Storytelling and Presentation Skills

In this course, tour guides and prospective tour guides will explore the essential skills that you need to succeed in tour guiding like research skills for tour planning and preparation, communication skills and presentation methods, to make your tour unforgettable for the visitors.

Who is this course for? 

The course is intended for tour guides and prospective tour guides and anyone interested in the topic.

What will you learn? 

• You will learn about relevant skills for being a tour guide such as research skills, communication skills, and presentation skills
• You will learn how to create the arc of suspense for the tour with the use of media storytelling and dramaturgy

Keywords: Tour guiding, skills, presentation, communication

Introduction to Storytelling and Presentation Skills

In this section you will get an introduction into the relevant skills for being a tour guide such as storytelling and how to present them.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Storytelling and Presentation Skills

Case Scenario

Welcome back. I’m pleased to welcome you to the second learning unit. You may remember that the last session was about the roles and responsibilities of tour guides. We also talked about legal requirements and the dos and don’ts regarding appearance and language. This learning unit will focus on communication and presentation during tours.

As you probably know, this is quite a wide field. So I’d like to give you some hints and useful tips using examples from my own experience, which you can then implement in your own tours. Besides different communication strategies, I’d also like to talk about the effect of language barriers and how to overcome them.

Of course, the type of presentation also plays a big role in a tour. We’ll also talk about this topic and how you can skillfully shape a tour, while retaining its main theme and arc of suspense.

Speaking of the arc of suspense, at the end of the learning unit we’ll talk about one of my favorite topics, dramaturgy and storytelling.  I’m keen to work out with you how we can integrate stories into guided tours and what this can add in terms of value. So let’s get started

The Skillset for Communication and Presentation

Lesson 1: Research skills

Tour guides prepare and plan each tour thoroughly, in particular with regards to information and content, methodological and didactic strategies; and time and logistical organisation. Thereby, they are utilising a variety of different research tools. I have put together four tools for you here.  

IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING CONTENT

Identifying and selecting content

• Study detailed catalogue descriptions > for identifying included attractions > travel route, including booked accommodations and entrances > detailed time schedule for entrances.
• Identify attractions or points of interests which are located on the way and may be included in the program (e.g. interests of audience, possible replacement for program items that may not be able to be visited etc.).
• Identify interests of the audience (e.g. guest list, additional notes, country of origin, etc.).
• Talk to Tour Operators, Wholesalers and Operations Manager > for tour packages and itinerary, prices, terms and condition, policies and procedures, tourist information (e.g. age, country of origin, previous tour experiences etc.).

Preparing content

• Research and start compiling information for each destination, attraction and route (e.g. through books, travel guides, history books, reports of government publications, descriptions, internet research, further background information, references, reports, statistics etc.).
• Retrieve information by talking to people (e.g. local experts in community and on sites, local or site guides, other tour guides, local tourism department or tourism information office, service and attraction providers etc.).
• Write down precise description of the tour, including all content and information, attractions, background information, narrative and additional materials.
• Highlight key words and use them as memory aid, develop connections and cross-references.
• Arrangement of information and notes in the order of the planned visiting days (e.g. digital or manual).

Methodical and didactic preparation

• Identify the objectives of the trip/tour (e.g. tour description, Tour Operator information, customers’ needs and expectations etc.).
• Define method (s) > take notes on questions, activities, repetitions, use of additional information and illustration material, interactive games, etc.

Time and logistic planning

• Research data for accurate scheduling (e.g. opening times, phone numbers, contact details, entrance fees etc.).
• Determine departures and viewing times based on attractions’ booking and opening times and schedule.
• Use of maps and route planner for distances, coach driving times and breaks.
• Plan for unforeseen delays (e.g. traffic jams, closure of attractions etc.), plan lunch breaks (e.g. in hotel or collect recommendations from colleagues and your own experience etc).
• Have a smartphone with you on the journey in order to be able to prepare questions from guests or program changes that arise at short notice.

Lesson 2: Understanding communication

Tour Guides are interacting with customers on tour; the success of the interactions depends on how they communicate with each other.  I found another podcast by Anna and Elias on this topic, which you can listen to here. 

Scenario

[Anna] All right, Elias, let’s talk about why communication is so important in tour guiding. 

