Seminary Ridge 7/24/06
A very comfortable Monday evening awaited two nice families from Delaware and Virginia. This was a smaller tour, only 7 people, so this one was very laid back. I don't think I scared the kids too much , so we had a pretty good time!
Storyteller's Rant...When I was playing golf the other day, the girl I was playing with asked me what I did for a living. When I told her that I was a storyteller she really didn't understand what I meant. Then I mentioned the ghost tours, and I got the typical rolling of the eyes and polite smirks from everyone in the foursome. I was then told by this guy that the stories are all made up and exaggerated while she commented that "It's all bullsh*t, there are no ghosts." They just don't get it.
I could care less about ghosts and what people think of them. Does it really matter? I had a police detective from NYC tell me he's seen a ghost, am I supposed to not believe him? I've heard tons of people tell me that they have spent thousands of hours on the battlefield and never saw a ghost so they don't believe in them. Hey that's great.
It's about the storytelling. We could be guiding fairy tale tours and as long as the storytelling was good then I did my job. Ghost tours are like going to movies in a way, instead of watching a screen, the visitor is asked to use their imagination. How often does that happen in ordinary life? Take advantage of such situations. Enjoy the stories for what they are, stories.
"Rick Saunders"
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Seminary Ridge 7/21/06
On a humid Friday night, about 20 people came along on a tour where my storytelling was a little off. It seemed like I was having trouble focusing on the story I was telling at the time. More than once I crossed over stories and had to backpedal to get on track. I hope no one noticed. Thanks to the folks from Ohio, Tenn., Texas, New Jersey, Michigan. Minn. and the New Englanders from Maine and Vermont. My jokes were as awful as ever, but it was a lot fun!
I had a nice conversation with the couple from Minnesota after the walk. They told me that the night before they went on a tour with another company and said that the other guide was not very polished in her storytelling, that her choice of words could have been better and they attributed this to her lack of experience. I took this as a compliment. They mentioned that the Ghosts of Gettysburg website really sold them on taking our tour. And they told me about some Yahoo reviews they read so I went checked it out.
Some reviews were positive and others not so positive. One guy complained that all it was was storytelling! What did he think he was getting into. That is all these ghost walks are about, storytelling. And some of us guides are better than others. Some guides would rather talk about ghost photography and paranormal investigations while others work historical anecdotes into the tour. When taking one these walks it's hit or miss. If you get stuck with an inexperienced guide or an untrained guide you're not going to have as much fun!
This gets back into what I was ranting about the other day. With all of these fly by night companies, you don't know what you're going to get. You might get a high school kid that was in the drama club and wanted a summer job. Like that young girl on the Seminary who doesn't know the buildings but is out guiding a tour. Or maybe you'll get the guide who knows absolutely nothing about Gettysburg, but is an avid ghost hunter and fanatic, so they're a qualified guide.
I think my friends from Minnesota did it right. They looked into things before they came to Gettysburg and made an educated choice. Credibility goes a long way.
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
On a humid Friday night, about 20 people came along on a tour where my storytelling was a little off. It seemed like I was having trouble focusing on the story I was telling at the time. More than once I crossed over stories and had to backpedal to get on track. I hope no one noticed. Thanks to the folks from Ohio, Tenn., Texas, New Jersey, Michigan. Minn. and the New Englanders from Maine and Vermont. My jokes were as awful as ever, but it was a lot fun!
I had a nice conversation with the couple from Minnesota after the walk. They told me that the night before they went on a tour with another company and said that the other guide was not very polished in her storytelling, that her choice of words could have been better and they attributed this to her lack of experience. I took this as a compliment. They mentioned that the Ghosts of Gettysburg website really sold them on taking our tour. And they told me about some Yahoo reviews they read so I went checked it out.
Some reviews were positive and others not so positive. One guy complained that all it was was storytelling! What did he think he was getting into. That is all these ghost walks are about, storytelling. And some of us guides are better than others. Some guides would rather talk about ghost photography and paranormal investigations while others work historical anecdotes into the tour. When taking one these walks it's hit or miss. If you get stuck with an inexperienced guide or an untrained guide you're not going to have as much fun!
This gets back into what I was ranting about the other day. With all of these fly by night companies, you don't know what you're going to get. You might get a high school kid that was in the drama club and wanted a summer job. Like that young girl on the Seminary who doesn't know the buildings but is out guiding a tour. Or maybe you'll get the guide who knows absolutely nothing about Gettysburg, but is an avid ghost hunter and fanatic, so they're a qualified guide.
