Tarot readers at events

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

nighthawk	12 Jul 2003
Hi I would like to get some input on a subject. Frist I have to appolagies if I afend anyone. I went to a event this past Friday where they had 14 tarot readers. I basicly went with open eyes and as if I was the public. My frist inpression of the readers was not favroable at all. The main person in charge made it clear that she was in charge of the tent and that everyone that was working for her had to dress as gypsies. Because this was to pay homage to them for being the frist tarot readers or something like that. I got a feeling that she was on a power trip. Then I went and talked to another person and all she wanted to do was push me into her church. All in all I was not impressed with the few that where there at that time. I had hoped to talk to readers that showed intellegent tarot desicussion. As I get here online and am very pleased with the subjects and the great help. Can some of the menbers explaine the proper way to read for the public so they don't look at readers as if we are side show entertainers? Or give some comments on other readers of what not to do. Again I appolagies and hope not to offend anyone. Thank you

jmd	13 Jul 2003
I find it amazing that these things can still happen in certain places. Maybe suggesting that they all dress as rich Renaissance northern Italians may have been more appropriate given the current state of historical play ;). I have been, as undoubtedly many here also have, to numerous events where Tarot readers read, but have never personally experienced what you mention. When you ask for the 'proper' way to read for the public, integrity, in my opinion, comes first. For some, this may very well also include particular clothes for the event - and for some, this may even include dress which is reminiscent of 19th century stereotypical 'Gypsy' ware. Personally, a person which looks clean, well groomed, and appears to radiate some internal light I will find far more likely to attract readees (I just don't like the word 'client') than someone who appears to put on a strong mask, hiding their very self - on the other hand, I even know one person who actually wears a mask over his eyes, taking on his personality as a reader thereby! Part of the main problem I see with your experience as described is that the readers did not seem to have the freedom required to be themselves - which, in my view, is also fundamental. Looking forward to reading other responses.

Umbrae	13 Jul 2003
Well I feel pretty split. On one hand, were folks attending, happy? Did the readers make money? If the folks attending were happy, and the event was well attended – what we think may be meaningless. Often the public wants to believe in myth; myth retains a power long after facts and truth are forgotten. If they paid, and the readers were happy – could be a win-win. On the other, it sounds like it was organized as a marketing scheme. Were the readers any good? Were we able to sample more than one? Did they all try to separate the public from their money and further the fallacious myth of the Roma People? Were the readings good or just so much memorized little spiels…Were the readers all fakes? I’ve known some fakes who were excellent readers… My feelings? Everything, your dress, your hair, your nails, and your jewelry should be subtle; and not speak louder than your presence itself. Rings…fewer the better…nothing too large, they detract from the cards – folks will be watching your hands and not paying attention to the reading. Fake nails…no…you are a reader. Never cheapen our craft by attempting to dress as a gypsy fortune-teller from 1932, it is after all, 2003.

Teranar	13 Jul 2003
Hmmm... I'm used to renfairs where the fortune tellers dressed like gypsys, but that's cause we're pretending it really is the rennasance. Outside the fair I know for a fact one person reads in blue jeans and a t-shirt advertising the bar she reads in. But I agree with Umbrae's line of thought, with were they making money and whatnot. Just a bit of curiosity: Were any of them male, or did they fill the curious only women read tarot steriotype?

