Charging

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mirja crimson	28 Oct 2002
I know there was a thread on charging for reading at pubs and parties and the like, and a lot of people suggested putting up a jar or asking for a drink in return. But what if you want to put a post on your mailbox or on some bulletin board that you are willing to read for people and you'd like to get some extra cash from it? How much is appropriate to charge? And also, since I'd feel uncomfortable reading at my own house, just because of the whoel strangers issue, what public place would be ideal for a reading?

RingTheory	28 Oct 2002
Try your local new age/metaphysical bookstores...most of them offer tarot readings and private rooms for that purpose.

rota	29 Oct 2002
I thoroughly get the notion of the universe operating on a give/take basis, and I accept the idea that it's okay to be paid for offering your abilities to read cards for peoples' benefit. Charging for readings is something I haven't done yet. Perhaps I will at some time in the future, but though I've done readings for plenty of strangers I haven't yet asked for money. (For me, at the moment, Tarot has to do with learning, finding, digging, studying, asking the Immanent All for clues.) In my town I've seen public Tarot readers of various sorts: punky kids in torn goth clothes reading cards on a blanket in the park, a guy all in green seated in a painted plywood stall in a doorway on a trendy street, women in flowing dresses at 'psychic fairs' reading with angel-themed decks, students in the university cafes flipping cards for each other... all of them were being paid for their efforts. I've seen prices between $5- and $40. It sounds to me as though charging for your readings is the direction you're headed. I don't have any doubt that you'll find your way in that regard. In fact I think you're about an inch away from becoming one of that honored society just by asking the questions. Best of luck, although I don't imagine you'll need it! +++++++++++ (I was a little surprised myself at the number of people who seemed to think it would be okay to be paid for a reading with a drink. I wonder what a few drinks would do to the quality and accuracy of a reading...?)

Kiama	29 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by rota (I was a little surprised myself at the number of people who seemed to think it would be okay to be paid for a reading with a drink. I wonder what a few drinks would do to the quality and accuracy of a reading...?) LOL. It is a very funny thing to speculate on isn't it? I used to swear to myself that I would never read for people if I was even remotely tipsy, but then that all went to pot when I went to pubs far too much with friends... I find that a little alcohol can be beneficial, because it relaxes people, both you and the querent, and makes you more open. TOO MUCH alcohol however, makes me drowsy and that means I just cannot cope with a whole reading... Mirja: I wa thinking of charing between £5-10 for a reading when I went professional. IF I ver go professional that is! ;) I was thinking that if I did get really really good at it, and if I got lots of good feeback, I might go higher, depending... I mean, if I had lots of regulars, then I wouldn't charge hem higher, but for the one-offs maybe... Kiama

zander770	03 Nov 2002
this totally (for me) depends upon 1) the type of spread, and; 2) the length of my reading, simple as that! now, of course, some times i do not know (exactly) how long my reading WILL/might be, but, in general i can "guesstimate" from the requested spread, and/or "topical question" (and, usually? i don't even Want to Know my querent's "question")! 770

Page	04 Nov 2002
For sure charge! I've been doing clairvoyant reading for some time now and when I first started I didn't charge as I was learning. Then I had people telling me that it's a gift and it should be FREE!! Now that I have learn't from a few lessons I will always charge or have something in exchange. for the simple reasons why I now charge 1. I always pay for my readings. 2. Just try and charge someone you know and the get hacked off with you. + they never seem to want to hear what's going on for you as they think that you have all the magic answers. ( I guess I didn't have the right sort of friends around me) 3. I felt drained!!!! 4. I was doing reading all the time for stupid reasons. When I did start charging 10 years ago, even if was just £5 for friends and £25 for pro readings. I had a good number clients that come back to be every 4-6 months instead of every few weeks. Now I want to get back in do doing my readings and work form a rented room instead of working from home or going to others which I used to do. + I now only do reading for 1 hour max! Don't feel bad about charging, I did and paid the price. sorry if I seem a tad full on about this but it's something that I feel strongly about. esp as I have NO income at the moment. maud

RedWood	04 Nov 2002
I agree...i think you should charge..some people say a gift isnt for charging...but the way i see it is...Writers charge to published and for you to buy their books....You have to buy tarot decks..So just do what you feel comfortable with even if it is a small amount to begin with.

amber_wish	05 Nov 2002
Hi,I am new here. Nice meeting u all. I have recently been asked to take part in a Holistic fair to do Tarot reading. My recent financial sitaution had not been good. I was given a couple of deal options 1) Have shared earnings with the organisers but have to give them exclusive right to my clients from that fair. 2)Take No earnings but I get exclusive rights to the clients database from the fair. Broke as I was, I choose option 2 . The fair went very well and I had alots readings done. As the end of the fair, the organiser called me to have a chat...she gave me a token sum for my hard work said it's only fair. I am greatly surprise! I am glad I chose wisely. The charges at the fairs were between US$12-US$18. Yes, I agress there has to be some exchange, money or in kind. However, I will think twice if its for a drink.....how to concentrate? blessings amber_wish