I think my friends from Minnesota did it right. They looked into things before they came to Gettysburg and made an educated choice. Credibility goes a long way.
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Ghosts Walks make the Paper Again!
Thunder and lightning tore up the skies above the Seminary Tuesday night forcing us to cancel the walk. Most folks rescheduled for other tours and I went and hung out in the office. We talked about the meeting the other night dealing with the ghost walks and some of the concerns surrounding them. And of course, a reporter from the Hanover Evening Sun was there at the meeting to cover all the action. I don't think that link would last that long so I am not posting one. This wasn't a bad article, but there was a few errors.
I would like to first address a few errors in the article. First, Mark Nesbitt does not own Gettysburg Ghost Tours, rather he owns Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours. There is a big difference and as much as Mark has been in the news this mistake should have never happened. Secondly, at no point in time did any of the tour operators agree on limiting the number of people in a group to 20. There was never a set number when it came to group size.
There are so many things with the way that the Borough is handling that could make this a much easier situation! There is so much talk and no action. The biggest problem I have is that companies that operate ghost tours or any walking tour, where you have an amusement license, are NOT required to carry liability insurance. This is absurd! If I open a store, I am required to carry insurance, but if I take groups of people through the streets, I am not. Let's look at this for a second. If someone falls and breaks their leg on the sidewalk, while on a tour with an uninsured company, who are they going to sue? The company, the guide, or the Borough? The company probably isn't making that much money, the guide isn't worth suing, so that leaves the only option where a payout seems realistic. I wonder how quick the Borough would be to act once a lawsuit comes their way.
Another issue that we're facing is the large number of companies that keep popping up. The article stated 13 companies operate ghost tours in Gettysburg. 7 advertise in the Gettysburg experience, the monthly tourist magazine, so I have no idea where the other 6 are hiding. I remember the good old days when we only had two companies!
It is easy to understand why companies keep popping up. There is really no rules or regulations to follow. Anybody, and I literally mean anybody, can get an amusement license as long as they agree to pay a 10% amusement tax on ticket sales. There is no need to buy insurance that would cost roughly $1000 a year or worry about if the guides are giving historically accurate information. So why not? They get a card table, set up on the Square or wherever, sell tickets and generally harass anybody that walks by them prospecting for their walk, guide a tour, take the money home, and pay the tax later. Sweet! Very little overhead, hardly any operating expenses, cash in hand and noone looking over their shoulder. If things go bad, they can fold up their table and move somewhere else. All the Borough gives are guidelines and we wonder why this comes up as a problem.
Here's a few suggestions to help fix this. Make it a requirement that every company carry liability insurance. If a smaller company can't afford it, too bad. This protects everybody, the company, the Borough, and most importantly the visitor!
I would also certify the guides, all of them. Make every guide, outside of the NPS, take a safety course. Even if you have to charge a few bucks for it. This way nobody can use the excuse that they didn't know the rules. Fine the guides that are not certified and the ones breaking the rules. No more crossing the street while not in a crosswalk, standing in front of residential homes and open businesses, and blocking the sidewalk. Hold the guides and the companies accountable when problems arise. I don't think that we need a swat team to police this, but hand out a few $75 fines and watch the guides straighten themselves out. This certification I am referring to here does not deal with historical accuracy, just basic safety regulations.
As far as historical accuracy is concerned, this is impossible to police. The idea of "licensing" the guides was already brought up but it was made inclusive by Main Street Gettysburg and their Licensed Town Guides. This idea is back in the hopper and might come around, but you're never going to make everyone happy no matter what you do when it comes to accuracy of the information the guides give out.
I also suggest that every company have a permanent place of business and a land line phone number. No more card tables and cell phones. I understand that the company I work for got its beginnings with a card table on the square. But that was 12 years ago! The climate has changed. That was a startup idea at the time and is a legitimate business now, force the companies to operate as one! There needs to be a way to get in contact with every company in a consistent manner.
I am not saying that these are the answers to all of the concerns surrounding a growing business that has reached a national scale. But if this is becoming newsworthy, then let's do something about it. I can not see the companies, at least the profitable ones that have been doing this for awhile, opposing any of these changes. Maybe we need to look at the way the NPS handles their Eisenhower tours that take place in town over the summer. I have no idea of what the regulations are for the ranger leading the tour, but there might be something there that can be applied to what we do. It seems like regulations are going to have to be put in place and it is too late to fully enforce any rules that are established in the near future. Let's look to next year and assure every visitor, tour operator, and guide can have a postitive experience.