Cerulean	13 Jul 2003
...I had recently a reading as a birthday 'fun' thing. We were walking around Monterey and followed a sign. The reader seemed to be a woman from Central America. When she was reading, she took on the tones of a woman from Jamiaca. She talked of me having an Egyptian past life--she was using Zolar astrological cards of pink and green. Originally she thought I would do a palm-reading. I guessed she has seen Madame Cleo or she really was of island heritage. She opened her reading with, "If the cards I lay out do not tell what you like, no hard feelings now, hon?" She laid about a third of the deck into parallel rows after I divided the cards into three piles. Her eyes were actually on the cards, not me when she was talking. The 'gypsy' motif might be more aligned with someone who associates tarot cards with palm-reading and crystal balls. If one shows a gypsy, one can sell an array of fortune-telling services. I think I liked the RenFaire costumes much better. I'm interested in those who read with the large visconti decks...I've had good results, but only from reading good booklets and a few decent books. Mari Hoshizaki

Astra	13 Jul 2003
What you saw was, I think, fairly common (except for the gypsy dress) for organizations that sponsor "psychic fairs". They offer the beginning reader (or the unbusinesslike or timid one) a good place to do readings without worrying about little details like publicity, location, or handling money. They're a pretty poor way to make a living, since the readers get only a portion (sometimes minor) of the fees, but a good organizer will take care of finding a venue, setting up publicity, making sure that the location allows readings legally, and bringing the tables and other basic paraphenalia needed to make it work. All the readers have to do is show up and read. The readers tend to vary from poor to very good (mostly mediocre, but you never know) - and some of them have their own coteries following them from fair to fair. The managers tend to be fairly singleminded about getting the maximum number of customers through and making sure the readers stay within whatever lines they draw. The better readers/more competent adults tend to stay for a while and then find more attractive venues once they realize they're getting the short end of the stick, but it can be a good starting point - especially for learning to focus on the reading, do it, and get ready to focus on the next one.

nighthawk	13 Jul 2003
I thank all for your input on this subject. The main person won't let the readers do celtic cross because she hates it. I just got the strong feeling of the power trip thing for her. The main reason I asked here is I am doing a medival encampment this coming month and I do want to show professional manner. Again thank you so much for this site. I have learned a great deal so far and will continue to learn much.

Chronata	14 Jul 2003
Wow...I think I may actually have dealt with the very person whom you speak of! For a long time, I was involved with several groups...sort of like agents for tarot readers. I have done psychic fairs, and I have done some other strange things in strange venues. I have dressed as a "gypsy" because I was asked to, and I also have worked with, and for, people who put huge limits on what I was doing. For instance, no certain types of readings, no certain decks (one woman I worked for refused to let us use a Thoth deck of any kind!)Most outrageous "request:" I recall once having someone tell me I had to remove the Death card from the deck, so I couldn't predict any deaths! I suppose this is why I don't work for any of these people anymore, and why I no longer do psychic fairs! ( unless someone asks really nicely!) My two cents about the whole process is...Be yourself. Dress how you wish. Read whatever deck, in whatever spread or style you want. Don't put up with anyone who tells you you HAVE to things THIER way...unless you are working a venue, like a Ren Faire, where there is a certain dress code and such, that goes beyond just the tarot readers. Personally, I like to wear costumey gypsish clothes when I do readings...but then I dress like that pretty much all the time!Drama is sort of the norm for me!

nighthawk	14 Jul 2003
Hi thank you for your input. I think if you dress flamboyent all the time and it is the norm for you ok. But this person went a bit to far with the look for me. I don't know maybe my mom instilled to mucn commen sense in me. I agree with give the publiclic what they want, but I think there is a fine line where a person can go a bit to far. And the power trip thing was way over the top for my liking also. This person did make the comment that you are in control because you can tell then anything. The public that is. I feel we are there to help people to have chocises on the different paths that are layed out for them. Not to push then down the path the reader choses for them. It was just a different feel that I got then what I had in mind.

