Last Call !!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

magpie9	24 Oct 2004
I'm reading at a Halloween do this year, and am in process of making a new card, with a friend's help. (we're doing a trade) All I wanted on it, by way of text, was my name, the word "reader" and my contact information. she does a lot of cards and stuff, and seemed surprized/troubled/worried that "reader" was all I wanted. So this last call--hey folks, is "reader" reaally enough, or should I put more on---and if more, what? all Input appreciated..:D

OakDragon	24 Oct 2004
You mean like a business card, right? You may at least want to say "tarot reader", as "reader" is a bit vague. Or psychic or diviner or spiritual advisor... something to that effect, if you do more than tarot. You can't trust your clients to be as psychic as you ;) Also, you want it to be eyecatching or otherwise memorable, right? Maybe some color, or a picture, or a creative-looking font. Or some catchphrase, perhaps like "helping you see" or "spiritual guide". Is this the sort of thing you're thinking of?

magpie9	24 Oct 2004
Thanks OakDragon, Yes, it is a business card. I diddn't really want Psychic on it, since this is new mexico, where every 4th bus driver (and his dog) is psychic and proud...!! the font is Papyrus, and the writing is in a really good red ochre. there's a maze in the background, and a red ocre handprint with spiral in the Palm next to my name)--so it's not visually dull, but there aren't lots of words. I diddn't want a card that was really airy fairy, rosebuds and rainbows, crystals and shining rivers, lallalala.. I wanted something that spoke of groundedness, of I dunno, practicality--stuff that works in the regular world. I guess i'm feeling that if there are words beyound minimal, they should make you sit up and pay attention, and I haven't a clue. ! Trying to attach a copy here......Whoops. Well, we all know how good I am at that..no improvement since yesterday. Sorry folks, no visual available.

OakDragon	24 Oct 2004
Hmmm... cartographer of possibilities?

MeeWah	24 Oct 2004
Magpie9: As it seems the plain & simple preferred to offer a practical impression, see no reason why not for the business card to bear only the name, the title of "reader" & contact information. My business card is in gold font on white cardstock, printed vertically rather than the usual horizontal due to the image I wanted. At the top is the logo I designed & the original of my AT avatar. At the bottom left, my first name; bottom right, phone number.

MeeWah	24 Oct 2004
Magpie9: Your additional post was not on view at the time I posted. The graphics sound great & too many words would detract from them. A balance of both seems best, but do go with the instincts.

magpie9	24 Oct 2004
Yes, keeping it simple with unusual graphics is the way I want to go, but I do kinda think that something a bit more than just reader might be good. (maybe?) My old card said: Reader and Advisor since 1962, and, Tarot- Tailored Rituals-Energy Work. And all of that feels really stale at this point. It's not what I want to advertise, I thought of: Tarotist Tarot *reader extroidenaire* :rolleyes: Practical Solutions Earth based approach Or else a Quote or a funny line .....................................................I dunno, HELP!!

tmgrl2	24 Oct 2004
I just worked on a "flyer, " Magpie...for the future...something came up at my day spa/hair salon about my setting up a table to do short readings... Anyhow, the flyer has my picture in left corner, with title large in blue script that says "Tarot Readings by Terri" Then....I talk about how I use the Tarot. Five very short paragraphs on first page...all neatly fitting within the edges of the paper and the paper design. Back side has my Code of Ethics...phone #... Also, since this is New York instead of saying "For entertainment purposes only." I say something I found on another website : My readings are for your enchantment, enlightenment and entertainment. Enjoy the journey. Member: Association for Tarot Studies Member: Aeclectic Tarot Forum - (with web link) I printed them on a pretty blue paper that has shadows of dolphins in the upper left corner and in the lower right and bottom, there are pictures of colorful fish...whole sheet has a soft underwater feel, but allows me to add color and print in B&W. Don't have "cards" yet. May just use flyers if I ever get to the point of doing this. Easy to print on pretty paper. Easy to see by patrons. Two-sided printing so I can have Code on back with a one-paragraph summary of my use of intuition in the past with graphology, color and remote viewing. Let us know what you decide to do, Magpie. It's great we can all network our ideas. terri

HudsonGray	24 Oct 2004
I wouldn't use 'tarotist' because the average person wouldn't know what that was & think you were some sort of scientist or something. Keep it simple. You don't really need a whole lot on the card. Just who you are, what you do & how they contact you. And a pretty picture to get their attention. Name Tarot Reader (or Tarot Readings) 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx (phone)

tmgrl2	24 Oct 2004
I agree with Hudson re card...keep it very simple and a "pretty" picture always helps! terri I'm going to remember that when I do cards...

Tarot Sparrow	24 Oct 2004
Good luck magpie...and I'd just like to say...I just finished designing my own business cards for the same purpose, although I haven't printed them yet--and I also used Papyrus for the font :) Odd.

magpie9	25 Oct 2004
The card is starting to really happen. I am hoping to have it finalized in the next couple of days. I am staying with not many words...excellent imagry. so far, I still only have "reader" on the title line, and I'm still looking for perhaps a tiny bit more than that...........so please keep the ideas coming, guys. :)

HudsonGray	25 Oct 2004
Sure you don't want to put 'tarot reader' instead? Just 'reader' sounds like you read books for a living, like an editor. It has to be clear to the person looking at the card to know what it is that you offer.

