the Free Online Hypnosis Community
Stage Hypnosis Safety and the Insurance industry
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UPDATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well this last weekend a secret meeting took place headed up by Susan Rosen she brought together a group of Hypnotists with promises of fame and fortune (OK that is a gross exaggeration). Actually she presented her case with a bit of a sales pitch that simply stated that for 3000.00 dollars a piece these hypnotists could become licensed trainers for her program for stage safety and could recoup their money by charging 295.00 a person for training them in stage safety, they would also be able to leverage to everyone that they were certified by Mrs Rosen (who to general knowledge does not hold any instructor certificates with any certifying body or operate a state certified school)
I was also made aware that as part of her pitch that these people could then use this designation to put them selves over other people in gaining jobs because for the 3000.00 they were now certified in stage safety training.
It was also put out that the high cost of certification was due to Mrs Rosen's need to recoup 14,000 of her own dollars... For what is unknown....
What is known is the meeting did not go the way it was planned and it left a very bad taste in the mouths of several top Hypnotists who felt that this was some sort of scam. Due to the nature of this I will not state any names and if people want to come forward of their own accord to express their opinion then that is in their bailiwick, not mine.
Also it has been repeated to me several times that Stephanie Weiss is prepared to drop all hypnotists from her policy completely...
With the feeling that we are being put over a barrel by essentially the sole provider of affordable insurance many people who have called me have said they are not only scared of losing their coverage, they are also scared that they will not be able to get insurance and will be forced out of business!
Personally I have done my best to assist in moderating this and play to both sides for a fair resolution. I have been told that Stephanie does not want to have any sort of conversation to come up with a solution that makes everyone happy. A sort of my way or the highway approach.. I have been a good customer of this firm for many years and nave never had a claim nor complaint. So to me this has been a terrible reproach.
Today I am working on a solution so that we have another choice in provider with competitive rates and A++ rating so that we are not stuck with one draconian choice. I am not a insurance agent nor am I going to be... Just a moderator that will work to find a quality solution for all of us that does not raise complaint nor put one in charge of all.
Thank you everyone for your support with this
Justin James
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! END UPDATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So if you have seen my posts over time you will know that I have considerable issue with poorly trained stage performers.
Now I will apologize to Lee Darrow for possibly grandstanding him on this issue, however we have a problem folks..
Specialty Insurance Formerly Clowns of the US has put a policy in place that Stage Hypnotists must go through a safety course before they are granted insurance through their company.
In so doing they have contracted with a stage hypnotist by the Name of Susan Rosen To not only direct the program but administer the testing. Now this in its self is not the problem.
The Problem is that Susan Rosen is a direct competitor to every other stage hypnotist in the market. Also she holds the position of being Entertainment Chair for the WFA (Western Fairs Association) and on the board of directors for the AFA (Arizona Fairs Association.
She is in direct competition with other stage hypnotists for booking venues and holding this role will be put not only in a very powerful position however she will then be able to unfairly leverage herself due to insurance requirements needed to perform in many markets.....
I have gone directly to the company and suggested that the training program that is developed be certified by several schools and not just the ones that teach stage hypnosis.
I have also not only suggested that this program be taken out of the hands of any one individual but be presented so that the hypnotist could take the program online and take an exam..
To that effect I have offered my services for no charge to assist in developing the online portion.......................................
I need your help guys... We need several high standing schools and potentially other certifying bodies to edit this when it hits the streets and to put a mark of approval it it.....
I also believe that we need to stand strong as a community and not allow any one individual with no checks or balances attached to run something such as this..
This needs to be certified by the pros.. But out of our hands for the administration of it...
Lee I know you want to jump up and down but now is not the time... We need your help.
Specialty Insurance, is the primary insurer of stage hypnotist's in the USA and stage hypnotist's are their major source of claims... Due to the fact that many schools are teaching inadequate material or training people insufficiently to perform safely....
For you Hypnotherapists out there who do not like stage hypnosis or could not care about this issue... Let me inform you that done wrong this will effect you and potentially your ability to get insured or to even work as a hypnotherapist.....
Stage Hypnosis not only is a great form of entertainment it is also one of the reasons that Hypnosis is alive and well today. We serve as the first experience that people have with hypnosis, and most all of although you do have to deal with fears brought on by performers you have people wanting to know more and inquiring for service many times due to the fact that they saw a show at some point in the past...
NOTE::::: Please do not Call the agency with questions or rants.....
