As part of the SFTGG's 2018 focus on member education, we are offering this targeted session for local guides. This session is our second effort in bringing together members to increase the depth of community within the Guild. Our goal is to improve the support, education, and development for all guides who present San Francisco by leveraging the outstanding knowledge and experience within our membership.
What is Local Guiding?
We picture a tour guide holding a mic at the front of the bus as it circles the City. Perhaps that guide is leading a walking tour through a neighborhood. Maybe the guests are students, maybe they the guests are on a cruise ship shore excursion. Compared to Over the Road tours, local tours are shorter and concentrated, but many guiding principals are the same. How can we distinguish our local tour?
Important knowledge and skills for local guides
What must a local guide know to deliver great tours? How can the guide help the driver who is not familiar with the City? How does the guide manage time and routes when traffic conditions are unknown? We will discuss techniques and strategies to create happy passenger memories based on the experiences of the forum participants.
Preparation for a local tour
Normally, we get little or no information about our guests before a tour. How can we quickly establish bonds with our passengers? Do we know the specific route or will we “wing” it based on traffic and other conditions? What stops will create the best memories?
Delivery of the tour
Fixed route tours have different challenges than custom or private tours. How can we always finish on time? What information must we deliver to guests? How can we generate interactions among passengers? How can we address people by name?
Local Guiding Community
We will wrap up our session by discussing ideas and opportunities within the SFTGG going forward including:
What specific education can the Guild offer?
How can we leverage each other's experience and knowledge?
What can local guides offer to the Guild?
Your moderators.
Len Holmes, Student groups, route planning and timing, and memory making
Linda Reynolds, San Francisco celebrities, stories and the Jewish impact on the City
Michael Purcell, Senior groups, custom tours and passenger relations.