RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
Travis Holp’s bubbly personality and perpetual smile are an immediate comfort — which helps for the line of work he’s in. Connecting with a medium isn’t a scary thing, but for the uninitiated or even the trepidatious, Holp’s demeanor can put most anyone at immediate ease.
Whether he’s one-on-one in person or via Zoom or commanding an audience, Holp (he/him) can connect with loved ones who have departed and, as he did for me, deliver an experience that was touching and sweet and, yeah, kinda mindblowing.
But first, let’s be sure what he does.
“A medium is anybody who connects with energy outside themselves. I’m an evidential medium,” Holp said via Zoom. “In spiritualism, I work with the souls of the departed and bring through as much evidence as I possibly can of who I’m connecting with.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that mediumship is used to tell the future or get the winning lottery numbers,” he said. “I’ve heard it all. But the true purpose is to simply share the continuation of life and that we are more than our physical bodies.”
Holp is on the road with his Dead Serious Tour and will share his abilities with Dallas audiences on Sunday, March 16, at the Addison Improv.
And those in attendance might just get read.
The centerpiece of Holp’s live show is him connecting with those who have departed and sharing their messages. And it’s almost apropos that his tour lands in a comedy club.
Laughter and good vibes are helpful.
“Yeah, it raises our vibrations and makes communication so much easier,” Holp said. “I’m not a comedian — although people call me a comedium — but, you know, I’m gay and have trauma, therefore I’m funny. It’s part of the deal.
“But I tell stories about readings I’ve done and things that have happened as well delivering messages. There’s always laughs and tears.”
Holp describes himself as being almost like a radio, and when he tunes into the right frequency, he will get his messages. As we chatted on Zoom for this interview, he confirmed that he got some vibes off of me. With an open mind, I was ready to hear what he had to say.
He started by sensing a departed paternal figure — not my father, who he did say was still with us (fact) — who had some breathing issues. But that didn’t quite ring any bells.
“That’s OK. It happens,” Holp said.
In fact, he owns up to the fact that readings can go wrong or, at least, not quite match up.
“Girl, yes! If any medium tells you they are perfect every time, they are lying to you,” he exclaimed. “Of course. Honey, this is not a perfect science. Sometimes loved ones just don’t come through, or I misunderstand the information. Or the sitter doesn’t connect.
“If that happens, the best thing I can do is be honest, say ‘I’m sorry,’ give their money back, and they will be on their way,” he acknowledged. “No job is perfect.”
Basically, he’s saying mediums are human too; they just happen to talk to dead people.
Holp will read anybody, but he does see some through lines in his readings of queer people.
He’s found compassion, fear and peace. As a gay man, he understands the collective trauma family can inflict, intentionally or not.
“I have seen a lot of queer people who have loved ones that had a fear of fully loving their child for who they are, and they not only have grief for their passing but also for that severed relationship before making amends,” he said. “But the gift, I think, is sharing those messages that the departed loved ones acknowledge those fears.”
Ultimately, Holp landed on my mother — whose death has been the most significant one I’ve had in my family.
A parent passing isn’t a hard guess, but I was still here for it. Watching Holp, I can’t deny that he seemed to get locked in, and he presented me with a random fact: “They are letting me know we were not able to say ‘bye’ to them at their departure. Were you away from her at this time or living somewhere else at this time? Do you understand this,” he asked.
The answer is “yes.”
From that moment on, Holp nailed a bunch of details regarding my mother and me as well as my siblings. He even had a specific message to my sister that was spot-on.
I wouldn’t say I was shook. But I was certainly astounded.
Soon after, I concluded the interview with my usual professional and friendly demeanor — but he was right about the tears.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit TravisHolp.com.
A fool and his money are soon parted.