Sleep well and be safe...
"Rick Saunders"
I would like to first address a few errors in the article. First, Mark Nesbitt does not own Gettysburg Ghost Tours, rather he owns Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours. There is a big difference and as much as Mark has been in the news this mistake should have never happened. Secondly, at no point in time did any of the tour operators agree on limiting the number of people in a group to 20. There was never a set number when it came to group size.
There are so many things with the way that the Borough is handling that could make this a much easier situation! There is so much talk and no action. The biggest problem I have is that companies that operate ghost tours or any walking tour, where you have an amusement license, are NOT required to carry liability insurance. This is absurd! If I open a store, I am required to carry insurance, but if I take groups of people through the streets, I am not. Let's look at this for a second. If someone falls and breaks their leg on the sidewalk, while on a tour with an uninsured company, who are they going to sue? The company, the guide, or the Borough? The company probably isn't making that much money, the guide isn't worth suing, so that leaves the only option where a payout seems realistic. I wonder how quick the Borough would be to act once a lawsuit comes their way.
Another issue that we're facing is the large number of companies that keep popping up. The article stated 13 companies operate ghost tours in Gettysburg. 7 advertise in the Gettysburg experience, the monthly tourist magazine, so I have no idea where the other 6 are hiding. I remember the good old days when we only had two companies!
It is easy to understand why companies keep popping up. There is really no rules or regulations to follow. Anybody, and I literally mean anybody, can get an amusement license as long as they agree to pay a 10% amusement tax on ticket sales. There is no need to buy insurance that would cost roughly $1000 a year or worry about if the guides are giving historically accurate information. So why not? They get a card table, set up on the Square or wherever, sell tickets and generally harass anybody that walks by them prospecting for their walk, guide a tour, take the money home, and pay the tax later. Sweet! Very little overhead, hardly any operating expenses, cash in hand and noone looking over their shoulder. If things go bad, they can fold up their table and move somewhere else. All the Borough gives are guidelines and we wonder why this comes up as a problem.
Here's a few suggestions to help fix this. Make it a requirement that every company carry liability insurance. If a smaller company can't afford it, too bad. This protects everybody, the company, the Borough, and most importantly the visitor!
I would also certify the guides, all of them. Make every guide, outside of the NPS, take a safety course. Even if you have to charge a few bucks for it. This way nobody can use the excuse that they didn't know the rules. Fine the guides that are not certified and the ones breaking the rules. No more crossing the street while not in a crosswalk, standing in front of residential homes and open businesses, and blocking the sidewalk. Hold the guides and the companies accountable when problems arise. I don't think that we need a swat team to police this, but hand out a few $75 fines and watch the guides straighten themselves out. This certification I am referring to here does not deal with historical accuracy, just basic safety regulations.
As far as historical accuracy is concerned, this is impossible to police. The idea of "licensing" the guides was already brought up but it was made inclusive by Main Street Gettysburg and their Licensed Town Guides. This idea is back in the hopper and might come around, but you're never going to make everyone happy no matter what you do when it comes to accuracy of the information the guides give out.
I also suggest that every company have a permanent place of business and a land line phone number. No more card tables and cell phones. I understand that the company I work for got its beginnings with a card table on the square. But that was 12 years ago! The climate has changed. That was a startup idea at the time and is a legitimate business now, force the companies to operate as one! There needs to be a way to get in contact with every company in a consistent manner.
I am not saying that these are the answers to all of the concerns surrounding a growing business that has reached a national scale. But if this is becoming newsworthy, then let's do something about it. I can not see the companies, at least the profitable ones that have been doing this for awhile, opposing any of these changes. Maybe we need to look at the way the NPS handles their Eisenhower tours that take place in town over the summer. I have no idea of what the regulations are for the ranger leading the tour, but there might be something there that can be applied to what we do. It seems like regulations are going to have to be put in place and it is too late to fully enforce any rules that are established in the near future. Let's look to next year and assure every visitor, tour operator, and guide can have a postitive experience.
Sleep well and be safe...
