(no subject)

[bluebren_livejournal]

I was driving back home today and I noticed one of those plasticardboard signs nailed to a telephone pole advertising tarot readings. I actually looked at it for a second, because I thought it might be neat to go and do one of those things, someday, just to see. But then I saw they were 10.99 a session and I was like Psssh! Forget it.

I tried to justify that reaction, though, and I couldn't do it. I realized I had no idea how to judge the fairness of that price. And then I started wondering, where does that number come from, anyway? If I go and have a reading done, what has she given me $11 worth of? Labor? Time? Cosmic awe?

What costs does she have in this business? I guess there's leasing the place, but seriously. Candles? I can't really figure it out. It seems like, essentially, after the one-time cost of a deck you should be good to go.

Hey, maybe this is what I should do for a living :O

Comments

[phrotus.livejournal.com]

I've thought about giving tarot readings! I mean, you just have to either learn the supposed meanings of the cards and the order of whatever draws well enough to say "this means that a financial upheaval is headed your way," or learn the kinds of things the cards mean well enough that the mark customer doesn't know the difference...

I've heard that the mystic mafia is relentless. Magica DeSpell? Still on the run.

[bluebren.livejournal.com]

This, then, is the ultimate reason we need to get together again sometime.

(If the customer knew the difference, would he need to come to you at all?)

[odifyingpip.livejournal.com]

Huh, that's so true. I mean I never really thought about it but yeah, what good reason can she have, to charge eleven dollars for tarot readings? If you can come up with one, you definitely should try it out - mess with people's minds and make some bucks on the side... *grin*

[bluebren.livejournal.com]

Well, I mean, maybe there is a good reason? Tech support seems like a good parallel. Maybe. They sit in chairs and talk on the phone, selling specialized knowledge, and that's their entire job.

But of course, pretty much everybody thinks tech support is overpriced too, so maybe this analogy isn't as helpful as I thought it was going to be. :D