museum tour guide name

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• Travel Guide

What Do You Call A Museum Tour Guide

Published: January 16, 2024

by Glenn Pinto

What Do You Call Museum Tour Guide

A museum tour guide is often referred to as a docent or a museum educator. They play a crucial role in enhancing the visitor experience by providing informative and engaging tours of exhibits and collections. These knowledgeable individuals are experts in the history, art, or subject matter of the museum and are able to communicate their passion and expertise to the visitors.

The term “docent” is derived from the Latin word “docere,” which means “to teach.” It emphasizes the educational aspect of the role, as museum tour guides are responsible for educating visitors about the artworks, artifacts, or historical events depicted in the museum.

While the term “docent” is commonly used, some museums may refer to their tour guides as museum educators or interpreters. This change in terminology reflects a shift towards a more interactive and educational approach to guiding visitors through the museum.

Regardless of the title, a museum tour guide serves as a bridge between the collections and the visitors, offering insights and context that enrich their understanding and appreciation of the exhibits.

Introduction

Visiting a museum is not just about admiring the artwork or artifacts on display; it is an opportunity to embark on a journey of discovery, learning, and appreciation of human history and culture. And who better to guide us on this journey than a museum tour guide?

A museum tour guide is a knowledgeable and passionate individual who brings the exhibits and collections to life. They have a deep understanding of the subject matter and are skilled communicators, capable of sharing their expertise with visitors in a compelling and engaging way.

Whether you’re interested in art, history, science, or any other field, a museum tour guide can provide valuable insights and spark your curiosity. From explaining the techniques used by a famous painter to discussing the historical background of a significant event, they offer a unique perspective that enriches the museum experience.

But being a museum tour guide is not just about reciting facts and figures. It involves creating a connection with the visitors, igniting their enthusiasm, and making the exhibits relevant and relatable. Through storytelling, anecdotes, and interactive activities, tour guides create a dynamic and immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression.

In this article, we will explore the role of a museum tour guide, the qualifications required, the training and education involved, as well as the responsibilities and challenges faced by these dedicated individuals. Whether you aspire to become a museum tour guide or simply want to appreciate their vital contribution, join us on this journey as we delve into the fascinating world of museum tours.

Role of a Museum Tour Guide

The role of a museum tour guide is multi-faceted and goes beyond simply providing information about the exhibits. They serve as ambassadors of the museum, facilitating engagement and understanding for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Let’s explore the key roles and responsibilities of a museum tour guide:

• Educator: One of the primary roles of a museum tour guide is to educate visitors about the artworks, artifacts, or historical events showcased in the museum. They provide insightful commentary and historical context, helping visitors to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the exhibits.
• Storyteller: Effective tour guides have the ability to tell captivating stories that bring the exhibits to life. They weave narratives that connect the past with the present, sparking visitors’ imagination and curiosity.
• Interpreter: Museum tour guides act as interpreters, decoding the language of art, history, or science for visitors who may not have a background in those fields. They translate complex concepts into easily understandable language, making the exhibits accessible to everyone.
• Facilitator: Tour guides create an interactive and engaging experience for visitors. They encourage questions, facilitate discussions, and promote hands-on activities, all with the aim of fostering a deeper connection between the visitors and the exhibits.
• Guide: As the name suggests, museum tour guides guide visitors through the museum, ensuring they have a comprehensive understanding of the exhibits. They navigate through different galleries and provide direction, helping visitors make the most of their time and explore areas of interest.
• Enthusiast: A museum tour guide is passionate about the subject matter and conveys that enthusiasm to visitors. Through their own excitement and love for the collections, they inspire visitors to engage with the exhibits on a more personal level.

By fulfilling these various roles, museum tour guides enhance the visitor experience, making it educational, entertaining, and memorable. They play a vital role in connecting people with art, history, science, and culture, making museums vibrant and dynamic spaces for learning and exploration.

Qualifications and Skills

While formal education requirements may vary, there are certain qualifications and skills that are essential for a museum tour guide to possess. Here are some of the key qualifications and skills needed to succeed in this role:

• Knowledge of the Subject Matter: A museum tour guide should have a deep understanding of the subject matter exhibited in the museum. This may include knowledge of art history, historical events, scientific principles, or any other area of focus. They must be well-versed in the collection and be able to provide accurate and insightful information to visitors.
• Strong Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills are vital for a museum tour guide. They need to effectively convey information to visitors of varying ages, backgrounds, and levels of knowledge. Clear and articulate communication helps to engage and captivate the audience, ensuring that the information is easily understood.
• Public Speaking and Presentation Skills: Public speaking is an essential skill for a museum tour guide. They should be confident, engaging speakers who can hold the attention of a group and deliver information in a compelling manner. The ability to present information in an organized and engaging way enhances the visitor’s experience.
• Interpersonal Skills: Museum tour guides interact with diverse groups of visitors on a daily basis. Strong interpersonal skills are necessary to connect with visitors, make them feel comfortable, and encourage interaction. They should be approachable, patient, and able to adapt their communication style to suit different individuals or groups.
• Passion and Enthusiasm: A genuine passion for the subject matter is crucial. Museum tour guides should have a deep interest in art, history, science, or whatever field they are presenting. Their enthusiasm is contagious and helps to create an engaging and memorable experience for visitors.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Museum tour guides need to be adaptable and able to handle unexpected situations. The ability to think on their feet, adjust tour content to suit different groups, and handle challenging questions or situations is essential. They should also be comfortable with changes in exhibits or museum layouts.
• Continuous Learning: The world of art, history, and science is ever-evolving, and museum tour guides should be committed to continuous learning. Staying updated with the latest research, attending workshops or seminars, and expanding their knowledge helps to provide visitors with current and accurate information.

While not all of these qualifications and skills may be required in every museum or for every tour guide position, they are generally valued and sought after in the industry. Developing and honing these skills can make a museum tour guide more effective and successful in providing an exceptional visitor experience.

Training and Education

While formal education requirements for museum tour guides can vary, there are several training and educational pathways that can help individuals excel in this role. Here are some of the common training and education opportunities for aspiring museum tour guides:

• Art, History, or Science Background: Many museum tour guides have a background in art, history, science, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree or higher in these subjects can provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter exhibited in the museum.
• Internships and Volunteering: Internships and volunteering opportunities at museums can offer valuable hands-on experience and exposure to the museum environment. This can be a great way to gain practical knowledge and develop the necessary skills for guiding visitors.
• Guiding and Interpretation Courses: There are specialized courses available that focus on museum guiding and interpretation. These courses cover topics such as public speaking, presentation skills, storytelling, and how to engage visitors effectively.
• Museum Training Programs: Many museums offer in-house training programs for their tour guides. These programs provide a comprehensive understanding of the museum’s collection, exhibits, and educational goals. They may also cover communication techniques, tour design, and visitor engagement strategies.
• Certification Programs: Some organizations offer certification programs specifically designed for museum tour guides. These programs typically involve coursework, practical training, and assessments to ensure that tour guides meet certain standards of knowledge and professionalism.
• Continuing Education: The museum field is constantly evolving, so it is important for museum tour guides to engage in continuing education. This can involve attending workshops, seminars, conferences, and taking additional courses to stay updated with the latest trends and research.

