A few years back I found myself incarcerated in a house at the Museum of Welsh Life. I had to tell visitors about energy efficiency and "green" building technology: for 6 months!
By the end of my stint I had perfected my "routine" and felt like a kind of heritage stand-up act. I could predict the occurrence of "Ooh, I never knew that", "Well I never!", Pelletted sawdust! Wow!!" and many other phrases and laughs with the precision of an atomic clock.
I found it quite trancendental after a while. Then I got another job. The new job saved my sanity.
So, top tip for facilitators: build your routine into a world-embracing philosophy, or get a new job!
Cheers
Essex Havard
-----Original Message-----
From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mandy Tulloch
Sent: 11 January 2006 12:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: repetition rage!
Dear All
Quick presentation query!
How do you cope with presenting the same information hundreds of times to
your visitors without going mad?
Be it a welcome or the instructions to an activity, it is sometimes
necessary to repeat the same thing many times in one day. This can be a
form of torture! How do you keep your presentation fresh and exciting, even
if it's the 497th time you've said it that day?
I'm looking to pass on some words of wisdom to student facilitators working
with us. Personally, I always try to remember that it's the visitor's first
experience, but there must be other clever ways to remain sane!
Thanks!!
Mandy.
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Mandy Tulloch
Development Co-ordinator
Natural History Centre
University of Aberdeen
Zoology Building
Tillydrone Avenue
Aberdeen AB24 2TZ
T - 01224 493 288
E - [log in to unmask]
W - www.abdn.ac.uk/nhc
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