The Coffee House Biz...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Mr. Sluagh	08 Sep 2003
I'm looking for tips on doing Tarot readings in coffee houses for money. How much should I charge? How should I dress? How should I act? How should I deal with radical Atheists/reactionary Christians (the former of which I'm probably more likely to encounter where I live) who hastle me? How should I advertise, if at all? Should I put a sign up? Ask passersby if they want readings? Just sit there messing with my cards looking conspicuous and let them come to me? I've found a place that has a nice atmosphere and where I'd be willing to spend several hours every weekend and I live in a city where I think people would be very receptive to the Tarot, to say the least (Berkeley, CA). Any other advice? Thanks in advance for any help that you can offer.

Nevada	08 Sep 2003
I've never done readings for public, but on another list I read of someone who had a problem, so my one recommendation is that you make sure to check with the management in the establishment first and ensure that it's okay with them. Good luck!

Cerulean	08 Sep 2003
...based on someone else's posted experience, if you can. Some bookstores have a back area or a patio that might be just as pleasant and it's more like the street fair atmosphere of a weekend. There's a few metaphysical bookstores in Berkeley, I believe. I saw once in a vacation area near Monterey (Pacifica?) a small bookstore near an artsy section of town, where the old houses have home businesses. The table in back near the metaphysical section was for astrology charts--it looked like the friend of the owner of the bookstore, as she had a little sign near the register. The bookstore owner was taking someone's check. Best of luck. Mari H.

Teranar	08 Sep 2003
Hi! I tried reading in coffee shops! Here's some suggestions! Suggestion #1. ASK THE MANAGER if its ok! Otherwise see my thread kicked out of a coffee shop. Suggestion #2. Do not go in before 5 PM. Don't ask me why, they just don't buy before then. Suggestion #3. Ignore the people screaming you're going to hell or calling you a satanist. Even if they're kicking you out. Suggestion #4. Make sure you have a backup Coffee shop in case you get kicked out of the one you're in. Suggestion #5. If they do kick you out, don't make a scene, make the people kicking you out seem like the jerks. This way if people see you elsewhere, they're actually more inclined to buy from you. Suggestion #6. Don't run around badgering people for a reading. Suggestion #7. Avoid Starbucks. I have never gotten anything from starbucks while reading except a free coffee and a jerk manager kicking me out. Find that one with dim lights where the owner is the one serving with poets and hackers meeting there at various times. Suggestion #8. Make friends with the 'regulars' there. They can be a BIG help when christian fanatics get in your face screaming at you or that jerkwad manager tries to kick you out. Suggestion #9. Be positive! Upbeat! Cheerful! Even when people are yelling at you! Suggestion #10. Take everything Teranar says about coffee shop readings with a grain of salt. He's had some bad experiences. Well, hope that helps! Hope ya do well! -Teranar!

divinerguy	08 Sep 2003
I read in coffee shops, but I never charge money for it. My suggestion is to do readings for free, but like musicians, leave an open guitar case (tarot box). I think its more fun for everyone that way. No pressure.

HudsonGray	08 Sep 2003
Ask permission about a sign. Maybe they'll let you put one in the window saying you do readings from 6-9pm every Tues thru Friday. Maybe they don't want signs up. If that's the case, ask if you can put a folded sign on the table you're sitting at (think 'name tag' style, something that stands up, is 2" tall and 8" long that says Tarot Readings available. No price listed, just tell them how much it is. Otherwise people get put off by prices sometimes. BUY something from the coffee store each time you're there so you don't look like a freeloader. Get a cup of coffee, a bagel, anything, just purchase something so you're also helping the store out. But always ask if it's ok. Then sit there messing with your cards, or writing in a notebook or journal about the cards, etc. Something that makes you look legit, but approachable by the standard person who's interested. Keep your deck out where they can see it. Otherwise you'll look like you're done reading & are just hanging out.

Mr. Sluagh	09 Sep 2003
Thanks, all. One more question I'd like to toss out there: where do you draw the line between the amount of ritual that gets your querent in the mood and the amount that just gets them bored? Thanks.

catlin	09 Sep 2003
I do regular readings in some meta phys stores and cafés here in my area. I don't use much ritual in a public reading, I only tell the querent a few things before the reading about my ethics (these information is free, they only pay for the real reading time) and the questions the tarot can answer or not. I let the querents shuffle the cards and cut them twice, the rest is my business. In meta phys shops I also have the possibility to use incense and candles to create a bit of mystic atmosphere.

HudsonGray	09 Sep 2003
The two tarot readings I had done in the last few years (at spirit fairs) the reader asked if I'd had any readings done for me before, and then had me shuffle & cut as I thought of my question. One wanted to know the question, one just started the reading. Very little ritual or explanations given. No candles, no incense (lots of people are allergic), no big speech.

The The Coffee House Biz... thread was originally posted on 08 Sep 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.