talkmagic.co.uk

Ok.. I need some guidance..

Before I start, I found it hard to believe recently Magicwands claim that people would prefer to have their palms read or in some form a reading take place rather than a few magic tricks or standard routines.. ( sorry magicwand, I had no basis for observation )

until yesterday..

I was on the bus making my way home from work. I ended up doing some mentalism effects on a few African people. Somewhere towards the end of the routine, I included a couple of cold reading statements while using the ESP deck.

An Asian girl overheard and assumed I could read palms and requested a palm reading.

I told her I would need to know a little about her in order to get a good 'reading' so performed a few effects like BTL, and a few predictions to 'gauge what she was about' I included a bit of cold reading in with it hoping that would be the end of it.

She still wanted a palm reading. So .. I made one up...

and she was stunned by the accuracy!!

Then about 4 other women wanted me to read their palms. At this point I just felt like I couldnt say no because I didnt want to look like a fraud!!

*someone note the Irony*

Anyway, these women took my business cards and 2 of them said they had plenty of Friends who would be willing to pay very good money to have their palms read, and that today I would be receiving numerous calls and emails!!

Which I have done all answerphones and voicemails requesting quotes etc!! I havent even read them I'm a little scared to!!

Anyway.. I dont do readings, I dont read palms, and now it seems I have a small demand for those particular services.. !!

I covered my back a little by advising these women that I was first and foremost an entertainer and do not claim any such REAL pyschic powers, not that it hasnt fallen on deaf ears due to the apparant success of my 'readings'


Anyway.. where the hell do I go from here>? This seems like a bloody great opportunity to earn some dough.. and I assume I could probably pull it off as I did last night..

However.. I would like to approach this right??

Any advice for me.. please.. would be appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance

I.D

Be careful with this stuff. It is not for the dabbler. If you screw up a card trick you just look like an idiot. If you screw up a reading you can ruin someone's life.

When I first started I went in at the deep end and had dozens and dozens of clients. I didn't really know what I was doing but I managed to get through it. I don't recommend you go this route. It should be remembered that at the time I was a very experienced hustler anyway.

Quite frankly I would turn down all requests for paid readings until you know what you are doing.

Well if you told them your an entertainer as opposed to a psychic then you haven't decieved them in any way! What they are getting is a piece of entertainment. I don't agree with magicians pretending to be real psychics, but you haven't, so I say buy a palm reading book and go for it

My advice ID would be to have them book you for a "psychic party". All the guests pay you say £6, you go along and do a few mind-reading stunts, then give them all a quick 5 - 10 minute palm reading. Tell them it's all about entertainment, and make the readings all upbeat and positive.

In the meantime, read up on reading techniques etc. (see most of my posts! ), and then see how you get on with it. If you like it, then begins a lifetime of study!!!

To be honest, you're an intelligent guy and you're old enough to have seen a bit of life - which is the most important thing when it comes to readings. If you want any more help or advice, PM me and I'll be glad to help in any way I can.

Good luck!

I did tell them I was an entertainer, and not a pyschic or a medium. I did explain that, I use a mixture of magic, NLP and pyschology to acheive everything they have seen. I told them apart from that I leave it up to each individual to draw whatever conclusions they wish.

I told them that just like the things they had seen tonight, there are elements of readings.

I dont think they want straight up palm reading with crystal ball Mark, I think they are looking for a mentalism show, but with plenty of readings invloved as they seem to be into this kind of thing.

i dont know.. but Im not going to turn down free money. I think as long as I make myself known as an entertainer then Ill be ok.

But what sources can I draw from..?

Good stuff Magicwand

I will definately be PM'ing you for advice.. if you could just let me know a good source for cold reading and palm reading, that would be beautiful.

Im assuming ' The full facts of cold reading ' will be a recommended read?

I wasn't going to recommend Rowland's Full Facts because I assumed you already had it, with your CUPS and all. But yes, definitely get it.

You can also incorporate some cold reading with effects like Kioku and just basic mentalism stuff where you figure out their info and just throw in some cold reading. I know Derren Brown mentioned it in Absolute Magic and obviously it's not a new idea. Get them to write a memory on a billet and then take it from there etc.