It’s worth noting that while formal education and training can provide a solid foundation, hands-on experience and practical skills play a significant role in becoming a successful museum tour guide. The ability to engage visitors, adapt to different audience needs, and convey information in an engaging and relatable manner are often honed through on-the-job experience and continuous learning.

Ultimately, a combination of education, training, and real-world experience contributes to the development of a well-rounded museum tour guide who can create a memorable and enriching visitor experience.

Responsibilities and Duties

As museum tour guides are the primary point of contact between visitors and the exhibits, they have a range of responsibilities and duties to ensure a seamless and enriching experience. Here are some of the key responsibilities and duties of a museum tour guide:

• Conducting Tours: The primary duty of a museum tour guide is to lead tours and provide informative and engaging commentary on the exhibits. They navigate through different galleries, discussing the significance, historical context, and artistic or scientific elements of the exhibited works.
• Adapting to Visitors: Museum tour guides need to adapt their tours to suit the needs and interests of the visitors. This may involve adjusting the level of information based on the age group or knowledge level of the audience, or catering to specific interests or requirements of individuals or groups.
• Providing Interpretation: Museum tour guides serve as interpreters, helping visitors understand and interpret the artworks, artifacts, or historical events. They explain the symbolism, techniques, and cultural context, making the exhibits accessible and relatable to a wide range of visitors.
• Engaging Visitors: Tour guides actively engage visitors by encouraging questions, facilitating discussions, and promoting interactive activities. They create a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages visitor participation and fosters a deeper connection with the exhibits.
• Ensuring Visitor Safety: Museum tour guides have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors during the tour. They need to be aware of any safety protocols, emergency exits, and potential hazards within the museum.
• Continuing Research: To provide accurate and up-to-date information, tour guides are expected to engage in ongoing research and stay informed about the latest research and scholarship. This ensures that they can offer visitors the most current and comprehensive knowledge about the museum’s collections.
• Maintaining Professionalism: Museum tour guides should maintain a professional and courteous demeanor at all times. They represent the museum and are responsible for creating a positive and enjoyable experience for visitors. This includes following the museum’s code of conduct, being punctual, and dressing appropriately.
• Serving as Museum Ambassadors: Tour guides play a crucial role in enhancing the museum’s image and reputation. They act as ambassadors, promoting the museum’s mission, programs, and events. They may also provide recommendations for other attractions, dining, and accommodations in the area to enhance the visitor’s overall experience.

These responsibilities and duties require a combination of knowledge, expertise, and interpersonal skills. By fulfilling these responsibilities, museum tour guides contribute to creating a memorable and educational experience for visitors, ensuring that they leave with a deeper appreciation for the exhibits and the museum as a whole.

Importance of a Museum Tour Guide

Museum tour guides play a vital role in shaping the visitor experience and adding value to a museum visit. Here are some reasons highlighting the importance of museum tour guides:

• Enhancing Understanding: Museum tour guides provide valuable insights, background information, and context that help visitors to better understand and appreciate the exhibits. They bring the stories behind the artworks, artifacts, or historical events to life, making the visit a more engaging and educational experience.
• Interpretation and Engagement: Through their expertise and storytelling abilities, museum tour guides interpret the exhibits for visitors in an accessible and relatable manner. They engage visitors through interactive activities, discussions, and answering questions, fostering a deeper connection with the artifacts or artworks.
• Personalized Experiences: Tour guides have the ability to adapt their tours to suit the interests, knowledge levels, and preferences of the visitors. They can provide customized experiences that cater to specific age groups, educational backgrounds, or areas of personal interest, making the visit more meaningful for every individual.
• Enriching the Visit: A museum tour guide adds a layer of depth to the visit, sharing stories, historical context, and lesser-known facts that may not be immediately apparent from the exhibits alone. They enhance the overall experience, providing visitors with a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the collections.
• Highlighting Significance: Tour guides help visitors understand the significance of the exhibits in relation to the larger historical, cultural, or artistic context. They shed light on the importance of certain artworks or artifacts, helping visitors recognize their impact and contribution to human history or the development of a particular subject.
• Creating Memorable Experiences: A skillful and passionate museum tour guide has the ability to create memorable experiences for visitors. Through their storytelling, enthusiasm, and expertise, they leave a lasting impression, making the museum visit a highlight of the visitor’s overall travel or cultural experience.
• Maximizing Engagement and Learning: Museum tour guides facilitate active learning and engagement with the exhibits. By encouraging visitors to ask questions, participate in discussions, and interact with the artworks or artifacts, they stimulate curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Ultimately, museum tour guides serve as bridges between the collections and the visitors, transforming a museum visit from a passive observation to an interactive and meaningful experience. Their knowledge, passion, and ability to connect with visitors are invaluable in educating, inspiring, and enriching the overall museum journey.

Challenges Faced by Museum Tour Guides

Museum tour guides face various challenges in their role as facilitators of educational and engaging experiences. Here are some of the common challenges faced by museum tour guides:

• Varied Audience: Museum tour guides encounter visitors with different backgrounds, ages, knowledge levels, and interests. Adapting the tour to cater to the needs and preferences of such a diverse audience can be challenging, as they need to strike a balance between providing in-depth information and keeping it accessible and engaging for everyone.
• Time Constraints: Museum tours are often conducted within a limited time frame. This poses a challenge for tour guides as they need to cover a significant amount of information within that time period. Balancing the need to provide comprehensive information with ensuring that visitors do not feel rushed requires careful planning and time management skills.
• Unpredictable Visitor Behavior: Museum tour guides encounter visitors with varying levels of interest, attention spans, and behavior. Dealing with disruptive or disinterested visitors can be challenging. Tour guides need to maintain professionalism and find creative ways to engage and captivate the audience, even in challenging situations.
• Complex Subject Matter: Many museums exhibit artworks, artifacts, or concepts that can be complex and nuanced. Explaining these topics in a way that is accessible and understandable to visitors who may not have a background in the subject matter can be a challenge. Tour guides must break down complex ideas into digestible pieces and find relatable examples to ensure comprehension.
• Keeping Up with Changes: Museums frequently update their exhibits, add new artworks, or make changes to their displays. This means that museum tour guides need to stay updated with these changes to provide accurate and current information during their tours. Continuous learning and staying informed about the museum’s collections can be a challenge in itself.
• Maintaining Energy and Enthusiasm: Conducting multiple tours in a day can be physically and mentally demanding. Maintaining high energy levels and enthusiasm throughout the day can be challenging, especially when dealing with large groups or challenging visitors. Tour guides need to find ways to recharge and maintain their passion for the subject matter to deliver engaging tours consistently.
• Language Barriers: In museums that attract international visitors, tour guides may face language barriers. Overcoming language differences while delivering informative and engaging tours requires strong communication skills and the ability to employ non-verbal communication techniques effectively.

Despite these challenges, museum tour guides are dedicated professionals who find ways to navigate these obstacles and create meaningful and memorable experiences for visitors. They are integral in bridging the gap between the exhibits and the visitors, making the museum journey more accessible, engaging, and enjoyable.

