FW: [Bcma-l] Guided Tours with Headsets]

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:42:22 -0700

The most effective "audio tour" I ever experienced was in a historic Kansas 
flour mill of several floors.   Each floor had a taped voice speaking 
through a speaker system with information about that floor.   The messages 
were 2.3 minutes each with 3 minutes of space between each repeat.   It 
suited the place perfectly.  You could hear the muffled voice sounds from 
other floors through all the openings, so there was a sense of animation to 
the whole place.

However, the best part was that the messages were so succinct and 
interesting.   Right to the point every time, and memorable.   The museum 
director said they decided to hire the top Local Radio Disk Jockey to write 
and read the scripts, working in consultation with staff for information and 
accuracy.   They figured a radio disk jockey knew best how to communicate 
effectively with an unseen general audience.   It really worked.

A bonus was that once he got into working on the project he became hooked on 
history and emerged as a dedicated museum supporter, giving lots of personal 
and air time to the place.

Cuyler Page
(a believer in live interpreters)
Craigflower Historic Site
1806 Admirals Road
Victoria, BC,  V9A 0B2
(250) 386-1606
cpag@conservancy.bc.ca

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
To: <bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: FW: [Bcma-l] Guided Tours with Headsets]

I'm interested to know what you find out about the use of headsets. With our
limited staff we find it difficult to give everyone a personal tour around
our museum. In addition some people don't want the tour at all, but maybe
they would use a headset??? It might be nice to provide another option to
our visitors and doesn't necessarily mean that you don't offer tours. Having
a pre-recorded tour would also be a good training tool for our summer staff.

Lorna Dishkin
Bella Coola Valley Museum
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
To: "BCMA-L" <bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca>
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 10:43 AM
Subject: [Fwd: FW: [Bcma-l] Guided Tours with Headsets]

-------- Original Message --------

I appreciate you comment HOWEVER, staff will have more of an opportunity
to visit and chat with our visitors.

Sites also need to start recognizing that it is going to become very
very difficult to find staff, we need to be prepared for the change.

We will always have staff, but need to be more strategic as to how we
are going to utilize their expertise.Ā

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*From:* Historic Hat Creek Ranch [mailto:hhcr@telus.net]
*Sent:* Friday, April 04, 2008 3:31 PM
*To:* Debra Arnott
*Subject:* Fw: [Bcma-l] Guided Tours with Headsets

----- Original Message -----

*From:* bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
<mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>

*To:* bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca <mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca>

*Sent:* Thursday, April 03, 2008 6:58 PM

*Subject:* Re: [Bcma-l] Guided Tours with Headsets

We eschew this form of touring as it does not involve human contact,
also creates a situation where guides are no longer needed, not a good
message to send to funding agencies.

Live people are best!

-- 
Larry A. Ewashen
Doukhobor Discovery Centre
112 Heritage Way
Castlegar BC V1N 4M5
www.Doukhobor-Museum.org <http://www.Doukhobor-Museum.org>
250-365-5327

On 03/04/2008, *bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
<mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>* <bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
<mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>> wrote:

We are thinking of introducing 'Guided Tours' with the use of Headsets,
for our visitors to the Historic Roadhouse.  We would be grateful for
the opportunity to contact anyone who is currently using this method of
touring.

Liza Curran
General Manager
Historic Hat Creek Ranch
P.O. Box 878, Junction Hwy 97 & 99
Cache Creek, BC  V0K 1H0
Phone: 250-457-9722
Fax: 250-457-9311
E-mail:  hhcr@telus.net <mailto:hhcr@telus.net>
Website: www.hatcreekranch.com <http://www.hatcreekranch.com/>

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