Time, Dance Steps Taken & Missing, and What’s Next
TIME
After posting Putting Interpretive Ideas into Practice-3 Ellen sent us the following comment:
“Wow! Sounds like an awesome program, but what a lot of work went into creating it! I cannot imagine doing that for every program (even though I acknowledge the benefits of it).”
Floral Clock at Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort, KY
Thanks Ellen, and you are correct. Time is a big factor to consider when doing interpretive planning. There is so much “hurry up and get it done yesterday because the group is coming today” mentality in our field that planning time is not valued as it should be. So, before I get into some practical thoughts, let’s use a “planning a house” analogy that might be useful.
Photo Credit: Mike Mayer
When building or remodeling a house I don’t think of the paint color, wall hangings or flooring right away. First, I want to know Why I am doing this work. Do I need more space, less space, one level or two, something more energy efficient? Next, Who is this new or remodeled house for – the children, myself, my partner, extended family? Then I want to start thinking about What I want or plan to do in this newly build or remodeled dwelling – a room for writing, flexible playspace for children, a music room, space to host 6 – 10 folks for a dinner party? I need to take the time for this “Big Picture” planning before getting into the details -- much like a site needs to take the time to think about the WHY, WHO, and WHAT when developing a Mission and visitor Outcomes. (Note: take a look at Steve Slack’s Interpreting Heritage for more on the WHY, WHO, and WHAT)
Finally, when the Big Picture planning is done and the room layouts are completed, only then do you start to consider the details -- furniture, flooring, paint, and other decorations (interpretive experiences for the visitor). By completing the Big Picture tasks first, it is easier for the front-line interpreters and planners to develop interpretive experiences – they know the overarching goals, they have visitor-types in mind, they know what areas to focus on and they can develop interpretive experiences that enhance the site's Mission and visitor Outcomes.
Photo Credit: Mike Mayer
In the previous posts where we highlighted Métis Crossing, our goal was to show the key elements EID used in an overall site plan for the visitors. Then we zoomed in to show how the process can provide direction for an interpretive experience area (Buffalo Camp), a specific visitor-type (adult couple on ½ day visit), while linking the interpretive experiences to the Mission, Essences, and Outcomes.
We understand not every site wants to develop an entire Interpretive Plan. That said, it is still important that each site have a Big Picture view for the staff and for the visitors. OK – now let me get a bit more practical. Here are a couple of things to consider…
· First, don’t try to make all the changes at once…take your time. Maybe decide which essence or program area is most important and start there, then include other areas over time.
· Second, focus on a visitor-type who will participate in this essence or program area and develop Outcomes first, then the experience that will support the site’s Mission. Experiences for adults will be different from experiences for families with children of various ages…one size does not fit everyone.
· Next, don’t try and do the work by yourself. Work with colleagues and friends to develop the Outcome Matrices. Of course, EID would be happy to set up some coaching sessions to work with you on the basics and provide feedback as you get involved in this new process for interpretive design and planning. Our goal – making sure the final product is your handiwork and reflects the uniqueness of your preservation, collection, or historic recognition site.
· Finally, it is important to have managerial support. You need time to produce a quality product. We also recommend advocating for the interpretive staff and designers to be included from the beginning of any new site projects -- buildings, trails, exhibits, or anything that effects the visitors. All too often the educational and interpretive personnel must settle for inherited “master plans” from other professionals. How demeaning to not be included from the very beginning.
Photo Credit: Steve Johnson
Ellen, we appreciate your comment concerning time – and the lack of time. If you would like to describe your site, the work your position entails, and the range of popular areas and offerings at the site, we may be able to suggest a good starting point. Please contact us any time at contact@eidcoaching.com.
DANCE STEPS TAKEN…DANCE STEPS MISSING
If you look through the Interpretive Design and Dance of Experience book you will notice Van Matre offers 15 Dance Steps (divided into 5 sections) that interpretive designers need to focus on to provide a holistic experience for the visitor:
Defining Step: Mission
Preparing Steps: Message, Image
Receiving Steps: Welcome, Orient, Guide
Interacting Steps: Head, Heart, Hands, Hunger
Producing Steps: Achieve, Motivate, Organize, Reinforce, Evaluate
DANCE STEPS TAKEN: What we did work on…
At Métis Crossing our work focused on determining the site’s Essence(s), identifying Outcomes for the Interacting Steps (Head, Heart, Hands, Hunger) and the Producing Steps (Achieve, Motivate, Organize, Reinforce, Evaluate) - developing meaningful and memorable experiential interpretive interactions for the visitor at the Buffalo Camp Invitation Station. This included an Outcome Inventory, an Invitation Station Outcome Matrix, and an Invitation Station Activity Matrix (Dance Cards in the book).
We would have liked to work on all 15 Dance Steps, but such was not the case. However, this is the beauty of working with EID. The site chooses what areas need attention, together we work on the Dance Steps that fit the project, and then EID works with the staff to ensure a process is in place for future projects. We do not want to just come in, write a plan, and then hand it over…that is Consulting and Leaving. Rather we want to be Coaches over Time and encourage the staff to use the EID process to develop their own plans by…
· offering some models,
· providing practice time,
· giving feedback,
· letting the site partners make final revisions, and
· being available for discussions and questions after the initial work is completed.