Tips for Becoming a Museum Tour Guide

If you are passionate about art, history, science, or any other museum-related subject, and aspire to become a museum tour guide, here are some tips to help you embark on a fulfilling career:

• Deepen Your Knowledge: Develop a deep understanding of the subject matter you are interested in. Read books, attend lectures, and explore online resources to expand your knowledge and expertise.
• Visit Museums: Immerse yourself in the museum experience by visiting different museums and exhibitions. Pay attention to the tour guides and their techniques, and observe how they engage with visitors.
• Seek Education and Training: Pursue formal education or training in art, history, or a related field. Look for courses or workshops that focus on public speaking, interpretation, storytelling, and other skills relevant to being a museum tour guide.
• Gain Experience: Seek volunteer opportunities or internships at museums to gain practical experience. This will not only enhance your knowledge but also provide valuable insights into the day-to-day operations of a museum.
• Develop Communication Skills: Hone your public speaking and communication skills. Practice presenting information in a clear and engaging manner, and work on effectively conveying complex concepts to different audiences.
• Study Different Tour Styles: Explore different tour styles and techniques used by experienced tour guides. Learn about different engagement strategies, storytelling methods, and interactive activities that can enhance the visitor experience.
• Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest research, trends, and developments in your field of interest. Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars to expand your knowledge and incorporate new insights into your tours.
• Develop Interpersonal Skills: Enhance your interpersonal skills to connect with visitors from diverse backgrounds. Practice active listening, empathy, and adaptability to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all visitors.
• Network: Build connections within the museum industry. Attend museum events, join professional organizations, and engage with other museum professionals. Networking can provide you with valuable opportunities, mentorship, and insights into the industry.
• Be Passionate and Authentic: Cultivate a genuine passion for your subject matter and showcase your enthusiasm during tours. Authenticity and a personal connection to the exhibits will resonate with visitors and enhance their experience.

Remember, becoming a museum tour guide is a continuous learning journey. Embrace opportunities for growth, seek feedback, and always strive to improve your skills and knowledge. With dedication, a love for learning, and a passion for sharing your expertise, you can embark on a rewarding career as a museum tour guide.

Museum tour guides are the unsung heroes of the museum world, providing invaluable knowledge, interpretation, and engagement to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Their role goes beyond being mere conveyors of information; they are storytellers, educators, and facilitators of meaningful experiences.

Throughout this article, we have explored the various aspects of being a museum tour guide, from their qualifications and skills to the challenges they face. We have highlighted the importance of their role in enhancing understanding, creating personalized experiences, and maximizing visitor engagement and learning.

To become a museum tour guide, it is important to develop a deep knowledge of the subject matter, hone your communication and presentation skills, and gain practical experience through internships or volunteering. Continuous learning, adaptability, and a genuine passion for the exhibits are also crucial in delivering exceptional guided tours.

While there may be challenges faced by museum tour guides, such as varied audience needs, time constraints, and language barriers, their dedication and passion make them capable of overcoming these obstacles.

In conclusion, museum tour guides play a vital role in connecting visitors with the rich cultural and historical treasures exhibited in museums. They bring exhibits to life, spark curiosity, and leave visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation for art, history, science, or any other subject matter. Their enthusiasm and expertise create memorable and meaningful experiences that inspire lifelong learning and a love for museums.

So, the next time you visit a museum, take a moment to thank and appreciate the museum tour guides who dedicate themselves to enriching our cultural experiences and broadening our horizons.

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117+ Tour Guide Names That Attract Tourist

Looking for ways write a Tour Guide Names As a business owner, you know the importance of attracting tourist. They are the lifeblood of your business. Not only do they bring in much-needed revenue, but they also help to create a sense of excitement and adventure for your customers. And what better way to attract tourists than with an exciting name? Below are 15 names that will undoubtedly lure in tourists from all over the world!

Table of Contents

How Creative Excited Tour Guide Names Ideas Create Impact On Branding & Business.

What’s in a name? For a tour guide, everything! A boring, uninspired name can turn potential customers away before they’ve even stepped foot on your tour. On the other hand, an exciting, creative name can help you stand out from the competition and attract attention.

Think about it this way: when you’re planning a vacation, what’s more likely to catch your eye – “The experience of a lifetime!” or “ABC Tours”? The answer is obvious. A creative, enthusiastic name implies that the tour will be fun and memorable, while a bland, generic name does nothing to inspire confidence.

So how can you come up with a great tour guide name that will make an impact on your branding and business? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Use puns or plays on words: Puns are always popular, and they can be a great way to attract attention to your tour. For example, if you’re leading a food tour through Italy, you could call it “A Slice of Heaven.”
• evoke emotion: A good name should evoke some sort of emotion in potential customers. For example, if you’re leading a tour of historical sites

Related: How To Choose a Business Name That Makes Your Company a Brand.

5 Things To Add When Creating Business Names for Instagram?

If you’re looking for business names for Instagram, here are five things to keep in mind!

• Keep it short and sweet: A business name doesn’t need to be overly long or complicated. In fact, shorter names are often easier to remember and can be more successful on social media platforms like Instagram. 2.Make it unique: With so many businesses out there, it’s important to make yours stand out from the crowd. A unique name will help you do just that!
• Use keywords: If you want your business to show up in search results, using relevant keywords in your name is a great way to make that happen.
• Avoid using numbers or special characters: While they may look cool, numbers and special characters can actually make it harder for people to find your account. 5.Pick a name that reflects your brand: Your business name should give people a good idea of what you’re all about. If you sell products related to travel, for example, a name like “Excited Tour Guide” would be perfect! following these tips, you’ll be sure to come up with a winning business name for Instagram in no time!

Excited Tour Guide Names Ideas from United States.

As an excited tour guide, I always love to share the best of the United States with my tour groups. From the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon to the fascinating history of Boston, there is so much to explore in this great country. And of course, no trip to the United States would be complete without a visit to one of its many iconic landmarks. To help my fellow travelers plan their perfect trip, I’ve compiled a list of my top five favorite places to see in the United States.

• The Grand Canyon – There is simply no other place on earth quite like the Grand Canyon. This natural wonder of the world never fails to take my breath away.
• Boston – A visit to Boston is like taking a step back in time. This historic city is full of charm and character.
• Yellowstone National Park – Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful places on earth. From its stunning waterfalls to its abundant wildlife, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
• The Statue of Liberty – The Statue of Liberty is an icon of freedom and democracy. Standing tall in New York Harbor, she is a sight that never fails to inspire.

Related: 115 Tourism Company Name ideas to get more booking

Excited Tour Guide Names Ideas from Australia.

When it comes to excited tour guides, no one does it better than the ones from the United States. They have a way of making even the most mundane places sound interesting and exciting. Here are some of their best ideas:

• The world’s largest ball of twine
• A real life ‘Field of Dreams’
• The world’s largest frying pan
• The largest collection of Pez dispensers
• The largest collection of history museums
• And much more!

No matter what your interests are, there is sure to be an excited tour guide who can show you an amazing time in the United States.

Excited Tour Guide Name Ideas from United Kingdom.

If you’re looking for an exciting name for your tour guide business, why not consider some options from the United Kingdom? After all, there’s no shortage of interesting places to see and things to do in this country! Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• “The London Experience”: A tour guide business that offers sightseeing tours of England’s capital city.
• “Wells & Somerset”: A tour guide company specializing in trips to the picturesque countryside of southwestern England.
• “The Scottish Highlands”: A tour guide firm that takes visitors on trips through the rugged and beautiful landscape of Scotland.
• “The Heart of England”: A tour guide service based in the Midlands region of England, offering tours of historic towns and cities such as Birmingham, Nottingham, and Leicester.

