fiction sitcom "Mork &
Mindy" (in which Robin Williams made excellent use of his comedic
talent in his role as Mork as an alien sent to earth to observe
human behavior), does not mean that you should expose your child
to the 2002 psychological thriller "One Hour Photo" (in which
Robin Williams confirmed his ability to play serious, if not
frightening and disturbing roles with his part in this movie).
Not unlike him and other actors / entertainers, I, too, take on
different roles, depending what my clients call for and the
offering requested.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 7:
I like what I've read, but I'm concerned about the storytelling aspect of what you do, I can't help but thinking of this as being "children's entertainment". Considering my event is for adults, I'm not sure how my group would feel if I hired you to perform for us. Please explain the whole "storytelling" thing?
Answer:
Although "storytelling" is often considered
"children's entertainment", one must realize that news, art,
movies and songs can be reduced down to a collection of stories.
It's also true that information, facts, and events in our lives
are often arranged in "story-form" to aid personal memory and
relate our experiences to others, no matter what our age. Often
the manner in which "stories" are presented, the way they
resonate with us, individually, determines if we will be drawn in,
keeps our interest and, on some level, becomes part of us.
Generally speaking, my core audience is primarily comprised of
adults and, to some extent, older teens who enjoy entertainment that, if desired, can
provide room for later discussion. As such, all of my performance offerings have their own
narrative and flow that are often infused with actual experiences,
both my own and that of others, as well as history, legend and
cultural mythos, although not always spoken directly, are ever
present. So, for the exception of a very few, my offerings are
subject to speculation and contemplation that is largely
dependent upon each individual's observations, interpretations,
mindset, life experiences and personal points of view.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 8:
Is what you do real?
Answer:
Being an entertainer, the greatest thing I can do
is provide a door in which my audience may free themselves from
the daily grind, and present an opportunity for them to possibly
see / think about things in a different way, including the "what
if's". Like it or not, things labeled as "real" often depend on
ones' personal perception. I believe in what I do (just about any
acting student understands the importance of this mindset). That
said, what's "real" for me may differ from what is "real" for you
or someone else, and no matter how much evidence is provided to
prove or disprove ones' notions, people will still find / create
their own "truth".
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Performance Question 9:
Do you keep your performances exactly the same i.e. do you always do the same thing? Let's say, if I were to hire you for "The Wizard / Wizardess Magical Discovery Workshop" as my child's entertainment one year, would it remain the exact same show the next year?
Answer:
Generally speaking -
my bookings, more often than not, are generated from those who have seen me
perform, who have booked me previously, or requested me do something on the spot.
So, with that, I try to keep aspects of my performances fresh. As such,
my performances do change from time to time even though the specific theme / show title remains unchanged.
This is not to say that all of the elements or the context itself will change, but
the content and the format might and often does. With "on the spot" performances,
I use what is available, and as such, is often quite different from any of my booked
performances.
In regards to the entertainment offered for children - well,
what is presented and / or the way it is presented for let's say
a seven year old will differ from that of a nine year old -
simply because, more often than not, their understanding, life
experience, and general knowledge has grown. However, it should
be noted that within such situations wherein a child is in the
audience of those younger or older than him / herself, they will
still enjoy and get a lot out of the performance (just as many of
the adults present will, if they allow themselves to do so).
With that stated - my performances for children, even within the
same age group, do go through changes more frequently than my
other offerings, simply because some children have a tendency to
be invited to several parties.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 1:
How far in advance do I need to book you to perform?
Answer:
My schedule does fill rather quickly - so, when planning a party or event, it is best to inquire / book at no less than one month (approx. 30 days) before the engagement (in fact, some book a year ahead). As such, the more time between the initial inquiry / booking and the actual date of the engagement will help better ensure possible availability.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 2:
Why don't you list your prices on your website?
Answer:
In this day and age, finances are tight for many
people and it is my belief, as it always has been, that one
should not be forced to pay for things not needed. More often
than not, when a performer presents a fee - not knowing or
understanding what is truly needed - then they have no choice but
to set their fee higher than necessary in order to cover all
eventualities. Although having a catch-all price makes it easier
for those hunting for the lowest price, it does not address the
quality of entertainment offered, nor does it say a lot as to how
much that entertainer cares about your wishes. The fees I charge
are based upon the needs, wants, and desires of my clients. As
such, no one is ever asked to pay more than what is needed when
booking me directly (however, within my performance form there is a
section entitled "Entertainment Budget" that will give you an
idea of the parameters I can work within).
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 3:
I work for a non-profit charity and wanted to know if you would be willing to donate a performance for our group?
Answer:
Much to the dismay of some, I usually do not work free
of charge. As such, the compensation I request is based upon several
factors and is outlined within my website's performance form. I
do, however, take into consideration any charity / non-profit's
requests and needs when determining the fee. Once booked, paid in
full, and after the performance(s) requested has / have taken
place - I am not opposed to the thought of giving a portion of my
fee, and in some cases more, to said non-profit / charity.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 4:
Do I need to fill your performance form out completely in order to hire you?