DANCE STEPS MISSING: What we did not work on…
The staff, partners and community associates at Métis Crossing did not want to revisit the Defining Step: Mission…they liked what they had. The site was already utilizing strong Images and the staff was working on several options for an overarching Message for the entire site and for various experiences – the Preparing Steps .
Because of some staff changes, the scope of the contract and the time factor, we did not focus on the Receiving Steps: Welcome, Orient, Guide. Yes, we did introduce these steps and offered some suggestions, but in-depth work was not done. These Receiving Steps, in our opinion, are key components to the visitor experience. The Welcome, Orient and Guide set up the visitors’ first impressions of a site. Here are some thoughts on the Receiving Steps.
WELCOME
This step sets the stage for the rest of the visit. Think of how you greet someone invited to your home. What do you say at the front door? What do you offer them right away? How do you make them feel comfortable and, well…welcomed? This step can even start before the visitor arrives. Does your visitor feel “invited” to the site, do they have an idea of what to expect? Can the visitor find welcoming information on the website, on a flier, or on some other form of media?
Does the approach to the site help give the visitor a sense of what they might expect, reduce anxiety about being in the right place, and build their anticipation?
And how about a threshold or gateway that tells the visitor they have arrived. Is there a clear sign that the visitor has crossed over from where they came from and have now arrived at a special preservation, collection, or historic recognition site?
Though it is at the other end of the visit, you also want to think about how to say good-bye…the Exit experience. Does it encourage a feeling of “glad you came?” How do you say good-bye to visitors when they leave your home to make them feel special, worthwhile, and welcome to visit again?
If the site Welcome and Exit are created like a visit to our homes, what a different experience it would be for the visitor. (For a deeper look at this Step check out the posts on “A Tale of Two Welcomes – 1” and “Tale of Two Welcomes – 2”)
ORIENT
How many times have you visited a museum, zoo, preservation site, or other heritage jewel only to look around and think: “Well, which way do I go now and what should I do first?” Even if a visitor feels welcomed, they need to know where things are. Once again, what do you say to visitors who come to your home:
· “Please, put your coat on the bed in the first room on the right. And come right back here to the kitchen so I can get you something to drink.”
· “The bathroom is just down the hall on the left.”
· “We aren’t going to eat for another hour so help yourself to snacks on the table and find a comfortable spot on the patio.”
· “There are cold drinks in the fridge and also in the ice chest outside – make yourself at home.”
A site “greeter” is a great way to combine a warm Welcome with a sincere effort to Orient the visitor. Another great way to Orient is with maps. Jumbo-sized maps along a path or hand-held experiential maps can help the visitor stay oriented in time and space, provide a sense of where they are going and alert visitors about offerings along the way. We advocate for different kinds of hand-held experiential maps for various visitor-types because, once again, one size does not fit all.
Photo Credit: Mike Mayer
GUIDE
Notice this Receiving Steps does not say LEAD. In this context Guide is a gentle helping hand, not a lecture about the place. Here are a few words from Van Matre’s book Interpretive Design and the Dance of Experience (pages 127-130):
“If visitors come to dance with a place, rather than merely using it for another kind of dance, then guiding is often expected and appreciated. Orienting is explaining where to go; guiding is getting people ready to go, and sometimes taking them there. In other words, orienting is giving visitors a basic map; guiding is providing the ‘how to’ for their adventure.”
“Think of guiding in this sense as taking people by the hand or at least giving them the feeling someone is doing so…Just remember, this is not directional guiding, it’s experiential guiding. In a way, it’s saying, ‘I will aid you in getting ready, sharing some things that will be helpful, and practicing them with you when needed. I will even set off with you to make sure you’re comfortable, but then you’re on your own.’ This is guiding as coaching, not leading.”
“Interpretive guiding should prepare visitors to make their own discoveries whenever possible…Remember, good guiding is experience-driven. And good guiding implies that there are discoveries to be made by prepared visitors.”
WHAT’S NEXT
All 15 of the Dance Steps are important when working on a Visitor Experiential Interpretive Plan (VEIP)…none should be left out. The reality is, though, your site may not have the time, money, or staff to take on all 15 Steps at once. Which brings us back to Ellen’s concern at the beginning of this blog post – Time. Here are some final suggestions…
· First, you don’t have to make all the changes at once…take your time.
· Decide the most important essence experience area then consider doing a perfect visitor ½ day or full day exercise to see what is realistically possible.
· Create an Outcome and Activity Matrix for one program experience area, then move to other areas.
· Get support from administration and staff.
· Most important…get started.
Look for an invitation later this summer to join us on a Zoom session to discuss some of these topics, answer your questions, and listen as you share your site concerns. If you would like some immediate feedback on the EID process and the Steps email us at contact@eidcoaching.com and we will be happy to start a conversation and answer your questions.