[Elias] I’d love to. I think this is a really important topic and I’m sure our listeners agree with me. As tour guides, we’re there to help our guests with information and a bit of advice. For me, this is a very special relationship that we have with our guests during the tour.

[Anna] Absolutely. We really are there to help and advise. It’s not just about showing our guests the beauty of the country or its special attractions, but also about informing them about safety aspects or managing hotel reservations. 

[Elias] Yes, right. But those are pretty dry duties, aren’t they? But I know how important all that is. It’s the only way to avoid misunderstandings. And we also have to let our guests know, for example, if any plans change during the tour, so that we can discuss alternative options together. Essentially, we’re there for our guests the whole time. 

[Anna] That’s why good communication is so important. If we didn’t pay attention to it, it would be one big mess. 

[Elias] And I know how much you hate that. 

[Anna] I really do. But apart from the dry duties as you call them, we also have other tasks. I mean we also represent and promote the host country, don’t we? 

[Elias] Yes, we absolutely do. I don’t know about you listeners, but those are the absolute highlights of the tour for me. When I can spark my guests’ interest in the country, its culture and people. 

[Anna] Ohh, you’ve put that beautifully. The more effectively we communicate, the greater the success of the tour. I’m totally convinced of that. 

[Elias] Exactly. And that brings us back to the special relationship we have with our guests. 

[Anna] OK. I think we get your point now. Or what do you think, fellow tour guides out there? 

[Elias] Very good. Then I’ve communicated well. No, but let’s go back to our communication with the guests. If we do that well, then there are many positive effects. If the tour is a success, it helps support tourist activities in the long term.

[Anna] That’s true. And if we think about it, the feedback we get from our guests is also very important for the tour operator. It’s also our task to communicate the feedback of the guests and our own impressions to the tour operator. 

[Elias] That’s a good conclusion, isn’t it? I think we’ve communicated enough with you out there for today. Thank you for listening, and wherever you are, enjoy your next tour and communicate well

Communication Process

The communication process consists of two key players, the sender and receiver, and the transmission of the message from the sender to the receiver through a channel or medium (> verbally, written or signalled). This process is a two-way-process as the receiver responds to the message. In this way, the sender becomes the receiver.

It is crucial that tour guides – as senders of communication –  keep in mind who their target audience is, so that they can focus the message accordingly. They should know what the guests’ perception and experiences is, as well as to use the appropriate communication channel to reach the guest. Inviting guests’ feedback can confirm that the message was understood and appropriately responded to.

You heard it: communication is the key. How does that work for you? I have three tasks for you to reflect on your own way of communicating.

1. Describe and explain the importance of effective communication in the work of a tour guide.

2. Think about the last time you talked with a colleague or friend. Was your message clearly understood?

3. Try to explain what you think effective communication means.

Barriers to communication

In order to improve one’s own communication and to get a feeling for it, it is important to know possible barriers. A range of physical, mental or emotional obstacles can prevent messages from being passed on successfully between tour guide and guest(s) during the process of communication. I have compiled an overview for you in the hotspots.

Physical Barriers

• Physical objects, e.g. guest eating or drinking, chewing gum etc
• Background noises eg. Traffic noises etc
• Disruptions/distractions eg. Mobile phone ringing, child demanding attention
• Distance between tour guide and guest eg. In front/in the back of coach
• Hearing and health problems, e.g. hearing aids, cold and blocked nose etc.
• Malfunctioning equipment e.g. camera

Mental and Emotional Barriers

• Negative emotions, stress, anger, depression, sadness etc
• Inaccurate information, too much or too little information
• Subjective focus in commentary e.g. expressing personal political, ethinic or religious views
• Insecurity or a lack of confidence
• Difficult personalities, e.g. aggressive, passive, exaggerated demands etc

Cultural Differences

• Different understanding of values, beliefs and goals
• Personal biases and social prejudices based on political, ethnic and religious beliefs and perceptions
• Avoid generalization and stereotyping

Language Barriers

• Different first language of guests, speech variations e.g. varying accents, different pronunciations etc
• Multiple meaning of words, different interpretation of same word
• Incorrect terminology or conveying inaccurate information

Did you know?