Stephanie Weiss Owner of Specialty Insurance has made it clear that she is attempting this to help us straighten out a problem and if this program does not work she will not insure stage hypnotists again!
I want her program to work and I do not want her discontinuing Insurance for our profession ..
We Need to self police our industry and in doing so
I am looking for people who will come forward (Professional Schools and Instructors) who will assist in certifying this program at no personal gain to them self............................
If you want to find a way to make money off of this again it will cause a conflict of interest..
We will all make money by staying Insured!
I design web sites and content on the side however if you are a designer and can donate time and expertise that may be helpful
Lets make a list of Vital topics...
Lee you can be instrumental with that.. Again it has to be a donation...
The personal gain that we receive is the ability to stay insured and to assist a wonderful lady who is fighting for us in her own way to keep us in business..............
If we as a group jump down her throat and complain then we greatly risk her shutting down this program for good............
I am insured myself through this agency so have a direct interest in seeing this program successful....
I also have a direct interest in making certain that my competitors are performing safely. So do all of us....
So lets brainstorm this, lets not discuss problems or politic, lets come up with solutions so that we do not create something that could put us out of business or create precedent for restrictive legislation..
Again please respond with solutions... We do not need to rehash the stupidity of past events or the legal problems of other states..
With greatest respect to the community and my peers,
Justin James
CEO
The Hypnosis Company
PO BX 35980
Las Vegas NV 89133
www.thehypnosiscompany.com
Tags: insurance, james, stage, comedy, for, hypnosis, hypnotists, justin
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul Knight on -
Given the events of the past few days, it is obvious I have been playing Neville Chamberlin to Justin's Winston Churchill. I clearly was pushing in the wrong direction. Justin, your efforts are appreciated and thank you for respectfully ignoring my comments.
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Permalink Reply by Guy Cater on -
Hi Lee
Thanks for the nice words, but... I think you have something a little wrong when you mention money.
Firstly I assumed that the messages Brian and I would receive woould have things like ...'make sure the stage has a back or if not ensure you have spotters (catchers) present' ... 'reinforce the suggestion that no matter how far under you go, you will always respond to voice'... that sort of thing,, you know.. using the experience of the community and then putting all these things into some coherent form. Nothing that would need to be acknowleged by folks ... just ideas on safety issues.
The fact is that Barry wanted every member of the hypnosis community to have access to a certified safety course AT NO COST. He doesn't need more money ... he makes enough from his Hypnotic performances, keynote speaking and training. He wanted to give back ... as I did and I'm sure Brian too. The whole idea was to put together a safety course that would be accepted by the insurers and then make this education available to EVERYONE, without charge.
After all ... it's nice to do something good now again. The hypnotic profession has been extremely good to me and I'm happy to help others if I can and that is exactly what Barry said to me when this whole thing was mentioned.
Kia Ora from New Zealand.
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Permalink Reply by Lee Darrow on -
My apologies on the money issue - your attachment was unreadable on my system for reasons known only to Deity and Microsoft, it seems. Like the man said - "To err is human, but to really screw things up takes a computer, a network and Microsoft!" ;)
However, my major concern with Barry's proposed program was the lack of transparency that was inherent in it. Without knowing who the contributors actually are, after publication, it becomes extremely difficult to "put their feet to the fire" should they violate their own rules and guidelines.
Since my wife published the largest talent-oriented directory in Illinois, with a readership in excess of 4 million and also one of the most widely-read talent-oriented magazines in the region as well in her day, with a similar readership, her concern was the same as mine - transparency - or, if you will, accountability and credibility regarding the actual contributors to Barry's proposed project. With them being anonymous, as suggested, credibility can fall into question, particularly as to whether the contributors exist at all, not to mention whether they are ctually following their own guidelines.
In the insurance business, anonymity, with regards to authorship of standards and practices, is anathema. It should be considered such in this situation as well, because that is precisely what we are doing - establishing standards and practices for the industry as a whole with regards to safety.
This is why an open discussion of the process, methods and implementation of this initiative is so very important to making this whole thing happen in a fair, open and completely legal manner.
Again, thanks for your input in this and my apologies to you and Barry for the misunderstanding.
Lee Darrow, C.H.
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Permalink Reply by Barry Jones on -
Many thanks Lee---I had a very nice e-mail from Stephanie so I see things as being very positive. The web page will be up and running in a couple of weeks so maybe it will help things ---I do feel confident it will.
Best Wishes Barry
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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - HypnosisGurus.com on -
WooHoo a thread with 100 posts.
This is the 100th post.
