policies

The overall purposes of the P.E.A. are:

A primary purpose of the Psychic Entertainers Association is to provide an opportunity for P.E.A. Members (subsequently, "Members") to share, learn, grow, and develop as psychic entertainers. Nonetheless, care must be taken to ensure that each Member understands the difference between the legitimate sharing of material (ideas, effects, presentations, methods, etc.) and the unauthorized taking, "borrowing", or stealing of another Member's original work.

The strength of the P.E.A. lies in its diversity of backgrounds, experiences, points of view, interests, and talents. Our past successes and future hopes lie in our common bonds of interest and fellowship in the development, performance, and discussion of psychic entertainment philosophy and techniques, along with a wealth of associated topics.

This unifying commitment to ethical psychic entertainment must be accompanied by trust, sensitivity, respect, courtesy, and integrity of communication and action. Members should be accepted in a spirit of inclusiveness, recognition, and deference. Tolerance in philosophical matters should also be our guiding value if we are to encourage the fullest participation and nurture the highest sense of acceptance. Underlying this concept of tolerance is the constant potential for disagreement to escalate to divisive and destructive levels. The guiding principles for communicating with each other must always be those of charitableness, civility, and forbearance.

Members who violate any of the following policies place their P.E.A. memberships in serious jeopardy.


Policy on Exposure

Any policy on "exposure" is clearly of limited value without a clear definition of exactly what is meant by the term; this is an issue that has long plagued secrecy-conscious organizations, and rendered their related policies ineffectual. Consequently, the P.E.A. has developed a fairly meticulous analysis of exacly what the organization deems to constitute exposure; that definition is available here. The following policy statement uses this explication as its basis for interpretation.

A Member who participates in any act(s) of exposure will (after a thorough investigation and determination of guilt by the Board of Directors) be subject to a warning, censure, or expulsion, depending on the Board's determination of the magnitude of the violation and any mitigating circumstances. Any violation noted by a Member should be reported to the Board, and corroborating evidence provided, for subsequent action. This policy offers each Member a clear choice: remain within the P.E.A. by agreeing not to participate in exposure-oriented activity, or engage in such exposure and relinquish membership in the Association.


Policy on Reinstatement of Returning Members

Any prior member who departed the organization without pending or unresolved ethical issues or disciplinary matters may seek reinstatement of their membership. Their prior application to the organization and prior application fee shall be deemed sufficient under the by-laws and existing policy.

The past member seeking reinstatement shall submit a written request to the Board of Directors. Said request shall include the past member's full name, stage name if one is used, and a brief statement as to why reinstatement is being requested.

If the reinstatement request is received within 18 months of the member being discharged for nonpayment of dues, said reinstatement shall be automatic when the member brings dues current.

If the reinstatement request is received following a period of 18 months after the member was discharged for nonpayment of dues, or at any time following a member's departure for another reason (outside the aforementioned exclusions), Board shall notify the general membership of the request by publishing the requester's name in Vibrations and on the Raven's Nest. The membership will have 30 days to comment, beginning at the time of the later publication.

At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, the Board shall vote upon the reinstatement request at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Board reserves the right to interview the individual prior to voting. Following a positive vote by the Board, the member shall be reinstated contemporary with their payment of the current annual dues. No dues for the elapsed period prior to reinstatement will be required.


Policy on P.E.A. Information Sharing

  1. Vibrations is a monthly publication providing an opportunity for Members to share material with other Members; the Raven's Nest is an on-line bulletin board service for Members only. Each Member is strongly encouraged to make contributions to both. Policies for the use of material that appears in either include:
    It is acceptable for Members to use material that appears in Vibrations and on the Raven's Nest.
    A Member who contributes original material to Vibrations or the Raven's Nest may reserve certain types of performing rights (such as television). Other Members are encouraged to respect these rights.
  2. The annual Meeting of the Minds offers an opportunity to meet with other Members, socialize, share ideas, and watch others perform. Separate policies exist for lectures & panel discussions, and the "shows" that occur at the M.O.T.M.
    Lectures & panel discussions exist as a legitimate means of sharing and learning new material. The policy for lectures & panel discussions include the following:
    It is acceptable for a Member to use material that is presented during a lecture or panel discussion, including ideas, suggestions, etc. contributed by audience members.
    The M.O.T.M. shows exist primarily as an opportunity for Members to enjoy the professionalism and skills of other Members; they are also opportunities for performers to test new presentational ideas. The policy for shows includes the following:
    Many who perform at these shows make their livings as full-time entertainers. Consequently, it should be understood (and accepted) that some performers are reluctant to share certain material with others.
    The presentation (storyline, script, humor, etc.) used by performers is often the principal characteristic that differentiates their material from others. It is unacceptable and unethical to use another Member's original presentational ideas without his or her express permission.
    It is also unacceptable and unethical to use any original material used by a Member during a show without his or her express permission.
    Members are welcome to ask a performer's permission to use or build upon an original idea or new effect used by same. Performers have the absolute and final right to grant or deny such permission to those who ask.

Under no circumstances should material (in whole or in part) acquired as a direct consequence of P.E.A. membership be sold, duplicated, or shared with non-Members. This includes (but is not limited to) material presented in Vibrations, on the Raven's Nest, and/or at the M.O.T.M.


Policy on Civility on the Raven's Nest

The Raven's Nest exists as a tool for respectful communication among Members. By the continuation of their membership in the association, Members agree not to disparage the character or work of other Members on the Raven's Nest. If a Member believes s/he has been personally attacked by another Member on the Raven's Nest, s/he should make a written complaint to the Board of Directors. If, after a prompt investigation, the Board cannot resolve the dispute amicably, the offending member may be denied access to the Raven's Nest for a period of time determined by the Board. Members who are repeatedly denied access to the Raven's Nest may be expelled from the P.E.A. by the Board of Directors. This policy is not intended to stifle legitimate criticism or disagreements, but to make sure such criticisms or disagreements are focused on the issues, not on the person(s).


Policy on Ethical Psychic Entertainment

Mentalism and its related arts are presented as entertainment. Performers may or may not receive compensation for their efforts but are always expected to deliver the highest level of entertainment possible. Accordingly, members may choose to state or imply, through various techniques, claims appropriate to the creation of a state of mind that is supportive of the entertainment experience. Entertainers may choose to offer disclaimers regarding their performances, but it is by no means unethical not to do so. As long as no claim is made with the intent to cause detrimental reliance, either financial or personal, on its authenticity by members of the public, a performance can not be considered unethical.

In contrast, unethical psychic entertainment is the use of the art to defraud. Those who use the techniques of our art to cause another person or persons to believe in their powers and attempt to induce action based upon that belief, are unethical practitioners, and their activities should be condemned by entertainers.

Exposure
Member Reinstatement
P.E.A. Information Sharing
Civility on the Raven's Nest
Ethical Psychic Entertainment