What do you charge?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mzmystic	01 Jan 2004
I've been looking at some of the websites online to see what they charge but I don't know if that's an accurate reflection of what people really charge in the real world. What are the rates that people usually charge for readings? I don't have years and years of experience behind me, so I don't think I should charge as much as some do who are at it longer. On the other hand, though, I don't want to cause hard feelings by charging much less than others and undercutting their prices.

HudsonGray	01 Jan 2004
At the spirit fairs here in the midwest, it's $20 for a 15 minute reading--usually 3 to 5 cards, no time to really do a CC in 15 minutes.

jmd	01 Jan 2004
If I take a taxi, or go to a naturopath, or have a massage, the price is based on the competence of the provider, not how long they may have been providing the service... Having said this, some may be able to charge more than others, based on either their clientele or their reputation. As prices are subject to local variations, and living in another country, I'll refrain from suggestions as to specifics...

Shade	01 Jan 2004
First of make sure it is legal to be charging folks at all. If you're talking about doing a couple readings on thje side then you shouldn't worry. If you become an ordained minister (on the internet for $1) you can ask for donations but not set prices. I recommend the book Professional Tarot, it said a lot about the subject of payment.

Jypsie	01 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Shade First of make sure it is legal to be charging folks at all. If you're talking about doing a couple readings on thje side then you shouldn't worry. If you become an ordained minister (on the internet for $1) you can ask for donations but not set prices. I recommend the book Professional Tarot, it said a lot about the subject of payment. That's sort of confusing to me. I have thought about asking the same question, actually- what do you mean actually by a "few on the side"? I have made tarot a way of life to a point, and I would like to do tarot professionally alongside my regular full-time job. And as far as being an ordained minister- that too is confusing, because I don't see tarot as a religious thing. Please clarify! =S

TemperanceAngel	01 Jan 2004
At my work we charge $70 or $60 concession for 1 hr and $40 and $30 concession half hour. The readers take 70% and the shop 30%. At home I charge anything from nothing to $60 or exchange for another treatment, say massage, etc :) Readings are generally for an hour, sometimes 45 mins and sometimes 1 hr 15 or 30 mins (at home). That's in AUS dollars. XTAX

miss_apples	01 Jan 2004
I go to a metaphysical store and get readings and their readings are $45 for a half an hour...for all their readers. Personally I think thats too much since they used to charge $25 for a half an hour. Personally Id charge between $25 and $35

DeLani	01 Jan 2004
I charge $20 per reading. They usually last around 20mins., but I don't advertise my rates by the minute. Most of the other readers in my area charge about $1 per minute. I don't like that. In some states, it is still illegal to charge for "fortune telling", so the only way around that is to be an ordained minister, and call it "spiritual counseling" for donations. What a load of crap. We really need to mobilize to change these laws.

Jypsie	01 Jan 2004
Wow, I didn't know that. I guess I need to find out what the law is in Alabama. I do know I have not seen many "fortune tellers" around here- one place out near where I used to go to college, but she was a palm reader. I can't remember any others, though I do know the tarot section of my bookstore is worlds larger than it was just a few years ago.

mzmystic	01 Jan 2004
Thank you all so much for all the input. Here it's legal, so far as I know, but of course I'm going to double check before I do it. I know they do tarot readings at all the festivals and fairs here. I've done the ordination thing and gotten the laminated ID card, even, saying I'm a spiritual counsellor.

Shade	01 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jypsie Please clarify! =S I was saying that if a person just wanted to do a couple of readings occaisionally at a coffee shop withput it being a major source of income then they probably didn't need to worry about being licensed or claiming it on their taxes. If, as you were saying, you want to do a lot of tarot readings and have it be a signifigant part of your income then you would want to be licensed and claim the income on your taxes. If you wish to avoid being licensed, some people go to the Church of Universal Life and become a reverand. A lot of folks do this to be able to perform marriage ceremonies. If you become a minister for the church of universal life (they don't expect you to give up your present religion) then you can perform readings and ask for a suggested donation. However if a person donates less than is suggested your only recourse is to not read for them any more.

miss_apples	01 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by DeLani I charge $20 per reading. They usually last around 20mins., but I don't advertise my rates by the minute. Most of the other readers in my area charge about $1 per minute. I don't like that. In some states, it is still illegal to charge for "fortune telling", so the only way around that is to be an ordained minister, and call it "spiritual counseling" for donations. What a load of crap. We really need to mobilize to change these laws. Are you serious? Thats insane...that should be abolished simply because it seems inconstitutional with the first amendment being freedom of religion. I know that fortune telling isnt exactly a religious practice...but its along the same sort of lines.

