The Ms Cleo Line * "Hi, baby, what go on?"
She sat in a wicker chair dressed in a colorful caftan robe and head dress. A candle flickered on the table before her, next to it a spread of tarot cards. Like all mascots, Cleo "became" the face for the company. Like "Mr. Clean" for Ajax, and the "Can ya Hear me Now?" man for Verizon, "Youree" {her real name} was the publicity fall person for the Ms Cleo Line. In a pretend Jamaican accent with mid tone voice she read on incoming questions. It was psychic slap stick comedy much of the time..
“Ms Cleo?” a recorded caller asked.
"Hi, baby, what go on?"
“ I’m having problems in my marriage.”
Shuffle Shuffle went Ms Cleo’s cards....and she would say
" Hmmmmmmm……“Believe it or not, he is not doing as much dancing around in bed sheets as you are hearing about...You are more active than he is, honey.”
“WHAT?”…….”
“Don’t pretend t' me sweetness.” Ms Cleo would tease. “I see it in the cards. "Have you gotten rid of the boy friend?”
“HOW DID YOU KNOW?” the recorded voice would yell.
Head tilted to the side, Ms. Cleo would gaze wisely into the camera, “Because I’m Ms Cleo Sweetness.” Cut! The camera would pan away for a distant shot, the words “Free Readings” and “.99 a minute” flashed beside her on the screen.
Those were Ms Cleo's sky high days, and her face of psychic fame far surpassed her predecessor, "Dionne Warwick & Psychic Friends Network."
THE READERS IN THE BACK GROUND
Mean while, in the space of small home offices and bedrooms, were the psychic readers. There was no talk or glamour for these souls. They busted their butts for .33 a minute. Before each reader was allowed to read on line they received a recorded pep talk from a male voice that sounded like a methamphetamine crazed Wal-Mart pep rally leader. Readers were encouraged to "Go Go Go!"
SNOOZING BESIDE ONES MATE EMITTING SLEEP GRUNTS
Placed on a computer merry go round, the readers whom gave the longest readings received the most client calls. Readers that received only free minute readings had silent phones the next day. That is unless they could fight the urge to sleep so their last call was at least 20 minutes. Some kept their phones on all night in the hopes of a long call. Lord forbid if they were awoken at 2:30 AM to a horny person mistaking the Ms Cleo psychic reader for a porn line. If desperate enough for a long call a reader could snooze beside their mate with the phone on a pillow, emitting occasional sleep grunts and "yes" in breathy unconciousness. The next day they would be rewarded with more Cleo calls and could afford to eat again.
THE HISTORY BEHIND MANY KEEN PSYCHIC PHONE READERS
Many of the experienced readers of Keen started reading by phone for the first time in year 2000, almost 8 yrs ago, with the Ms Cleo line. Most were reading long before then at fairs and for private sessions. Phone reading opened up a new chapter in a psychic reader’s life. Unfortunately it also started sham readers who were nothing more then people who learned how to read tarot like flash cards. If they had the gift of gab and made the company money, that’s all that was necessary.
For the true blue psychics it meant they did not have to haul tents and travel long distances to do what they were gifted at. Almost always, it was their accuracy that many came back to. But real or not, like Enron, when the Cleo Line C.E.O.’S unethical practices were discovered, it dragged everyone down with them. No one was spared its seedy reputation.
Even Ms Cleo, whose real name was Youree Dell Davis {born and raised in Los Angelous} was accused by the public of not being fair because she was not really Ms Cleo! Nor was she born in Jamacia! This would be like accusing a soap opera actor for not really being the role they portray on TV.
WHY PSYCHIC PHONE READING THRIVED
I believe from my many years as a Psychic Phone Advisor, that this kind of reading still is popular for the following reasons:
1} It is comforting to never see the face or know the person that one confides their inner secrets to.
2} I am all color and race to my clients who do not have to look at my actual face. I like this, and so do they.
3} An advisor is usually online at certain times of the day. When the whole world feels inconsistent, it is nice knowing that voice will be there to confide in consistently.
4} When friends get sick of hearing you talk about that “someone”….your phone advisor is being paid to listen with out question.
5} When the world gets lonely and a voice is needed, now the option of a phone psychic advisor will fill the gap; even if it is for only 5 minutes.
6} Unlike the Ms Cleo line, your privacy is always sacred at Keen. Your address and private information are not shared. {For the Ms. Cleo line readers were asked to write down names and where callers were from.} At Keen you will be fired for doing this. Your privacy is sacred.
HOW TO TALK LIKE MS CLEO FOR HALLOWEEN
{found on the web}
De Unofficial Guide to Talkin' Like Miss Cleo, Babies
* For the "th" sound in words like "thing" use "t." Example: "Tank you."
* For the "th" sound in words like "this" use "d." Example: "You know dat."
* Drop the "g" in "ing" words. Example: "He is not comin' back dis time."
* For "I" use "me," for "he" use "him," and just randomly use objective pronouns for subjective ones. Example: "Me know what me talkin' about."
* Leave out the "is" verb. Example: "Him a little bit overpriced."
* For "going" use "go." Example: "Hi, baby, what go on?"
* For "doesn't" use "not."
* For "for" use "fee." Example: "Are you waitin' fee that letter in the mail?"
* Occasionally use "tee" instead of "to." Example: "Nobody wants tee give way."
* Call people "baby," "sweetness," and "young lady."
* Make up convoluted expressions that sound homespun. Example: "Whenever we go back second time for second helpin', lot harder fee get out of it." (sic)
* Toss in an occasional "Ya, mon."