Are the tickets bought anonymously? Do they ask for your name, address or any identifying information before the shows?

There was a video last year of a "medium" who guessed lots of information from strangers that walked in. They then showed a whole team of computer geeks in the back room, getting information as the person revealed their name, etc. The "medium" had an earpiece to get the data from his team. The video was done more to show younger people that they put way too much information online, but I wouldn't trust a show that had people's names beforehand.

I bought the tickets, but there is no way they'd know who I was bringing. DH's brother's death was a long time ago, you'd have to dig pretty deep to find out about it. Also, there is NO way she'd know about my cousins.

BethP

My SIL saw Maureen Hancock at a group event. Her daughter (who has a different last name) bought the tickets but couldn't go, so gave them to her mother. So there was no record of my SIL's name. Maureen said very specific things about my MIL, as well as a family member who had recently died at age 17. She also said something to my BIL about his deceased father -- can't remember exactly, but it had something to do with fireflies. After the show, BIL walked out to the edge of the parking lot, which was bordered by woods, and encountered a huge swarm of fireflies.

The how-to of mediumship...

There was a program on TV once where the guy, a skeptic, had a "reading" but where he provided absolutely no feedback. He said nothing one way or the other...no nodding, no uh-huh-ing, nothing. It became increasingly apparent that without the feedback, the medium was absolutely floundering and had no real anything to contribute. She even admitted that it was very hard for her to do it given his lack of response. Theoretically, if she had some real messages coming through, they'd be able to be delivered with or without the person's cooperation.

Like a consultant, they borrow your watch to tell you what time it is.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tricks of the psychic trade

Here's a link to an article about another tell all book by one of the charlatans.

I guess the thing is, if it is real, if there are people who do have some gift, they're rarity is swamped by charlatans... much like the voice of a one true innocent man on death row being swamped by those of his surrounding liars.

And my experience is no medium is needed....I've had enough direct signs in my life...or at least I experience them as that...that the messages will come through loud and clear, first hand. No intermediary required.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pro Medium Repents for Life of Con

Hi Annie, while I agree that there are many many fakes out there it is true that the people who are being read to can block the channel.

Sorry, jterri, but that just sounds like a cover-up mediums use for when they fail....you just don't believe enough for it to work so it's your fault...not the medium's, not the process.

I agree it can be and is used as a cover-up often. However, one really can block it out if they don't want to be read. All it takes is a little concentration.

Just to play devil's advocate, if you believe the mediums, their information is coming from "the other side," so it wouldn't matter what the person on earth is trying to block out.

I am skeptical too but if it brings people comfort to talk about their deceased relatives what's the harm? The only problem I can see is if someone was going into debt to get readings.

Everyone has a right to spend their own hard earned money on things that are important to them.

I agree that people have the right to spend their money how they choose, but I also think that it's creepy and unethical to tell people you are communicating with their dead relatives when you're really using cold reading techniques to suss out what they want to hear.

I think most of these fake psychics justify their greed by saying that they bring people comfort, but an honest conversation about what your dear departed would want for you (protection, forgiveness or to extend forgiveness, your happiness) etc can have the same effect without the lies.

And if you're mourning someone who would not want you to have those comforts, you should probably be talking to an entirely different kind of professional.

Derren Brown provides a great example of his cold reading techniques towards the end of his TV program "Messiah", which is viewable in its entirely on YouTube. His performance is very convincing to the audience members getting a reading, but he says himself he has zero psychic abilities and is using psychology, misdirection, showmanship and suggestion to be convincing.