Whatever name you choose for your business, make sure it reflects your enthusiasm for showing visitors around the United Kingdom!

Related: 189+ Creative Tour and Travel Agency Name Ideas Suggestion [Updated]

Professional Tour Guide Names Ideas & Example.

• Tour Guide Extraordinaire
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Tour Guide
• The wanderlust Tour Guide
• Tour de force Tour Guide Service
• Rack up the Miles Tour Guides
• On the Road Again Tour Guides
• All About the Journey Tour Guides
• Footprints in Time Tour Guides
• Around the World in
• Days Tour Guides
• Past, Present, and Future Tour Guides
• Bella Italia! Tour Guides
• “I Love NY” Tour Guide
• “Laissez les bones teem
• Wanderlust Tours
• Explorer Travel
• Discovery Touring
• Adventure Guides
• Getaway Tours
• Journey Journeys
• Escapes Travel
• Dream Vacations
• Trekking Tours
• Safari Guides
• Nature Walks
• City Dreams
• Cultural Connections
• gastro tours
• heritage walks
• nightlife explorations
• shopping adventures
• family fun outings
• group getaways
• VIP packages

Related: 231+ Catchy Shopping Center Names Ideas

Tour Guide Company Names

Tour guiding can be a very rewarding job. Not only do you get to share your love of history and culture with others, but you also get to help them experience new places. If you’re thinking of starting your own tour guide company, one of the first things you’ll need to do is come up with a catchy name. Here are 21 Tour Guide Company Names ideas to help get you started:

• Around the World Tours
• Explorer Tour Company
• Tour de Force Touring Company
• 5 Star Tour Guides
• A Cut Above Touring Company
• Tour de Luxe Touring Company
• [email protected]
• Perfect Day Touring Company
• Dream Vacations Touring Company
• [email protected]
• All About America Tours
• Coast to Coast Touring Company
• Visit Every State Touring Company
• Bucket List Tours
• Unforgettable Touring Company
• Majestic Touring Company
• Distinctive Touring Company
• Wondrous Touring Company
• Outstanding Touring Company
• Premier Tour
• Bella Tour Guides
• Tour de Force
• Tour with gusto
• On Point Tour Guides
• Tour Titans
• Tour Guide Pros
• The Touring Company
• Touring Wonders
• Let’s Tour!
• The Tour Connection
• Guided Tours & More
• All About Tours
• Perfectly Proportioned Tours
• Minute Tours
• Just the Highlights Tour Company
• Grand Tour Guides
• Superior Tours
• The A-List Tour Guides
• Walking Wounded Tours Happy naming!

Related: 61 Catchy Restaurant Slogans and taglines to Sell More

Museum Tour Guide Name

Tour guide are the face of any museum. Tour guide names should be reflective of the institution’s values and mission. They should also be catchy, so that potential visitors remember the name and are more likely to visit. Here are 21 museum tour guide names ideas to get you started:

• The History Buffs
• The Art Aficionados
• The Culture Vultures
• The Thinkers & The Doers
• The makers & The creators
• Love Thy Neighbor
• Think Outside The Box
• Tour De Force
• Museum Musings
• The Hidden Gems
• Up & Coming
• On The Rise
• Breaking Boundaries
• Faces of The Future
• The Innovators
• Adrianne Art Tour Guide
• Bob the Museum Tour Guide
• Canyonlands Tour Guide
• Chicago Tour Guide
• Dave the Dinosaur Tour Guide
• Evanston Tour Guide
• Frankfurt Tour Guide
• Gary the Gargoyle Tour Guide
• Hollywood Tour Guide
• Istanbul Tour Guide
• Joan of Arc Tour Guide 12. Kush Tour Guide
• Lisa the Llama Tour Guide
• Madrid Tour Guide
• New Orleans Tour Guide
• Olympus Tour Guide
• Petra Tour Guide
• Rome Tour Guide
• The Sphinx TourGuide
• Stonehenge Tour Guide
• Venice Tour Guide
• [Institution Name] Insiders
• [City/Region/Country] Tour Guides
• [Museum/Institution] Elixir
• [Museum/Institution] Energizers
• [Museum/Institution] Enthusiasts
• [Museum/Institution] Evangelists

Complete Step by Step guide to create a business name in just 2 Hours.

Are you looking to start a business, but don’t know where to begin? Naming your business can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Follow our simple, step-by-step guide and you’ll have a great name for your new business in no time.

The first step is to brainstorm. Write down any and all ideas that come to mind, no matter how crazy they may seem. The goal at this stage is simply to get all of your ideas out there. Once you have a good list going, you can start narrowing things down.

Next, consider what type of name would be most appropriate for your business. If you’re selling products or services that are fun and unique, you’ll want a name that reflects that. On the other hand, if you’re providing a more serious or traditional service, a more straightforward name may be better suited.

Once you’ve narrowed things down to a few favorites, it’s time to start checking availability. Make sure the domain name is available and that there aren’t already too many businesses with a similar name. You also want to make sure the name isn’t too long or difficult to pronounce.

Important factors to naming your Excited Tour Guide as a Brand.

Tour guide businesses are a dime a dozen. So, how do you make yours stand out from the rest? By creating a brand that is unique, memorable, and exciting! Here are a few factors to consider when naming your Tour Guide business:

First and foremost, your Tour Guide business name should be reflective of the type of tours you offer. Are you a history buff who specializes in walking tours of ancient ruins? Or are you more of an adrenaline junkie who offers biking and hiking tours through beautiful landscapes? Consider what makes your tours special and use that to inform your business name.

Secondly, you’ll want to choose a name that is easy to remember and pronounce. After all, you want your potential customers to be able to find you when they’re searching for a tour guide! Steer clear of convoluted names or inside jokes that only you and your friends will understand.

Finally, don’t be afraid to have some fun with your Tour Guide business name! This is your chance to be creative and really put your personal stamp on your brand. So go ahead and brainstorm those pun-tastic names or play around with alliteration – whatever inspires you! Just make sure that your name reflects the excitement and adventure that

What kind of Excited Tour Guide Name Suits you.

Tour guide businesses are a dime a dozen, but what sets each one apart is the kind of experience that they offer. If you’re looking for an Excited Tour Guide who can show you the ropes and get you pumped up for your adventure, then look no further than Tour Guide Business name.

We’re all about providing an exhilarating experience, and we’ll make sure that you see everything that your destination has to offer. From ziplining through the jungle to whitewater rafting down a raging river, we’ll make sure that you have the time of your life. So whether you’re looking for an extreme adventure or just a fun-filled day, Tour Guide Business name is the perfect choice for you.

Check the Availability of Your Excited Tour Guide Names.

Tour guiding can be a very rewarding career. You get to share your knowledge and excitement about a certain topic with others, and you get to help people learn more about the world around them. However, before you can start your tour guide business, you need to make sure that your chosen name is available.

The last thing you want is to spend months planning your business only to find out that someone else is already using the name you wanted. Checking the availability of your chosen tour guide business name is a simple process that can save you a lot of time and headache down the road.

