Are you worth it?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Emiac	16 Mar 2004
I've heard a lot of people on this forum talk about charging people for readings. But what do you actaully tell the client during them, do you just answer a specific question? Or do a general spread? Can you predict their problems & tell them what to do? Are there any skilled readers here who have done this before at a carnival or festival? If so, can you tell me how you & your client interacted with each other? (do I ask too much?)

Alissa	16 Mar 2004
I read the same at an event as I do in private, each session is the same in how I proceed. At events, I charge a fixed rate. Otherwise, I leave it open to donation. That's the biggest difference in event vs. private reading for me. I always ask a client if they have a specific question they need addressed. I pick the spread, and sometimes deck, based on that response. Clients at festivals are usually a more skeptical lot, on the whole. They may be sitting with you for a lark, or they may actually want to believe, but feel unable to express that. So instead, they ask for a reading. I try to approach each reading with an open mind, and do my own prayers, silently to myself while shuffling usually, while I read. I also read palms, and have more experience with palmistry than tarot when it comes to working events. I've had, on the whole, very positive responses while reading at events. People usually end up giving me things on the days I read... will buy me something from the craft show, or fellow vendors will trade me goods in exchange. I like that a lot too. Hope some of this helps! :)

ros	16 Mar 2004
I let the clients pull the cards & then I do my reading without knowing the question. By the time I'm done the question has been opened up with new light & they usually want to tell me what the question was. I also do a few cards after they tell their question. People usually have a good time & leave with a smile or laughing, I'm very accomodating, they get their moneys worth. I tell them "these cards are telling you" & I also tell them I'm not psychic I'm a card reader & that takes the tension off!

full deck	16 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ros I let the clients pull the cards & then I do my reading without knowing the question. By the time I'm done the question has been opened up with new light & they usually want to tell me what the question was. I also do a few cards after they tell their question. . . . I tell them "these cards are telling you" & I also tell them I'm not psychic I'm a card reader & that takes the tension off! Ros, do you find that you often get caught up in explaining your methodology with the querents? I appreciate the way you go about this since this is similar to what I do when reading for another. I usually pull the cards myself though.

ros	16 Mar 2004
fulldeck, I find that people really don't care how you get the information as long as you are talking to them about them. Just read the cards & give information. For the doubters, sometimes I tell them it's all in the way they want to interprete what you are saying to them. Just read & have fun with some empathy!

Kiama	17 Mar 2004
I haven't worked events and festivals yet, but I do private readings for people. With these readings, the very first thing I do is ask the querent if they want a cup of tea/coffee/something cold to drink. I like to keep them comfortable and relaxed. The next thing I do is tell them a little about how I read (eg.- what they can expect to happen during the reading.), what they'll need to do (eg- grab a pencil and paper which I provide, and write down anything they think they need to write down...) I also explain that we'll focus on the first question, and then after that if that first question raised some concerns/more questions, we'll look a little further into them with a different reading. (Often these readings are smaller, yet focus in more detail.) I also like to ask them if they have any questions/doubts about Tarot, do that I can lay any fears or niggling doubts to rest. So, that's the first 15 minutes. I don't charge by the minute/hour: I simply say that a 'short' reading (anything between 15 mins and 30 mins) is £7, and a 'long reading' (anything between 30 mins and 1 hour) is £12. If there is still more to do, I simply add based on the above rates. (So, if we do 2 hours, £24.) Often my clients give me a little extra, which is always a pleasant surprise. By the way, I always make sure that the client knows at the start of the reading that I am not psychic. I simply use the cards as a platform from which we can explore the client's issue at hand, and gain some insight into their situation/question/problem. This way, I am not stuck with a client who insists on anking questions like "When will I die?" "Who will I marry" "What date will my first child be born on?" "Tell me what my full name is!" I tend to create the spread when I hear their question, especially if it is a specific question (eg- when the client wishes to know about a specific situation, as opposed to a 'general' question where they simply wish to know what is coming up in the next 6 months.) This way I can tailor the reading to really suit them, and we can get to the answers quicker. After all, what's the point of using say, a Celtic Cross spread, if half the positions in the spread don't apply to the question (eg- 'Hopes and Fears') If it's a general question they have, I usually use a spread that I call the 'Spheres of Life' spread, where I fan out the cards, the querent states what area of life the next 3 cards will be about, and draws 3 cards. This goes on for as many areas of life (eg- Love, Family, Work, Travel...) as the querent wants. Finally, I don't tell the clients what to do. I usually tailor my spreads so they show many different options the client can take, and let them make up their own minds as to which would benefit them more. :D Hope this helps. I haven't been doing professional readings for long, but I hope it helps. Blessings, Kiama

