The Summer Job

"What should I do this summer?"  This is a question that many teachers I know asked themselves each year.  Some are able to take time off and really go on vacation.  I and many of colleagues are not yet in this camp.  So what will I be doing with myself this summer?  I'm going to be working as a tour guide for Philadelphia Trolley Works.  I would include their link, but their website is pretty boring and doesn't really show the great job the company does in showing Philadelphia to visitors.  Here's a little better link. Yes, this is the company that oversees the "Ride the Ducks" tours.  But that is not going to be my gig.  No, no, I'm rolling real classy in the double-decker busses or sometimes the classic-looking trollies.  

If this is not a staged pic, these folks have never been out after sundown.  They are awe-struck by a night sky over a field adjacent to the Liberty Bell.  Great job looking amazed by the guy in yellow.  

I emailed the company months ago out of the blue and they invited me in for an interview.  I was offered the job on the spot and here we are.  Some details about the job that I found interesting:

- I have to purchase my own microphone with a 20 foot cord.  

- I can wear a hat, as long as it's a Philly sports team and it's all black.

- I need to be ready to duck while I give the tour, because tree branches can sometimes hang low.  Oww.

- The tour lasts 90 minutes.  That means I will be guiding the crap out of the tour.

- A thoroughly researched guide's guide is issued to all us guides.  It has so much info on Philly, you'd be amazed.  There are 21 stops on the tour!!!

- I could ride as many tours as wanted in order to research and prepare my own tour.  I've gone twice and was impressed. 

- I have to take a test to begin work.  The test is to give an actual tour with my supervisor taking notes for historical accuracy.  That will be fun.

So I'm scheduled to take my test in about 2 weeks.  I've been preparing, but there's still of work that needs to be done.  It should be an interesting job.  A nice thing is that I pretty much get to make my own schedule.  As someone who spends significant time in Philly, it really is the best way to see all the sights efficiently and conveniently.  I mean that and will be using it to draw pedestrian tourists to take my tour.  Tips are always appreciated.  They are split 50/50 with the bus driver.

Come see me on the tour and encourage the strangers around you that I am the most impressive tour guide you've seen in your world travels.  I'll break you off a piece of my 50% of the tips.  

I expect there to be some crazy blog posts to come from this job.  Stay tuned.