Test & Review your Excited Tour Guide Name Ideas.

So you’ve decided to start a tour guide business. Congratulations! This is an excellent way to share your love of (location) with others and help them create lasting memories. But before you can start sharing your knowledge with the world, you need to choose a name for your business. This can be a daunting task, but luckily, we’re here to help.

To start, think about what kind of tours you want to offer. Are you going to focus on history, art, food, or something else? Once you’ve decided on a niche, try to come up with a name that reflects your specialty. For example, if you’re passionate about the art scene in your city, you could consider something like “Artful Touring.”

Next, make sure that your name is easy to pronounce and spell. You don’t want potential customers to get frustrated when trying to find your website or business card. And lastly, try to choose a name that’s unique and memorable. After all, you want people to recommend your tours to their friends and family!

If you’re still stuck, take a look at our list of Tour Guide Business names below. We’ve included a mix of well-known companies as well

Some Final Thoughts:

So what can your business do to create names that attract tourists? First, start by looking at what other destinations are doing. Try to find a unique selling proposition for your city or town and focus on creating a name that reflects that. Be sure to keep the tone of your marketing materials professional and engaging – you want potential tourists to feel excited about visiting your destination!

Finally, always test and measure how different names perform against each other. By using the principles of neuromarketing, you can create tourism-friendly names that help bring in more visitors and boost your bottom line. Have you tried any of these techniques for naming your tourist attraction? Let us know in the comments below!

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Danish Ali Founder & CEO of Tiplance.com. He Helps Entrepreneur Startups & Small Business Owner To Find the Right Path.

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Not Your Grandma's Museum Tours

Museum Hack leads renegade, guided tours of the world’s best museums. We do art tours, history tours, walking tours, city tours and more. Our museum tour guides are experts in the obscure and collectors of amazing hidden stories about the art, objects, artifacts and museum itself.

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Washington DC

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5400+ Reviews

What Makes Our Tours Awesome

World class guides.

Renegade Guides are award winning entertainers, comedians, academics and nerds; this is not your average docent tour. New guides train in the Museum Hack craft for 3 months before ever leading a tour.

Smart Humor, Mind Blowing Facts, Juicy Gossip

If you prefer your history drunk and a little sassy then you are our kind of people. We do deep research into the museum collections to learn the facts you won't find on the plaques, and then build out stories that connect with stuff in your life.

Small Group, VIP , Social Experience

Our standard group size is 10 or less, which is important because your guide will know you by name and can personalize the tour for what you want to see. It's also a great social experience, so you can come solo and make new friends or bring your SO, BFF, mom, grandma, OkCupid / Bumble / Grindr-crush, Tamagotchi, FWB or entire squad.

Admission Included, Skip the Line

All full price tickets include museum admission, up to a $25 value (so the tour portion is more like $34 - $44). When you arrive at the museum, your guide will have your admission ready so you can launch right into the tour without waiting in line.

Featured on TripAdvisor, 5400+ 5 Star Reviews

Guests often call our guided tours "the best museum tour you will ever go on" and sometimes "pretty f***ing awesome!" You may have noticed companies intentionally sharing average reviews of like 4.7 stars, which they do because a study a few years back said the internet trusts that more than a perfect 5.0. Our actual average is 5/5, so f**k it.

100% "You'll Love It" Guarantee

Our Renegade Guides are wicked smart and will take you on a sassy, whirlwind tour of the museum. Most guests LOVE this experience and if you feel anything other than 10/10 then we will refund your money.

Join An Upcoming Tour

What Does a Museum Guide Do?

Find out what a Museum Guide does, how to get this job, salary information, and what it takes to succeed as a Museum Guide.

The Museum Guide serves as the face of the museum’s educational mission, offering visitors a window into the rich tapestry of history, art, and culture housed within its walls. Through engaging narratives and insightful explanations, they enhance the visitor experience, making each exhibit more accessible and enjoyable. This role involves a delicate balance of sharing knowledge, facilitating discovery, and fostering an appreciation for the museum’s collections. By tailoring their approach to suit diverse audiences, Museum Guides ensure that each guest leaves with a deeper understanding and a heightened curiosity about the subjects on display. Their contributions are instrumental in creating a memorable and educational visit, encouraging public engagement with the museum’s offerings.

Museum Guide Job Duties

• Greet visitors and provide them with an overview of the museum, including layout, special exhibits, and general rules.
• Lead guided tours, tailoring the presentation to the specific interests and age groups of the audience.
• Answer visitors’ questions about the museum’s collections, exhibits, and history in an informative and engaging manner.
• Monitor galleries to ensure the safety of the exhibits and the comfort of visitors, addressing any concerns or issues that arise.
• Facilitate interactive educational activities and workshops for a variety of audiences, including school groups and families.
• Collect and report feedback from visitors to museum management to help improve the visitor experience.
• Assist in the setup and takedown of temporary exhibits, ensuring that all pieces are handled with care.
• Perform light maintenance and cleaning tasks in exhibit areas to ensure spaces are presentable and welcoming to visitors.

Museum Guide Salary & Outlook

Salaries for Museum Guides can vary based on the institution’s size, funding, and prestige. Experience and specialized knowledge in the museum’s focus area significantly impact earnings. Guides fluent in multiple languages or with expertise in engaging diverse audiences may command higher salaries. Seasonal visitor traffic also influences income potential.

• Median Annual Salary: $51,975 ($24.99/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $109,800 ($52.79/hour)

The employment of museum guides is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

This growth is driven by increasing tourism, a rising interest in cultural education, and museums expanding their interactive and educational programs to enhance visitor experiences. Museum Guides are crucial in facilitating these engaging, informative tours, thus elevating the demand for their expertise.

Museum Guide Job Requirements

Education: Museum Guide positions often require a diverse educational background. Candidates typically hold degrees ranging from Associate’s to Bachelor’s, with majors in history, art history, archaeology, or museum studies being particularly relevant. A High School Diploma is a minimum for some roles, emphasizing the importance of courses in history, communication, and public speaking. Education in these areas equips guides with the knowledge and skills to engage and educate visitors effectively.

Experience: Museum Guides often come from diverse backgrounds, with a significant portion having prior experience in customer service, public speaking, or educational roles. On-the-job training is common, allowing guides to familiarize themselves with the museum’s collections, exhibit themes, and the storytelling aspect of their role. Training programs may also cover crowd management and engagement techniques, ensuring guides can effectively communicate and interact with visitors of all ages. Continuous learning is encouraged to keep up with new exhibits and historical research.

Certifications & Licenses: Museum Guide positions typically do not require specific certifications or licenses.

Museum Guide Skills

Art History: Delving into the progression of artistic movements, techniques, and their socio-political influences equips museum guides with the tools needed to enhance visitor experiences. Such knowledge facilitates accurate presentation of artworks and fosters a deeper appreciation among audiences, effectively bridging historical contexts with contemporary perceptions.

Public Speaking: The ability to share the history and art with enthusiasm and clarity ensures that visitors of all ages gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the exhibits. Skilled communication transforms a simple tour into an engaging, memorable experience, highlighting the importance of this skill for museum guides.

Exhibit Design: Creating engaging and educational displays involves a thorough understanding of subject matter and visual storytelling principles. Attention to detail in selecting artifacts, and strategic use of lighting and space, are crucial for crafting immersive experiences that captivate diverse audiences.