"Rick Saunders"
Monday, July 17, 2006
Nerd Time on Seminary
Seminary Ridge 7/14/06
On a comfortably warm Friday night about 25 people joined me in the twilight on Seminary Ridge. Folks from Oregon, Pittsburg, Tampa, North Carolina, New Jersey, and some locals from Hanover made up a really good group. My jokes were terrible as ever but I think we all had a good time.
I had a lot of questions lately about the photo with the faces in the flares. So here it is again.
On a comfortably warm Friday night about 25 people joined me in the twilight on Seminary Ridge. Folks from Oregon, Pittsburg, Tampa, North Carolina, New Jersey, and some locals from Hanover made up a really good group. My jokes were terrible as ever but I think we all had a good time.
I had a lot of questions lately about the photo with the faces in the flares. So here it is again.
I am working on a photo page for the site, so if anyone has any interesting photos, please feel free to pass them along! Thanks again!
From tours gone by... After the tour was over, the young son of a friend of mine asked me how I could remember all of the stuff that I was talking about. I told him that I am a big nerd and I read alot of books. Years ago a young boy came up and asked me what team I played for? Not really knowing how to respond, I thought about it for a quick second and replied "I guess I play for the Yankees," since I wear the Federal uniform. I don't think the kid really got it, but his father and I had a pretty good laugh!
Sleep Well...
"Rick Saunders"
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Muggy Monday Night
Seminary Ridge 7/10/06
Roughly 20 nice folks joined me on a humid Monday night. These people hailed from PA, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. I had a good time as always! And thankfully, the ghost that little girl was worried about after the tour got neither me or her father!
After the tour was over a gentleman from Ohio and I had nice conversation. We both had majored in history and focused on the "first half" of American history. We found it interesting that we hardly use the degree that we worked and studied so hard for. There is not that many jobs for history majors that actually involve history. I have been fortunate to work for a Historical Society and in a historical art gallery, but those jobs are few and far between. We both agreed that history might have better studied as a minor with possibly education or business as a major. Keep that in mind any of you would be history majors out there!
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
Roughly 20 nice folks joined me on a humid Monday night. These people hailed from PA, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. I had a good time as always! And thankfully, the ghost that little girl was worried about after the tour got neither me or her father!
After the tour was over a gentleman from Ohio and I had nice conversation. We both had majored in history and focused on the "first half" of American history. We found it interesting that we hardly use the degree that we worked and studied so hard for. There is not that many jobs for history majors that actually involve history. I have been fortunate to work for a Historical Society and in a historical art gallery, but those jobs are few and far between. We both agreed that history might have better studied as a minor with possibly education or business as a major. Keep that in mind any of you would be history majors out there!
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Seminary Ridge 7/6/06
Bike Week has come to Gettysburg and from what I read in today's paper upwards of 40,000 bikers came to town! None of which came along for my Seminary Ridge tour Friday night! Around 28 folks from Philly, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Texas, and Rhode Island came along, including a Nutmegger from my home state of Connecticut. The weather was excellent and there wasn't that many bikes to talk over, actually the train is more disruptive than any motorcycle, so I think it was a pretty good time.
I asked the group if any of them were in town for Bike Week and all of them said they were not. Then I asked how many of them came to town not knowing it was Bike Week and got another overwhelming response. This happens every year, people come to town and don't know what's going on. Granted about half of the group were in town for the reenactment, which I read was very small, but most didn't know what else was going on. I can't wait for the reaction of the people who come to town over Labor Day and walk into the Klan rally that's planned. I'm not a travel agent but you really should check out what's going on in the places that you visit on vacation before you go! Either way, thanks for coming along!
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
Bike Week has come to Gettysburg and from what I read in today's paper upwards of 40,000 bikers came to town! None of which came along for my Seminary Ridge tour Friday night! Around 28 folks from Philly, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Texas, and Rhode Island came along, including a Nutmegger from my home state of Connecticut. The weather was excellent and there wasn't that many bikes to talk over, actually the train is more disruptive than any motorcycle, so I think it was a pretty good time.
I asked the group if any of them were in town for Bike Week and all of them said they were not. Then I asked how many of them came to town not knowing it was Bike Week and got another overwhelming response. This happens every year, people come to town and don't know what's going on. Granted about half of the group were in town for the reenactment, which I read was very small, but most didn't know what else was going on. I can't wait for the reaction of the people who come to town over Labor Day and walk into the Klan rally that's planned. I'm not a travel agent but you really should check out what's going on in the places that you visit on vacation before you go! Either way, thanks for coming along!
