Short Readings: Need help

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Re: Short Readings: Need help

Postby kartoffelngeist » Feb 16th, '17, 16:31



Doug Dyment sells Richard Webster's books. Can recommend anything that comes from Richard Webster.

http://www.deceptionary.com/webster.html

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Re: Short Readings: Need help

Postby TonyB » Feb 17th, '17, 01:51

I only do short readings, never long, and I only work in the sort of settings being discussed. Mark Lewis is right; the PDF by me in the archives here is not for you. It is aimed firmly at magicians trying to dip their foot into readings for the first time.

Here is how I handle it. I tell people that we only have a few minutes. If they want me to I can give them a brief insight into their character, or if they have a question, ask me in vague terms and I will see what their cards or their palm tells me about the problem. In social settings most people are happy with the brief readings on character, and don't expect anything deeper. I always end on a positive note. You get used to it quickly.

Sometimes I am hired to mix magic and readings. Here I used a marked deck. Because of my eyesight I just write the name of the card on the back in thick black sharpie! I do a brief palm reading and then tell them what card they would have been drawn to.

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Re: Short Readings: Need help

Postby mark lewis » Feb 18th, '17, 05:37

I am actually talking to Richard Webster on Facebook as we speak!

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Re: Short Readings: Need help

Postby reader80 » Feb 18th, '17, 08:43

Thanks for sharing your approach TonyB…

Your handling is very nice. Let people decide if they want a character reading or an insight into any particular problem on their mind. Why try to be clever when I can just ask and let them make the choice, especially in such a short time frame. And with my current handling I only expand a character reading in (what I feel is) their area of interest and hopefully I get it right. I don’t really address their questions if that’s what they would prefer given a choice.

I would find it easier to stick to a character reading but I can answer a question using the lines if it is a better experience for the sitter. It just opens up another avenue…

I see the efforts my friends doing magic take to develop their skillsets and felt compelled to do something more than only plain readings. I assumed that doing just readings (especially short ones) was not a very dramatic (in itself presentation wise) experience so I had to add some tricks for making it more memorable and exciting for people. And I arrived at this conclusion on the strength of one gig.

My goal will be trying to do an hour or so of strolling followed by palm readings in future as suggested by Mark Lewis. But based on the experience of people who have been actually doing only short readings gigs, I guess I can be successful with short readings as of now.

Regards,

reader80
 

Re: Short Readings: Need help

Postby TonyB » Feb 19th, '17, 01:10

When someone opts for the character reading I do their palm. When they ask me for a quick look at a problem, I take out a tarot deck and have them pick three cards (no more). That is just how I handle it. I would say 90% opt for the character reading.

I find that once you have done the first few, people really get enthusiastic. A crowd grows. Mostly women, but men too. I often tell bookers to get me to do the readings, and a magician who will entertain the rest. Because in general magic appeals more to men while readings appeal more to women. Gross generalisation I know, but with some truth to it. And by having a magician and a reader you cover all bases.

If I am working the room alone and doing both magic and readings, I start with magic then switch, because if you start with readings, you will never end, and the magic i out the window!

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