Every week I write a column called BE YOU for one of the local papers (The Times of Acadiana) – Each week someone different answers the questionnaire – the paper often has to edit them,  so here are all the answers, unedited (the whole truth.) This week – Flip Orley

Flip Orley is a comedy hypnotist and a very interesting man. He made me laugh so many times on Facebook that I had to meet him in person (don’t worry we met in a public place). Flip lives in Lafayette but his work takes him around the country – and provides his facebook friends with hilarious tales of his travels. He’s a pretty big deal and has been on The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, and even Rikki Lake. This guy is a little different, but he’s definitely being himself.

What was your first job?
I guess that depends on how far you want to go back. I had paper routes in elementary school. From there I worked in restaurants, sold shoes, managed rental property. In my early 20’s I had a real estate license and sold residential property… I can keep going .
I started doing comedy when I was 18 years old and added stage hypnosis to my show when I was 21 or 22 years old.

Describe a typical day in your life.
A typical day really depends on if I am working or off work. If I am on the road working I might need to be out of bed and moving as early as 5am to promote my show doing radio and / or tv interviews. The interviews can last (on and off) throughout the day all the way up to show time. There are some clubs and some weeks where I have no interviews scheduled. Every week is different. Weekdays there is usually one show that starts around 8 pm. On weekends, typically there are 2 shows with times that are around 8 pm and 10:30 pm.
I have been traveling for quite a few years and have friends in a number of towns around the country, so I try to get together with friends to catch up.
When home in Lafayette, normal domestic activities.
At home or on the road, I am always communicating with friends and people who enjoy my show through social media like Facebook, Twitter, Google +, etc. I have become a big fan (especially a big fan of Facebook) of social media because it gives me a great opportunity to have a direct dialog with anyone who has an interest in my show, hypnosis, or just about anything else that’s fun to discuss.

What advice would you give the younger you?
Not every battle is worth fighting.

What event in your life most shaped who you are now?
I don’t know if I can point to one specific event that shaped me. I always like to answer questions directly and do my best not to avoid a question or spin a question, but I honestly don’t have a good answer for you. My life (I assume much like most people) has been a journey of successes and failures and I have developed into the person I am over my life.

What values do you live by?
I believe in honesty. I also believe in 1 set of rules. I find it unacceptable when a person expects things from you they are unwilling to give to you.

What do you most appreciate?
My Son.

What is your favorite journey?
My favorite journey is being a dad and watching my son grow up.

Where is your favorite place to be alone?
I am comfortable being alone everywhere. I have been traveling and staying in hotels by myself almost my entire adult life, so it is something that is comfortable and familiar to me.

What living figure most inspires you?
The figure 8.

Oh, I guess you mean a person, huh? Certain careers inspire me when done by the people who are passionate about their work. Firefighters inspire me. In July my mom went into the hospital, 3 days later went to hospice and 1 week later passed away. The nurses working for hospice were amazing. They treated my mom with dignity and care, they were so compassionate and made a horrible situation possible to deal with. Some teachers have really inspired me. The list goes on and on, what I’m trying to say is people who do the right thing because they know it’s the right thing to do, never seeking a spotlight inspires me.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
If you tell the truth you never have to worry about having a good memory.

What book would you tell everyone to read?
I love to read, but I would never presume to tell anyone what they should read.

What is the best thing about where you live?
My son lives here!
I also have friends here, people are friendly, and you can’t forget about the food.

How do you “let the good times roll” ?
I find fun in just about everything I do
What did u want to be when you grew up?
A comedian!

What is your motto?
I don’t have motto and I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a motto.

How would you like to be remembered?
As the guy who wouldn’t die.

What do you say to yourself when you doubt yourself?
Give it a shot, what do you have to lose.

What three things are vital to BEing YOU?
Being the best parent possible
Being the best friend and family member possible
Doing the best show possible, every time I walk on stage

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I love words. In fact, I will go out of my way to use certain words whenever possible.
If / when I start to overuse a word or phrase, I will make an active effort to let it go.

What is your favorite word?
As a hypnotist – “Sleep”

What do you collect?
I don’t really collect anything. I have some material objects, but “stuff” doesn’t mean too much to me.

What food could you live on for a month?
Sadly, Pizza

What would you change about yourself?
I’m pretty sure there are many things.
Pick one??? Improve my internal editing. I don’t need to say everything that crosses my mind.

What literary, movie or cartoon character do you most identify with?
I don’t have one. I have never had so many interesting questions posed, but I can’t make up an answer just to have an answer.

Describe yourself in five words.
funny, silly, sarcastic, casual, independent

What is your idea of happiness?
Silliness

What is your favorite movie?
PROBABLY – “This Is Spinal Tap”

What music defines who you are?
I don’t know that I’m aware of any music that “defines me”.
I certainly have bands and songs that I love to listen to, and that mean something special to me.

What do you most regret?
The times in my life where I spoke without thinking.

What question do you wish I’d asked?
Oddly enough, I’m not sure. If this were an interview about comedy I would have wanted some questions asked about comedy, what I find funny, etc. If this were an interview about hypnosis, I would have looked for question about the mind, psychology, creativity, self-improvement, etc.
However, this seems like an interview about me. I don’t think I’ve ever participated in an interview about me, my personal life, or my thoughts and philosophies. Consequently, I don’t know what else I would have wanted you to ask.

What would the answer be?
Serendipity