Robert Channing, self-proclaimed as “the world’s foremost mind reader and psychic entertainer” is coming to Main Campus this Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m. in Room 200 of the Student Center.
Channing declined an offer to send a copy of the would-be interview, saving both sides time, despite his psychic abilities.
Channing first noticed his abilities at the tender age of five.
“The phone would ring and I would say that’s Uncle Ed and Aunt Tootsie,” Channing said. “I’d tell my mom and she’d say ‘Yeah Right.’ Then she’d answer and say ‘Oh My God.'”
Skip a few years and Channing was developing his talent even further. Not even a teenager, Channing started marketing his skills for events.
“I would do $12 birthday parties at the age of 11,” Channing said. “Later I went to college and I saw a guy do a similar program to the one I was doing … He mentioned to me ‘This is a great way to make a living’ and he showed me his check … and I couldn’t believe what he was making. So I sent some information out to colleges and started getting booked.”
Although he started at $12 a show as a tween, his price has dramatically increased. Channing now earns as much as $25,000 for a corporate function.
He’s praised on his Web site by several colleges, including the University of Scranton and Colgate University, and Channing’s corporate work is also represented through testimonials by Kraft Foods and Motorola, among other national corporations. It is unfortunate Enron didn’t take advantage of his psychic abilities.
Still, Channing says he does not have any extraordinary powers.
“I don’t claim to have any abilities,” Channing said, adding, “I believe what ESP stands for … Everybody’s an extra special person.”
Channing guarantees satisfaction both at his show and beyond. He advertises and personally guarantees that if you call him he’ll tell you what you’re wearing after about 20 minutes of mind games.
Channing openly admits he doesn’t hold these events to convert people to his way of thinking.
“If you come a skeptic, you’ll leave a skeptic or be curious, but you’ll be amazed by what I do and you’ll be entertained – that’s my whole objective,” Channing said. “I’m not asking people to believe in what I do, [but] just to have an open mind.”
Tom Hinkle can be reached at tua24825@temple.edu.
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