Kaz still hypnotic as he heads for Sunset

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 8:57 a.m.

A couple of "f" words best describe Thom Kaz's "Rock 'n' Roll Hypnosis Show" -- fun and free.

The squeaky-clean comedic mesmerist with rock 'n' roll leanings has been a staple at Palace Station's Laugh Trax Comedy Club for the past eight months.

Tonight he adds Sunset Station to his calendar, where he will perform at 10 p.m. Fridays at Club Madrid. He will continue to hypnotize fans at Palace Station at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays and 10 p.m. Thursdays.

Kaz, a native of Mobile, Ala., arrived in Vegas in October 2002.

"I was traveling around the country doing corporate work, casinos, colleges," he said. "I thought my show would be a good fit for Vegas -- it's high energy, fast paced."

He didn't land work right away.

"I spent the first year trying to establish myself," he said. "I did a couple of free shows at the university. I did one for a Green Valley High School fund-raiser."

Eventually, Kaz caught the attention of Palace Station officials, and they offered him a one-month deal that was later extended.

While waiting to be discovered, Kaz spent a lot of time establishing his charity in Vegas -- the Hit A Home Run Against Drugs Program, which he says is designed to work with youth organizations, elementary schools and community organizations.

He started the anti-drug program in 1994. It is now in 23 states.

"I lost two close friends in high school because of drugs," Kaz said.

He decided the best way to have an impact on drug use was to focus on children in second and third grades, before they have a chance to be lured into the drug environment.

"The program is centered upon a school assembly," Kaz said. "The first 10 to 15 minutes are educational. Then we bring in a local personality from the media or sports."

At the end of the program children are presented with personalized books.

"The children's names are part of the story."

Kaz says the "Hit A Home Run Against Drugs" program "promotes healthy lifestyle choices ... by empowering people with the knowledge and self-esteem to prevent tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse."

The program, which is managed by himself and his wife, Alison, is funded through donations and fund-raising events. For more information visit their Web site, www.homerunagainstdrugs.org.

In addition to his show and his charity, Kaz has developed seminars, audio tapes, books and other material designed to help people stop smoking and lose weight.

Kaz became interested in hypnotism while he was in high school, around the age of 15, after reading an article in Sports Illustrated about how many athletes used hypnosis as a motivational tool to help them become better athletes.

"So I started learning more about it and eventually I started hypnotizing my classmates and teammates," Kaz said. "I became the go-to guy for motivation."

Kaz studied hypnotism while he was in the Air Force, stationed in Omaha, Neb. Eventually he graduated from the National Guild of Hypnotists Program and became a professional motivator, which was the focus of his career until 10 years ago, when he saw his first hypnosis show.

"Jay Medicine Hat -- he's an Indian, well known on the comedy circuit," Kaz said.

Kaz decided going onstage would be a good way to drum up business for his other pursuits.

In 1995 he started performing.

He says his show is different from many of today's hypnotists -- he doesn't do X-rated material.

"I keep it relatively clean," Kaz said.

It's like a mini-rock concert, with lots of lights and music.

"It's very physical," he said. "The participants move around a lot, doing different things.

"That's part of the show, but it isn't the entire show."

Again, the show is free -- which isn't a bad four-letter word.

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