Agree or disagree with the topics on this thread, thanx scott for a great furum to exchange ideas....
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Permalink Reply by Richard Rumble on
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Been REALLY busy..... just lurking on this one..... AND I have other insurance besides the one I get through Stephanie...
But I had to pop in to be 101 on the posts...
Richard Rumble
Mister Hypnosis
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Permalink Reply by Lee Darrow on
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Barry, all I ask is that ANY contributors are named and contact information is noted, and their specific contributions are referenced.
Complete transparency is the ONLY standard in the insurance industry - and that is what we are dealing with here.
And, as an aside, Stephanie has STILL not gotten her educational program approved by the Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance at last notice. While her words may be positive, she needs to toe the line on legalities or, unfortunately, the Commissioner's legal hammer may well fall - and none of us wants THAT to happen.
However, unless she gets the education program approved, it is a pretty sure thing that the State Commissioner of Insurance will NOT be pleased with her actions in this affair ... and a State Commissioner of Insurance is one of the last people on the planet that anyone wants to annoy.
Trust me on this. I've seen the unpleasant results when one of those officials becomes aware of even a minor irregularity in the process of someone following their regulations - and it wasn't pretty.
This is why I have been so very vocal about the legalities of getting the program properly vetted through all 50 State's Commissioner's Offices - because, if one does not do that, the penalties can range from a simple Cease & Desist order to stiff fines and, in some cases, I believe, jail terms.
And no one wants that to happen to anyone involved in this situation.
Lee Darrow, C.H.
Licensed and Bonded Insurance Agent and Broker (in Illinois ONLY) for Life, Health and Accident insurance.
This is NOT a solicitation for the sale of any insurance product or service. No agent will call on you.
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Permalink Reply by Don Rice on -
Hi Justin, Thanks for all of your work toward healing the insurance problem. If I can be of any help just ask and I'll be there.
Do Good & Make Money
Don
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Permalink Reply by Justin James on -
Thanks guys !
Justin James
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Permalink Reply by Justin James on
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Everyone please copy this and send it to your lists
Thank you
Justin James
If you would like to get new insurance the insurer needs a headcount.
Please email the insurer and cc me so we can figure out the policy base...
The insurer has appointed me as point person to bring us all together. Not a job I wanted however I want insurance!
I have copied the letter from HRH to this email and I ask that you email me and them back with a yes or no if you would be interested in getting new insurance...
Barring this your options are limited because Stephanie Weiss of Specialty Insurance does NOT WANT YOUR INPUT..... This debacle has been going on for a couple of months and she is backing Susan Rosen 100%
If you want a blow by blow of everything for your education read this discussion forum http://www.hypnothoughts.com/forum/topic/show?id=716892%3ATopic%3A4...
If you want to call me directly with questions I can be reached at jjhypnotist@gmail.com or 702-285-0199
Thanks,
Justin James
Hi Guys here is a letter from the insurer as to what they want and who they are.
Please email me @ jjhypnotist@gmail.com and the Insurer Dale.wittick@hrh.com let us know if you are interested in switching policy's
Thank you
Justin James
Justin,
The underwriter for our existing mobile entertainer insurance program is interested in offering insurance to hypnotists. The estimated annual costs would be around $350 for premium and processing for a $1,000,000 occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate general liability policy. To qualify, each hypnotist would need to take an online stage safety tutorial and answer the questions that follow.
The carrier will have to do a hypnotist filing to the insurance department. Before the underwriter commits resources he needs to know how many hypnotists will purchase this insurance at this cost. Please send this email to all you think are interested and ask they respond directly to me so I can compile an exact number of responses. My email address is Dale.Wittick@HRH.com
You also requested information about HRH and our current mobile entertainer program.
HRH is the 8th largest publicly traded insurance brokerage, trades on the NYSE and has over 120 offices across the county. One of my clients is the largest mobile entertainer association in the country generating over $600,000 in premium annually from their members. HRH facilitates their insurance benefit offered to the members. They have offered a URL on their website to host the stage safety tutorial with no charge to any hypnotist. They had been discussing the creation of just such a member benefit.
Time is of the essence for responses. I will let you know how many I receive by Friday afternoon. If there are enough I can get the insurer to proceed with the filing.
Cordially,
Dale Wittick, Jr. CPCU
Vice President HRH Online E-insurance Operations
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Permalink Reply by Bob Brown, CHt, CNLP on -
Is this for US only? Will it cover Canada?
bob
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Permalink Reply by Justin James on
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Yes !
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