So I saw Sylvia Browne the other day...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My sister-in-law had an extra ticket, asked if I would like to go, I obviously said yes.

She was at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix on Wednesday the 23rd. The audience was mostly women, in the 25-55 years range, and it was a full house from what I could see. We were all given wristbands that had a number on them, which was called so we could go up and ask questions.

Colette Baron-Reid opened (for lack of a better word) for her. So, Colette went on the stage and talked for about 15 minutes about what she does, talked about how most of us who were at the show will have a psychic experience right after the show is over, then started calling wristband numbers. She had a few people she felt “pulled to” in the audience. Everyone who got called asked the usual questions of “will I have a baby” and “will I get married.” She gave general answers, in the positive. She was on the stage for about 45 minutes.

After a 15 minute break Sylvia Browne hit the stage and it was like Tom Jones was there - people yelling, over-the-top applause, “I love you” shouted out. She sat down and started talking about Death and The Other Side (in caps, of course) for about an hour. Much of what she said echoed Defending Your Life. She talked about Montel a lot, she plugged her book(s) and her Las Vegas show. After an hour of talking, she did the group meditation that was hyped up in the beginning of the show, then called numbers for people to ask questions. Most people asked her what the name of their spirit guide was.

I have to say that although it was an interesting experience, I wasn’t impressed. The show more-or-less confirmed my thoughts that they’re cold reading. My overall felling is “eh.”

2

So was there anything in the show that impressed you?
That sure does not sound like a dynamic show to be sure.

3

After you rushed the stage and backhand pimp slapped her, did you yell “Didja see that coming?”

4

Was she in water?

5

[QUOTE=Zebra]
So was there anything in the show that impressed you?
That sure does not sound like a dynamic show to be sure.
[/QUOTE]

The only thing that even approached impressive was when Sylvia (I can call her by her first name, since we’re BFFs now) said something along the lines of “who knows Jeffrey, who was killed in a motorcycle accident? He’s driving me crazy.” A woman not too far from me got up and Sylvia basically repeated that his name is Jeffrey, he was killed in a motorcycle accident, and wanted to say “hi” or something to that effect.

There was a lot of her people (the servant-minions, or whatever you call them. Words are not my friend today. I’m usually much more eloquent, I promise!) All it took was that woman telling her friend that she hopes Sylvia has a message for her from her dead bf Jeffrey, and one of Sylvia’s minions just letting her know.

6

[QUOTE=ShelliBean]
After you rushed the stage and backhand pimp slapped her, did you yell “Didja see that coming?”
[/QUOTE]

You were there?! No, I sat there like a good girl, and kept my scoffing to myself.

[QUOTE=ASAKMOTSD]
Was she in water?
[/QUOTE]

Am I being wooshed?
I didn’t really go there expecting too much. There was a time when I was super-Pagan-everything girl, now I’m older and much more jaded

7

[QUOTE=Lady DeathKraft]
The only thing that even approached impressive was when Sylvia (I can call her by her first name, since we’re BFFs now) said something along the lines of “who knows Jeffrey, who was killed in a motorcycle accident? He’s driving me crazy.”
[/QUOTE]

See, this is what I don’t understand about these people. If she knows who Jeffery is and she knows how he was killed, why doesn’t she know who Jeffery wants to contact?

Yeah, color me unimpressed too.

8

Did Sylvia mention anything about all the bad press she has been receving or scoff at the skeptics (like me)?

9

So they controlled who asked questions, huh? Interesting.

Was there an opportunity for her stooges to overhear conversations? If one of them heard someone talking about Jeffrey, and reported it to Sylvia, then she could mention it and impress the audience. The stooge must not have been able to see the wrist band number, or that person would have been called and it would have seemed even more impressive.

10

[QUOTE=Lady DeathKraft]
Am I being wooshed?

[/QUOTE]

That was (I believe) a reference to this youtube clip.

11

This seems like a good place to post this link, I think the OP will find it an interesting site.