Communication is perceived: only 7% by verbal transmission, 38% by tone of voice (vocal level) and 55% by visual transmission (body language). This means that in human minds, the majority of meaning is recognized through non-verbal components instead of verbal components whilst communicating. At this point I would like to give you some hints on verbal and non-verbal communication.

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication (talking) is communication using words and speaking. The medium for verbal communication is the voice:

Elements of the Voice

The voice can be adjusted according to:

• Tone: Refers to the manner in which someone speaks (e.g. high, medium or low). Each level of tone reflects a certain level of emotion. High Tone: This is used to express anger or authority, Medium Tone: This is used in a normal conversation. Low Tone: This is used when reflecting sadness.
• Articulation: Refers to the accent; reflected in the way words are pronounced.
• Speed: Pace at which the words are spoken. 
• Volume: Refers to the level at which words are projected.

None-verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication involves more than what we say with words. It includes actions, attitudes, appearance and body language. 

• Body language: Body language can be very effective but very ambiguous. It refers to facial expressions, posture and gestures. Different body language has different meanings for different cultures. [Example: in some countries it is rude to touch a stranger while you talk to them, but in other countries, touching someone on the arm or shoulder when you talk is friendly. It is important to recognize distance when interacting with clients.]

To help you prepare, I have created three tasks to assist you in striking the right “tone”.

1. List the different ways by which two or more people can communicate.

2. What elements of voice should be used for following situations:
1: A tour guide in front of a group of twelve people, 2: A tour guide talking to an unhappy client.

3. READING OUT LOUD: Practice with a colleague, friend or family member. Reading a short story out loud, applying different elements of voice depending on storyline and dramaturgy. 

Benefits of effective communication between tour guide and customer

Improving understanding and knowledge 

• Better understanding among those participating, increased understanding for one another
• Improved knowledge about culture and country they are visiting

Positive Feedback 

• Feedback received from tour members is positive and enthusiastic
• Helps future marketing and advertising of tourism products

Fulfilling tourists’ expectation

• Guests leave content; they will encourage others to take tours offered by company 
• Return business for the company, meaning more profit for the company

Improvement of interpersonal relationships

• Improving professional relationships between tour guide and tour group as a whole, between tour guide and individuals in the group, and individual tourists among each other.
• Encourages good relationship between the tour guide and other members of work team (e.g. tour operator, coach driver, support staff and service providers etc.).

Guidance
One of the most important aspects of effective communication is to speak clearly and concisely. This includes using simple sentence structures and avoiding slang. Keep in mind that not all guests are native speakers. Besides, who wants to hear long, convoluted and difficult to understand explanations?

My tip is to speak the words in a very pronounced way. Practice this at home, in front of the mirror. I prefer to do it when I’m on my own, but you can do it however you like. Also, make sure your body language matches what you’re telling. When I’m nervous, and I still am sometimes during tours, I tend to smile a lot, which is fine most of the time, though less so if I’m talking about a very sensitive or serious topic.

Most of us are quick to notice when we’re not being paid attention to, and we don’t usually like it very much. So, try to listen carefully to your guests, giving them wherever possible your undivided attention.

Sometimes I don’t understand my guests correctly. That can be due to a language barrier or perhaps the content of the question is not clear to me. When I started out, I found it embarrassing to ask for clarity, but this is no longer the case and I always make sure that I have understood the question correctly.

A close friend of mine who gave me a lot of advice about tour guiding early on always says “know your product”. This is great advice. Prepare well, research extensively, make sure your information is correct, and if you do end up not knowing an answer, no problem, just provide the correct information at a later time.

When preparing for a tour, take the time to select and check all equipment. You should be very familiar with how it all functions. That will help you feel confident and secure.

As tour guides, we serve as representatives of our country. Most of our guests are curious about other cultures, so share your knowledge about the country and don’t forget to add in a few positive anecdotes. One thing that I personally believe is very important is being open, open to other points of view, open to change and also open to positive criticism about ourselves

Tools for effective communication

Tour guides use various tools to communicate effectively with customers. This is primarily because the target audience and surroundings differ: e.g. small or large groups, indoors or outdoors, quiet or noisy background. Examples of tools: microphone “mic”, wireless P.A. system, telephone/mobile phone, walkie-talkie or message pad etc.

To conclude this thematic complex, have a look at the conversation in the following pictures.

