As with Danielle, I can only speak to my seasonal experience, which spans three museums over the last five years.
Pay typically ranges in the $9-10/hour (at least here on the east coast), but if you are looking for help in developing your thematic tour, you may want to consider hiring someone with more experience who will probably be looking for a salaried position.
I will second ALHFAM as a phenomenal resource, both in terms of helpfulness and cumulative experience (should you proceed with the hiring process, they also post both part-time and full-time jobs on their website). Their first person interpreters interest group also lists a few resources for more information http://www.alhfam.org/?cat_id=123&nav_tree=119,123. They just had their bi-annual retreat in February, so there won't be another one until 2016.
There is also the National Association for Interpretation (http://www.interpnet.com/) which offers a certificate in interpretation. Some schools also offer certificates, minors and majors in Museum Studies whose courses often cover interpretation. If there are any schools in your area that offer these programs, you may want to contact the professors both for their knowledge, and to find out if they have any students looking for work.
My personal experience has been that the best way to get training is by doing, though, and that one person can help train others who are interested.
-Melanie
Melanie Zucker | Program Assistant, Conservation Assessment Program
Heritage Preservation | t 202-233-0800 x237 | f 202-233-0807
1012 14th Street NW | Suite 1200 | Washington, DC 20005
www.heritagepreservation.org | [log in to unmask]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2014 17:43:05 -0800
From: Danielle Trynoski <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: First Person Interpretation Inquiry
Hi folks-
I'm currently working with Riley's Farm in Oak Glen, CA which has multiple living history/first person interpretation programs. I'm a seasonal interpreter but they do have year round staff as well. Let me emphasize again that I am a seasonal employee and my descriptions of my experience are my own opinions and observations. They run 200-900 visitors through their programs in a day. The largest program is on the Revolutionary War, followed in size by the Civil War and an "Old Joe" historic farm life program. There is a costume department with two full-time employees. To supplement the educational programs, they do dinner theater programs, and U-Pick produce sales in the fall.
I've been doing the Rev War program, so I will speak to the set-up of that one. They have a rotation of 6-9 stations depending on the number of visitors which educate groups on various topics such as Weaving, with a presentation on materials, dyeing, fabrics, etc. and has small hand looms for groups to try. Another topic is Etiquette, in which we teach the bow & curtsy, review George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior, and take volunteers to learn a few basic steps (always sure to incite laughter with school groups!). Visiting groups are split into groups of
30-40 and labeled as 'townships' (Lexington, Concord, New York, etc.) in line with 1770's settlements. These townships are rotated through the activity stations. Each rotation is called a 'tour side.' Based on the visitor volume, there may be up to three tour sides in which the standard
6-9 stations are duplicated; e.g., a day with 2 sides will have two Weaving stations, two Etiquette stations, two Drilling stations, etc. Riley's Farm also provides a 'soldier's ration' of corn bread, beef jerky, an apple, and a cup of lemonade. The after lunch portion of the program is a mock battle between the British and Colonists.
As a living history interpreter, I am provided a costume (shift, stockings, shoes, stays, 2 petticoats, pockets, neckerchief, overdress, cap, bonnet) and encouraged to use 18th century English. British accents are required for the interpreters in redcoats, but others can incorporate them only if comfortable. There is a tip sheet for 18th century language issued by the living history supervisor, otherwise most of the language is accumulated by observing and correcting one's self. Most difficult for me is to drop 'okay' and replace with 'very well.' Other common replacements are aye for yes, nay for no, this day for today. We 'jest' with the kids about their lack of knowledge of the King's English, and ask if they know of any experienced Mohican scouts for sale. The bathrooms are the privy, or the necessary, and when they take photos, we ask if they have tiny artists or leprechauns creating our portraits.
I hope this information is helpful to you~
Danielle Trynoski
On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 3:24 PM, Sarah Dougherty <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Ride Into History has done programming all over the country and they
> have done some very innovative programming with museums. They will
> work with you to provide training and information that meets your needs.
>
> A proud board member
>
>
> Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2014 16:36:18 -0600
> From: [log in to unmask]
>
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] First Person Interpretation Inquiry
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
>
> You didn't say where you were located but Ride Into History is a group
> in Kansas that has developed the 1st Person Interpretation touring
> group from the Kansas Arts and does training sessions on developing
> 1st Person Re-enactments.
> They are very good - I've attended their programming and their classes
> and they are spot on what you need to know to develop a quality
> character - you supply the research and they help you put it together.
>
> http://www.rideintohistory.com/
>
> is their contact information on the website
>
> Chris Taylor
> Executive Director
> Atchison County Historical Society
> P.O. Box 201
> 200 S. 10th Street, Santa Fe Depot
> Atchison, KS
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Mike Reuter wrote:
>
> Hi all-
>
> Would anyone be able to message me off list to help provide me with
> the following info? Our museum is embarking on developing a thematic
> historic house tour and we want to present it in the first person.
> Please email me at [log in to unmask]
>
> 1. Cost per hour of first person interpreters?
> 2. Any training programs available for first person interpretation?
> Cost of training?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Mike Reuter
> Rock County Historical Society
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Reuter - Executive Director, Rock County Historical Society
>
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