Our association offers its members the following:

NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR LICENSE, WHAT’S NEXT ?

In most cases, new guides have taken the tour guide class from Delgado. If you have not, then you should consider it. It is a good overview of the field and includes the basics of walking tours, motor coach tours, and plantation tours.

The next option, and one we really recommend, is to join the Friends of the Cabildo.  They offer a superb training class primarily dealing with walking tours of the Vieux Carre. In return for this, you volunteer your services to them for 2 years giving walking tours. Talk about experience!

The next step is to spend your money and take every tour you can imagine to familiarize yourself with all types of tours available. When visiting these venues, collect brochures and begin a file for future reference.

Assuming you took a class, then you have probably received a recommended book list. Begin reading and continue to READ, READ, READ! Generally all of the titles are available in the library. However, at some point you will want to build up your own reference library.  Often venue gift shops, as well as the 1850 House, are good sources for related topics.

Now that you have the information in your head, its time to start learning the routes (walking, city and plantation). Tape record your tour until you get “it down pat.”  Don’t try to memorize it– just understand it. Take your family and friends along after a while as guinea pigs.

Then and only then, are you ready to knock on doors and say “I’m a beginning tour guide looking for work.” There are many who erroneously believe if you’re a native, you can just get on a bus and “wing it!” Don’t try this– you will be found out and your touring days will be numbered.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

Tourists are our guests.  We are ambassadors of our city and state. Remember-always be positive! First impressions are important. You need to be sincere and enthusiastic; if you’re not, you’re in the wrong profession. Experienced guides will tell you that even though they’ve done the same tour hundreds of times, it’s still fun!

Make sure to establish eye contact with everyone whether on foot or motor coach. Ask your group if they can hear you. Project your voice using your diaphragm. You need to be aware of the rate at which you speak. Senior citizens often have hearing aids which makes a fast rate of speech difficult to process.

Under no circumstances should you smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, chew gum, or wear dark sunglasses while on tour. 

Many companies require uniforms, usually navy or black suits (pants are acceptable for women) Also, several companies have summer uniforms of khaki. You’ll need to check with the individual companies. Keep jewelry to a minimum. Remember that you are the company’s representative

A tour guide is a story teller, not a lecturer. It’s the stories most often remembered, not the facts, dates, etc.  Your goal is to try to weave the two together. When telling a story, try not to interrupt it in the middle; but if you must, then pick it up again with a statement such as “As I was saying…” etc. 

Timing is an important element in giving any tour. Of course, this is much easier to control on foot than on the motor coach. On the coach, your goal is to complete your description just as you arrive at the point of interest. 

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL COME WITH TIME!

Upon completing a tour, the guests will often ask the guide for suggestions– what to do, where to go, places to eat. So, familiarize yourself with this type of information. It is extremely helpful to keep a small alphabetized binder or some such thing, with names, addresses, phone numbers, days and hours of operation, and prices. (Most of this information is readily available in the free tourist magazines like Visitor, and the like.)

SO, WHAT’S OUT THERE FOR ME TO DO?

There are all kinds of opportunities;  we’ll take you through the various types of tours you can be called upon to give. Following that, there are non-tour related jobs as well as business advice. No matter what kind of job, remember PRACTICE.

ACCEPTING THE JOB

You will probably receive your paperwork by mail from the DMC (Destination Management Company). Review it carefully. If possible, try to find out what kind of group it is. That way you’ll be able to include special points of interest that would be of particular interest to the group.  They will appreciate this extra effort.

If something unforeseen should occur and you have to cancel a job, immediately call the company.  Ask them if they would like for you to find a replacement. Some will, others will not.  You NEVER want to cancel a job because something better comes along (although it is very tempting sometimes). This could come back to haunt you.

On the morning of the tour, it is a good idea to check the newspaper to see what’s going on in town that day that could possibly affect your route (i.e. 5K races can completely close off streets necessitating your taking entirely different routes.) This is why you have to know the city backwards and forwards.

Arrive on time. Generally on your paperwork there will be a report time (sometimes called a spot time). This is always at least 15 minutes, but more often 30 minutes before the time the tour generally begins. You are not paid for this period, but it is a very important time to do the following: 1) in many cases, meet representatives of the DMC to discuss any last minute change of plans, etc. and 2) meet your driver and discuss the itinerary.