HudsonGray	02 Jan 2004
It depends on the local laws, most places don't worry about tarot readers, but some of the cities with high tourist draws don't want people getting ripped off by confidence artists, so they try to restrict or license everyone. It's impossible to get all readers licensed, but I think it's just a city council's show of force--making sure they 'did something' to help out the tourists. Check with your local city clerk, they're the ones to tell you what the local ordinances say on it. If you're lucky, it's not even on the books.

Shade	02 Jan 2004
When you do apply for a business lcense they will ask if you if you laim to be able to predict or change the future or if your business is "entertainment".

Jypsie	02 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by HudsonGray Check with your local city clerk, they're the ones to tell you what the local ordinances say on it. If you're lucky, it's not even on the books. be careful that you're not the one to make it suddenly appear in the books too. =) I think it's pretty crazy to restrict tarot like that too. Every profession has it's rip-off artists, don't mete out the punishment for the sins of a few on an entire population. If you have a helpful talent, you should be able to make it your life's calling if that's what you desire, without having to rely on foodstamps to put food on the table, if you know what I mean. And I can definately see the POV that it is in a way a religious restriction. What about charging for the type of spread you do? For example, I have done CC readings for some people that took 20 minutes, and some that took an hour. Would it be unfair to charge different amounts for the same amount of information (approximately, anyway)?

Jen	02 Jan 2004
I've been thinking about as well. I don't remember verbatum, but in Professtional Tarot the author suggests it's about the "time" you spend with the client. That you charge for your time, rather than the outcome of your services etc. This really gave me a new perspective on fees. When I eventually decide to read for payment, I'll probably charge in time increments. Like I would offer a 30 minute session, a 45 minute session and an hour session. As far as what to charge, I'm still not sure. The dollar-a-minute rate seems pretty common and I don't mean charging the client for every minute they go over the choosen session - but just saying 30 minutes = $30 (US) etc. A friend of mine suggested that a way of building up a clientele would be to offer discounted readings in the beginning. Give these clients your business cards and ask them to pass them around.

Shade	02 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jypsie If you have a helpful talent, you should be able to make it your life's calling if that's what you desire, without having to rely on foodstamps to put food on the table, if you know what I mean. I completely agree with you. Th reason the laws are there usually is to protect people from scam artists. In the SF Bay Area where I live there has been a considerable amount of trouble with fortune tellers ripping people off for thousands of dollars, conning them innto believeing they are cursed and whatnot. There was a lot of controversy over new legislation because it might restrict freedom of speech and could also be seen as targeting/being insensitive to the SF Romany population who are credited with being the scam artists most often.

Red Emma	02 Jan 2004
Fascinating thread, even though I'll probably never be skilled enough to read professionally. Since some have been a little puzzled about the concept of Tarot as a religion, I'd like to mention some thoughts I have about the idea. While I concur whole-heartedly with those who mentioned city or state governments trying to protect their citizens, and tourists, from rip-off artists, I suspect there are issues which go deeper than that. In the good old USA it's kind of difficult to define religion since we're supposed to be able to follow any religion of our choice. But there've been threads on this board about Wiccans or other Pagans who've been deemed unfit parents because of these beliefs and lost their children to the state. Especially single mothers. As far as I can tell, mostly this takes place in the "Old South" -- Scarlett O'Hara country. While I agree with others that Tarot, itself, isn't a religion, I see it as a part of an earth-based Pagan religion in its various forms. Wicca, etc. Actually, I see Tarot as one of the tools by which we probe our subconscious and use the information gained to better our lives, live them in a more "balanced" fashion. And having citizens with balanced lives can only be good for any political state in which we Pagans live. It usually means we're not out robbing banks. But old beliefs about Pagans as satan worshipers, etc. die hard. A whole lot of people can't seem to look beyond the horror-movie stereotypes, which means a whole lot of trouble for people who want to make their livings in this fashion. I also think that applying for credentials as ministers and/or spiritual counsleors is okay. As I said above, with Tarot one can help clients understand themselves better, and hopefully better their lives. One caveat: if professional readers find clients with more problems than a Tarot reader can address, it's a good idea to help them find professionally educated psychological therapists. Goddess bless.

The What do you charge? thread was originally posted on 01 Jan 2004 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.