Destination Dawn

Destination Dawn episodes:

• 05.29.2024

  #37: Bodies & Organisations

  This is the start of Section 7 of my book: 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'.  Chapter 40 is all about organisations and bodies (from my UK perspective) that can help you grow your network, and increase your local...

  
• 11.23.2023

  #36: Tools of the Trade

  This is the start of Section 7 of my book: 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'.  Chapter 39 provides some ideas of tools you can use on or with your walking tours. You probably have loads more ideas,...

  
• 08.10.2023

  #35: Questions & Answers from Walking Tour Guides

  This episode covers Section 6 of 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook' - chapters 33 - 38. These are questions I have received from students who were on my in-person or online courses. If they have the questions,...

  
• 08.10.2023

  #34: Create your Walking Tour

  This is Chapter 32 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. In this episode I share suggestions for a structure for your walks.  This is purely a guide. You should test and experiment to work out what...

  
• 06.09.2023

  #33: Safe Environment

  This is Chapter 31 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. Often safely is not at the top of the preparation list, and only gets noticed when there is an accident.  I suggest you consider the safety...

  
• 05.31.2023

  #32: Storytelling

  This is Chapter 30 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. Storytelling forms the foundation of the experience you share with your guests.  Stories add so much more to your narrative and when you become conscious of...

  
• 05.25.2023

  #31: Colour your Walks

  This is Chapter 29 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. In this chapter, I give examples of language you can use to make your walks more interesting. Please don't learn your walks 'off by heart', but...

  
• 03.20.2023

  #30: The Five Senses

  This is Chapter 28 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. In this chapter, I give you examples of how you can incorporate the five senses into your walking tour. I know this may sound like a...

  
• 12.02.2022

  #29: Add to your Jigsaw

  This is Chapter 27 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. A guide should remain curious and always look for opportunities to learn. And your knowledge and your confidence will grow as you gain more experience.  Get...

  
• 08.11.2022

  #28: Your Primary Subject

  This is Chapter 26 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. This is the start of Section 5 of the book - starting to create YOUR walking tour.  My advice is simply to start with an easy...

  
• 08.01.2022

  #27: Difficult Questions

  This is Chapter 25 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. Difficult questions come up in all customer service scenarios.  It is a tough topic, but a good guide is able to remove their emotion and understand...

  
• 07.25.2022

  #26: Answering Questions

  This is Chapter 24 in the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the ultimate handbook'. This chapter is all about answering questions.  I think all these ideas can be used in customer service roles, in meetings, with teams and in any...

  
• 06.26.2022

  #25: Group Management

  This is Chapter 23 of 'Walking Tour Guiding - the Ultimate Handbook'. Group management is not always easy, but with experience you will learn what size group works well for you.  

  
• 01.24.2022

  #24: Visitor Expectations

  This is Chapter 22 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  There are legalities involved in making promises about your walking tour and not delivering as promised.  Make sure your visitors are clear about what to expect, AND make sure...

  
• 01.17.2022

  #23: Assess Your Delivery

  This is Chapter 21 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  How do you know when you have delivered a good walking tour?  You can't use tipping as a measure, and your guests don't always tell you.  In this episode...

  
• 12.24.2021

  #22: Communicating with Guests

  This is Chapter 20 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. Every guest needs to feel valued and important, so give them all equal attention when they ask questions or engage with you or others in the group. The New...

  
• 12.04.2021

  #21: Effective Communication when Guiding

  This is Chapter 19 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. The most important element of effective communication when leading a walking tour, is being able to 'read' your group.  You will know when they need to move on, of...

  
• 11.29.2021

  #20: Barriers to Communication

  This is Chapter 18 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. While out on a walking tour, you may stumble across some barriers to communication that are out of your control - but in this episode I share some solutions...

  
• 11.27.2021

  #19: How to be Heard

  This is Chapter 17 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. The most important aspect of guiding is being heard.  I know it sounds obvious, but many guides don't keep this front-of-mind when they are leading a walking tour. For more...

  
• 11.27.2021

  #18: Know your Voice

  This is Chapter 16 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. As a walking tour guide, your voice is your most valuable tool!  If you do not look after it, you will lose it and you may even need medical...

