What is the best feedback you can get while giving an interpretive program? Is it quiet, thoughtful listeners? Is it smiles and nods and your audience agreeing with everything you say?
Or is it questions? Sometimes even disruptive ones that poke at your narrative and strain against your research. Those questions require you to stretch deep into your knowledge. How frequently have you found yourself up against the ropes with these questions, realizing your foundational facts have gathered dust from being taken for granted?
Getting into the habit of asking yourself questions can be a good way to not be taken off guard by guests. It also gives you the chance to update your interpretation if new research has come to light.
Below are examples of questions you can get into the routine of asking yourself to acknowledge yourself as a complex person with a complex duty.
What is my own personal mission statement?
What does this program have to do with our mission statement?
Does this element or technique reinforce our educational/interpretive goal?
Who hears their story here?
Which stories are missing here?
What part of the human condition can I explore and express through living history?
Am I having fun?
What are my interpretive goals for this year?
Is this organization a significant piece of this community?
How does this organization serve its community?
Does this interpretation have a good balance of facts and story?
How is the audience expected to interact with this program?
Do I encourage my audience to participate in my programs in innovative ways?
Do I acknowledge and build upon the visitor’s lived experience during our interactions?
How can I let my character be flawed or wrong?
Do I remain open and curious to learning from visitors?
Can the visitors see their own values reflected in our programming?
How much money would I realistically need to live a comfortable life within the same zip code of this institution?
If something happened to me suddenly, are there resources in place that explain how to do my job?
What marketable skills do I possess? Are they listed on my resume?
How can I design programs that minimize awkwardness between the audience and the interpreter?
Are there any red flags in the descriptions of our open job positions?
Does our programming present engaging content opportunities for our communications and marketing staff to use?
Are programs with long-term relevance documented?
Do we have a dead goat policy?
