Hello everyone and welcome to this video tutorial on what you need to know to provide touch tours at arts events. Many of the tasks involved fall into the same five categories as presented in the previous video tutorial: scheduling, working with audio describers, fulfilling the technical requirements, spatial organisation and navigation, and communication and staff training. However, the first thing to think about is scheduling. Try to arrange for a touch tour as far in advance as possible, and liaise with the creative team or theatre company to agree on the time of the touch tour. Touch tours are usually held one to one and a half hours before the performance. Make sure that all venue staff are aware of the date and the time of the touch tour. You will also need to arrange for the audio describer to visit the set to see the props, costumes and furniture and meet the stage manager. They will choose items for the touch tour, excluding items which are fragile, may be dangerous, or which may reveal too much about the plot. It�s also important to decide who will introduce the touch tour and who will take part. As for the spatial organisation and navigation, it�s crucial to make sure that ushers and other front of house staff are trained to assist patrons with getting around the venue, and particularly with getting to and from the agreed meeting place for the touch tour and the auditorium or other location of the touch tour. Ushers or other staff must also be trained to assist patrons with getting on and off the stage if necessary, and to ensure guide dogs are looked after while patrons are on the stage. When it comes to organising the promotional material for the event, it�s good practice to include information on the touch tour when posting the audio introduction and programme notes in Braille, Large Letters or Easy Read to patrons who have requested them, including the date, time and meeting place and how to book a place on the touch tour. You should also promote the touch tour using a range of traditional, online and social media and make all promotional materials accessible. Moreover, all staff should receive training on touch tours, and box office staff should be trained to know how to inform patrons about touch tours, including the date, time, meeting place, how to book places for patrons, and who to contact in the venue when patrons or audio describers arrive. When the day of the performance arrives, check that the items shown to the patrons on the touch tour are well spaced out on the stage and that there is plenty of room for patrons to move around. Provide chairs on stage for patrons who may need to sit down during the tour. Also, check that a member of the technical team will be present during the touch tour to ensure that the stage is well lit. It�s important to make sure that the routes used during the touch tour, such as from the meeting place to the stage, are clear and free of trip hazards. Also, don�t forget to make sure there are bowls of water and a green area available for guide dogs. Finally, check that the technical, front of house and box office staff know about the imminent touch tour and are aware of their responsibilities. Once the touch tour is over, it is important that patrons are assisted with picking up headsets for the audio description, going to the bathroom or bar, and getting to their seats in time for the audio introduction to the show.