Tarot Sparrow	25 Oct 2004
I'd definitely put Tarot Reader, or something like I did: "Tarot Readings" (and underneath) "by ____".

magpie9	25 Oct 2004
I think I'm gonna have to put tarot in...maybe, "Reader of Tarot" ? I want to keep the whole thing a little unusual, a little outside the box.....whaddaya think? Is that just too too pretentious?

Fulgour	25 Oct 2004
Have you read for people in very many different countries? When this question came up for me, I gave it some thought and since as well as reading locally I have done over 1500 readings working publicly for the ATA NETWORKS it was fair and accurate to designate on my personal business card: International Professional Tarot Reader :)

magpie9	25 Oct 2004
Trying this attachement stuff again...if i can't do it, does that mean I have an attachement disorder? ......guess so. sigh.

magpie9	25 Oct 2004
Never read outside of USA and Mexico (now that's a scream, me trying to do a reading in my broken medical spanish...."Your much esteemed liver is in need of friendship from your kidneys, can you accomplish this in a natural way, or are you in need of assistance with a chair? Is there anyone in your immediate family who can paint you blue?") :D So no, I can only claim that I have read for the crowmed Heads of Entropy and Polish Chickens. However, I've been doing it for a hellava long time.....in a lot of odd places. Nothing that really helps on a card, though. I was the gypsy fortuneteller in Bob Dylan's Positively 4th street, but it's not much more help now than it was then.

Fulgour	25 Oct 2004
magpie9: the thing is ~ don't pull your punches. Be confident in the authority of your experience.

magpie9	25 Oct 2004
Thank You. I needed that. :)

Major Tom	25 Oct 2004
Magpie - Haven't you read for people on the Reading Exchange? That would certainly qualify you to claim 'International'. ;) I print my own business cards on preprinted, perforated sheets of cards. There's a wide variety of patterns available. I chose a skyblue cloud motif. Fluffy bunny clouds. :laugh: The card reads thusly: Major Tom's Tarot Readings website address telephone number The website address is printed in blue. Came out naturally that way - I used MS Word. *shrugs* I also print my own handouts telling potential clients about myself. The handout includes my logo as the only graphic. On my handout I call myself an Internationally Renowned Tarot Reader - which I consider absolutely true. :) Most of my clients are from England , but I've also read for people in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Fascinating to see everyone's thoughts on this. Does sort of beg the question of acceptable practice in advertising. })

SongDeva	25 Oct 2004
Mine says my name, email and phone number. Under my name, it says "Singer, Healer, Channel".

tmgrl2	25 Oct 2004
Love this thread! I stayed away from my career professional work completely. I do like using International Tarot Reader since I do read at Aeclectic. Don't feel I can use "professional" for me, yet, though. I haven't really done this...for money and my live readings are very limited. I'm not doing this yet, but have been putting together a flyer, since I am getting queries. Our postman's wife is a physical therapist/masseuse...who has her OWN office and also reads Tarot. We are going to hook up soon and see if we want to set up during a particular time in her office which she rents ( I really don't want people coming to my house and I don't want to go to theirs). Will have to discuss other areas...but down the road...things are shaping up into something, if I choose. I also don't want to put my e-mail in my flyer just now. My phone in our house is literally MINE. It is listed under my maiden name in the phone book, so if someone looks me up they will get our main number. Tony can field those calls. I list my own number on the flyer. terri I'm definitely not going to venture into online work. I really want to do "live" readings on a limited basis, like the reader at our metaphysical shop in the Village. I figure when the time is right if I have the intention and imagination to "plan" and think about this and put it out there....what will be, will be. See what you started Magpie??

mysticali	25 Oct 2004
Doesn't anyone admit to 'fortune teller' any more? I do - combined with tarot reader it gives the idea. I can almost hear the sharp intake of breath! Goes down a storm here as the cards are 'incidental' to most people i read for in person- unfortunately. Of course it is different online - as us discerning aeclectic tarot aecletic audience and participators know.

tmgrl2	25 Oct 2004
"fortune telling" for money in New York State is not legal...so we have to put those disclaimers...I kind of liked For your enchantment, enlightenment and entertainment.... terri

magpie9	25 Oct 2004
I'm not sure what the law is in New Mexico, I do have my Ordained Minister papers, so I can slide in under the "spiritual counselor" umbrella just about anywhere. I like "fortune teller", and used it for years in places where I knew it was a legally OK phrase to use. I have noticed a lot of "new agers" seem to look down on it, though. "For your enchantment, enlightenment and entertainment...." I really like that--but for something bigger, like a flyer. Which reminds me, it's time to check in on the Coffee House I'm reading at on Halloween night, to see what they produced by way of a flyer...I'd very much like to put that on the flyer, if it's ok with you, terri. May I steal the whole phrase, please? It is a really good question, Major Tom, about just how much we can do a s-t-r-e-t-c-h in our advertising, because reading is such a Karmicly Charged activity. Its right up there with how much to charge. On this foray, I'm going to do just contributions, so I don't have to think about either money or time.

The Last Call !! thread was originally posted on 24 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.