• Analyze the conversation: What caused the problem?
• Identify effective communication strategies to solve the communication problem.
• Think about different situations you have been misunderstood/there was misunderstanding. Analyse and reflect on the situations. What caused the misunderstandings? Develop communicative strategies. 

 

Lesson 3: Presentation skills

Presentation is the key to be heard and understood. It is not always the content that engages the listener, it is about how the message is arranged and presented orally. In tour guiding, a presentation would be introducing the place or the country in terms of its importance and history, politics, culture and fauna and flora to the participants of the tour. This can be done as part of the coach ride or on-site. A presentation also enables tour guides to show themselves as leader and the one responsible for the group, tour guides ascertain control over the group.

Characteristics of a good presentation

You have now sorted what makes a good presenter or a bad one. But what are actually the essential characteristics of a good presentation? I show you here my flashcard with the bullet points I made about this many years ago.

What makes a good presentation?

• Use of short, simple, clear words.
• Simple phrases, the commentary should be clear and concise.
• Focus is on the topic or sight. 
• It must be authentic, stay on track.
• Professional and motivated appearance.

Two exercises have always helped me a lot in the beginning to improve my presentation skills. Of course, I don’t want to deprive you of them. So here they are:

• Evaluate a presentation (e.g. news presenter on television, colleague on tour, product presenter in shopping centre etc.). Describe why it was a good or bad presentation.
• Prepare a presentation about a topic you are interested in. Practice with a colleague or friend, include all elements e.g. voice, tone, body language and appearance etc.

Presentation styles

Tour guides plan and prepare presentations utilizing different styles. There are direct and indirect methods as well as experimental presentation methods tour guides apply.

Direct methods

• Lecture, presentation, leadership 
• Activity is based on the leader; tourists are spectators and listeners and very much focused on the tour guide.
• Rhetorical skills, gestures and facial expressions play a very important role in a leadership presentation.

Indirect methods

• Tour guide takes a backseat, motivates participants through questioning and encourages them to actively participate in the tour.
• Just like the presentation, the conversation must be motivating and structured in terms of content.
• The communicative guidance is designed to enable the guests to comprehend the art or object; associations, assumptions and prior knowledge of the viewer can also be discussed.
• The tour guide gets into conversation with the guests, “leader” becomes the “moderator” who brings parts of the conversation back together, leads them to the next point of view.
• Appearance and rhetorical presentation also important for indirect methods

Experimental methods

Other forms of indirect mediation are experimental forms, such as discussions with experts, field research in working groups, a round of talks with local emigrants, learning typical songs, image and text meditation, games and projects. An inspiration for tour guides interested in experimentation are methods developed by museum education for children:

• Search and research tasks to be solved in the museum or in the city (e.g. city rally)
• Interviews with people who live in the district visited
• Re-enactment of pictures and sculptures, historical scenes
• Theatre games (e.g. scenes from the city’s history, quizzes, etc.)
• Painting studio and creative self-employment
• Music and dance to listen to, watch, do it yourself
• Traditional cooking according to traditional recipes (e.g. bread baking in open-air museum)
• Performing activities that used to be common in local community/museum (e.g. washing and ironing)
• Workshops and the opportunity to work on materials that can be seen in the museum
• Puppet theatre in which historical scenes are played

I’ll tell you honestly: I had to warm up to the experimental methods for a while. But then I found them very varied and useful. All beginnings are difficult. That’s why I have a little research task for you that can help you get started. And if you are already an expert in experimental methods, this task might help you to expand your repertoire.

• Explore experimental forms in your region. Write a list of methods you could embed in your tour. 

Lesson 4: Types of presentation on tour

Tour guides utilise different types of presentation which adapted to the stages of the tour and to customers’ needs: At the beginning, mid-journey or at the end.

The beginning 

The beginning of a presentation is very important. It sets the tone for everything else. I don’t want to put any pressure on you and have therefore put together some useful tips for you.

The greeting

The greeting plays an important role: guests are sometimes insecure, nervous, anxious, disoriented, pay special attention to the tour guide in this first phase of group formation, expect him to provide a framework for orientation, clear, friendly information. Tour guides should provide feeling of security and trust.

