HAPPY NEW YEAR
Good morning and thank you all for your New Year wishes. As I start 2024, I’m looking forward to a robust year of tours. I had a good 2023. Now it’s time to move forward.
What tours are you planning?
I’m in the midst of organizing my tour requests by month. From baseball groups to senior citizens, from tours of Lower Manhattan on up through Midtown and into Upper Manhattan. Currently, it’s just paperwork — filling out confirmations and sending them to my clients.
Do you research your tours?
The simple answer is “yes”. Although I have been a licensed NYC Tour Guide for over thirty years, I make it a point to stay up-to-date with current happenings around the city. The most important thing, though, is knowing what the rules and regulations are regarding charter buses. Most of my groups come packaged with their own buses. It’s important to team up with the driver and to make him/her feel comfortable.
What are the places you research?
Although I am a native New Yorker, it’s best to never assume I know everything about the city. So, during my quiet times, I explore other areas or venues. For instance, this month, I’ll actually attend a tour of the crypt under the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. I’ve been to the church many times over the years, but never to the crypt. I recently attended a tour of the NY Horological Society. Honestly, I didn’t even know there was one here. This is all part of my professional research which keeps me relevant and gives more content to my tours. My Motto is “Never Assume”.
On my latest overseas trip to Antarctica, I took tours of the various locales to, obviously, learn about the various cities, but to see how other guides work. It taught me what not to do, as well.
Antarctica 2023
On a tour of La Recoleta Cemetery, in Buenos Aires, with local guide. This is where Evita Peron is buried.
Do you tour in other languages?
English is my primary language. With Italian, I have a working proficiency.
What got you started as a tour guide?
Well, for over thirty years I was in professional theatre — Broadway shows, Regional Theatre, Cabaret — you name it! Everything was changing, though — the music, types of shows, and I was changing as well. I was at a crossroads. Didn’t want to continue auditioning my life away. Somebody suggested tour guiding. I never gave it any thought. But my image of a tour guide was someone with coffee stains on their shirt who just blurted out some details about the city. A false image, of course. I have met some very passionate guides over the years. It is an industry often overlooked by the City. A good tour guide does his or her homework. You begin to develop your own style. Most of the esteemed guides that I know have their own clients, including yours truly. It’s a continuation of show biz for me. I have an audience and a microphone. The tour bus is my stage and the setting is NYC. Most importantly, though, is connecting with the people. Humor and letting them ask questions takes away the sting of feeling uncomfortable in a different “world” for them.