HudsonGray	05 Nov 2002
Whoa! I've never heard that the fair providers GET TO KEEP THE CLIENTS! Huh? That's certainly not fair at all! I can see splitting the proceeds with them, that's what they do here in the US at the spirit fairs--the promoter has to pay the hotel for the room rental & the admission fees from the door don't cover it, so they take 1/2 the cost of the reading from each reader to cover that & the cost of the advertising they had to do. But they'd never think of getting exclusive rights to all the people who came! This was in Asia? The UK? The USA?

amber_wish	06 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by HudsonGray Whoa! I've never heard that the fair providers GET TO KEEP THE CLIENTS! Huh? That's certainly not fair at all! I can see splitting the proceeds with them, that's what they do here in the US at the spirit fairs--the promoter has to pay the hotel for the room rental & the admission fees from the door don't cover it, so they take 1/2 the cost of the reading from each reader to cover that & the cost of the advertising they had to do. But they'd never think of getting exclusive rights to all the people who came! This was in Asia? The UK? The USA? Ya, it is abit unfair but I am not currently in the position to choose, so had to make do. As it turned out they were fair to me at the end by giving me a token...maybe they realised. Since I had started doing holistic work, I have never been more broke in my life, this experience has in a way given me some faith that the Universe will provide. Blessings

Sorceress_Jade	06 Nov 2002
My favorite reader here where I live charges by length of time. I believe it's something like $20 for 15 minutes (or was that the other way around?) anyway. The more time you wanted the better deal you got. She talks to me a moment and has me shuffle only ones, then lays out continuous 3 card spreads, telling me what she sees and asking me questions regarding it. Then she'll direct the next three cards to whatever I was focused on in the previous three. I admit that this lady was definetly psychic, however she kept laughing and saying it seemed like she had to go with what the traditional sense of the card was with me. (shrug, maybe i don't give off strong psychic waves, lol) At any rate, this might be something to consider for when you begin to charge. You'll want to take into account shuffling and the size of the spread and stuff obviously. But it might work out.

Kiama	06 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by RedWood I agree...i think you should charge..some people say a gift isnt for charging...but the way i see it is...Writers charge to published and for you to buy their books....You have to buy tarot decks..So just do what you feel comfortable with even if it is a small amount to begin with. I agree, but for different reasons... For me, being able to read Tarot well is not a gift, it's something you learn through hard work and study aswell as experience.... ANYBODY can do it, if they put the time and effort into it! To me, if I've put all this study and time and effort into perfecting a skill that needs to be learned, I am quite justified in charging. Though I do have a worry about charging 'too much'... Along the same lines, but different... Since it ISN'T an innate special gift or psychic power, I don't believe the charge for a reading should be obscenely high... I have never earned mor ethan £5 an hour for any job I have done, and since I see Tarot reading as just a mundane as all other jobs and hobbies, I would be reluctant to charge as though it was diferent and as though I was special and gifted... Kiama

Pollux	06 Nov 2002
The reason why I charge now, and even more often I am doing recently, it is because with those money I can buy new decks and books, keep learning, and being up-to-date if you want. I have no income and can't get a job cos Uni hours don't allow that - yet giving reading is flexible and somethng I can tackle with. In addition, like Kiama says, it takes time and effort cos it is developed and cultivated, and in a way you must get something back for the personal engagement and intent when that is offered to the help of others. And after all, not everyone thinks it should be free as well as not everyone thinks is shuld be not - but in my experience there were more willing to give me something, and often more than I expected or wanted. Furthermore, it also implies spending a lot of money for the "maintenance" and the books and the rest of it, and basically when people ask me outright WHY, I tell them this: cos I want to buy other books and learn more and enlarge my deck collection. So there. :P *LOL*

bec	06 Nov 2002
strikes me as funny thinking that reading tarot is a gift you cant charge money for. If I was gifted by tarot, I wouldnt have had to study for over 10 years now and still feel as I am only a novice. I charge 350 danish kroners for a clinik reading 150 danish kroners for a distance reading think that would be about 30 guit/bucks and 35 euro - not sure of the currencees when viewing other tarot readers and their fees here in denmark (think we are now bout 15 readers countrywide), I am extremely cheap. Others here charge between 480-650 kroners. Still I am expensive enough to keep those of my doorstep who just wanna a "freak show" and that I am very pleased with. Are they serious bout it, they will pay. I dont have a gift, all I do is practising a craft everybody can learn.

The Charging thread was originally posted on 28 Oct 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.