How to host a Tarot TV show?

[jay_haque]

Hi all!

A private TV corp. (this is all taking place in pakistn)has approached me with an offer for a TV series featuring my tarot reading! They've given me time to figure out the format of the show so I'm looking for interesting ideas beyond simply doing readings for people (across the phone/emails or n a studio). I have a two part question in this regard:

1. the basic: how would you like to see a tarot show featuring on tv? what aspects of tarot should it cover? just readings or other sections to the show etc. all opinions welcome. Reality tv concepts n far out ideas are welcome too but i want it to focus by and large on the interactive nature of tarot with people.

2. Are there any tv shows you know of which feature the tarot directly? I've looked around and found psychic shows but none related to tarot as such - and i DEFINITELY do not want this show to be a psychic show. I want it to feature the modern appraoches to tarot as a medium for troubleshooting and counseling.

[shadowdancer]

wow how exciting for you!!

How about little sections or segments on a daily or weekly basis (not sure how regularly this would be broadcast covering topics such as:

** different types of deck

** a card a day / card a week where you give almost a mini lesson

** a Q & A session about the tarot (not to be mistaken for a reading though)

** Choosing a current TV character (maybe from a soap) and giving a very quick reading on their story line?


I am sure there are other good suggestions about to come your way, but the fact you have the say in how this format is to be used is very exciting.

Good luck

Davina

[jay_haque]

Oh some quick details:

1. its on a weekly basis, 20 minutes in length approx. (30mins with ads)

2. one agreement i reached is that it should be interactive as much as possible i.e. i might bring up the tarot as an art expression, different decks etc. and its history, card meanings but in a limited form (within the context of the show) so it doesnt look too much like an educational program. Its meant to be fewer parts education and greater part entertainment so as to appeal to a wider, general audience.

thanks for the input!

[shadowdancer]

wow... 20 mins eh!! that is not long actually, so you may find you don't get to do any of my suggestions.

Good luck - who knows, might lead to longer and regular slots

Davina

[rota]

Maybe the show could be as much about you, as a personality, as it is about tarot. No doubt you were chosen for this program as much for your personal qualities as for your knowledge of tarot. I'd like to hear more about that aspect.

Or, what about commenting on current events via tarot? Suppose you're going to comment on, say, Indian politics - callers could help choose cards for the spread by some mechanism you choose. Cards animate across the screen as the spread builds, and stay visible onscreen during the talk. Then you, perhaps along with a guest reader, talk about how the spread relates to the event

[SunChariot]

There are some Tarot shows in my area, but no English ones (and I don't watch a lot of French TV). From what I have seen all they do is reading.

I think there is so much more they could do though. People can be so frightened of Tarot...and fear is usually based on ignorance. A section of current Tarot myths and why they are not true, what the truth of the matter is, could really help enlighten people. Anything you can do to dispel fear about Tarot has to be good, that the future is not set in stone....etc and so forth.

Tarot is such a lovely beautiful thing, anything you can do to help people see its beauty, to me would be good. Showing the beautiful artwork of a different deck each show, to me would be a good thing. You could even say that some people who don't even read collect decks for the artwork. Whow knows that you might not inspire someone to buy a deck they find pretty and to one day learn to use it.

Explantions of theories of how it works: syncronicity...telling people that you don't have to be psychic to be a reader and we all have intuition that we can develop with the aid of the cards. A bit of the history of it.

You could have guest speakers, other readers, telling how being a reader has enriched their lives...

There is so much fear and distrust of Tarot, to me a TV show is a wonderful place to set out to try and dispel some of that. And easing some of the world's fears can only be a good thing.

Those are my ideas for now,

Bar

[jay_haque]

thank you all SO much for your ideas and input! its really going to shape the show I'm planning on putting forth to the producers! I especially liked the idea of doing readings for general events/happenings and discussing them via an expanding tarot spread!!! Neat!

And yes a lot of the show will rest on the weight of my personality I'm confident I can entertain as well as put tarot out to the masses in a brand-new light....lets see how it goes. I've got a coupla weeks and I'll be working on pulling together a written draft of sorts. I'll post it up here when its ready.

Keep the ideas coming!

[Mellifluous]

Oh, that is exciting! Congratulations.

I think in addition to looking at individual cards, suits, decks, or spreads, you could do things about the history (or various theories of the history) and especially interview people. People who use tarot for different personal reasons, other professional readers, artists and deck creators, maybe people who work at the companies that publish decks, authors, etc.

You could also have people call in or email, related to your topic for that episode (or just in general), with their questions and experiences and give your opinions and chat a bit.

Maybe you could have people act out situations that depict certain concepts? Not sure if you've got enough resources to produce segments like that, or have actors come on (or if you yourself act), but it could be fun and interesting.

Also, maybe you could give away stuff (like decks or readings or a chance to come on the show), if you have the budget for it or it's otherwise possible. Maybe have contests where someone wins every week (or however often), or have a free deck you give at random to one of your callers on each show. Something like that.

Also, it could be fun - or really cheesy, lol - to dress like the figures on the cards (or have someone else do it, if you don't want to) or bring in real world objects that are used as symbols.

Also, you could look at how it's used and viewed in different places (even countries) today. Again, if you have budget to produce little segments outside the studio, you could even ask people on the street if they've ever heard of it, what they think of it, do they use it, show them random cards and get their reactions, etc. You could get some funny responses. lol Probably a wide variety of responses, but hopefully some funny ones as well.

You could have a lot of fun with this. I hope you do! Good luck!

Edited to add: Among the types of people you could have on would also be therapists or religious people who are open to using tarot in their counselling work. Also, maybe you could do segments on the various tarot museums and landmarks in the world, like that garden.

[Teheuti]

How about having the Magician's table with the four suit implements on it (& a fifth symbol for the Majors). Each implement could be held up and used as a transition (magical doorway) into a unique segment of the show:

Wave the Wand and the camera first focuses in (close-up) then fades or morphs into a creative or adventure sequence with Tarot.

Hold up the Cup (focus>fade) into something imaginative/feeling level (costumes, theatre).

Thrust the Knife/Sword (focus>fade) into something intellectual or "news".

Display the Pentacle/Coin (focus>fade) into a practical reading (cross my palm with silver). ;-)

For the Major Arcana??? - a Shiva/Shakti, a black egg, a crystal ball, a pair of Black & White pillars through which the camera would move?

Just a thought.

Mary