I remember my innocent beginnings of entering into this profession/field. Oh lord! I was so excited! I wanted to explore my skills to see what it all meant - a sincere desire to record my discoveries! This quickly led me to offering parties for clients.
Parties were (and are) individual readings at a person's home. I'd be set up in a separate room from the guests - a table, two chairs, and that's pretty much it. I never prepare for readings other than just making my intentions. No backstories gathered about who I'd read. The only person I knew that I was going to read was the host - the host's name and address (since I was going to that person's home).
Each reading would vary between the length of time, but usually 15, 20, 30, or 45 minutes a person. I'd say between 4 to 10 people when I started. I didn't mind the guests having some drinks as they mingle while a single person was with me for the private reading.
I would meet so many people! I was excited to be paid for a skill that I felt I was good at along with just witnessing and experiencing the psychic and mediumistic functioning that would only really occur if I was with someone asking me to read. I didn't mind driving 1.5 hours. I didn't mind working into the evening. I was also doing this when I would do psychic fairs and do restaurant readings (they are both very similar to Parties).
Then...well...I learned more and more about this work, perceptions of this work, the power of societal/cultural/XYZ conditioning, challenging long held beliefs, navigating working with various groups of people like working in customer service, and more!
I was pretty cheap with my rates when I started. I was beginning. I was starting off fresh. I was still learning about my skills and how the information moves through my mind tool. What my role really was. What my client's role really was. What in gods name a reading actually was and how it is to serve.
Then time progressed me forward on this perceive linear trajectory. My hair turned more grey. More lines appeared on my face. Clearly, those are just examples for me to say that I grew wiser and more knowledgeable.
I learned, I studied, I observed, I experienced, I researched.
Then I decided that I would no longer do parties since I had an awful experience with a guest which I won't speak about here. An awful experience...which in hindsight...was a great teaching function.
I can also see my own unconscious desire to protect myself from ever experiencing that again so that definitely influenced my decision to no longer do parties.
Years later, leading to very recently, I decided to offer Parties again.
But! Parties are not Entertainment.
I learned that I don't mind much value in doing just 15 minute readings. 30 minutes are the shortest that I feel like I can do great work in which I'm satisfied with what I did for a client.
I learned that I had to pierce through the mental barriers within people perceiving what I do as some silly parlor trick or mentalist game or psychotic delusion.
I learned that I need to have an environment that strengthens the potential for a great connection between me, my client, and the Unseen.
No more alcohol since I now have a no alcohol policy.
I offer Parties again because it can be a great experience for a group of friends/family members to discuss what they're comfortable with sharing during their readings. To find interest in what information came through and how it came through and which spirits came through for a client.
How Parties can help bond people and also offer a shorter reading with me in-person since I only do in-person readings for groups and parties. Each guest coming in the room with me for a new experience and hopefully leaving better than when they entered.
Eventually, after stopping Parties a few years ago, I worked up the courage to offer group mediumship readings. That was very intimidating and terrifying and it still is intimidating and kind of scary. But they are perfect for a meaningful experience with a group of loved ones while Parties are for individual and even more intimate assistance with psychic information.
Parties are not Entertainment. It is for those who desire to be read and be around those they care about before and after. For those who intend to receive the services of a Psychism Practitioner, who understand how a reading can help, and then enjoy a social setting with loved ones - preferably over some dessert, tea, coffee, smoothies, etc...
To receive services in a more social setting.