This month: Exciting Conference Details, Results of Last Month's Survey, New Survey Question, Results of Last Month's Q & A, a Totally New Q & A
From the Editor
Dear Members,
I'm real pleased at the positive response we received to our new OPA E-News. Thank you for your feedback and your participation in the Survey and Q & A.
Below you'll see your responses and the new questions for this month. But before we get to that, check out the conference information. It's really coming together and you won't want to miss it.
You'll want to check out
http://www.findastrologer.com - A complete directory of professional astrologers, astrology courses, services and products. Besides containing a directory of Astrologers, classes, services, it also has information about conferences, links to organizations and other places of interest to the Astrology Community. Robin Manteris, the webmistress of Find Astrologer, invites you to take a look and get your own listing. Listings are free.
Ellen Zucker
emzucker@netreach.net
Conference Update -- Professional Astrologers at Work Conference - NOVEMBER 2-5, 2001
Details about the upcoming Professional Astrologer’s at Work Conference are coming together quickly. The conference is designed so that you will earn more money in Astrology than you did before.
The conference begins with two Pre-conference workshops on Nov. 2, the ISAR Ethics Training by Glenn Perry and Peer Group Supervision led by Monica Dimino. There will be two conference tracks running through Nov 4 plus two post conference workshops on Nov 5.
Conference track 1 - Basics of a practice.
1st session - Starting and Marketing your practice - Georgia Stathis
2nd Session - Planning time and space - Chris McCrae
3rd Session - Financial Security for Astrologers - Michael Munkasey
4th session - Preparing for each client - PANEL Moderator Maureen Ambrose
5th Session - Healthy Boundaries for Astrologers - Sandra Leigh Serio
6th Session - The Astrologer’s Shadow - Glenn Perry
Track 2 - expanding your practice.
1st Session - Research Breakthroughs for Better Consultations - Mark
McDonough.
2nd Session - Alternate Careers and Income for Astrologers - Joan Wickenberg
3rd Session - Using the Internet to expand your practice. - Rick Levine
4th Session - Earning money as an Astrological Writer - Kim Rogers-Gallagher
5th Session - Community resources and giving referrals - Dawne Kovan
6th Session - Building an Astrological Community - Ray Merriman
Post conference workshops
Rob Hand - "Counseling for Difficult Chart Patterns."
David Cochrane - "Using harmonics for consulting."
Ray Merriman - "Giving Financial Advice"
Details will be posted on OPA's website, http://www.professional-astrology.org
SURVEY-Results
Last month we asked:
1. What is your hourly rate?
2. Where do you live? (city, state)
Comments?
--------------------------------------------
18 people responded out of the 85 who received OPA E-News. That is fully 21% of you.
Thank you for your time and effort. I'm thrilled that so many of you chose to participate.
And now, the results:
Although the survey asked for your hourly rate, not all of you offered sessions by the hour.
12 of you had a straight hourly fee structure. 3 of you had a higher rate (and allocated more time-90 minutes) to the first meeting with a client. Follow up sessions carried lower rates and are offered on an hourly basis. 2 used different time increments-1 only offered 2 hour sessions, the other 90 minute sessions. 1 respondant was careful to point out that her session fees included prep time. Another has a higher rate if there is prep time before the arrival of the client. The matrix below includes her rate for a one hour session without prior prep time.
Standard rates below are rates charged by the hour for personal work (as opposed to say Business/Financial or Electional). These ranged from $80 to $150 per hour. Half of you charge below $100 an hour/ half above.
The breakdown:
# Fee for 60 minute personal reading.
- -------
4|$80-$89 (NYC, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Naples, FL Margate, FL)
2|$90-$99 (Queens, NY, Martha's Vineyard, MA)
1|$100-$109 (Boulder Co, CO)
1|$110-$119 (Minneapolis, MN)
2|$120-$129 (Pleasant Hill, CA, Seattle, WA)
0|$130-$139
0|$140-$149
2|$150 (Naples, FL, Marblehead, MA)
One person (Boston, MA) charges a sliding scale-$95-$125 per hour. Another (Pleasant Hills, CA) charges $120 for individual one hour readings.Prep time prior to the client's arrival is additional. One hour sessions with prep time run $175,for one-and-a-half hours plus prep it is $225.
# Fee structure for those who had a 90 minute 1st session/hourly follow ups
- -------------
1|CDN$100/CDN$70 (British Columbia)
1|$140/$90 (Louisville, KY)
1|$200/$125 (Metro Washington DC)
# 90 minute session
- ----------
1|$125 (San Francisco)
# 2 hour session
- ----------
1|$150 (NYC)
Those of you who offer services other than or in addtion to individual readings use a different fee structure for those services. One person offers a $175 hourly rate for Business/Financial consultations, two price according to the individual job. Another offers a $300 ceiling on elections and rectification (the ceiling can be lifted if the client changes the parameters
of the request mid-stream).
Geographic Spread
-----------------
1|Quesnel, British Columbia
1|Boston, MA
1|Marblehead, MA
1|Martha's Vineyard. MA
2|Northern California incl. San Francisco
2|Naples, FL
1|Louisville, KY
3|New York City
1|Minneapolis, MN
1|Palm Beach Gardens, FL
1|Seattle, WA
1|Boulder Co., CO
1|Metro Washington DC
1|Margate, FL
A number of you modify your rates depending on circumstances. One person discounts telephone consultations-she charges $1 a minute and is paid by check ahead of time with new clients. Others will discount for friends or people they know who have little money. Some charge more for clients from higher cost areas.
