I'd like to hear about this too, so please post replies to the list! > -----Original Message----- > From: Harry Needham [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Saturday, 31 October 1998 01:15 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: "antique road shows" > > I'd like to hear from colleagues who have tried their own versions of > antique road shows. We recently experimented with this idea and found > it as > educational an experience for the staff as for our visitors! > > Our museum is small and cramped and the only decent open space we have > is > outside on our courtyard. Unfortunately it is used non-stop for > programming > all summer. In September, we rented two large, linked tents to create > a > giant marquee, with temporary lighting and electical and LAN > connections, > with tables around the perimeter where staff met with visitors. We had > between 400 and 500 visitors during the day, despite the rain, very > little > publicity and our having no parking for visitors. Quite a few of the > visitors simply wanted to see what was happening and what other people > were > bringing in; a few knew exactly what they had, but wanted to know if > WE > knew. Most had only a vague idea of what they had and were delighted > to > learn more. We did get some donations out of the show but, much more > important, we helped quite a number of people appreciate just what > they > owned and to learn how to better take care of these artifacts. After > the > visitors had gone, we had a staff barbeque and dance, so it turned > into a > very pleasant and satisfying day for our staff. We'll do it again. > > > What did we learn? > > 1. If you want people to bring in anything even moderately heavy, > you'd > better have nearby parking available; people won't carry very much, > very > far. > > 2. You need LOTS of chairs for people waiting for the "experts" to > examine > their treasures - and it's a good idea to have a supply of tea and > coffee > for them, while they're waiting. > > 3. Good lighting and a plentiful supply of magnifiers is essential; it > is > embarrassing to have to duck outside the tent to have a squint at the > engaving on something - especially in the rain! Considering that > virtually > every examining table will need such equipment, a really good power > supply > is an essential. I have since acquired a large desk magnifier, > incorporating > a fluorescent light; I only hope I will have some place to plug it in, > next > show! > > 4. You will quickly find out where you need more reference material. I > was > examining orders, medals and decorations and had brought a box of > reference > books. I was still stumped when a visitor brought in a number of First > World > War Austro-Hungarian medals and I also had trouble telling another > exactly > which class of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun he was showing me. > I am > ordering a series of additional reference books to be ready for next > time! > > 5. Don't rely on high-tech. Our expensive new LAN connection > functioned for > about half an hour before packing it in which is when we discovered > that our > systems people had no one standing by to help. > > 6. Be prepared for LOTS of people and have a plan for handling them. I > shudder to think how many visitors we would have had, had we been > better > advertised, had a parking lot and had the day been sunny! > > 7. This kind of fixture needs LOTS of advertising. We had many calls > from > people who heard about it AFTER the event. Indeed, one gentleman was > over at > my home last evening with a large German naval flag on which he wanted > an > opinion. > > I would be interested in learning of YOUR experiences in conducting > this > kind of project. > > Harry > > Harry Needham > Special Advisor - Programme Development > Canadian War Museum > 330 Sussex Drive, > Ottawa, Canada > K1A 0M8 > Voice: (819) 776-8612 Fax (819) 776-8623 > Email: [log in to unmask]