What a night for a walk! Perfect temperature and very little breeze. It was a smaller group than I was hoping for, especially since it was Saturday night. But 15 is better than 5. Nice folks from Pittsburg, Indiana, North Carolina, and New Jersey.
Honestly last night I was just going through the motions for the most part. I have trouble getting really geared up for smaller groups. There wasn't anyone in the group offering themselves up for any abuse, which sometimes happens with smaller groups. There's less people to embarrass yourself in front of I guess. Therefore I had to be the butt of most of my own jokes.
It always surprises me how groups react to certain jokes. I usually tell the same jokes in the same spot tour after tour. Last night was no different. These people laughed very hard at the kid in the window joke. I tell this story about a kid who lived in one of the houses on the Seminary who used to run up to his room and flick the lights on and off for a minute when he would see the group coming, and then I act all disappointed when he doesn't do it. I’ll admit I’m hamming it up here pretty good. These people thought that was great! I really don't see how this is as funny as other people do, but it works. I guess even Seinfeld gets tired of his own jokes after awhile.
Alright, so I get a great reaction from that one, and almost no reaction on the next joke where the kid hides under the covers. "If you're ever scared by a ghost and you're lying in bed, hide under the covers! You're safe under there!" I didn't mistime this joke or anything and only got a minimal reaction. This one woman even gave me a dirty look. I didn't ask her daughter to the prom or anything, so I don't know where that look came from. It's the least offensive joke in my arsenal. Strange.
The "dead ringer" joke usually gets the same reaction and last night was no different. Same thing with this joke that I tell about a mouse and then a skunk scaring the group off this stonewall. I use certain jokes to keep the tempo of the tour where I need it. If I have to get into a historical interpretive rant, I will set it up with some humor or follow it with a joke. Ghost story telling is about giving the people what they paid for, entertainment. They can get the history for free at the park! Jokes, humor, and human interest stories will overcome the dull spots and weak stories.
A well timed, good natured joke can also set up a group to be blown away by a more intimidating and frightening story. This worked well last night with "Buried Alive." Although I wasn't really pumped up for the walk, I did get a little creative with this story. I told the group about families hearing screams in the house and brought it home with the parents thinking their children are having a nightmare, but then realizing that the kids are at a sleepover down the street. Every person with children in the group nodded their head. Gotcha!
All in all, it was a decent walk with decent returns, but I'd still rather have more people in the group!
From tours gone by… About two or three years ago on the Seminary I told the joke about the kid playing with the lights and of course the group laughed. But what was really neat about that night was whoever was closing up Schmucker Hall for the Historical Society flicked the lights on and off for us over the door on the east side of the building! The group went bananas! That little act made the tour for most of these people and I appreciated the random nature of it, mainly because that is the only time in 7 years that a ACHS staff member has done it for us!
Sleep well
"Rick Saunders"
No comments:
Post a Comment