Yet, in this particular unscientific sample, rates don't always follow the cost of living of the Astrologer's location. For example, the 3 respondants from high rent New York City have some of the most reasonable rates around. All three have rate structures that work out to $90 or less per hour.
And in Naples, FL you can pay $80 or $150 for a one hour reading.
Some comments:
Muriel Hastings writes:
sometimes I drop my fee, depending on where a client is calling from, in the case of long distance work. For example, I have a strong clientele in Kentucky and Tennessee, and the cost of living there is so much less than it is here in the West Coast, that I have kept my fee down to $100. And, when dealing with Los Angeles clients whose sense of value is so inflated, they pay $150/hr for personal consulting. But the rates above are for just about everyone else.
Haloli Richter writes:
Fees and quality of service don't necessarily connect and may differ with local conditions. also, people who do not have to make a living from astrology or want to work less can set higher prices than those who indeed see it as their sole income.
Jenny Noble writes:
I realize my rate is well below the "industry average", but in my situation it makes sense. For one, my living expenses are well below those of a typical US urban dweller; I practice a simple living philosophy and consciously minimize consumption. For another, a higher rate would put me out of the reach of most of my potential market. I do a lot of barter, making sure that what I receive is of equal value to what I give and of actual use to me. This approach enables me to live where I love to be and do what I love to do. I ask nothing more from my calling.
Arlan Wise writes:
I live in a resort area where the year round people don't have a lot of money but the summer visitors have lots. I've been trying to figure out a two-tier price structure for both groups but haven't gotten it yet, so i use one price. I try to stay competitive wth what the bodyworkers charge. I give $20 off for my kids friends and young locals (25 annd under).
Bob Mulligan writes:
The amount of money I earn today is much greater than anticipated when entering the profession of astrology. Still astrologers should be able to charge what a doctor, lawyler, or therapist in our communities charge. As our educational standards increase our society will support this as a norm for our field.
Maureen Ambrosse writes:
I find making my fees affordable encourages business. Many people don't understand what services an astrologer is able to provide. I tend to have a lot of repeat business.
Jeff Baugher writes:
I think I am in the upper price range for local astrologers. Louisville is not a particularly high cost of living area.
Linda Zoltnick writes:
I keep my prices in line with what experienced therapists charge in my area.
Sandra Leigh Serio writes:
When I get my book published, I will raise my rates to $125 -$150 per hour. I raised my rates to $100 (from $90) when I received my Master's degree in Psychology in 1998.
Comments?
New Survey Questions
(Hit the reply button, answer the questions and click "send")
1. How do you get clients?
2. How long have you been in practice (receiving payment for your services)?
Comments?
Q & A
Last month,
Bob Mulligan wrote:
Here is my situation. In the last few years the volume of clients that I see has dropped dramatically. I was saved from financial ruin only because I increased my rates. My rate use to be $100 an hour. I now charge $150. I sell about 1000 hours a year. After paying, business expenses, child support, taxes, mortgage, there isn’t much left for savings etc. My dilemma is that my clientele has gradually drifted from being a broad cross-section of our society to being only those who are very well heeled. Yes, I do work for free at times, but it isn’t the same as when everyone could afford an appointment. Does anyone have any other thoughts on the time money equation in general? Or on my personal situation?
Maureen Ambrose writes:
Obviously, Bob, you are going through some heavy-duty transits and who knows what else. Your time-money equations seem sound. Perhaps you have picked up on the trend of our economy. People seem to be pulling back and are becoming more selective with how they are spending money. The mood seems to be more cautious instead of euphoric. Companies are laying off or cutting down. It's a good thing you have well-heeled clients because they will probably continue to want the service you provide especially in these uncertain times. You were smart to increase your hourly rate :-)) Do you want to pickup more of the broad-based clientele? Do you have time open to do more work? Would you want to create another level of business? Is there a service you could provide that is tailored to the primarily to the broad-base, general public? You've been doing astrology professionally for long enough to ask and answer all these questions so I'm sure no stone has been left unturned. What else could be done, then? It would seem to me that you would need to review your overhead. What is it costing you to live and to conduct your business? What portion of your business requires travel and is that a money-maker when it is netted out? Some things cannot be avoided but others can be managed better. It would appear that you need to make some long-range changes because of the discomfort you feel.
Haloli Richter writes:
i understand bob's question and explanation very well. looking at my clients here in washington dc as well as my phonework all over the country as well as internationally, ALL clients are professionals and in upper income brackets. but living in washington, there is no blue color industry and most people interested in my service have also done therapy or other life examining activities. also, since i do not advertise at all and only work by word of mouth i have a naturally preselected clientele...friends of existing clients, therapists and their clients, again an educated group of people.
Dear Members,
If you have additional comments on this topic, we will continue to publish them.
New Q & A
Ellen Zucker writes:
Although I've been a student of Astrology since the late 70's, I'm only now going out and setting up a practice.
One of the biggest roadblocks for me has been dealing with other people's negative opinions about Astrology. It is necessary to let people know what I do if I want to attract clients. But I feel exposed, vulnerable, and frankly don't enjoy handling the reactions of those who disparage or disapprove of Astrology.
How do you insulate yourselves about the negative opinion in which Astrology is held by the mainstream?
Dear Members,
Send your comments to Ellen Zucker at emzucker@netreach.net. Comments will be published next month.
It's your Q & A.
Let us direct our collective energies towards brainstorming about YOUR dilemma.
Send in the details. One question will be chosen and posted in next month's OPA E-NEWS.
To write to OPA E-NEWS, send to: emzucker@netreach.net. Articles, contributions are welcome. No attachments, please.
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