In message , Mark Brader
writes
Paul Corfield:
I prefer the view from Waterloo Bridge which is one of my favourite
London views.

Ian Jelf:
As it is mine, too. In fact, during training I was admonished for
suggesting people look both ways from the bridge as we crossed it in a
coach!

This was the training to be a Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide?
Yes,

Why the admonition?
Because you can't expect people to do two things at once, or at least
not *look* at two things at one. You should choose one item and them
if there's time the other. The "correct" technique is to describe the
"TVP" (Total visual priority" first and then go onto other (perhaps
equally or more interesting things. If you don't do this, then people
will ignore what you say as they look at the TVP.

For example, entering Parliament Square, you might as well talk about
the Palace of Westminster first because if you don't, that's all people
will be looking at anyway, so they'll ignore you.

In the case of Waterloo Bridge, I thought that the Westminster ("Big
Ben" [1]) view and the City (Saint Paul's dome) views were equally
important.

The correct thing to do would have been to prepare people to look one
way (I do Westminster) first before you go onto the Bridge, then when
that's described and you're part way over get them to look the other
way. It usually works and is an important if not obvious piece of
technique.



[1] before anyone talks about towers clocks and bells, yes I know!

--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk