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I always found that if you are dressed as a character of a certain period, you can also answer any unwanted advances in character too.
My worst experience was when I used to work for a Bank and had to wear a T-shirt which read “We like to say YES”
Joanne
From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Elee Kirk
Sent: 14 March 2014 14:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A Friday kind of question: advice for managing front line staff being chatted up by visitors
I once had Johnny Ball flirt with me while I was dressed up as a Victorian for a Christmas event at a museum. As I remember he decided that I was Ida Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer.
That said, I think it’s definitely easier to deal with those sorts of situations when you’re in costume, as you can respond in character, which makes it a bit easier to tell them to naff off. And it takes a lot of confidence to approach
visitors and talk to them, whether or not you are in character, so it’s horrible to think of staff having this confidence undermined. Hopefully, as Essex suggests, you will be able to work out a policy to deal with this and support your staff.
Have a good weekend,
Elee (nowhere near as clever as Ida)
On 14 Mar 2014, at 11:44, Andrew Whincup <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I frequently have a similar experience wearing my kilt to events in England…It really is worth seeing the look on their faces, even after the warning.
Andrew Whincup
Learning & Access Officer
Royal Marines Museum
Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9PX
023 9281 9385 x243
<image004.png><image005.jpg>Museum<image006.jpg>Bill
the Snake
Young Musician of the Year –
3rd April 6pm-10.15pm. Enjoy a nail-biting competition featuring Musicians from the Royal Marines School of Music battling to be the best. Tickets available. Standard: £10, Concessions: £8, Children £5 – call 023 9272 6181
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From: Essex
Havard [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 March 2014 11:15
To: 'Andrew Whincup'; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: A Friday kind of question: advice for managing front line staff being chatted up by visitors
My first job in a museum was as exhibition assistant in the “Gerald of Wales 1188 to 1988” exhibition at the National Museum of Wales.
I had to dress as a 12th century cleric (a one-piece “dress-like” thing with a hood and a belt).
I had a number of women lift my “skirt” to see if I was wearing anything underneath! I didn’t have the guts to “go commando” but I wish I had, just to see the
look on their faces…
I hadn’t really thought about this since, until this e-mail.
My approach was to tell them to eff off. But I guess the past is a different country…
E
PS re the original e-mail I think the employer should recognise the potential for problems here and write a short “policy” on how to handle the situation. Then
provide staff training and ongoing support. It’s a staff protection issue for me. Shouldn’t be too big an issue to overcome.
From: List
for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andrew
Whincup
Sent: 14 March 2014 11:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A Friday kind of question: advice for managing front line staff being chatted up by visitors
You have no idea how sad this made me. Anyway
Kim’s idea of working in pairs is a good one as it discourages people from doing/saying things that they wouldn’t say in public. If they are in pairs then any conversation
is always in public. I think the badges are good as well: they spell out that these people are being friendly because it’s their job and they’re like that top everyone not because you are special.
Andrew Whincup
Learning & Access Officer
Royal Marines Museum
Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9PX
023 9281 9385 x243
<image007.png><image008.jpg>Museum<image009.jpg>Bill
the Snake
Young Musician of the Year –
3rd April 6pm-10.15pm. Enjoy a nail-biting competition featuring Musicians from the Royal Marines School of Music battling to be the best. Tickets available. Standard: £10, Concessions: £8, Children £5 – call 023 9272 6181
Registered Charity Number: 1142186. Company Number: 7635447. Our email disclaimer is available online.
From: List
for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim
Biddulph
Sent: 14 March 2014 10:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A Friday kind of question: advice for managing front line staff being chatted up by visitors
Hi Celine et al,
This was a problem for me when working in costume as well, though the costume seemed to allow some visitors to be more explicit.
Your staff are clearly doing a great job of approaching visitors, being friendly and engaging. Some visitors do misinterpret this as something more personal. You joked about
a 'Thanks but no thanks' badge, but maybe something like 'Here to be friendly' might work? Makes the point that the staff are paid to chat with visitors and not just chatting them up. Or perhaps get some costume jewellery engagement/wedding rings for them
to wear?!
I think your idea of encouraging staff to take time out if they feel uncomfortable with a visitor is a good one. It takes them out of that space. Do they work alone in each
museum or are they paired up? If in pairs it would give them a chance to be each other's back-up.
Hope you find a solution for your staff to still feel comfortable engaging all visitors.
Kim Biddulph
Director, Schools Prehistory
On 14 Mar 2014, at 10:14, "West, Celine" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hi everyone,
I manage a group of people whose job is to engage visitors in conversation about objects and related topics, in the museums. Just this week they have told me that on more than one occasion they have been asked for their number / a date by someone following the conversation. They have politely declined but the whole experience leaves them feeling uncomfortable and like they don’t want to carry on going up to visitors and striking up conversation, particularly they don’t want to approach any more men.
I found it hard to know what to say as I had been praising their confidence and skills they have developed in talking with the public but all I could do was sympathise with how they felt in this situation. Any advice please? Should I suggest they take a break after such an encounter, to get away for a bit? Or that they can end their shift early if they’re feeling so uncomfortable? Or….
We joked about them wearing badges that say “Thanks but not thanks” – they do wear badges that say “Museum staff”.
Thanks,
Celine
--
Celine West
Head of Learning and Access
UCL Museums & Public Engagement
tel 020 7679 2151 / 32151
core hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30-3.30
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