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Comedy Hypnosis Show

Where: Maui Beach Hotel's Elleair

Ballroom

When: Saturday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. (Vegas-style show with adult humor); Sunday, 7 p.m. (family-friendly show)

Tickets: $15 general admission; $20 VIP seating; Radio personality Shaggy will open the Saturday shows.

"Hypnosis for Weight Loss and Stopping Smoking" will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Maui Beach Hotel. Admission is $20.

To view clips from Scott Lewis' recent shows at Maui County Fair, visit www.mauihypnotist.com

Have you lost your butt recently, strutted the runway like a Victoria's Secret model, or gyrated on stage as Shakira? If so, chances are hypnotist Dr. Scott Lewis may be to blame.

The Los Angeles-based performer has been busy working the crowds throughout the country, including a handful of shows at the recent Maui County Fair, harnessing the power of the mind to make stars out of everyday people in his comedy hypnotist acts. And now he's back and looking for a new set of victims, or rather, participants for three shows this coming weekend at Maui Beach Hotel.

"The Hawaii shows are always the most fun because the people are so uninhibited," raves Lewis, who has also performed on Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island.

This time around he's promising two anything-goes shows on Saturday and a family-friendly version on Sunday.

"The Saturday shows are a little more wild - a little more Las Vegas-style, whereas the Sunday show will be for a more all-ages crowd," he explains.

Lewis has been dabbling with hypnosis for most of his adult life, but decided to make a career out of it about seven years ago. He understands the skepticism and stigma attached to his profession, but insists there's nothing to be afraid of. Wipe away thoughts of an ominous character in an underground basement taking control of his subject, or a swinging watch accompanied by a creepy voice coercing you to "get sleeeepy, very sleeeepy."

Contrary to the notion that once subjects are hypnotized, they lose control or free will, Lewis explains that a hypnotist could never force people to do things they don't want to do. Just the opposite is true, he says.

"One misconception is that people on stage are zombies and they're not aware of what's going on, but they're fully awake the entire time and what it does is actually heighten creativity," Lewis explains.

People tend to vary in their ability to be hypnotized. Some people don't seem to be hypnotizable at all and others have the capacity to enter a trance quite easily.

"Another misconception is that people who can be hypnotized are dumb But the smarter you are, the better you're able to focus and concentrate. So people who are creative do really well because they're already able to visualize," Lewis says.

Hypnosis, he said, makes the mind more alert and allows people to get in touch with their subconscious, giving them a sharper memory and clearer insight.

"It's not as mysterious as people think it is and the people on stage, many times they're aware of what's going on but they're relaxed and confident and they don't care," he explains.

After all, Lewis discovered the wonders of hypnosis firsthand.

"When I was going to college in San Diego, there was a hypnotist and I would just go and was so amazed by what he was able to do that I'd go up and be a volunteer," he recalls. "I loved it - it was a great experience."

Within minutes, Lewis tranformed from a unassuming college student into Paul Macartney, performing "Yesterday" for a crowd of adoring "fans," or a 5-year-old boy asking the hypnotist to "sing it to me, Daddy," while perched atop his lap.

"I remember being very relaxed, very confident and it was just a lot of fun - I loved being the star of the show," he says.

Although his passion for hypnosis was temporarily sidelined for a career as a chiropractor, Lewis eventually returned to it with renewed enthusiasm.

"I took medical hypnosis courses, read books, attended trainings and learned from watching," he says.

He studied all the tricks for showmanship and tucked them away to use in his own act. The result is a regular gig at Las Vegas' Riviera Hotel, his own medical hypnosis practice and a packed touring schedule.

Lewis may be a one-man show, but he insists the real stars come straight from the audience - he's just there to give them directions.

For the past seven years, Lewis has been a Riviera Hotel regular, with several shows each week. The basic formula remains the same, but the outcome is anything but routine.

"It's always different because there's always different people on stage."

Fueling the fun are situations like "The Dating Game" where people are hypnotized to believe the person they're contending for is repulsive; a pack of men thinking they are sexy Chippendales dancers; or taking on the persona of outspoken "American Idol" judges.

"I take a personal responsibility that people on stage are comfortable and having a good time," Lewis says.

One of his favorite acts to do in Las Vegas is telling people they hit the jackpot.

"I've had people running out into the casino screaming or getting on the phone calling people One woman was so happy that she ran out of the showroom, into the casino and grabbed a bunch of quarters and threw them in the air," he laughs.

He's not out to embarrass anyone, and it's all in the spirit of clean fun. Except for one snafu that pushed the envelope - albeit accidently.

"I was at a fair in Ventura, California and I made a guy think he was Richard Simmons. I didn't realize it until the end, but he had pulled down his shorts and was mooning the audience That was an unexpected surprise," he recalls.

But Lewis doesn't do it just for laughs. All kidding aside, hypnosis has been known to help people overcome personal issues. Along the way he mixes in classes for weight control, smoking cessation and increased focus.

"People will see my comedy shows and they think that's all it is, but clinical hypnosis is a whole different thing," Lewis says.

There was a time when Lewis needed to help himself before working with others.

"I was helping patients lose weight through hypnosis, but I was 45 pounds overweight and felt like a hypocrite I ended up doing self-hypnosis and lost all that weight," he explains.

Hypnosis may not work for all, but it certainly has worked for some, Lewis says.

"I've had a lot of people lose from 5 to over 100 pounds with one session. I've had a number of people quit smoking - some who have been three-packs-a-day smokers for over 10 years."

Whether he's cracking up massive crowds or working with a single patient, Lewis says he's happy with his unique career choice.

"It's totally fulfilling to me to see people with their masks down and not caring or working with them to stop a bad habit."

Catch one of his high-octane shows before it's too late. You never know what to expect, but one thing's for sure - you definitely won't be sleepy.

Contact Lehia Apana at lehia@mauinews.com.