• Introduction by name and welcome on behalf of the tour operator, introduction of the driver (“as a partner”)
• Responding to the feelings of the guests and expressing the hope that they had a safe journey
• Indication of your own expertise and expression of a positive basic attitude towards the trip, the travel program and the group and first creating a “we-feeling”
• Very important organizational information 
• Instruction in bus technology (e.g. seat adjustment, ventilation, use of the toilet, sale of drinks on board, waste baskets) and safety aspects

The introductory lecture

• Explanations of the sights of departure point
• Presentation of the travel program
• Special features of the trip (possibly anticipatory speech)
• Advice, notes (e.g. tips), personal requests

Brief information while driving

• Important information 
• Procedures for hotel check in, e.g. modes of room allocation
• Meeting points after sightseeing, meal times and departure times from the hotel
• Photo stops
• Organizational features (e.g. border formalities, embarkation etc.)
• Announcement of the daily program
• Information, offer and sale of additional excursions, city tours, etc.
• Information on public transport, post, telephone, opening times, shopping opportunities, etc.
• Report/translation from current newspaper
• In an emergency: replacement program presented as positively as possible

Mid-Journey: The tour is in full swing. Now it’s time for comments, readings and lectures to accompany the journey. Here are my thoughts on this:

The overview lectures

• Purpose: Establishing basic knowledge, providing necessary background information and thus saving time on site, structuring aid for upcoming visits, rounding off the knowledge gained during the individual tour.
• Areas: history, art history, culture, geography, economy, social policy, religion, biography of an outstanding artist or a “formative personality” etc.
• Location: coach, hotel, on-site
• Requirements: quiet, no disturbances, seating, possibly availability of media

The commentary accompanying the journey

• Characterization of: places on the route, distinctive landforms, typical plants, settlement and economic forms, peculiarities of the country, conspicuous buildings, etiquette
• “Hook” for short presentations on problems

Reading aloud while driving

• Purpose: Preparation and follow-up of guided tours, organization of a longer coach trip
• Prerequisites: good comprehensibility, not too long, good acoustics, suitable environment with few distractions
• Topics: fairy tales and legends, excerpts from epics, novels, short stories, poems, poetic texts on landscapes or objects to be visited, texts on the mentality of the residents, texts on social issues of the present and the past, historical travelogues, excerpts from modern travel guides, historical sources, texts about traveling, travel philosophy, current press reports on politics, economy and culture, glosses etc.

Anticipatory speech

Unpleasant messages should be wrapped up in a positive way. Important for:

• Skillful attunement to the circumstances that participants expect in the foreign country
• anticipation of possibly embarrassing situations of unfamiliar customs and traditions will make it easier for them to orientate themselves in the foreign country 
• Managing expectations to avoid disappointments and frustrations.

Example: Anticipatory speech

It is always good to anticipate and prepare guests for what to expect. None of us wants to have dissatisfied or frustrated participants in our tour. The following example illustrates what an anticipatory speech can look like.

The Situation

You have just picked up your tour group at the airport and are on your way to the hotel by train. The hotel is located between the railway tracks and a busy road. A good way to prepare your guests would be the following statement.

We’ll soon be arriving. Our hotel is very close to the train station, so we can walk there in five minutes. Of course, there is a lot of traffic and activity at the train station around the clock. You will therefore not be able to sleep with the window open. The hotel has of course soundproof windows and air conditioning. This central location has the advantage that we have several metro lines nearby, one even right next to the hotel, and thus get to the centre quickly. Tour Guide

The end: The end of a tour is just as important as the beginning and should not be neglected. The closing words appropriately complete a tour.

Summary

• Not absolutely necessary, but appreciated by the guests
• Summary of the program and experiences at the end of the day by the tour guide

The farewell

• Review of the travel highlights (e.g. program, group experiences)
• Expression of a positive attitude towards the program and the group, general words of thanks
• Future plans: reference to other programs of the organizer
• Farewell, also on behalf of the organizer
• Wish guests a safe journey home
• Remind not to leave anything lying around and carefully check places
• An expression of the hope to be able to welcome the guests again on another trip

You have now received some advice on what is important when presenting during the tour. Of course, you have a different approach than I do. These three tasks should help you to develop and consolidate your own style.