Thats where it all started.. cold readign from kioku and from the marked ESP decks.. also Reflections..

Im looking forward to this.. I may well get my first paid gig

Ill keep you all informed!!

I.D wrote:I did explain that, I use a mixture of magic, NLP and pyschology to acheive everything they have seen.

Did you also tell them your name is Derren Brown?

Just kidding. That phrase just reminded me of what he says at the beginning of every episode.

I would recommend reading Completely Cold by Kenton Knepper if you haven't already.

I've heard good things about 'the james bond classic reading' by julien moore. Might just be the thing you are looking for.

http://www.learnpalmistry.biz/Learn_Palmistry/Palmistry/The_James_Bond_Classic_Reading/

There is even a recommendation from Mr Browning on there.

i would say do one psychic house party as the wand said, but my ha'pennies worth is this:

do you have the confidence when infront of strangers to handle it all?
when you do readings, make it clear you won't answer any health issues as you are not a doctor...
and you cannot contact the dead...
what you can do is give them info of their own potential, and what future they are able to create for themselves...

well, thats what i say anyway, if you wanna say you can talk to the dead or make someone love you, then thats up to you ID...

dont jump into the deep end and drown though...howabout do one or two 1-2-1s first, see how you do?

now, one of my mates at work is a huge nigerian chap, he's very dry witted and very funny, both he and another mate of mine from sierra leone have both said to me "if you did any of this back home, they'd burn you..." though George also added "or you could get alot of women and take all their money off them..."

im saving up for my airfare as i type...

be careful, as reverend lewis says "get it wrong, and you can screw up someone's life..."

start small...

You may have heard me praising it in every thread recently but Full facts has to be a definate purchase I.D. There is so much in there and it is so clearly written and easy to understand it's by far the best book I have read on the subject but for the time being it may be a good idea to look around a few sites on the subject. This could be the start of your carrer on a big scale I.D so take it and make the best of it while you possibly can. Anyway best of luck I.D.

Since you are insisting on doing readings anyway you may as well do it correctly I suppose.
The Ian Rowland book is NOT a good one to start with since the author has never done a paid reading in his life. He is describing how he imagines readings are done not what actually takes place.
I can recommend anything by Richard Webster. However my favourite purveyor of knowledge in these matters is me. I have a psychic video course which is the best in the industry. However my natural modesty prevents me from talking about it.

When I used to carry out paid Tarot readings (many moons ago - and I hasten to add that I'd studied the subject pretty extensively, and 50/50 believed in it's capability), I'd always stress that any reference to future events were potential only.

I'd simply state that such-and-such an event was indicated, but that it was up to the querant to either take advantage, in a positive-potential situation, or take action to steer-clear in a negative-potential situation (offering the relevant advice in relation to the suggested circumstance).

It could be argued, I guess, that this was a complete cop-out, but you'd be surprised at the amount of folks who came back to me (either for another reading, or just to thank me) reporting that the information had been both accurate and of use

The stuff on cold reading in 13 Steps is a good place to start.
Like yourself, ID, I get asked for readings a lot, often tarot and sometimes palm readings. Weirdly this follows some magic effects which stuns me that people associate a few card tricks with psychic powers. They must think it's all real!

It does depend on people's cultures. I find that African, Asian and East European people are more likely to believe in mysticism and magic as it's quite strong, folklore wise, in their cultures and their reaction to magic is vastly different, in my experience, to that of Brits.

As far as cold reading goes, you're a sensible chap, so it should go without saying to avoid anything medical, legal or could end in the getting in bother if they follow any wrong advice you give them.

Generalisations to begin with and once you have sussed the person out then you can be bold. Think on your feet. The reason why tarot cards are good is that you can explain the imagary and if what you're saying is wrong you can twist and turn it around till you get a hit. And when you get a hit, DO emphasise it and use it.

Most people are concerned with relationships, jobs, money and health. Sometimes but not always in that order.

If you want to discuss more, PM me mate.