Emiac	17 Mar 2004
(thanks guys for the replys!) When you peeps actually speak in a reading, is it all relevant or do you try to go on about a lot of useless stuff as well? (just to make yourself sound professional) For example, to start off; someone wants to know if they'll be able to make up with a friend or something, & you draw the cards 6 of wands, 2 of pentacles, the devil, page of swords & the 7 of cups. What will you be able to tell them?

all78degrees	22 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Emiac For example, to start off; someone wants to know if they'll be able to make up with a friend or something, & you draw the cards 6 of wands, 2 of pentacles, the devil, page of swords & the 7 of cups. What will you be able to tell them? To start it would depend on what positions the card came up in. Reading for money, or for anyone else is the same as reading for yourself. Whether you charge money for it or not I guess depends on how much of a 'show' you feel able to put on. By that I mean if you are going to do a reading that means they see you as someone that is unbiased, honest, confident, friendly etc. gav.

Mojo	22 Mar 2004
People tend to take a reading more seriously if they pay for it. The more they pay, the more meaning it contains for them. In other words, the value is set by the client, not the reader. For fairs or similar events, I charge a flat fee of $15 or $20 depending on the situation for a 15-20 minute reading. Single question or general "what's coming up" reading with 7 cards. I also do casual readings at a local coffee house. For these, I charge "a bill" and I let the client determine whether that means a $5 bill, a $10 bill, a $20 or even just a $1 bill. They don't pay until after their reading and $5 and $1 bills are very rare. Then I have my formal clients, most of whom are regulars or referrals from my regulars. For them, it's $75 an hour with most sessions being 2 hours, although I've had sessions lasting as long as 5 hours (talk about exhausting!). I will also do parties and I charge $150 for 4 hours or $250 for 6-8 hours, but instead of paying me, I give them a list of my favorite charities and they have to give me a check made out to one of them which I deliver myself. The type of reading also depends on the situation and the cost. For a $15 fair reading, I don't go into any of the symbology or deeper meanings. They just get the Miss Cleo special. A quickie, "I see this or that" and that's usually enough for them. For non-believers, I just remind them that it's their money and I'm happy to take it whether they believe in what I'm doing or not - makes no difference to me. My regular clients get the whole works: history, arcane symbols explained, "what if" scenarios, and the ever-popular, ethics-free third party snoop readings if they so desire. Hey, it's their dime, so if they want to know if their spouse is cheating on them and want the answer from a deck of cards, who am I to tell them no? I'm one of those readers who doesn't believe that the cards tell us anything we don't already know, so the whole area of tarot ethics is akin to "honor among theives" to me.

Mojo	22 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Emiac For example, to start off; someone wants to know if they'll be able to make up with a friend or something, & you draw the cards 6 of wands, 2 of pentacles, the devil, page of swords & the 7 of cups. What will you be able to tell them? If you're really paying attention, you can tell from the way they ask the question and their body language and responses to seeing the cards drawn exactly what kind of answer they are expecting. You phrase your interpretation accordingly, but you never just tell them what they want to hear. The cards in your example show that there is a pattern with this friendship where they fight, then make up, then fight again. Neither knows what to make of the other most of the time, but somehow their friendship goes on - they're pretty much stuck with each other. Now, if I were to determine from their tone and language that they wanted to make up with their friend, I would emphasize the positive - "you always make up, so you will likely do so again" since that message seems to fit their state of mind as they ask the question. However, if I sensed that they were really upset with their friend, I would point out the repeating pattern and focus on the inherent mean spirited nature of the Page of Swords and the chained attachment to the Devil as unhealthy aspects. If they asked this with a negative tone, my assumption has to be that they are re-considering this friendship, and this approach to the reading supports this state of mind. Both readings are absolutely correct. It's the circumstances which determine which one is put forth. (if this were one of my formal clients, I would give both interpretations and do a further reading to delve deeper if they wanted - an extra hour's charge is always welcome!)