1. Write down how you would greet a group before a tour and how you would imagine yourself.

2. Present an unpleasant message as positively as possible. Practice with a colleague or friend. 

3. Prepare a tour summary of an imagined tour, state all (possible) highlights and experiences, celebrate the success of the tour.

Lesson 5: Use of media

The use of additional illustrative and information material assists tour guides to enrich with a multi-sensorial experience for the guests. I have listed some media formats here with further information.

Objects and materials

• Relief map, rock samples
• Books
• Drawings and sketches
• Posters, brochures, individual (photocopied) information sheets

Information sheets

• City maps and extracts from maps, historical maps (e.g. lecture in corresponding epoch)
• Floor plans and reconstructions
• Statistics e.g. on the economic situation of the country, graphics, sketches
• Recipes for typical dishes that are tried in a speciality restaurant
• Tasks and questions 
• Quotes and prose texts, poems by poets from the country visited or by authors related to tour
• Bibliography
• Summary of a lecture or overall summary of the trip with a brief description of the objects visited, information that the group is/was particularly interested in 

CDs and MP3 players

• Music CDs, e.g. popular hits, folk songs from a certain region, music from a certain epoch to set the mood for a city or a work of art (CD player is generally present in modern coaches)
• Music examples could also be conveyed via the MP3 player or smartphone
• Stories, fairy tales, short language course

PowerPoint presentations and films

• As introduction to a region, a city or a museum or as compensation/replacement to places which cannot be visited (e.g. too full or loud, seasonal closure etc.)
• Difficult access to corresponding devices (e.g. laptop, projector, screen), more suitable for on-site tour guides (e.g. visualization of optional excursions) or cruise tours
• Coaches equipped with DVD player (or: old video player) (e.g. for introducing an object/attraction to be viewed, explaining and visualising political events, footage based on animal and plant science, providing suggestions for observing flora and fauna etc.) 

Tablet and smartphone

• Showing pictures and comparative examples
• Research questions and opening times
• Google Maps > to find new objects, to see more quickly
• Web sites and video clips > enriching and exampling facts

Audio guides and podcasts

• Audio guides > each visitor uses for himself at his own pace
• Wireless PA systems > TG equipped with headset/microphone, guests with headphones
• Systems via smartphone, requires charged devices for each guest 
• Podcasts, eBooks, travel reports > auditive enriching experiences 

After these hints, your imagination is now needed:

• Identify and describe 3 examples of illustrative material you would use on a tour and explain why.
• Provide 3 music examples that would fit three different sections of your journey and explain why.
• Identify and prepare 3 audio-visual examples from your region. Describe how you would use them to provide a multi-sensory experience for your guests.

Storytelling Lesson

Successful speakers use stories to engage their audiences and deliver messages in a variety of powerful ways. Tour guides do not need a natural ability to tell an engaging story. Instead, they can develop storytelling skills by preparing and practising. It can also be helpful to follow some key elements of storytelling.

First, we’ll need a heroine or a hero. Preferably one with whom the guests can identify. Let’s take Luke as an example. Luke is 29 years old and has been fascinated by China and the Chinese culture for many years. This year, he fulfilled his dream of going there.

Now we need a goal for our story that drives the character and builds suspense. Something like this: Luke is eager to visit Mount Taishan, one of the five sacred mountains of Daoism. Now the story needs an arc of suspense. If Luke simply climbed the 6000 or so steps to the top of the mountain without any effort, that would be the end of a fairly boring tale. Therefore, the story needs an obstacle or an incident that makes the undertaking difficult for our hero.

So let’s plunge Luke into disaster. For Luke, the last few days have been hugely challenging. The weather was so bad that it was impossible to climb to the top of the mountain. And he’s set to fly home the day after tomorrow. Will Luke be able to achieve his goal?

At this point, the storyteller needs to evoke emotions in those listening. He or she wants their listener to be with Luke, to fear with him, to share his hope. By this point, Luke is devastated, although his long-awaited dream is within his grasp. Yet it is as far away as ever. Now you can add in as many twists and turns as you can think of. Though I don’t think we need to throw Luke into further misery at this point. I think you get what I mean.

Finally, every story needs a resolution. Preferably a happy ending, of course. The next day, just in time, the sky clears and Luke climbs the steps to the top of the mountain. A successful conclusion to his journey.