Cultural Sensitivity: Guides adeptly respect the diverse cultural backgrounds of their audience, ensuring narratives are inclusive. This approach fosters a welcoming environment, encouraging appreciation for artifacts and stories from various cultures, thereby enhancing the educational experience.

Visitor Engagement: Through storytelling, interactive dialogue, and tailored presentations, guides create memorable and educational experiences. This method enriches the visitor’s journey, promoting a deeper appreciation and understanding of the museum’s collections.

Educational Programming: Designing engaging, informative experiences for diverse audiences requires blending historical accuracy with storytelling. Guides must have a profound knowledge of the museum’s collections and the ability to create programs that are both accessible and engaging, ensuring visitors of all ages leave with a richer understanding of the exhibits.

Museum Guide Work Environment

Museum Guides operate in a unique setting where history and art converge, spending most of their time within the museum’s galleries and exhibit spaces. Their workspace is dynamic, surrounded by artifacts and artworks, requiring them to navigate through different rooms and sometimes confined spaces. The tools of their trade are relatively simple, often including audio-visual aids, mobile devices for accessing information, and occasionally handling protective equipment for artifacts.

The work hours for Museum Guides can vary, often aligning with the museum’s operating hours, which may include weekends and public holidays. This role demands a certain level of flexibility, especially during special exhibitions or events. Dress codes are generally in place, aiming to reflect the museum’s professional atmosphere, often requiring guides to wear attire that is both smart and practical for their day-to-day duties.

Interaction with visitors is at the heart of a Museum Guide’s role, necessitating excellent communication skills and a patient demeanor. The environment is generally quiet, aiming to create a contemplative space for visitors, though noise levels can rise during busy periods or events. Despite the physical demands and the need for constant engagement with the public, the role offers a rewarding experience for those passionate about education and cultural preservation.

Advancement Prospects

Museum Guides can advance their careers by specializing in certain historical periods or types of art, positioning themselves as experts and potentially leading to roles such as Curatorial Assistants. Gaining experience in various exhibitions enhances their prospects for such transitions.

Developing strong storytelling and public speaking skills can open opportunities in educational programming within museums. Guides with a knack for engaging diverse audiences might progress to Education Coordinator positions, where they design and implement public programs.

Another path involves moving into administrative roles, such as Visitor Services Manager, where responsibilities expand to overseeing staff, budgeting, and enhancing the overall visitor experience. Success in this area requires a deep understanding of museum operations beyond the exhibit halls.

To achieve these advancements, Museum Guides should seek opportunities for involvement in project management and exhibit planning, demonstrating their capability to handle larger responsibilities within the museum setting.

What Does a Doorman Do?

What does a medicare sales agent do, you may also be interested in..., how to become a newborn hearing screener: step-by-step guide.

What Does a Substation Operator Do?

What does a lead accountant do, what does a publix cashier/bagger do.

Guided Tours

Discover works of art that span 5,000 years of art and culture across the diverse Met collection. Join engaging, hour-long tours with Museum-trained volunteers at 11:30 am, and 12:30 and 2:30 pm daily. Spanish and French tours are also available. All tours depart from the Vélez Blanco Patio, Gallery 534.

Public tours are free with Museum admission, and do not require tickets or reservations. For information about group visits and private guided tours, see Group Visits .

Western Museums Association

Engage, involve, and connect with today’s visitors by providing museum tours that inspire and create lasting impressions.

by Harriet Lynn

Tour guides/docents are truly a museum’s “ambassadors”. They are the human interface between visitors to the collection, a special exhibit and/or to the institution itself.  Imaginative interpretation is not just for children. Learning and applying museum theatre skills and techniques, visualization and/or storytelling methods the museum-goer can experience additional value while gaining a more personalized and memorable tour.

I ntroducing various creative methods (i.e., storytelling, living history, theatre and movement skills, visualization and/or improvisation) provide a pro-active tour experience. The visitor also enhances their own creativity and personal expression in their own right.

It encourages interpreters and educational staff to think, experiment and be “out-of-the- box” creatively applying the goals and mission of the institution. By training docents to invest in providing “storytelling” tours for adults, young adults and students, unique relationships can be established.

Guides/docents can also learn how to be comfortable in incorporating and building new ways of communicating within their own existing tours. Storytelling is a successful and personal methodology enabling visitors to be participating storytellers as well. The objects/art works become more meaningful and relevant by establishing a personal relationship in this circular “give and take” conversational manner.

Today’s museum-goers often want to be more engaged and be involved. Having a “tour guide skills tool box” can only add value, flexibility, and a help tours stay fresh and “new” each time.  Finding meaningful and inventive ways to adapt for even challenging groups (i.e., hearing and sight impaired, Alzheimers/dementia individuals and their caregivers, etc.) becomes an opportunity to make the museum more alive for them.

Some Simple Tips and Thoughts for Museum Educators/Tour Guides

• You are the “Storyteller” speaking for the artist(s)/the artwork, and/or those who cannot speak for themselves.
• You are the messenger connecting to those who are present.
• Let the art/the history live!
• You are the “Ambassador” and the “Storyteller” of your museum/historic site.
• Objects/artifacts/pictures, etc. are used in context  of the story you are weaving.
• You are taking visitors on a Journey .
• Plan ahead for what you want your group to take away with them.
• Avoid overloading with too many facts and figures. You can never tell it all anyway!
• Provide a “portal” for visitors to enter to learn more for themselves, if they desire.
• Give visitors at least that one special message that can be taken away with them they can always remember.
• Be respectful of visitor’s time, needs and other constraints! (i.e., including other venues and stops in a museum, in their day) and don’t forget to leave time for visitors to go to the museum store, too!
• Engage and be open for dialogue with visitors.  Welcome their questions and thoughts.
• “Step into the shoes” of the art and the visitor and find the balance between the two.
• Give yourself and visitors permission to experience more of the collection and story in creative ways – and using your own creativity in your program(s).
• Let the object(s) speak to you and guide you in the telling of their story.
• Revisit your program and see where you can find places to bring creative spark.
• Use visitor surveys to provide direct feedback to see impact and how to enhance.

Harriet Lynn, BFA, MS  is founder, producer and artistic director of Heritage Theatre Artists’ Consortium.  Founded in 1994 Harriet Lynn has consulted and developed museum theatre, living history, oral history performance programs and/or docent training for museums, historical societies, educational institutions and museum conferences.  She is a member of AAM, WMA and IMTAL (International Museum Theatre Alliance) with an extensive background in arts education and administration, professional theatre and dance. 

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• storytelling

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The Changing Face of Museum Tours

There was a time when the mention of a museum tour evoked images of branded blazers, heavily scripted journeys around a single collection and a marching troupe lead by an umbrella wielding uniformed guide. For some attractions that time is still now but, for many forward thinking museums and individual arts and heritage lovers, there are new types of museum tours that are attracting a new type of visitor.

A quick online search of “museum tours” will bring you back a plethora of options, from behind the scenes tours of your favourite collection to a one on one bespoke tour of a museum you’ve never visited with a local guide. There are no longer heavily prescribed ways to learn about museum collections and I believe that is a thing to celebrate. There are a myriad ways to enter, explore and learn about well-known museums as well as unfamiliar collections and an engaging tour can be a great place to start.