DeLani	23 Mar 2004
Myself, I'm pretty short and to the point. I try to put the reading into the most productive, empowering context possible, so the client leaves feeling more in control of their lives. But I don't tell them just what they want to hear, or go on and on about arcane stuff (unless they show an interest, then I give them a little info and recommend my classes). I don't charge by the minute, but by the reading, which puts my mind at ease because it puts them at ease - people get upset or antsy if they think you're drawing it out to get more money out of them. Most of my readings are done in a "fair" atmosphere - but it's at a metaphysical store, so it's not so "carnival" type, most clients are pretty serious. Above all: be honest, be ethical (by whatever standards you believe in), and give the client something positive to leave with.

_N_	23 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Mojo People tend to take a reading more seriously if they pay for it. The more they pay, the more meaning it contains for them. In other words, the value is set by the client, not the reader. A very good point. Quote: I also do casual readings at a local coffee house. For these, I charge "a bill" and I let the client determine whether that means a $5 bill, a $10 bill, a $20 or even just a $1 bill. They don't pay until after their reading and $5 and $1 bills are very rare. [/b] I am curious as to how you phrase this to your clients; or is it just generally "known" since you go there regularly? N

_N_	23 Apr 2004
OK, I found this topic while hunting for opinions on the actual act of charging for your readings - this was nearest to the mark and rather than start a whole new topic I'll grab this one as it already addresses some of the issues. My question is this - do you, personally, think that it is wrong to charge for your services? Being Pagan and a Witch I can tell you that there are many Pagans and Witches out there who feel that it is an insult, an abomination, etc. to charge for the "gift of sight" - I am not one of them, though I do agree with some of their points such as not doing readings out of greed and arrogance (hey, look at me, I'm a tarot reader, nah, nah). Personally, I don't think that there is anything wrong with making a bit of extra money to help pay the bills, or, if you are so inclined, to make reading tarot your sole source of income - so long as you don't turn into an ego maniac wearing ancient gypsy clothing, putting on a big show with your eyes rolling back and shouting "clear away from my aura" :D But, I wanted to hear all of your opinions on this too. N

ncefafn	23 Apr 2004
When I'm plugged in during a reading, it's no different than when I'm plugged in when I'm writing. I do my level best to sell my short stories. What then is the problem with selling my readings? Should I give away my short stories for free? If I tried that, people would think my short stories were bad, and they wouldn't even bother to read them. Things of value merit an exchange of value. JMHO, Kim

zoso	25 Apr 2004
When people pay for readings, if gives them a sense of a business deal (or like going to a counsler), you still pay, but it's not like just getting any old someone's advice. Plus, if it's a stranger doing the reading, they have no bias or underlying intentions. They take it more serious and assume the reader does, too. What about exchanging for a reading, like Aeclectic does, only with things like books?

closrapexa	25 Apr 2004
I haven't read for money yet, as I'm not very sure of my abilities. Yes, I've had some fantastic readings for my friends and strangers, but when people pay they may expect "service." And worried I won't be able to fulfill their expectations. Morever, sometimes I have a problem with questions. When I do a Celtic Cross, I usuall see what the reading focuses on, sometimes its carrer, sometimes its love, whatever is most pressing. If I read for money, then I'm not sure I'll be able to tell the querent "no, that question isn't really alluded to in this particular reading."

fairyhedgehog	25 Apr 2004
I don't read for others, but I do charge for my counselling services and I think that the two are similar in many ways. I always find it hard to charge clients enough, because with counselling they may find that they need to come regularly for several weeks or months, and it can mount up to a lot. But in principal I don't see why I shouldn't charge a reasonable amount, and why tarot readers shouldn't charge a reasonable amount too. "Reasonable" being defined as whatever the client is happy to pay, I suppose. I value hearing how other people go about reading for others. In particular, I felt that the approaches of mojo and Kiama sounded possible - except I'd need a whole lot of practice on friends before I was ready to do that :)

The Are you worth it? thread was originally posted on 16 Mar 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.