Reading on the Circuit: An Insider’s Look at Psychic Fairs

By Rhomylly Forbes

 

Cindy Wilson is a long-time member of the ATA and a Certified Tarot Grand Master. She is a licensed minister with the Universal Life Church, and uses tarot as part of her pastoral counseling duties. Her first and favorite deck is the Waite-Albano. She is a dear friend of

mine who has been reading tarot cards for over 31 years – I have learned a lot from her! Cindy lives in New Mexico, and often reads at local and regional psychic fairs.

 

How did you get started on the psychic fair “circuit”?

I started at the Harvest Fest in Amarillo. I called them up and asked if they had room. They had to ―invent‖ a resume for me, because I had never read in public before. Eventually, other psychic fairs started to invite me to come and read. If you can just get your foot in the door

at one fair, you‘ll get asked to come to more.

 

The trick, though is getting to read at that first fair. So many psychic fairs have gotten huge – 100 readers or more – and it‘s getting harder and harder to snag an invite to read. I was honest about my background, my code of ethics, and my philosophy about the cards; I think that helped convince the organizers of that first fair to give me a chance.

 

What’s the biggest difference between reading for a psychic fair and reading for regular clients?

The time limit. Most fairs schedule you for three readings an hour at 20 minutes each. Some fairs, one in Colorado specifically, are real sticklers for their readers staying on schedule, and if you go over the scheduled time, you the reader are removed from the site.  The other big difference is the clients. Many of them have had bad experiences with fraudulent psychics. One lady came to me because another psychic at the fair told her someone on my spiritual path

(witch) could remove the curse placed on her young son – he had cancer. It broke my heart.

 

Also, at my first fair, a reading I gave a client indicated that her husband had just died and that she was considering suicide. Coming to the fair was part of her getting her affairs in order. I tried to talk her out of it, and she said, ―It‘s none of your business, but thank you,‖ and left. It made me rethink doing psychic fairs for a while.

 

I bet it did! What else is difficult about reading at the fairs?

Other than sometimes there are no bathroom breaks? (Laughs) The fact that I really don‘t have a chance to get to know the person I‘m reading for. Twenty minutes just isn‘t enough time to connect with someone. The clients‘ expectations are often higher at a fair. With so many different kinds of psychics in the room, the client wants something impressive.  At first it was hard reading in front of so many people. I‘d only read for family and friends, and often over the

phone. A roomful of other readers was kind of intimidating.

 

What is the best part?

Same as it is when I read at home for family and friends. Reading cards is part of my religious devotion, to show people that they can believe in something, that it‘s okay to wish on a star, that they are important to the Universe. I want them to believe that Deity knows and cares enough to stop in their cosmic time and say, ―It‘s okay.‖ It can be a powerful force of change for some people, and I‘m honored to be part of it.

 

You’re very up front that you don’t normally charge money for readings. How does it make you feel to accept money at the psychic fairs?

The way I look at it, the client is not paying for the reading, he or she is paying for my expertise. Anyone can slap down a deck and pretend to find some meaning in the cards. The clients pay me for the ability to interpret.  At first I didn‘t accept the money. I‘m used to bartering for readings – I read for my beautician and she cuts my hair for free, that kind of thing. But there are a lot of out-of-pocket expenses to go to these fairs, gas mostly.  Hotel rooms, too, since the trip is usually an overnighter for me.  But I still don‘t like making money off other people‘s lives. I had a dream where my Patron said, ―Do not let the money pass through your hands.‖ So I don‘t – I carry around a box for the money and ask people to make their own change. That way my expenses are covered without me having to violate my ethics. It‘s hard, but I do what I

can to honor my Patron‘s advice.

 

What advice do you have for anyone interested in reading at psychic fairs?

Be professional, both to your readers and in your dealings with the fair organizers. Treat the organizers as courteously as you would any other boss, and do your best to contact them as early as possible. There aren‘t likely to be any openings a week before the event!

 

I have a dress I wear for psychic fairs. It‘s flowy and comfortable. The dress gets me more attention because it‘s not business wear, but it‘s not outrageous either. I‘ve seen some people dress like a swami at these fairs, and I was waiting for the snake and the basket!

Above all, be honest. You owe it to your clients – and to the fair organizers.

 

You can visit Cindy – and her dress! – on the web at www.tarotbyolympias.com

Rhomylly Forbes has been reading tarot since 1985 – her brother taught her how. She has read at numerous street fairs and spiritual conferences, and is now passing the “family” knowledge on to her daughter.