How to catch querents?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Flavio	20 Oct 2004
Have you ever spent long boring waiting hours in public places like airports, hospitals, in a row to buy tickets or any situation like that? For the next time I have to do it, I’d love to give readings to other people waiting like me just for fun, but I want the reading requests to be spontaneous because I wouldn’t dare to say out loud “Tarot readings anyone?” nor put a banner next to me “Free Tarot readings”. What would you do in a situation like that? What is the bait to catch querents while making everything look like it wasn’t your intention in the 1st place? Thank you very much for your comments.

Eco74	20 Oct 2004
Not that I've ever tried it but how about just taking the deck out and looking at the pretty pictures. If someone there is interested maybe they will ask, or start a conversation. And if not, you'll have spent a while with some of your favourite artwork which is never a bad thing. :)

wildchilde	20 Oct 2004
Hi Flavio! Actually something similar just happened to me recently and it was completely unintentional on my part, and b/c of the surroundings I didn't actually do any readings, but did get 3 appointments to do them later. Here is the secret to "catching" querents: Where ever you are (as long as you are in a comfortable and conducive place) simply take out your deck and begin looking through the cards (or even doing a solo reading). The deck itself will draw the people in who are interested in having a reading.

April	20 Oct 2004
I will vouch for this trick. I was at the bar a few weeks ago with two girlfriends and they left to go to the store for a few minutes. I pulled out my cards to keep from getting bored and I had two people at my table asking for readings before my friends came back. Peace, April

April	20 Oct 2004
Oh, I forgot about another time it didn't work quite as well. It might have worked at the train station, but when I was actually on the train nobody bit. I guess nobody could really see me unless they were sitting right across. Peace, April

Alta	20 Oct 2004
I have done that. I fly a lot, and I take out my cards and just casually look through them. I have done quite a few readings that way, and had some interesting conversations to go with them. Amazing what people will tell someone they figure they will never see again.

tmgrl2	20 Oct 2004
Every time I just take out a deck and begin to shuffle and look through it and sometimes draw a card or two for myself, I get interest from those around me. terri

Flavio	25 Oct 2004
Thank you all, I look forward for the chance or (maybe it would be better to create the chance :D) to catch querents and give readings for practice and fun. :)

SongDeva	26 Oct 2004
Flavio, When you do, I hope you will share the results here.

Flavio	26 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by SongDeva Flavio, When you do, I hope you will share the results here. OK Count on it!

SeraphSarah	28 Oct 2004
I hav ethis problem, but it is b/c I look young so people just walk away. I had to be VERY convincing when I was getting newbies to try me out. Now I have regulars and the words ALL over my city about my gifts. So, please don't give up! once people see that you are actually good the word spreads on its own and people will come. Also try flyers maybe? or some decoration to make you look appealing? I would also stay away from looking "dark" or showing any kind of religion like wiccan..because I found that many ppl who come to get a reading from me are older folks who don't understand that and are still curious about the Tarot but would have been scared away at the sight of a pentacle. So where I work it is bright, opne, no dark colours, and no religions..b/c ppl are always misunderstanding things.:)

Chronata	28 Oct 2004
All it takes for me, is to open up the energy, and take out the cards. Although I admit, it helps to have a spread...putting the cards down in front of you will usually garner a few curious "potential customers" a lot more than keeping them close in hand. I find this works great in train stations, but not so well in airports for some reason.(although I don't fly nearly as much as I rail!)and it works really well at bars, taverns, coffee houses and casual (buffet type,especially) restaurants. Amazingly enough...The most important part is to open up the energy! I have found that if I don't want anyone to bother me at all...all I have to do is close up, and keep my energy flowing inward...and I can have a 25 card spread without a single person stopping to look.

