The last few weeks has gone in a swirl of work and conference prep…so it’s only a few days after the event I am able to do a proper write-up of the U.K. Tarot Conference.
This is a conference in its 20th year run by Kim Arnold of the Esotoracle. It is a fascinating, cerebral event.
If you've ever been to a US Tarot conference, this is (I believe) a pretty different animal. There are lots of talks, which vendors can attend, and you vend just outside the main talk hall. It is not an event which is open to the public, so the attendees will come and have a look at the stalls on breaks between talks etc.
Up at 4 am Friday, I drove impatiently to London to the U.K. Tarot Conference. Eager to see friends, to show off decks and art by the artists of the 78 Tarot Project, and introduce them to a wider audience.
It was my first vending experience post Covid, and I was a little nervous, but the staff were excellent and the vending space all felt clean and open. I got set up and then dashed across to Ethony's apartment, where we were staying for the weekend to drop off stuff and pick her up.
It was loooovely to meet her son and wife, and pretty much as soon as we got back we bumped into, and got hugs from Christine, so that was a fabulous start!
The bits of talks I was able to attend were brilliant, giving me a lot to think about - the U.K. Tarot conference has a different card as a theme every year - this was Judgement. The talks themselves are very cerebral, challenging me in so many ways, and I love that element.
Unfortunately, the cost of living has impacted vending, and as such we pretty much broke even, rather than making a profit. If Kayti had made, it we would have made a loss. That side of it was gutting, really...mainly because I'd forgone some of the talks I wanted to see, in the hopes of sharing the 78 Tarot decks with more people...and it was quite upsetting really to think times have changed so much, with some lovely people really wanting to buy but having spent their budget on the trip itself. One of those situations where you wish you could give stuff away! But indie decks aren't cheap to produce unfortunately, and I just couldn't.
I get it, times are tight all over, and London is expensive. Luckily I was staying with friends, so I didn’t have that cost. And I got to meet other vendors, some of whom are looking at the possibility of a northern England conference/convention…which could be a lot of fun. I got to make some new friends, and see old ones. Kim is a delight and it's always fun to see her in action. Plus I got to catch up with Geraldine Beskin of the Atlantis Bookshop, and see her talk about A. E. Waite and share some rare publications, including the original advertising for the first RWS deck!
Personally I was also rather chuffed with myself for driving around London so much, and when I was chatting to Geraldine, started making plans for a trip down to Atlantis soon.
Lots of fun, and potential plans afoot!!!