Dear Docents,
After more than a full month, everyone seems to be falling into more routine and with less surprises. We are all enjoying the visits to the CAC and the wonderful comments about the great exhibits. And, tours are now moving smoothly to and from CAC.
But as we wind down the full-blown tourist season and enter into the winter season, a few things should be emphasized to make sure we continue to give great tours to our guests:
- TOUR TICKET LANGUAGE
Docents, at the end of their tours, should be reminding their guests that their tickets are valid for a visit to CAC for the next 7 days.
The idea that the same ticket for the tour and the visit is seen on the ticket, where you can read “Exhibition at CAC.” But some tourists don’t remember so well, so docents should remind them at the end of the tour.
The tickets are valid for 7 days from the date of the tour – and that is for all tour tickets, whether it is for a tour from CAC or one out in the neighborhood.
Also, tickets from the boat are valid for the upgrade tickets ($5 cost) also for 7 days.
- SIGN IN, GETTING YOUR GTS EQUIPMENT, ORGANIZING YOUR TOUR
Please remember that you sign in on the sheets that are at the far/east end of the Box Office desk and pick up your headsets and equipment from the kiosk under the stairs.
The map is late; Caroline had hoped it would be here sooner, but, like all construction projects, things just take longer than we’d wish. When the map arrives, it will be installed on the floor at the east end of the building.
Please meet your tourists at the kiosk and organization your tour there. We don’t want tourists spilling out into the walkways around the Center.
Docents should be ready to split large groups between them and each group should take an area. Don’t spread one group over all the space; it’ not fair to the second group.
If you have a tour that leaves from the center with GTS and does not return please make sure that tourees wrap the head phones tightly around the GTS and then place in the collection bag to bring back to the center. If the headphones are not wrapped they become a tangled mess that can take hours to untangle.
- NEW HIRES FOR CROWD CONTROL
Gallery attendants have been hired and will be standing at the bottom of the stairs and at the opening to Chicago Gallery on weekends. Look for them at the crucial entrance points rather than staff or Exhibit Hosts.
- ENTERING AND EXITING CAC
By now, most people should know the route to exit the building with your tour. Please use the exit lines set up by the stanchions in the lobby; don’t parade your tour group across the front of the Box Office desk; it cuts into the business of selling tickets.
If you are entering and tour is exiting the building, the tour group gets priority.
Use the stanchion line when you return so people can put their head sets in the basket, again, without cutting into the lines where people are purchasing tickets.
- LOCKERS
Caroline reports that the lockers in the Sears Library will be getting keypads for security. They are on order and will be installed as soon as they arrive. Docents are to use the lockers in the library, not those in the hallway, which are set aside for staff.
- SERVICE HOURS
Caroline has added 10 service hours for each 1-day training you took and 20 for each 2-day training. In the meantime, you can enter your own Service Hours outside of training. Deadline for entering those hours is coming soon.
Keep reading The Bridge as we fill you in on more information about the tours, CAC and all things architecture.
Thanks for all that you do.