Flavio	28 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata I find this works great in train stations, but not so well in airports for some reason.(although I don't fly nearly as much as I rail!)and it works really well at bars, taverns, coffee houses and casual (buffet type,especially) restaurants. I love airports although many of them are chaotic places :) maybe the airports don't make you feel comfortable to read so the querent fishing doesn't go well, on the other hand, in Mexico we don't use the train system as much as in many other countries my next option would be the subway but I don't see me reading in the benches. My boyfriend and I love the buffets, with your idea I have one more reason to love them. Thank you!

lunar_rabbit	28 Oct 2004
For those of you who do this, is it for money or just for fun? When people express interest, do you say "Sure, I could do a reading for $X if you're up for it." Or is it just practice or enterainment to kill some time?

Chronata	29 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunar_rabbit For those of you who do this, is it for money or just for fun? When people express interest, do you say "Sure, I could do a reading for $X if you're up for it." Or is it just practice or enterainment to kill some time? Depends on the situation...sometimes if someone really is interested, they will offer me some kind of money without me saying anything. A lot of these kinds of readings are for barter...a soda or sandwich kind of deal. And then there's those times...you know what I mean...when you know that a free reading will help someone more than you could know. Either way, I hand them the buisness card...and occasionally I get them to give me an address or e-mail, so I can send them info on upcomming events or even just to send them a note offering a "special $10 reading", or something to that effect.

Flavio	29 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunar_rabbit For those of you who do this, is it for money or just for fun? When people express interest, do you say "Sure, I could do a reading for $X if you're up for it." Or is it just practice or enterainment to kill some time? For me at this stage and according to my original intetnion when posting this thread will do it for fun and practice, as I don't feel confident enough in my skills to charge for readings, I travel a lot and thought in a way to practice and relax while waiting my flight.

Flavio	01 Dec 2004
Hi! I did a business trip the last 2 days, on the last part of the trip I was left alone to come back to Mexico City so I decided to put in practice the tips received in this thread and try to catch a querent, nobody asked for a reading but the experience to put my cards out was very exciting, I had some fear at first and won confidence in a few minutes. I learnt some things about this experience: Domestic flight waiting rooms are not the best places to catch querents, everything there happens so fast and people only stay there 30 minutes at most. Avoid seat areas crowded with business people they have other matters at hand (literally), I realized that for them Tarot cards are not as appealing as Internet in your PDA or Laptop. Many people will see you with curiosity only when they think you can't see them, next time I'll try to smile those persons and ask directly if they want a reading. Other people will see you with disapproval, I smiled to them as saying "what, have you never seen someone in suit using Tarot cards?" and went back to the cards. Briefcase leather is not the best place to put your cards as surface is slippery, next time I'll use a reading cloth on top of it. Although I had no querents it was a big step for me to gather the courage to go public with my cards in unknown environment, after that, think I'll be able to take out the cards to any of the ordinary places I go :) hope I did not bored you, just had to share it. :D Added: I forgot to mention I used the Universal Waite deck.

HearthCricket	01 Dec 2004
When I was in my early 20's I had never read much for other people, and certainly not for money. But, while at college, my best friend walked in on me, one day, while I was reading my cards. I read for her and she loved it. I was then approached by the "den mother" of the dorm who said the college wanted to hire me for Halloween night to read at the all-girls dorm for 50.00. Gave them fun and kept them safe. Needless to say I jumped at the chance. 50.00 is a lot for a starving student! By the end of the night I had done about 10 readings, and more wanted theirs done. So, they hired me for the following night, for another 50.00. For the rest of the semester I had students tapping at my door, asking me to read for them. Being students, and I not what I would consider a professional reader, I charged only 3.00 per reading, 5.00 for those who wanted a weekly reading. Sometimes you don't have to look for querents. They just fall into your lap, in the oddest ways! I have also read for relatives at holiday gatherings, neighbours who have popped in for tea, and friends visiting. Just leave the cards around-it is amazing to hear how many people always wanted to get their cards read, but were afraid to go, didn't like the cost, or just felt uncomfy having it done, but very willing to let you do it. And it is wonderful practice, too. Everyone wins in the end.

The How to catch querents? thread was originally posted on 20 Oct 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.