You will need to have a generic name tag. TGAGNOI sells an excellent one. In many cases the DMC will provide them.

THE WALKING TOUR

A walking tour is a unique three-dimensional tour. There is time for observation and for noting details, a luxury not available on the motor coach.

In many cases  when a company hires you, you will be given an itinerary. You need to read it carefully.  Plan in your mind how you will do it and what route you will take. When you're first beginning, practice walking it many times. Often there will be specific times that you are to bring the group to different venues. (Example– Hermann Grima @10:00, Ursuline Convent @ 11:30am, etc.) You’ve got to know how you're going to get them there on time. Again, PRACTICE!

Quite often, particularly with conventions, there will be several groups going to these venues, each having their own time schedule. It is critical that you stick to your schedule.

TRY NOT TO DEVIATE FROM YOUR DESCRIPTION. Confer with your fellow guides so that all are following the same basic plan. The reason for not deviating from a route is that the client wants all groups to have the same experiences. 

So, you’re beginning the tour:

Gather the group around you and introduce yourself. Be energetic and enthusiastic. The first few minutes often set the tone for the entire tour.

Tell them what you’re going to do. Remind them to stay with you. If for some reason they need to leave the group, make sure they let you know.

You definitely need to make them aware of safety issues: traffic lights, right of way, sidewalk obstructions, etc.

This needs to be etched in stone– GET A COUNT!

As you walk along, keep in mind your pace– you’re not on the “Bataan Death March.” Obviously, you have to modify your pace to fit the needs of the group.

When you get to a point of interest, wait for the group to assemble around you. Always position your group with their backs to the sun whenever  possible.

Make sure they can hear you.

If a question is asked, make sure you repeat the question to the entire group before answering.

Never walk and talk at the same time. People in the back will never hear you

Ask your group to respect the residents of the neighborhood and their property.

Equally important, do not block doorways to businesses or sidewalks for pedestrians.

In some cases a group may have free time to shop, etc. Make sure they know when and where they are to meet you. COUNT AND RECOUNT!

Most of all, enjoy yourself, have fun - it’s contagious!

THE MOTOR COACH TOUR

Begin this experience with the same considerations as discussed in the walking tour. You need to know the city regulations for buses– where they can go and can’t go, where to park and not to park. Don’t ever assume a local driver knows the route. They may be brand new and say that they do know all these things, but in reality they do not. 

Also, remember that on many occasions, you will have an out of town driver who “hasn’t a clue.”  You are his road map and keeper of the rules (including speed limits.)

If, at some point, you will be leaving the bus and will rejoin it later; it’s a MUST to get the cell phone number of the driver and/or dispatcher’s phone number in the event you need to contact him. 

After introducing yourself to the driver and discussing the itinerary, etc., board the bus and reserve the aisle seat behind the driver for you. Use your discretion whether to sit or stand

Test the microphone to see if it is working (don’t assume it is) and if the volume level needs adjusting. It is very helpful to carry rubber bands with you (those thick broccoli bands are great) so you don’t have to concentrate on keeping the tab depressed for 3 hours. Talk about tired fingers!

As the guests begin to board the bus, you will sometimes be collecting tickets. Here’s a helpful hint– as you count 10, put the tickets in between your pinkie and ring finger, the next ten between next two fingers and so on. That way it will be relatively easy for you to give a quick count. Note: before beginning the tour, get an actual body count. Some guides count bodies, others count empty seats. You do what works for you!

Now you are ready to begin. First and foremost, introduce your driver– he can make or break your tour! You are a team! It is really nice and appreciated if you include him in your narration, if possible. Most drivers will be listening to your tour, and you can signal him by saying things as “at the end of this block, Lionel will be turning to the right…” When giving visual directions while facing the passengers, remember your right is their left and vice versa.

When arriving at the destination, make sure the driver knows what’s going on, how long you’ll be there, when you’ll be back, what to do with the bus, etc. and if necessary, where to park the bus.

Likewise, before getting off the bus, make sure the group knows these same things including the bus number.  For example, at the Casino in City Park on Friday, there are sometimes as many as 6 buses– all looking alike.