Who Needs a Museum Tour Guide Anyway?

For many years, museums relied on human tour guides to assist their visitors with finding objects, discovering new collections and learning about the history and importance of the objects they cared for but in recent years many have turned to technology to reduce costs and improve the reach of tours. Without the need for a human tour guide the content of the tour becomes much more malleable. Pre-recorded tours can be replayed for those who need additional time to digest, translated into many languages that your staff members do not speak and made cheaper or even free to use.

With the first audio tour available to the public in 1952 at the Stedelijk Museum , Amsterdam it’s hardly new technology but the impact of those first audio tours can be felt throughout the museum industry. Most museums have had a form of audio tour at some point and, whilst many have now been adapted into personal phone technology and apps, the audio tour is still a strong contender today when looking to increase tour throughput. The traditional audio tours options for multiple languages and variable content combined with its reusable and easy to use technology made it an obvious choice for sharing understanding of collections.

Audio tours transformed the way the public interacted with the museum collections. Multiple languages could be used to open up collections to new audiences and visitors could learn more about objects at their own pace, revisiting objects that they wanted to spend more time on and skipping over those that were more familiar to them. Even before the advent of the smartphone the easy to use technology put learning into the hands of many people around the world.

Today over 2.5 billion people own a smart phone and this is allowing many museums to utilise the technology already in the hands of their visitors to reduce hardware costs and instead concentrate on providing content for their apps and downloadable tours. We still need knowledgeable tour guides with the ability to teach and inspire but now they can reach hundreds of visitors at once instead of small groups.

Museum Guides and Play?

Whilst we’ve become accustomed to downloading audio tours, interactive maps and museums apps over the last decade there is still a long way to go to introduce technology that can actively encourage you to explore something you’ve not visited before. Looking to trends like the Pokémon Go! launch in 2016 which used augmented reality to get players visiting and collecting Pokémon in various public locations it would seem that gamifying the exploration of museums might just be the answer.

When Pokémon Go Launched in 2016 it seemed like a blessing to many museums who could count on new visitors looking for the latest Pokémon to capture inside their walls. Whether they were embracing the new found visitors and encouraging them, like The Museum of London with special events and free wi-fi or were just happy to play host like the British Museum who saw around 10,000 sessions of Wi-Fi used per day to play the game . It seemed like augmented reality combined with the chance to ‘gain’ something could really encourage new visitors to museums they wouldn’t normally visit.

As yet no museum has managed to produce the same collecting feeling that made Pokémon Go so addictive however many museums have included augmented reality in their tours and find interesting and new ways to breathe movement and life into stationary, historical objects. Pokémon Go style game play may be a little way off for many museums but we already have similar style apps and tours in a number of museums.

The Museum of Celtic Heritage in Salzburg offer a mixed audio and augmented reality tour in which children and adults can find and meet tiny inhabitants of the museum who tell stories of the artefacts on display. The tours mix classic story-telling with exploration as you find new people around the display cabinets and learn about their contents.

Museum Tours with a Twist

If you don’t like the idea of removing the human element from tours there are still options that don’t require an employee of the museum to show you around. Whilst we all agree that museum workers are vital and important, sometimes you might want to explore with someone who isn’t on the museums payroll and can include elements that an official museum tour guide could not such as a local café stop, multiple museums with the same guide and a place to stay for the night.

In 2016 Airbnb began offering “experiences” with their hosts alongside their regular accommodation offerings. Amongst the many offerings on Airbnb are guided tours of museums, art galleries and historical attractions aimed at showing off a more local knowledge of the museum in the context of its home city so you can combine a museum visit with an overnight stay with the same guide, allowing a more personal connection and social experience for the visitor.

It’s difficult to know yet if this is encouraging more visitors to attend museums they may not normally have ventured into, encouraged by a passionate host. With over 1.5 million bookings for experiences each year it’s not hard to imagine that this could offer a growth opportunity for museums by working with locals to bring in new visitors. Would it be possible for you to reach out to those in your community who are already offering these types of experiences and work alongside them to create a more personal tour for visitors to your local area?

Less likely to offer you a place to stay but equally engaging are Museum Hack; a private company who operate renegade tours of the world’s most famous museums. You can join an existing tour based on a number of pre-created itineraries or hire a guide to create a bespoke tour just for you. Each small group tour includes interesting information about the collections, social activities so you can get to know your group a little better, and is guided not just by your official tour guide but also by the wishes of the group. It brings a fresh perspective to a museum you may have visited hundreds of times as you explore stories from the collections, your guide and the other group members.

Operating throughout the US, Museum Hack, has redefined museum tours for a new audience. Photo opportunities, food and drink stops, personalised content and a whole lot of laughter turn the traditional tour on its head and encourage visitors who would normally avoid museums, such as pre-wedding parties, to learn whilst they have fun. Not only are the tours great fun but Museum Hack intend to put museums back at the core of our communities, breaking down stereotypes and barriers which stop many people form visiting museums in the first place.

It is especially important for younger museum visitors to play a part in producing the tour itinerary themselves. Many visitors are now so comfortable with curating their own lives via social media feeds, personal collections and technological tools that the thought of partaking in a tour that doesn’t include their own preferences is at odds with their world view. Visitors who have grown up with themselves at the heart of whatever content they consume, whether that’s online or TV on demand it’s unlikely a prescribed tour is going to attract someone looking for a personalised experience.

It might seem outside of your control but by thinking about the ways in which these tours are different to what you offer today you may go some way to bridging the gap. Do your tours give options for social time, networking opportunities and personal engagement? Could that be the key to making your tours more popular?

Museum Tours Combining Collections

As we look for ways to make tours more personal it is also worth remembering that just because your collections are arranged in a specific way i.e. by geographical or historical borders there may be other ways of curating a tour that combines what seem to be disparate parts of your collection.

The V&A, London introduced LGBQT tours based on an idea which came from their LGBQT working group. The tours run once a month and are a free guided tour which combines a number of collections to create a thread running through the museum highlighting interesting and sometimes shocking LGBQT content. Whether it’s the artist or the art itself, the tours use the guides own personal preferences and group feedback to navigate the museum. The tour guide can choose to include any items in the vast museum and share stories, anecdotes and personal experiences associated with them.

By creating a tour which catered to an under-represented visitor group, produced by members of the LGBQT community and making the tour free and drop-in, the V&A has made a normally hidden history more visible and accessible. In 2017, the group recorded the tour for their social media followers and in the past 2 years it has been viewed more than 12,000 times. Many people who may have missed out on the V&A because they felt a traditional tour left out their own personal stories were suddenly seen and acknowledged by the museum.

Dawn Hoskin, co-chair of the V&A’s LBGTQ Working Group commented that “ I hope the guide’s personal reflections that may feature in these tours will in turn encourage visitors to feel more confident in reading and responding to objects on their own terms”

How Tours Can Access All Areas

And not content with seeing just what’s on display to your regular visitors, tours that encourage revisits to a well-known museum can include behind the scenes and give an idea of what working in a museum is really like. A visitor may have visited you before but the lure of seeing something not always open to the public can give a seasoned visitor another reason to return.

