Thank you for joining our mobile tour cohort!
This dashboard is designed to quickly give you the information you need to rock your mobile tour at PLACES 2024. Use the following buttons to quickly navigate this page.
For additional questions or concerns, please contact Lydia Felty, Main Street Specialist.
Key Dates
Summer 2024: Coaching Sessions
We’re excited to provide session coaches for all conference presenters this year. You’ll be matched with a coach from our conference team, who you’ll meet with once or twice during summer and early fall to refine your learning objectives, alignment with conference goals, and audience engagement — and anything else you may find helpful!
June 30, 2024: All Speakers Registered
To redeem your complimentary conference registration, first select “Speaker” as your Attendee Type on the registration page. After you have shared your information and selected any additional events you’d like to join, use promo code INSPIRE at checkout (in the “Subtotal” section). Note: This discount does not include any add-ons (Main Street Building Blocks, mobile tours, or Excellence on Main).
October 1, 2024: Itineraries
We ask all mobile tour leads to share a general itinerary with us by October 1. This allows us to give accurate information to our volunteers, ensure attendees with accessibility needs know what to expect, share information with bus drivers (if relevant), and know where we can find you or direct latecomers throughout, Please use the sample itinerary below as a model.
What to Expect Day-Of
Meeting Location
The Marcus Whitman: All mobile tours will meet in the Marcus Whitman’s conference center foyer (outside the Explorer Ballroom). With multiple tours gathering at the same time, this may be busy, so we recommend arriving early to meet your usher, test your equipment, and start gathering with your attendees.
The People
Mobile Tour Usher: Each mobile tour will have an usher who will help gather attendees, ensure you have all the right people (and no strays from other groups!), and pass along your equipment. They will also make sure your tour departs in a timely manner, and they may even join the tour.
The Equipment
Microphones: Each tour will be provided with 1-2 mobile microphones. We may be able to provide more than that, but we can’t guarantee it—please reach out to Lydia if you would like to request more. Please use the microphone during your tour—yes, even if you have a loud voice!—especially when a session is outside, voices get lost easily in the wind and crowd. If you’re answering a question for the full group, be sure to repeat the question for those who may not have heard. Your usher will give the mics to you before the tour, but it is your responsibility to return them to registration for the next tours’ use.
Handouts: You are welcome to provide handouts to attendees. If you would like to, simply bring them along for your tour and pass them out when the time comes. We will send out session slides after the conference—if you would like a copy of any handouts included, please send them to Lydia () as a PDF.
For Bus-Based Tours Only
The buses will park in the North Parking Lot, just outside the Conference Center Foyer (you’ll see them!) The drivers will know which tour they’re driving for, and your mobile tour usher will be able to assist you in ensuring you’re on the right bus. The buses plan to leave right at the departure time and to return at the tour’s end time — please ensure you are on (or ahead of!) schedule so that your tour is not cut short by transportation needs. Your usher will be there for time checks and to ensure your bus will return on time.
Sample Itinerary
All tours* are scheduled for 3 hours, from 9:00 a.m. to noon or 1:30-4:30 p.m. The example below uses 9 a.m. to noon, the most common tour time—adjust to a 1:30 p.m. start by pushing each time from the sample back 4.5 hours.
8:40 a.m. Tour leads and usher meet in the Marcus Whitman foyer to test equipment and quickly go over the plan.
8:45 a.m. Tour attendees begin gathering (we recommend they arrive 15 minutes early). Tour usher checks in attendees and lets tour leads know when everyone’s ready to depart.
9:00 a.m. Depart from the Marcus Whitman on foot—walk to Heritage Square (0.4 mi, approx 9 min walk/15 min walk with a big group)
9:15 a.m. Heritage Square discussion and walkabout
9:45 a.m. Depart Heritage Square for Volunteer Park — take long route via Boyer/Marcus to view the Fouts Center and discuss along the way (0.5 mi, approx. 20 min with quick stop outside Fouts)
10:05 a.m. Volunteer Park discussion and walkabout with John B. (meeting us there)
[…]
11:30 a.m. Walk back to the Marcus Whitman; likely arriving around 11:45, but making space in case we’re running late! (.5 mi walk, approx 15 min with big group)
*Except If Haylofts Could Talk
Tips for Leading Your Tour
Whether you’ve been leading tours at our conference since 2013 or this is your first year, please read our tips and tricks for tour guides below. This will ensure we are all on the same page day-of!
Tangible Takeaways
- Keep Learning Objectives in Mind: In your session proposal, you outlined several goals for your attendees—keep these front of mind while putting together your content to ensure the best learning experience for your attendees.
- Conclude with Key Takeaways: Summarize your presentation with tangible, actionable takeaways or suggestions for attendees seeking to produce a similar project, program, or partnership.
Clear Communication
- Avoid Jargon: Because our audience’s professional backgrounds is so diverse, remember to use language that is accessible to all attendees.
- Use the Mic: Speakers are required to use the microphone during their presentation. If you’re answering a question for the full group, be sure to repeat the question for those who may not have heard.
Time Management
- Arrive Early: Please arrive at the meeting place early so you have time to meet your designated volunteer. We recommend getting to your room early so you have time to meet your room monitor and test the equipment in the room.
- Stick to the Schedule: Be mindful of your itinerary so you can arrive back at the hotel on time. Remember that most attendees (and drivers, if your tour uses a bus!) have a full agenda and are relying on a timely return so they can make it to their next event (even if it’s lunch!) on schedule.
Community Norms
- This year we are introducing community norms to in an effort to create a welcoming space for our audience to gather and learn in. We are presently finalizing that page, but we encourage you to check back to review our community norms in early fall.
Thank you for sharing your expertise and experiences with our PLACES community!
