Taken aback! Bowled over! Just two more of the expressions that come to mind when I checked out the website for the delightful (?) and incredible Sally Morgan. Her tour dates run to 78 for 2009 (so far announced).
I suppose I should not be surprised, but I am. Anyway, I am planning to email the venues on the list with a request that they incorporate a prominent disclaimer in all their publicity material for such perfromances. If they do not commit to do so then I will contact the appropriate Trading Standards offices.
We have discussed this before, but I would appreciate comments/suggestions regarding the appropriate wording for such a disclaimer. We have the precedent where Glasgow Trading Standards insisted that the Pavilion Theatre incorporate a disclaimer in advance of the self proclaimed baby mind reader and proven failure, Mr. Derek Ogilvie.
My best version of a suggested disclaimer so far is as follows:
'This performance is for entertainment purposes only. There is no credible, independently tested evidence whatsoever that [insert name of the performer] has any psychic abilities, or can contact dead people. If you attend the performance you should be aware of techniques such as cold and hot reading. The [insert name of venue] does not support or promote belief in mediums or psychics.'
Can you improve on this?
Ta!
How about:
This performance cannot guarantee to be entertaining and it lacks the basic controls required of a scientific experiment however we're going to pretend that it's both rather than submit to the sort of testing that could distinguish between a genuine medium and the many stage mentalists who could replicate every part of this act using only the most basic tricks in their repertoire. At the same time we'll appeal to your Daily Mail reading prejudices by claiming that this disclaimer was forced upon us by meddling Eurocrats rather than being an open admission that it's all a put-on. In fact this has always been required by both English law and common decency and we only got away with it before because the director of public prosecutions didn't act. Now that fraudulent mediums are covered by trading standards law were open to private prosecutions. We respect that you probably still believe in ghosts and are happy to take your money on that basis but please play along when we pretend that you're just here to see a magic show, *wink* *wink*, as it'd be illegal for us to take advantage of grieving people desperate to believe or otherwise vulnerable people. We can only hope that such people do not realize that the overall impression created by our heavily edited TV appearances, extensive public relations and exploitation of high profile and newsworthy tragedies, renders these disclaimers worthless under the law. Your right to redress if you feel that you have had your money taken from you under false pretences remains unaffected.
As Harry Hill once said...
What are the odds of that happening eh?
Now, Now Matt. Ironying does not become you!
And while I agree that what you have cone up with is extremely humorous and apposite, I do feel it is a tad longwinded and impractical for the purposes.
There is no scientific evidence to support mediumship as spirits often do not come through during testing; however, when it comes to entertainment, they appear without fail at the designated time and location. Therefore, it might be an idea to treat this performance as being for entertainment purposes only.
.
I think Tony Stockwell probably top trumps her for appearances.
It's a lucrative game if you've got no morals
I was taken back when I seen the insatiable appetite the English public had for Harry Potter .
It's part of English culture to believe in fairies and gnomes . Even the skeptics buy their children the toys and publicity that keeps the pyschic intrigue in existence.
So what use is a disclaimer to the masses ?
Back to the drawing board for you to Dick . Try a new approach
I enoy reading a good fantasy (not Harry Potter, I'm too old!) or science-fiction featuring ESP and so on. I even write stories which include such impossible things. But it doesn't occur to me to confuse fiction with reality - not since I was a kid, anyway.Originally Posted by highflyertoo
"This performance is for entertainment purposes only. However, should you believe that you are being contacted by spirits during this performance, the venue accepts no responsibility for any action you may take as a result. The performer accepts TOTAL liability."
If you have purchased a ticket to this event, please visit our casino immediately after the show.
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