You can build any story according to this format. For example, you could tell a story about a place where your tour group is. You can bring it in before you list the facts about the place, or combine the two. You could also tell a personal story, a story from your own life. This is good for quiet moments, for example when you are travelling. Big stories that interest you personally. This makes it much easier to convey emotions. It’s a great idea to practise the story beforehand so that you can determine different timbres in your voice, pauses, intention or narrative flow in advance.

Storytelling can also be an interactive activity. Ask your guests questions or give your guests the opportunity to tell a story themselves. When it comes to storytelling, there are no limits to your imagination.

Admittedly, storytelling needs a bit of preparation. But I assure you that it is worth it. Here are a few tasks to get you started.  

1. Look up a video clip of a storytelling tour guide and analyse the story according to the different elements. Reflect on the story, and the structure.
2. Prepare your own story: Select a topic, personal story or specific place? Create an outline of the story, including all elements.
3. Practice your story with a colleague or friend, model you voice and ask questions. 

Lesson 2: Dramaturgy

Dramaturgy is used to “set the scene” whilst on tour; like a director in theatre. Besides planning and preparation of content, development of presentation and communication strategies and methodical considerations, dramaturgical aspects contribute positively to the guest experience.  

A series of questions can help you prepare in terms of dramaturgy for your guided tour:

• Where to set highlights?
• When to set relaxation breaks?
• When to inform, when to entertain? 
• How to vary content and methods?
• How to adjust to biorhythm?
• Which route to choose to drive through certain villages?
• How to mitigate disruptions to the itinerary (e.g. playing music when stuck in traffic)?
• How to use weather and light conditions to promote art and nature experiences (e.g. visiting temple ruins in the evening glow; hike to a view point at dawn, improvised bathing opportunity on a beautiful beach for lunch break etc.)?

You can actually prepare the dramaturgical structure of a tour very well in advance. I have written down two suggestions for you.

1. Prepare a tour day, identify and develop methods of dramaturgy. Which highlights would you set, which routes to take etc? Work through the three stages: Prologue, Transition, Finale.
2. Present to a colleague or friend and discuss. Anything which could be added or amended?

Lesson 4: Experiences on tour

Tour guides facilitate different types of experiences in order to encourage and to involve guests in culture and customs of the country and region when traveling. Besides the cultural experience, there are a number of other experiences that I would like to share with you here.

Sensual experiences

• Acoustic sensory influences: music, speaking melodious dialects, birds singing, chirping of the cicads, sound of the waves, screaming in market or stadium etc.
• Sense of smell: smell of the sea, smell of a city, smell of strange flowers, bushes and trees, perfumes and essences, food and fruits, smell of a landscape, a beach bath, smell of incense in a church, mould in an abandoned farmhouse etc
• Sense of the eye: awareness of shapes and colours, beauties in the landscape, art and everyday life (e.g. fashion, buildings, gardens, etc)
• Sense of Taste: strange foods and drinks, before enjoying good foods
• Sense of touch: trickling of send through the hands, the smooth, pointed, scale-like, prickly, porous, complex, different materials, walking barefoot etc.

Social experiences

• Meeting strangers within the local community (e.g. visiting a school, kindergarten, university, talking to employees etc)
• Creating a sense of community and group belonging, introducing by name
• Other joint social experiences through group activities

Exploratory experiences

• Try various public transport options in a city (eg. Metro, railway, ship, bus)
• Experience a donkey or camel ride
• Visiting a local food or fish market
• Attending an opera, concert or theatre performance attending a sporting or cultural event
• Try particular types of fruit, particular gastronomic specialties of the country
• Hikes or bike tours

Vitalistic experience

• Hikes, bike rides etc
• Yoga, dance, meditation etc
• Bathing breaks
• Massages and personal body treatment (e.g. foot reflex zones, Ayurveda)

Which experiences you want to include in your tour is up to you. However, it is certainly good to think about and inform yourself in advance. So here are some suggestions.

• Research four adventure areas from your region that you can incorporate into a tour, enhancing the guest experience.
• Explore sensory experiences: Try different senses, materials and examples which you could introduce to your guests whilst on tour. 

You have successfully completed the second learning unit of the course “Digital Tour Guiding”. I look forward to seeing you again in the next learning unit.