Representing NYC's Guide Community

In addition to running my own business and leading numerous tours each work, I also serve on the board at the Guides Association of NYC (GANYC). It was in this capacity that I was asked to speak to NY1 (NYC’s top local news channel) about being a tour guide in New York, and the licensing exam all guides here must take. Here is the full segment (see accompanying article at bottom, which has different info & quotes than the aired piece):

While I think the segment is overall an interesting watch, I was disappointed that the segment focused on a “gotcha” angle. NYC guides are first-class professionals, and I have gotten to know dozens of them, and this segment seemed aimed to undermine that reality.

The NYC licensing exam is an important step to ensure that those giving tours in NYC have a tested, basic base of knowledge before they serve as the ambassadors to our city. GANYC continues to work to promote licensed guides, and the importance of our profession to preserving this city's economy, culture, and history. Outdated audio recordings, guide books, flimsy maps… none of these can provide you the experience a human guide can (answer all your questions, adapt to fast-moving situations, provide a truly personal experience).

We are career guides who take pride in providing unique tours to both visitors and locals. I, in particular, take extra pride in providing a wider than average knowledge of the city, and being able to provide numerous types of tours.

So I do wish that rather than focus on an angle about 2 perceived inaccuracies over the course of 4 full tours that the reporter took that the reporter had also mentioned what she learned and experienced on these 4 tours. Did she learn anything new? What was the experience of the tour like? What was unique about each? How did the guide respond to the questions and passions of their guests? 20 seconds of information out of hours worth of touring is not representative about any tour or guide, though I do think guides should keep growing and learning (that’s actually a fun part of the job!). That's why GANYC offers our own internal Certification Course, as well as fam tours, PDPs, and other education offerings.

Some thoughts on the 2 minor inaccuracies the reporter found over the course of 8 hours of touring. The first example, the guide got the amount of the sale correct... the flub was over where that sale ranked in the list of real estate deals (it is among the higher). The second wasn't even an inaccuracy at all. The guide states: "This is the New York Marble -- this is one of the first secular cemeteries in the city." The reporter points out that the other, nearby cemetery with a very similar name was the first secular cemetery in NY, and that the one he was at was the second secular cemetery. The second such cemetery is, by definition, "one of the first secular cemeteries", exactly what the guide said, and is not 'almost true', but 100% true. The reporter found no flaws or quibbles with the Greenwich Village tour she took, nor with the New Amsterdam fam tour she took as an invited guest of GANYC.

(As an aside, I recently received an “A-” review from a history teacher for my Hamilton & Historic New York tour… I’ll take it!)

I will continue to work— through my own tours, and with the Guides Association— to work to represent this profession as best that I can. We all love the work that we do, and love serving as the ambassadors to this great city.

Full article: Do You Have What it Takes to Be an NYC Tour Guide?