  
• 11.22.2021

  #17: Using your Hands

  This is Chapter 15 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. In this chapter we focus on the use of your hands as a tour guide - make each movement count to ensure you are clear about what you want...

  
• 11.22.2021

  #16: Body Language of a Tour Guide

  This is Chapter 14 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'. Body language is vital to ensure the group all feel like you are connecting with them directly - such as making eye contact with everyone, if if just briefly....

  
• 11.01.2021

  #15: Humour of a Guide

  This is Chapter 13 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  You do not need to be funny to be a good guide, but some humour is great if you don't offend of embarress yourself or your guest.  For more...

  
• 11.01.2021

  #14: Involving your Guests

  This is Chapter 12 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  It takes a lot of confidence to involve your guests, but it really is a great way to increase the group's enjoyment of your walking tour...when they feel part...

  
• 10.26.2021

  #13: Controlling Your Nerves

  This is Chapter 11 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  It is sooo normal to feel nervous, but if you can at least control the nerves, so that they don't control you, you will feel more confident in your...

  
• 10.24.2021

  #12: When & Why a Guide Gets Nervous

  This is Chapter 10 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  It is normal to feel nervous and there are a range of reasons why a guide would feel nervous.  Some of these are much easier to control or hide...

  
• 10.19.2021

  #11: Appearance for Confidence

  This is Chapter 9 of 'Walking Tour Guiding: The Ultimate Handbook'.  When we look and feel good, we are more confident as guides. Please connect with me on LinkedIn too! And for more information about my book, the launch and...

  
• 10.14.2021

  #10: Personality of a Guide

  This is Chapter 8 of the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the Ultimate Handbook': Personality Not everyone is going to like you - that's human nature.  But if you can at least start your walking tour with something positive and...

  
• 10.09.2021

  #9: What a Guide Could Know & Share

  This is Chapter 7 of the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the Ultimate Handbook'.  Guides are either too hung up on dates, or too vague and general.  Having a wide knowledge base will help your guests get the most from...

  
• 09.30.2021

  #8: Knowledge of a Tour Guide

  This is Chapter 6 of the book 'Walking Tour Guiding - the Ultimate Handbook'.  In this chapter I reference Freeman Tilden's Principles of Interpretation. For more information: https://dawnadenton.com/walkingtourguidingbook/ 

  
• 09.21.2021

  #7: Skills and Qualities of a Walking Tour Guide

  This is Chapter 5 of the Walking Tour Guiding book. The most important aspect of guiding is to have a love of people and a love of knowledge. The rest comes naturally. For the book launch and other information, please...

  
• 09.14.2021

  #6: Aspiration & Inspiration

  This is Chapter 4 from Walking Tour Guiding - the Ultimate Handbook.  In this chapter we go over each aspect of the walking tour story (by Katrine Prince) from the previous episode.  This is the kind of walk we all...

  
• 09.14.2021

  #5: Walking Tour Experience

  This is Chapter 3 of Walking Tour Guiding - The Ultimate Handbook.  In this chapter I share a story by Katrine Prince who was a real inspiration to me and the guiding community.  This story of Shula is an overview...

  
• 09.13.2021

  #4: What is a Walking Tour?

  This is Chapter 2 in Walking Tour Guiding - The Ultimate Handbook.  What is guiding?  The role of the guide and why people go on a walking tour. https://dawnadenton.com/walkingtourguidingbook/ 

  
• 09.13.2021

  #3: About the Walking Tour Guiding Book

  This is Chapter 1 of Walking Tour Guiding - The Ultimate Handbook. Here I (Dawn A Denton) share why I wrote the book and what you can expect from the book. https://dawnadenton.com/walkingtourguidingbook/

  
• 09.13.2021

  #2: My Walking Tour Guiding Book Dedication & Acknowledgements

  I dedicate my Walking Tour Guiding (https://dawnadenton.com/walkingtourguidingbook/) book to my Contiki family for being my continued support network and the bestest of my friends! You cannot write a book alone.  You need to be cheered on and you need a...

  
• 09.13.2021

  #1: Welcome to Destination Dawn

  I am thrilled to welcome you to this podcast series! The first 42 episodes will each feature a chapter in my new book:  Walking Tour Guiding - The Ultimate Handbook It has been a brilliant journey to write and I...