Worst Location Ever!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Jan 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Chronata	16 Jan 2005
What is the worst location that you have ever done readings in? I was thinking I didn't have one...until last night! It was very last minute...they needed entertainment for a Chamber of Commerce meeting, and I was elected to do a few readings. At the local Dog Track. Not the ideal locale for serious tarot! (or...heck! Even for non-serious tarot!) Evertime the dogs would race, the lights would dim, and the intercom voice, like an auctioneer on speed, would blare out the race results... and of course, everyone wanted to know if the cards could give them the numbers for the winning dogs, so they could bet on them. I was so flustered at one point, that I did one of the worst interpretations that I have ever done! So...anyone else have an experience they would like to share about being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

tarotbear	16 Jan 2005
I've got that beat! Not once, but three years in a row I did readings as part of the local Mardi Gras fundraiser for the local museum. Years 1 & 2 were in the museum itself, with food, entertainment, and bands on three different floors. Year one I was put next to the food court, came in and set my stuff up, and when I returned the next day my table was missing. I suspect the facepainter took them. They found me another one and I set up my tablecloths and stuff and when I came back from the men's roon there were people eating on my tarot table! I shooed them nicely away. it was fine until I found out I was sharing the wall with the band and when they started playing I had to SHOUT! I planned a booth for myself for the next year and asked that I be put somewhere other than in the room with the food. Year two they put me out in the foyer under a market umbrella. Since there was a terriffic spotlight focused down onto the umbrella, I asked that the umbrella be removed and set up my booth. When I returned the next day my chairs were missing. I suspect the facepainter took them again. The booth got me enough attention to get my picture in the paper for the Mardi Gras article. Year three the Mardi Gras had outgrown it's space in the museum so they rented the local armoury. They wanted me right by the front door as people came in! I put up my booth (quite a contraption of trees made from carpet rolls and grapevines) and came back that night -- to find that my booth was missing! I had to search for it. Everything was in the same big hall - food, entertainment, band. Just as the party got started -- they shut off all the lights for 'mood.' I hit the ceiling ( which was pretty high in an armory), ran home and got a battery-powered candleabra to put on my table - how did they expect me to see the cards? Then the band started, and I finally grabbed the person I was reading for and my cards and found the quietest place I could -- standing up doing readings in the hallway that led to the restrooms! I actually did three readings that way! When it was over I packed up, left, shook the dust from my feet and said I would never do this again.

Majecot	16 Jan 2005
:laugh::laugh::laugh:...Chronata I am sorry but I just couldn't help myself...I was just picturing you at Dairyland with the fabulous clientel there trying to do a reading. (((Hugs))) you poor thing! Never you mind about the bad reading, I am sure they did not even notice because they were too concerned if ther dog came in. I would have to say the worst was after a girls night out...it was not so much the place as it was my best friends apartment, but the company!!! It was one of those Friday nights after closing the store (3 of was were retail managers working together...the fourth was one of you front end sups) She was loud and obnoxious and OMG clueless the entire night, and drunk as a skunk!!! Driving back from the club, we did not realize how bad she was, and once at my friends apartment, this Amazon Ann (we called her that because she is over 6ft tall) insists upon a reading. My friend refuses, A.A. kept badgering so I grab my friends deck and said FINE I will do it... really not a good mind set... Have way into a CC and A.A. starts projectile yaking!! I swept the cards away just in time!! I just looked at her and said "Was it something I said?"... at which point she got up and ran to the bathroom. My friend who's beige carpet now had red wine stains on it just gave me one of those looks, and packed her cards away. We never took A.A. out with us on a girls night again ;) (or a reading)

Fulgour	16 Jan 2005
Before (I don't remember During) and After.... surgery! The Nurses were very interested in my Tarot cards :)

FaeryGodmother	16 Jan 2005
The worst place I ever read was at a Sex Expo. Lets just say its a little hard to concentrate when you can hear strippers.... well stripping :D. It was... er... educational. FGM

Fudugazi	16 Jan 2005
In Iraq during an air-raid. Too noisy, too hot, too stuffy, difficult to concentrate. I read tarot to my colleagues to take our minds off things. The Tower came up a couple of times...

OakDragon	16 Jan 2005
Chronata wrote: What is the worst location that you have ever done readings in? I was thinking I didn't have one...until last night! It was very last minute...they needed entertainment for a Chamber of Commerce meeting, and I was elected to do a few readings. At the local Dog Track. Not the ideal locale for serious tarot! (or...heck! Even for non-serious tarot!) Evertime the dogs would race, the lights would dim, and the intercom voice, like an auctioneer on speed, would blare out the race results... and of course, everyone wanted to know if the cards could give them the numbers for the winning dogs, so they could bet on them. I was so flustered at one point, that I did one of the worst interpretations that I have ever done! So...anyone else have an experience they would like to share about being in the wrong place at the wrong time? LOL, these are all hilarious, but I have one further question for Chronata. Why in the world was a Chamber of Commerce meeting being held at a dog track?!

The Worst Location Ever! thread was originally posted on 16 Jan 2005 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.