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Seminary Ridge Tours light due to No Reenactment
Seminary Ridge 7/1/06
For the second straight night we had smaller crowds than expected. Another guide and I each took about 20 people with us on a pleasant Saturday evening. Folks from NY, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Ocean County, New Jersey, where my wife and I vacation, came along on a tour where my storytelling was on, my jokes were a little off, and music from the Carnival echoed in the night. This group was a good one and I really enjoyed it.
There is something special about being on the Battlefield on the anniversary days. Before the tour I was trying to imagine the campus after the first day of fighting. It was enough to give me chills and something I look forward to next year.
From tours gone by...I think it was 2001 when I tried to fight in the battle reenactment and then guide a tour later that night. I thought I could easily pull it off because there was only one battle that day and I had a Seminary Ridge, the easiest tour on my voice.
When I used to participate in reenactment, I was the guy in the ranks that was screaming and cursing the whole time. Some guys would go out and laugh and joke around during the battle. Not me. I would scream my self hoarse.
Well I got a little excited during the battle and when it came to tour time, my voice in rough shape. I still had gunpowder smeared on my face when I showed up and I asked that the group of about 70 people be split 40-30. I still had just enough left that the group could hear all that I said, even though there was little tone or pitch changes to my voice!
That was the last time I tried to do both!
Looking forward to Bike Week...
"Rick Saunders"
For the second straight night we had smaller crowds than expected. Another guide and I each took about 20 people with us on a pleasant Saturday evening. Folks from NY, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Ocean County, New Jersey, where my wife and I vacation, came along on a tour where my storytelling was on, my jokes were a little off, and music from the Carnival echoed in the night. This group was a good one and I really enjoyed it.
There is something special about being on the Battlefield on the anniversary days. Before the tour I was trying to imagine the campus after the first day of fighting. It was enough to give me chills and something I look forward to next year.
From tours gone by...I think it was 2001 when I tried to fight in the battle reenactment and then guide a tour later that night. I thought I could easily pull it off because there was only one battle that day and I had a Seminary Ridge, the easiest tour on my voice.
When I used to participate in reenactment, I was the guy in the ranks that was screaming and cursing the whole time. Some guys would go out and laugh and joke around during the battle. Not me. I would scream my self hoarse.
Well I got a little excited during the battle and when it came to tour time, my voice in rough shape. I still had gunpowder smeared on my face when I showed up and I asked that the group of about 70 people be split 40-30. I still had just enough left that the group could hear all that I said, even though there was little tone or pitch changes to my voice!
That was the last time I tried to do both!
Looking forward to Bike Week...
"Rick Saunders"
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Slower Night than Expected on the Seminary
6/30/06 Seminary Ridge
Friday night did not bring out the crowds that a holiday weekend normally does. But with no reenactment this weekend I guess a lot of folks stayed home. 28 brave souls joined me for one of the most comfortable nights I've had on tour in quite some time. A nice family from Los Angeles enjoyed watching their young children see fireflies for the first time. That seems to be happening a lot lately! Some Granite Staters came along as well as folks from Missouri, Ohio, NJ, NY, and Michigan. I love it when New Englanders are in the group, they seem to really get my sense of humor. This probably stems from too many winters and bouts with cabin fever, but regardless it's always nice to see folks from up north. "Live Free or Die!" This was a really good group and we had a lot of fun.
Thanks to Mike F. for sending this photo taken by the Krauth House. Notice the orb in the upper left corner.
Just an observation...The Fourth of July week or weekend is always interesting in Gettysburg. Reenactors, buffs, and the curious tourist can be found everywhere. Battlewalks, the reenactment, living histories, and the carnival are all going on. Traffic is at its worst and most of locals go on vacation to get away from it all. But this year was different. There was less people around. Traffic is always bad on weekend nights over the summer, and of course the carriage rides still back up traffic for blocks! But I figured that there would be more people in town since the reenactment was cancelled. I thought people would have more energy since they didn't go the reenactment and spend all day in the sun. I've heard that there were tons of people on the NPS's Battlewalks, so maybe that's where everyone went. I can't wait to see what this upcoming weekend is going to be like with the reenactment and Bike Week both in town. Burning rubber and gunpowder in the air all weekend! Ear plugs anyone?
Sleep well...
"Rick Saunders"
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