12

I would have made up some bullshit question, and then nailed her on it. Like claiming a relative died of such and such-only to say it never happened-and in fact, said relative never even existed in the first place. Just to see her squirm.

13

[QUOTE=Guinastasia]
I would have made up some bullshit question, and then nailed her on it. Like claiming a relative died of such and such-only to say it never happened-and in fact, said relative never even existed in the first place. Just to see her squirm.
[/QUOTE]

Why, her Shawn Hornbeck prediction, and the live on-air “prediction” about the trapped miners stick out so much more starkly…

14

Rent Leap of Faith. The first part of the film lays out exactly how these scammers operate. It’s a beautiful thing… sniff…

15

A new entrant in the Biggest Douche in the Universe. She is an embarrassment.

16

My mom used to watch this bat on Montel all the time. Even as a little kid I knew she was full of it.
Did anyone catch the episode where she said that Clinton would be president again? This was years ago. She said that there’d be some fluke in the system and Clinton would be president again.
Now I think she’s just a random guesser who’s full of crap, but as a kid this stuck with me as I remember thinking “Yeah, like that could happen. Would like to see him get past the 8 year rule.” But now that I’m thinking about Hilary Clinton…
Again, I think she’s a nutter. I’m just laying this all out on the table just in case she actually gets elected. :stuck_out_tongue: She’s been on Montel so many times, I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to look through all the episodes on Youtube (if they are there) to find the exact episode where she said it.

17

[QUOTE=Lady DeathKraft]
Colette went on the stage and talked for about 15 minutes about what she does, talked about how most of us who were at the show will have a psychic experience right after the show is over
[/QUOTE]
“Omigod! It just hit me! I…I’ve…wasted money buying a ticket to see this crap!”

18

[QUOTE=Mikemike2]
Did Sylvia mention anything about all the bad press she has been receving or scoff at the skeptics (like me)?
[/QUOTE]

Oh, of course not.

[QUOTE=Voyager]
So they controlled who asked questions, huh? Interesting.

Was there an opportunity for her stooges to overhear conversations? If one of them heard someone talking about Jeffrey, and reported it to Sylvia, then she could mention it and impress the audience. The stooge must not have been able to see the wrist band number, or that person would have been called and it would have seemed even more impressive.
[/QUOTE]

We all had wristbands with numbers on them, and the numbers were pulled out of a basket. The wristbands weren’t given out in an orderly fashion, so I’m not sure how much control they actually had. Who knows, though?
There were plenty of opportunities for her people to overhear conversations - waiting in line, sitting in the seats, etc.

[QUOTE=Guinastasia]
I would have made up some bullshit question, and then nailed her on it. Like claiming a relative died of such and such-only to say it never happened-and in fact, said relative never even existed in the first place. Just to see her squirm.
[/QUOTE]

The problem is, they don’t squirm. They’ll either skip that part of whatever they’re talking about, or they tell the person “you’ll understand what I’m talking about later.” Even the water comment (thanks Julius Henry) she’s just so insistent. For the people who really want to believe it, they’ll justify in their mind that what she’s saying is just her interpretation of The Spirit World™.

[QUOTE=Jackmannii]
“Omigod! It just hit me! I…I’ve…wasted money buying a ticket to see this crap!”
[/QUOTE]

Luckily, I didn’t.

I guess I’m almost disappointed. I don’t know why, but part of me was hoping (maybe too strong of a word) that I would be floored by some prediction or reading. The logical part of me, however, is chuckling smugly.

19

[QUOTE=EJsGirl]
Rent Leap of Faith. The first part of the film lays out exactly how these scammers operate. It’s a beautiful thing… sniff…
[/QUOTE]

I will definitely put that in my mental rental (heh) list. Steve Martin, Liam Neeson, and MeatLoaf?! I’m so there. It’s been written in the stars.

20

[QUOTE=Zabali_Clawbane]
This seems like a good place to post this link, I think the OP will find it an interesting site.
[/QUOTE]

I’ll look at it in depth when I have a bit more time. I do, however, love the nails.