Answer:
It is understandable if not all aspects of the
event are decided upon at the time the form is being filled out -
especially if the event date is several months away and is still
in the planning stages. If such is the situation in which you
find yourself - the "Other thoughts, comments, questions,
clarifications, and additions …" section on my forms can
be used for this purpose. Likewise, you can write, or call me
with your concerns and I will be more than happy to work with you
to figure out the best course of action to take in regards to the
planning (based off of past experiences). It should be noted that
a request for a performance, and a positive response to such,
does not constitute a booking - not until the agreement is drawn
by William Corey's Psychodynamic Entertainment, accepted and
signed by both parties will a booking be made active.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 5:
Why do you have so many questions on your performance form?
Answer:
The Performance and Psychic Forms found on this
site are there to help me to help you. If you are planning a
party or event, then you have a pretty good idea of what sort of
entertainment you are looking for, as well as the environment,
location, date, time, a general idea of the number of people you
are expecting, etc. These are basic questions which anyone
planning a party or event will need to answer at some point or
another. Your responses also assist me in determining a price
based upon your needs.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 6:
I've noticed that for some of your performances, namely the titled shows, there are approx. time-lengths listed - yet, they do not fit in with my plans - how flexible are you when it comes to adjusting them?
Answer:
In the event a shorter or longer performance is desired, despite the timeframe listed, then (if possible) the performance offering will be adjusted to comply with the requested duration. The same thing goes for a performance wherein a set number of people present is listed, and it is requested that the offering be adjusted to accommodate a larger group. In such cases, the performance itself will invariably differ in content and format, yet, will remain true to the context outlined.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Booking Question 7:
In what languages can you perform?
Answer:
Unfortunately, I am not gifted with the skills,
nor ability of a polyglot - so all spoken communication relied
upon within my performances are in English. Having stated that,
based upon the type of performance requested, if you can provide
an interpreter - then I am not opposed to working with one. Also,
it may be of interest to learn that I do have performances
available in which verbal communication is not a necessity. Alert
me to your needs and we may be able to work out something
suitable.
Go To The List Of...
Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Miscellaneous Question 1:
I found out about you through another website several months ago. Since there was no direct contact information given, I wrote to you using their form, in hopes of getting you to perform for us - having just found your site, I want to know why you have never responded to my writing?
Answer:
There are a few websites that offer a list of
performers from a variety of states, allowing you to find,
question and / or book an entertainer. Some may list the
entertainer's contact info. and/or link to that provider's
website. Others do not - offering instead to contact the
entertainer on your behalf via their own online form. Depending
on the site, the entertainer may be presented with a teaser, then
given a chance to pay for, or bid on the complete information.
William Corey's Psychodynamic Entertainment does not bid on, or
pay for such information. Likewise, requests received from sites
that require such will go unanswered. (Note: problems can and
occasionally do occur with the sending and receiving of e-mails
and on-line forms. So, when using these methods of contact, it is
a good idea to locate a phone / fax number to alert the party of
your request - especially if it has not been responded to in a
timely manner.) If you are seeking entertainment, contact the
entertainer of your choosing directly or find an agent who cares
enough about you, as a client, and their talent to ask the right
questions and provide you with someone who will meet your needs
properly.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
Reply To Miscellaneous Question 2:
Are you a part of any social-networking sites? If not, why?
Answer:
There is a lot of information, both pro and con,
in regards to being part of a social-networking site. I have
heard it can be a great way of keeping in touch with others, as
well as improving the reach of ones business / organization. Such
sites do have a place in cyberspace, however, it takes a lot of
work and time in regards to posting updates and providing new
information that others will want to read. One must be willing to
devote a good portion of energy to any endeavor of this nature.
Those who know me, understand that I will not allow myself to do
something half-heartedly (and to be honest, I don't care much for
typing). As far as keeping in touch with others - I prefer
face-to-face communication. Barring that - phone, fax, e-mails,
letters and notes are preferred rather than having my
correspondence with friends and acquaintances available for
anyone to read and comment on. The business pages and, to some
extent, personal pages that I have been introduced to of the
social-networking variety, seem to have lost their way in regards
to the original objective. This could be attributed to burnout or
time constraints, but unfortunately now seem to provide little
relevance to anyone aside from its creator and a small group of
contacts who are willing to make comments on a fairly constant
basis (generally amongst themselves). This is not meant to be a
criticism of those who have social-networking pages, can keep up
with them, or of those who keep in contact with others via such
sites. However, for me, I will not (in good conscious) take on
something that I cannot devote myself to in the manner I believe
to be necessary.
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Performance Questions / Booking Questions / Miscellaneous Questions
-- Contact William Corey --
Write:
P.O.Box 73693
Metairie, LA 70033-3693
Call:
(504) 887-0530
(If not in, leave a message)
Fax:
(504) 456-1482
E-mail:
Info@RegainTheMagic.com
(Louisiana Based - Serving The Southern U.S.)
This page was submitted by C. Fields
All Pages, Text & Images © William Corey