Igniting the spark; story telling
Tourist guide must distil the history or geology or literature or custom or folklore or landscapes of a place into 'bite size packages' or stories which can be understood and grasped by all, and which engages the interest of a visitor right from the start and right up until the end.
Why story-telling?
Story telling is an art form that has a place in every culture and society. Stories are a universal language that everyone understands. Stories stimulate imagination and passion. Telling a story is like painting a picture with words. Tourist guides are not lecturers – they are interpreters of the natural and cultural heritage of an area. They reveal new things to visitors – things they weren’t expecting or confirm what the visitor is looking for. This makes the travelling experience a more memorable one. Story-telling engages and relates to visitors in a manner in which the delivery of a string of facts and information never does. Good story-telling ignites a spark in people. It engages them and makes them want more.
Know your audience
Where have they come from? Why have they come? Is it just a part of an itinerary or have they Irish or Scottish roots and have waited their whole lives to come here? How old are they? Do they know Ireland from film or television? What is their life experience likely to be? Kids are very different from seniors but everyone likes stories.
Provoke, relate, reveal
Story-telling is a powerful tool of interpretation. The “father of interpretation is often said to be Freeman Tilden 1883-1980. He was one of the first people to set out the Principles and theories of interpretation in his 1957 book “Interpreting our Heritage”. Tilden’s top tips were that:
- Interpretation should provoke someone to think or react or be interested: Enthuse, enthral, engage
- Interpretation should relate to something people already know or understand: Bring it to life; engage them emotionally “can you imagine what it was like to live here”?
- Interpretation should reveal something new or something that adds to their understanding – something they didn’t know before. “Ah now it makes sense”!
- Interpretation is not information but all interpretation includes information.
- Interpretation is an art – it can include lots of other things – props, song, music, art, legends, descriptions, drama, poetry. Music can be particularly powerful.
- INTERPRETATION is not just the presentation of information. It is the revelation based on information
For more information on Tilden's tips click here.
Links
Use links to something they have seen or will see or something they already know e.g. how does the history or culture of Northern Ireland, relate to their own history or culture? Where have they been; where are they going? So, they are at Bush Mills Distillery – have they been to a Scottish whisky distillery or do they know anything about rye whiskey – what is the difference? Who made the first whiskey in Ireland – why? What about other spirits in their own countries? Link bits to make a whole message – go back to things you spoke about earlier in a different context – “ do you remember we saw……. well this is…………” We will see; we have seen; we can see. Create a structure – not unrelated facts.
Themes
Don’t drown in dates or facts! Create a theme – what do you want your visitors to remember? “By the end of my tour, I want my visitors to understand………… “. So for example you could relate all the dates included in the history of Northern Ireland; or you could relate the history of Northern Ireland to the landscape; or you could relate the history of Northern Ireland to its landscape and the people who worked it and made it. Which would be more interesting? Which tells a story? What would be memorable to your visitors? They won’t remember the dates but they will remember the people if you make it fun and interesting. What is your key message that you want them to take away with them?
Every story has people!
People tell stories; people are stories! The Giant’s Causeway is geology isn’t it? Rocks? But what about the stories and legends? What about the people who’ve lived there for hundreds of years? What have other cultures said about stones? Why giants?
We have 5 senses – use them all!
People all engage in different ways – some like to smell; watch; taste; listen; touch. Give them all the opportunities you can to engage all their senses. Use your own voice well; can you be heard; what about your own body language – every action tells a story.
Tell the story
- Beginning, middle and end
- Think of history as a story
- Start with a question, statement or punchline. Sometimes start with the end – and work up to it. “Have you ever heard of Fingal?”
- Make sure there is enough time to tell the story and Keep It Short and Simple
- Prepare; Practice; Perform; Perfect!
Download:
Story Telling Top Tips
- Grab people's interest and attention right from the start.
- Use Links and Themes: inform about past, present and future and join them together
- Use Voice, Body language and Words to maximise effects: SMILE
- Balance entertainment with Information: include anecdotes, fun, legends
- KISS – Keep it Short and Simple – short sentences and simple words.
- A good story has an engaging beginning and a satisfactory ending – both of these must also be relatively close to one another in the telling!
- Continue to engage and be prepared to be flexible if interests wane due to tiredness or other factors.
- Then practice, and practice, and try out with friends and family to hone the skill to perfection.
- Show that you care! No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care!
IGNITE THE SPARK: KEEP THE FIRES BURNING!