Behind the scenes tours, like the Spirit Collection tour at the Natural History Museum, London provide their tours with access to areas that a regular visitor would not be able to see. Allowing the public to see the work that goes on behind the collections not only attracts a new audience to your museum but can give a greater understanding of your important work and need for future funding. A deeper understanding of work going on beneath the surface allows visitors to appreciate that not everything in the museum is on display and not everyone working for the museum is public-facing.

These tours can be much more involved, engaging and personal as staff members share their experiences, loves and loathes with the tour group. Allowing for personal interaction that a pre-planned and prescribed tour may miss.

Guided tours in general may evoke memories of school trips and scripted content but I think we can look forward to a future in museums where all interested can be catered for, personalised content can be created and shared en-masse and many more thousands of people can come into contact with your collection on their own terms. More engaging tours, shared widely should help you attract more new visitors to your collections and exhibitions and help you fund your mission for the future.

About the author – Carly Straughan

Carly Straughan  began her career working in tourist attractions on a 3 month contract until she found a “real job” and almost 15 years later she is still here. She now works with museums, arts and heritage, and tourist attractions worldwide and she is a passionate supporter of the industry.

• Reimagining Museum Tours: How Creatives are Transforming the Museum Experience July 15 2023
• International Spy Museum Offers Children in Hospital Virtual Tours June 09 2021
• How the Creative Use of Museum Audio Tours is Attracting New Audiences January 15 2024
• From self-guided tours to event organisation: Goosechase October 17 2023
• New Technological Approaches To Hybrid And Remote Guided Tours May 21 2023

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What’s in a Name?

• Mary Kostell
• February 16, 2021

Having spent most of my adult life writing and editing interpretive content for art museums, it’s fair to say that I am all about language and semantics. Recently I got into the weeds with my colleagues in an attempt to define some key terms internally— Guide vs. Tour. It wasn’t a heated conversation per se, but it was fairly circular. It became clear that we all use these terms to mean slightly different things…

This got me thinking about the ways in which our different understanding of these terms impacts our ability to meet visitor expectations. I mean how can we best communicate the difference between a “guide” and a “tour” to visitors when we cannot land on a shared definition or meaning amongst ourselves? 

As it turns out for many muse-tech people, “guide” and “tour” are interchangeable. For example, “tour” has at least 5 different meanings among Guru staff. For some of us it equates to a feature offered on our platform, for others it is the app itself, while those of us from museum backgrounds understand a “tour” as curated content delivered via a live guide or a mobile device. 

In my mind “guide” and “tour” are two distinct offerings, regardless of how they are delivered. A guide is a wayfinding tool, be it a person, printed map or brochure, menu of locations and what’s on view, or an app that helps visitors navigate through your museum or site.

A tour, on the other hand, presents object or exhibition specific information that is educational but does not necessarily provide a linear path for the visitor to follow. It is a “guided” content experience… see the challenge in semantics here?

I think this is a pretty common definition among tour takers and tour givers but as a field we have broadened the concept of “tour” to include self-guided offerings, which is another ball of wax altogether….

Basically, we (museums and cultural attractions) are collectively suffering from a language barrier. And if we are suffering from a language barrier, how can we guarantee that audience expectations are set up effectively? Even if we can agree that a “guide” is something used for wayfinding and other information, what then, exactly, do we mean when we say “tour”?

Basically, we (museums and cultural attractions) are collectively suffering from a language barrier. And if we are suffering from a language barrier, how can we guarantee that audience expectations are set up effectively?

Scurry down the proverbial rabbit hole a bit further and we get into types of guides: 

Curator-led; Docent-led ; Educator-led; Visitor Services Associate-led; Facilitator-led; Tour Guide (meaning a 3 rd party guide); Audio Guide; Printed Guide

And types of tours: Linear or chronological; Narrative; Themed; Interview-based; Audience specific: adult, kids, teens, verbal descriptions; Collection specific,  Special Exhibition, Behind the scenes or VIP experiences 

Self-guided: via brochures, family guides or scavenger hunts and mobile tours featuring audio or video content on demand

The list goes on and on….

The various ways we interpret what these words or tour types signify does not necessarily align with visitor expectations, so the conundrum is how do we offer guided and/or self-guided tour experiences that actually means what visitors think it means? 

We’ve all been confronted by the unhappy visitor who expected a guided tour and was handed an audio tour (usually at an up charge) or who expected to hear from the curator and was led by a volunteer docent instead. Conversely, there are those who opt into the audio tour only to be disgruntled that the app did not feature a map or that the “thing” they came to see was not included in the tour content. And with more and more museums and sites eliminating contact transactions, who is left to field these complaints? Security and other frontline staff who may or may not be able to troubleshoot effectively depending on their training and bandwidth.

In an effort to ease visitor and staff pain points along the visitor journey, it seems to be in our best interest as a field to establish shared language around tours and guides. Of course, I recognize that we all have bigger fish to fry at the moment, but I hope this rant will provide a starting point for a more thoughtful and inclusive conversation down the line.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Man charged in death of North Country 'Star Trek,' tour guide, Elvis impersonator

A Ticonderoga man known for his work as an Elvis Presley and as a tour guide for a local "Star Trek" museum was found dead in Saratoga County after he went missing last weekend.

Thomas Krider, who worked under the stage name TJ Greene, was a popular impersonator who also worked at the Star Trek Tour as a guide.

The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office reported on Tuesday that Krider had been found dead in Milton, New York, after he was reported missing by his wife on Saturday morning, according to the Times Union.

On Tuesday, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said they had arrested 69-year-old Ronald Rayher, of Milton, on charges of second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence.

The sheriff's office said Rayher allegedly killed Krider at his home in Milton on April 5. They said Rayher administered a substance called chloroform more than once and also allegedly tampered with and suppressed evidence after the incident.

Krider's wife, Heidi Greene, told the Times Union that her husband had left their home on Friday to pick up a free box spring from someone in exchange for helping them move some furniture.

Greene said Krider was supposed to return home to work a shift as a tour guide at his job at Star Trek Tour that weekend, as well as to work for a special event during the solar eclipse, but wasn't heard from again.

He loved his job too much to ever miss a shift, Greene told the Times Union.

Greene told the Times Union that she and Krider were both Poultney residents who had met nearly 20 years ago while working at the Rutland, Vermont, Walmart. They moved to the Glens Falls area soon after, where Krider worked as a costumed character at Six Flags Great Escape.

However, The Saratoga County Undersheriff Jeffrey Brown confirmed that Rayher and Krider had been in a relationship with one another for around 10 years.

James Cawley, of the Ticonderoga Star Trek Tour, released the following statement about Krider's death, saying in part:

"TJ Greene was an employee and tour guide at the Star Trek Set Tour and a great friend to everyone here. He was a talented Elvis tribute artist. He will be remembered for his kind and trusting soul and his warm, friendly demeanor. We are devastated by his loss and will keep him close to our hearts."

Rayher was arraigned in Milton Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail.

The sheriff's department confirmed that more charges could be coming since this is an ongoing investigation.

Editor's note: The Times Union is owned by NBC5's parent company, Hearst Corporation.

An earlier version of this story stated that Krider also acted as a "Star Trek" impersonator.

READ MORE: Man charged in death of North Country 'Star Trek,' tour guide, Elvis impersonator

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