Before resuming the tour COUNT again!

In some instances there will be a group leader on the bus. You will need to discuss with him/her the itinerary. Quite often the itineraries will change– so prepare to “go with the flow.” Make sure you’re all on the same page, including that the entire group has the same time, according to your watch. 

At the conclusion of the tour, ask everyone to check his seat and overhead compartments and thank the group, the leader, and the driver. When you act as a step-on guide for a group, the group leader may have an envelope for you. This is yours; you do not split it with the out of town driver.

It is customary that the guides and the local drivers split the tips down the middle. Do not try to cheat the driver; you will get a bad reputation.

ON SITE TOURS

On site tours are venues to be visited where you will be turning your group over to a docent who will conduct the tour of the house, plantation, etc.  It is a good idea for you to bring up the rear in these situations.

Again, the obvious, before disembarking the coach, make sure everyone (including the driver) is aware of the time to return, bus number, etc.

Upon meeting the docent, make him/her aware of your time frame. You will need to factor into this the bathroom and the gift shop. As discussed earlier, you will have already visited the venue in your preparation period and are aware of bathroom locations, etc.

Unfortunately, at times problems come up that will make you late for an appointed time. If you encounter this situation, immediately call the venue and inform them (hence the reason that it is important to know the phone numbers of the places you’re going to visit.) Likewise, it is also important that you do not arrive too early.

STUDENT GROUPS

Generally, around Sugar Bowl and in the spring, there will be large numbers of high school students in town. You will need to be prepared to modify your tour presentation. High school students obviously have different interests than adult groups. Whatever you do, DO NOT TALK DOWN TO THE GROUP!

Frequently there are students who may not be interested and begin to talk. This, of course, is extremely distracting to you and to those who are interested! You are going to have to figure out a way to “set them straight.” Talk to experienced guides to see how they do it. Whatever approach you take, you have to feel comfortable doing it.

If you should be leaving the bus for a walk or whatever, make sure the chaperones know they are to bring up the rear and ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR GROUP. (This sounds ridiculous but sometimes the chaperones are worse than the students.)

Of course the usual information about time etc. needs to be made clear not only with the chaperones but with the students as well.

Remember to talk to the whole group– not just to one or two as you walk around.

NON-SIGHTSEEING OPPORTUNITIES

Often, you can get your “feet wet’ by working jobs other than being a guide. This is a good way for companies to get to know you and develop a sense of your commitment and professionalism. Such avenues for experience include the following:

Meet and greet – meeting groups at the airport, checking them off as they arrive, paying porterage, and bringing them to the awaiting motor coach.

Hospitality desks - greet, inform, and in some cases sell tours

Registration desks

Dine arounds – escort groups to restaurants

Each company has its own procedures for these different jobs. When in doubt, ask the company or call an experienced guide.

THE BUSINESS END OF OUR BUSINESS

As tour guides, we are generally contract workers which means we are “self-employed.” This has good points as well as bad. On the positive side, almost everything is tax-deductible: uniforms, cleaning, mileage to and from work, books, newspapers, parking, tour guide license, membership in related organizations, answer machines, fax machines, cell phones, and other expenses related to the job. So, keep receipts and records. Of course, you will have to check with your tax professional to see how this applies to you. On the negative side, since no taxes are taken out of your checks, you generally have to report quarterly. Again, check with your tax professional.

Also, and this is very important, since you are an independent contractor, you can be sued for injuries sustained by people on your tours. That is why it is critical that you consider taking out an insurance policy to protect yourself! Your homeowner’s generally does not cover you– again check with a professional. Check with the TGAGNOI person for further information about coverage and the limitations of our policy.

You will definitely  want to have business cards printed. It is flattering when a company is so pleased with you that they want to use you again. But, it must be made clear that your booking must be through the DMC who originally hired you. It is unprofessional to do otherwise.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, when you receive your directory, check out the names of the officers. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call any of them. We have included brochures outlining the rules for touring St. Louis III cemetery and approved bus routes for the French Quarter and Garden District.

When you come to the first meeting, make sure that you tell the person checking you in that you are new to our association.

We look forward to your joining our ranks. Happy Touring