Little Baron	14 Jul 2003
I have never had my cards read before at a fair. I am not sure that I have ever had them read actually. I have been with others though and the reading my friend had last time was pretty much spot on and she was happy to part with her money. The reader was dressed in everyday clothing and I think this settled my friend because there was no barriers. Other readers were dressed up with a lot of stuff stacked around them. This one just had a fold away table and a deck. When there are a lot of readers, the choice is yours, I suppose. For those that are interested, the reader was male - I know there has been quite a few threads about the genders of readers and what the percentages are. Yaboot

sagitarian	14 Jul 2003
I work for a metaphysical bookstore at the moment. Recently I recieved what is the standard dress code there. For us, it's pretty much dress business casual. Look nice and clean. At the same time be yourself. Well, I've worked at a few other places in my life, and I have been able to find some very nice business casual clothes that I feel still fit my personality. Not only that, but I feel very good in them; sexy without being revealing. Now, this last psychic fair that I worked (just this past weekend) the owner asked that we all dress up as some different characters, but characters that fit us. One woman dressed as a Gypsy, another as a Goddess, me and another lady dressed as faeries, another dressed up as an angel, but we all dressed up in a way that fit the type of readings we do. I read with the Faerie Oracle deck by Brian froud, hence, faery. But that was an exception. Usually, I wear casual business pants and shirts while pinning my hair back in a neat bun or twist. I think the public as a whole responds much better to the "normal" business wear rather then costumes and fake accents. There is a time and place for it, such as the renfair, people expect the people who work there to be in garb, character, and perfect the persona with a (usually) fake accent. This isn't the owner's doing, but another one of the readers that I work with, she tries to tell me what I am and am not allowed to do, in and outside of work. I've come to discover she's a black witch in which I am looking into different ways of protecting myself from her. I've come to realize she's been psychically attacking me the entire time that I've been working there. I've managed to (somewhat) cleanse myself of the worst of her attacks, but I need more information as far as to what to do when I am working around her at the store. On friday I'll be seeing a Indian medicine man who is also a warrior that I am close to. I have asked him to please smudge and cleanse me on friday evening. My next day that I go into work will be that following saturday morning. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to pm me (or start a new thread as I feel this isn't the proper thread to continue this discussion). So I have ran into the control freak wannabe business owner, and she's a black witch on top of it, gypsy no less. But I have to also agree with Umbrae in that if the customers where happy, and the readers where happy then I don't see any harm done. The readers have agreed to do the job, so obviously they saw they were getting enough out of it for it to be worth their while.

Little Baron	14 Jul 2003
Sagitarian! You get smudged good! Protect yourself from that nasty witch!!! I don't have any advice I can give you but best of luck! Yaboot

Major Tom	15 Jul 2003
I've attended a few festivals this year. :) Sagitarian - When you encounter this person imagine you're holding a mirror in front of your face pointing back at her. So that what she sees is herself. }) I normally wear jeans and sandals in summer. For a shirt, sometimes a t-shirt, other times a hawaiian shirt (with fishies) and if it's cold a cord shirt over a t-shirt. Basically, I go as myself. :) My best weekend financially was when I wore a t-shirt promoting my business. }) In England I've also encountered people wearing costumes of various sorts and they and their customers seem happy with it. Most readers seem to go as themselves.

DeLani	15 Jul 2003
I've read at a few psychic fairs before, but quit because of this type of thing. Most of them were organized by Cyndy Greene, and she makes you sign a contract stating that you won't tell the clients anything negative is going to happen. I just "forgot" to sign it every time. Because I refuse to lie to my querents. If I do see something looming on the horizon, I try to tackle it in a constructive sense, like asking the client why they think this would be happening, how can they prevent it, etc. So that a reading is always a positive, empowering experience. Most of the other readers were older ladies, blue or pink hair, all "angel this and angel that." Gag me. I stuck out like a sore thumb - I look so young, and compared to all that sugary sweetie crap, dark. Now, I have a pretty OK venue. The local metaphysical store has "Intuitive Arts day" every month, and some of us come and read. She's really cool, doesn't tell us how to do our jobs, and charges a very modest fee. Problem is, we don't usually make much money. I think it's the economy (here in the US). But in answer to your question, be yourself, try to make people feel comfortable, and be honest, but constructive. Good luck.

The Tarot readers at events thread was originally posted on 12 Jul 2003 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.