need some help and great advice!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Oct 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tarotbrat	17 Oct 2003
i am so happy today, a friend of mine called a night club to check if they had a tarot reader working there and they asked where we heard that from and explained that we heard it on the radio. they went on to explain that they have daily entetainment and that they have had readers but no one permanent. they asked if my friend if she did readings and my friend explained that i did and that we only called to see if they had a reader and if they were looking for more. well the lady said to mail in a letter or resume and they will call for an interview if they are interested. my dilemna is that i have only read for fun and for free. i only dreamed of working as a professional in a fun atmosphere like a night club. so i really don't have anything to build a resume on and all i have is friends that will back me up for references and a couple of classes i took at a couple of bookstores and just a reading i did here on the aeclectic. my friend advised i should just send a letter, but i don't even know what to write and i am very nervous, i really want to read at the club. i just don't know what i should put in my letter to the club and how to get over my nervousness. help!!!

cjtarot	17 Oct 2003
hi, from someone who has never been paid either..BUT have read in night clubs, business school lunch rooms, coffee houses...friends houses... What I found is that the people I read for in the club were just out to have fun so most of them were a lot of fun to work with..THINK of the as new FRIENDS. I would practice giving 15 - 20 min. readings..that was about the attention span most of the people I read for have. As far as a letter to the club just explain that you have been reading for... years and are very interested in reading at the club and would like to sit down with them in person and discuss the this wonderful oportunity and perhaps offer to do a complimentary reading for the person giving the interview (show off...). I wouldn't bother mentioning money in the letter..sometimes less is better.. Take a "IF I GET GREAT, IF I DON"T OH WELL..THE INTERVIEW WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE" attitude..this may help with the nerves..but always strive to give the best reading you can.. Blessings and good luck CJ

lawguy51	17 Oct 2003
Have to disagree a bit with CJTarot. Maybe because I've been reading "Professional Tarot: The Business of Reading, Consulting & Teaching by Christine Jette....(which I highly recommend you pick up) but I think it would be a mistake not to talk about money. Why? Because if you are going to go pro then you have to put a value on yourself. And the club expects you to be paid for your services and won't take you seriously if you don't tell them what is in it for them. You should tell them what their commission would be. I would suggest 10-15%. As Ms. Jette says, Anyway, that's my take on it. Lawguy51

skytwig	18 Oct 2003
I would also list each class you took; that is part of your training; list the teachers, too, if you have their names. Don't apologize for your talent; be proud of it..... this is an opportunity, not a test. :)

Scorpion	18 Oct 2003
Hi, Tarotbrat! This sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you. I've not heard of anyone reading in a nightclub - but then perhaps I'm just showing my age. I'm with Lawguy (and I'm also reading that book) - if you don't mention fees they are likely to regard you as unprofessional and it gives them the opportunity to make you a low offer which you will then find it hard to get upwardly revised. I would also advise that you think very carefully about how you phrase the letter - you say "I really want to read at the club" which is understandable, but it is worth taking the time to ensure that your letter doesn't make you sound too desperate: there's a delicate balance to strike. Hope this helps!

lunalafey	18 Oct 2003
sell yourself- just to repeat what others have said. I would not go into details about anything except your experience & abilities with tarot. Explain what decks and spreads you might use as well. Throwing in a sample reading may also be impressive, definatly would be rememberable, and that's what get's you places, being remembered. I would also include that bit about money as well. Give a commission percentage you are willing to work with or an hourly rate.

jmd	19 Oct 2003
Different places hace different cultures, so what I am about to say may really not be appropriate to your situation in California. This is the situation as I understand it. The club has already had a number of readers. Presumably, this means they have already developed some agreed form of remuneration, which may come from clients direct, with, or without a percentage (remember that it may actually bring them more clients, and set up the place as a great and open club to be). I would therefore not focus on the financial aspect in any letter, but on your experience and skill as reader (and contributing to this international Community, which has over 3000 members, is certainly worth a mention). Ensure that you are also clear as to the duration of readings with which you are likely to feel comfortable in the environment (15 min/1 hour?), and the type(s) of spread you are actually going to use more often than not (though this can change, at least you have clarity about what you would be doing). If you haven't been to the Club - go! Where and how do you envision the set-up to be? Is there a space you envision more useable than another? If you are going to be interviewed, be clear as to what you need for the readings. At the interview, ask what the previous arrangements have been with other readers - before an opportunity arises that they ask what you want. Though you may have something in mind already (which would be a very good idea), avail yourself of the Club's past experience and therefore expectations. Be clear about times you intend to be available, and the regularity of your availability. Think carefully about this. With regards to the CV (Résumé), of course list any qualifications and life experience you may have had which shows you to be a broad individual, but in addition to mentioning Tarot specific experiences, mention how you see Tarot readings... a difficult, but worthwhile exercise. Much of this may be obvious, or aspects may be disagreed with... they are just some points of view.

Alissa	19 Oct 2003
"Night club" can include a variety of atmospheres. Be sure you insist on a space that is away from loud music. SCREAMING at people to be heard over the speakers while reading is extremely disruptive. Be sure there is adequate lighting. I worked a gig last summer, for a few weeks ... Camel cigarettes had a enclosed pavillion at the nearby outdoor stadium where the big name musical venues go through. As they were creating an "atmosphere," they had a DJ there, and I was often positioned, by necessity, closer to the speakers than I would have preferred. The lighting issue wasn't addressed by the staff ... my first night there I took one look around my "station" that had NO lighting and started rearranging everything to my liking, and asking for someone to find me an overhead lamp. They did. Also, make sure you are in a place where the seating is comfortable, with back support if necessary. At the Camel club, I was given the choice of either providing Tarot readings or doing henna tattoos. I chose henna, as screaming over the nightclub atmosphere was not my way of reading. Be aware of your surroundings, and your needs, when setting up. Comfort is crucial, and chances are no one will think about it but you.

nina	20 Oct 2003
Hello, I manage a club, and we have a reader come in every Halloween, Mardis Gras and New Year's Eve. We've used the same woman for the past year and a half but had many others before that. We've kept with this one because of her overall friendly attitude to the staff (it makes a tremendous difference how the regular staff members think of you; the boss will ask them- also this woman always gives the owner's mother a free reading). We pay her twenty-five dollars for the night, she charges ten dollars a reading which is hers to keep. She makes some money, we get to advertise we'll have a reader. It's a win-win situation. Having a reader is great for bar business: it gets conversations going, people who might have left will stay and buy another drink while waiting for their turn, I've actually heard people on cell phones telling friends to "come down because they have a tarot reader tonight." And in that atmosphere most people are just doing it for a lark- I think you'll have great fun and learn a lot. Just make sure when you meet this potential employer you give the impression of a confident, competent reader. Chances are he or she doesn't know much about tarot and will judge how much you know by how you carry yourself. Hope you knock 'em dead. -nina

IrishRiotGrrrl	20 Oct 2003
Good luck to you and have fun!

The need some help and great advice! thread was originally posted on 17 Oct 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.