Becoming a Guide at an Aviation Museum
 

Has anyone had any experience of being a Guide? And, if so, what are the pitfalls? I have heard some horror stories where Guides are not appreciated for their experience and dedication.

My sister used to be a Guide and she quite liked the uniform. But I tried it on and one of her friends said my legs were too hairy and pinched my woggle.

Hmmmmm sorry to hear that ShyTorque. Bet that brought tears to your eyes.

A guide needs to be interesting and have plenty of anecdotes ready for when the "script" fails. I wish you luck.

I suppose the term "guide" can cover quite a wide spectrum. I think it would depend up whether they were a ""professional" "guide"" and the audience had been lead to expect a particular standard. On the other hand if the "guide" was a volunteer one might take a more lenient view. Have to say I have met some volunteer guides who were, knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic about their subject and could communicate that enthusiasm.

I presume you mean an unpaid volunteer?
I have just started at Cosford, as an "explainer". One of the members of another group I work with is a guide, and he gave our group a tour of the museum. Despite 65+ years as an aviation "nut", plus 40 years in the business, I still learnt a lot. The biggest drawback seems to be the person who bones up on something esoteric, and then asks an obscure question. There's always one "smart a...". Used to happen with ATC cadets as well, so I suppose it comes with the territory. My advice is to see if the museum you are planning on joining has vacancies and take whatever is going, to get your feet under the table. It's perhaps easier then to swap roles.

Wiltshireman, you have a pm.

While knowledge of the exhibits is essential, I'd suggest excellent people skills are paramount.

A few years ago, I had to sadly dispense with the services of one of our paid guides. Experienced...Yes, Encyclopaedic knowledge....Yes, Great passion for the museum....Yes, Pathological hatred of children...(regrettably) Yes.

Management could only take so many complaints from unhappy parents.

On the plus side, I enjoyed the story from the guide at the Australian War Memorial who always included a detailed spiel about his favourite exhibit, Flt Lt Brown's P-40, named "Polly", when conducting groups through the aviation hall.

One day he noticed that an older lady in one group seemed to spending a lot of her time examining the P-40.

He approached her, thinking she may be interested in learning more about the aircraft.

To the contrary, the ensuing pleasant conversation saw him learning even more about his favourite exhibit, courtesy of Mrs Polly Brown.

He later described meeting her as the highlight of his career.

Yes, agree about the people skills. My job at Cosford is in what is called "Fun and Flight", an interactive area where youngsters (and adults) can learn about the principles of how an aircraft flies, an engine works, pressure, density etc. I enjoy working with youngsters, and seeing the understanding come across their faces is wonderful. Spending a day surrounded by aeroplanes and youngsters. What could be better?

I can see that as a problem but if he was fine with adults why not let him work with them?

It's Great!
 

On a rota I volunteer/man the shop at the Manx Aviation and Military Museum (we are all unpaid volunteers - no paid staff or management - and entry is free) and I get as much as I give, usually a lot more, from our visitors .... and we regularly receive very appreciative comments and reviews. What I've learned about volunteering/guiding from here and elsewhere?:

1. Some visitors don't want to be guided/talked to or, even worse, at! Give them the option - tour, pointer to the highlights, or just browse and 'we are here if you have any questions'.

2. Be patient and listen. A very few may bore the pants off you and tell you the most wacky stories but it's surprising what you can learn and how visitors can turn into real assets for the Museum, donate exhibits, provide information. I know a lot about a little - I think - but am constantly surprised about how little I really know.

3. Do the housekeeping , keep the place clean and tidy, restock the shop .. things like that.

4. Be genuinely welcoming. I've visited some heritage sites where the staff couldn't be bothered to smile, make eye contact or do anything other than stick out their hands for the entrance fee!

Most of all - enjoy it!

DS

I could not sum up guiding any better than DeepestSouth has done!

In 5 part-time years I have heard of no "horror stories".

And as a corollary of the responses immediately above: please don't focus entirely on 'inspiring the children'.

After all it's the older teens and adults who pay the admission fees and annual 'friends of the museum' memberships, not the five-year-olds. Annoy the fee-payers and they're unlikely to come back, regardless of how many balloons the children collected.

I remember going to many museums as a teenager and being dismayed at the indifference shown by staff because I wasn't a schoolkid. In contrast, Newark and the DH Museum had working-volunteers who were happy to sit down and chat history. I remember one guy from the DH museum who had worked on the Trident and 146, we sat for ages with a cuppa as he told me stories. No 'Key Stage curriculum targets' or 'key demographic metrics' involved.

Planemike

The parents kept insisting on bringing their kids along. It just wasn't possible to run "adult only" groups for him. Particularly as his pet subject was our most prominent and promoted display.

We put a lot of effort into trying to help him along but, in the end, he left us with no choice.

Yes, can see the problem. Just seems a shame to loose all that expertise and no doubt in many ways a good volunteer.

Also endorse Deepest South's words. A while since I was there but recall
the Manx Museum was well worth the visit. Not sure which group I fitted into !!!

A lot of good stuff on this thread.

Agreed, good people skills are essential and a good sense of humour breaks down most barriers. In my experience as a guide, albeit not is aviation, it is very rare to be asked a question to which I don't know the answer......I hasten to add that is not because I know all the answers but because the audience depth of knowledge is thin!! Possibly the clever guys don't resort to guided tours??

Saw some smartarse at Weybridge constantly trying to catch the guide out by googling things on his phone and then disputing things the guide said. The guide handled it well.

Was tempted to interject myself whilst listening to a guide in the Smithsonian at IAD when he was talking about the Concorde program and the AF bird there. Some things the misinformed guide was saying....

1. The USA SST program was firmly on track when it was cancelled.
2. Concorde was successful because the USA had significant input to the design - he actually said, "it would be fairer to say it was really a Anglo-French-USA project"
3. It was initially banned from JFK because it was at least twice as noisy as 707s and DC8s of the time. (However I believe during trials it was shown to be slightly less noisy than those planes on take-off by adopting a specific departure profile).
4. The USA told the Concorde Engineers right at the start that a tragedy like the AF CDG crash was inevitable someday. Sadly they did not listen.
5. The Concorde finished up with many of the innovative features of the USA SST program. "We are glad our fine work did get incorporated"

There were a few more gems too but as it was about 10 years ago I was there so have forgotten them. It was so tempting to interrupt :)