TOUR GUIDE TRICK #37632-B-87: If you're assigned to bring a group to a gallery, store, restaurant, etc. with which you're unfamiliar, and you have no time to do a dry run, no time to check online, no time to call ahead and ask about the proper entrance, or if the phone number only gives you a recording...then you walk slightly ahead of your group, asking passersby inconspicuously to point out your destination, pretending to your group all the while that you've been there a number of times.
WHEN TOUR GUIDE TRICK #37632-B-87 BACKFIRES: Many years ago, Anonymous was taking her group of middle schoolers to the Mercantile Exchange in the World Financial Center. To get there, she had to lead the group through the maze of corridors connecting all of the office buildings of the World Trade and Financial Centers. She knew the general direction of this Mercantile Exchange, but needed help, so she walked several steps in front of her group, whispering to security guards: "Where's the Mercantile Exchange? Ssshhh! Just point, just point!" As she tried to keep a few paces ahead (and out of earshot) of her group, two of the boys tried to keep up with her. (There's always a couple who want to attach themselves to the guide's hip.) Feeling them directly behind her, she picked up her speed so that neither of them would hear her asking directions from the long line of security guards pointing her towards the river, and just as she sensed she knew where she was and where she was going, she let the boys catch up with her and turned to discover that no one else was there. She had lost the rest of the group way back in the labyrinth.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE: Anonymous told the boys to stay put while she took off to try to find her people, leaving the two kids unattended when the other half of the group, led by another guide, and including the school's principal, turned the corner. Sadly, that was her first job with this particular company; interestingly, it was also her last.
Well. I certainly hope she learned her LESSON!! *wink*
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 11, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Woops. It's always better to do the before-hand homework for new guides. Well,very harsh when "no time to do a dry run, no time to check online, no time to call ahead and ask about the proper entrance..." :)
http://www.OurExplorer.com
Professional Tour Guides Portal
local guides, local wisdom
Posted by: jean | December 15, 2008 at 10:49 PM