Do a tour
The People’s Tour website, Twitter and Facebook are made and maintained by me, Jane Curtis. The audio tours are recorded, edited and produced by me, with the exception of six recorded and edited by the most excellent Nicole Hurtabise and Elanor McInerney.
It all began as a student project in 2008 and now runs on the steam of my and other people’s enthusiasm and energy! Read more about the ideas behind People’s Tours and why it exists.
Recently, community organisations like 3CR Radio, and funding opportunities from the state government and a local council have meant that tour guides and technicians can be paid properly for their work.
What do I do with my idea?
If you have an idea for a People’s Tour, contact me with the topic and audience of your tour. I’ll send you The Tour Guide Guide and take it from there.
Tour guides are usually not paid for their work. It is a labour of love, the same as it is for me to record, edit and publish the tours here.
Sometimes tour guides and technicians are paid if the tour is funded by a grants body, like the set of four walking tours in the 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival coproduced with 3CR Community Radio and partly funded by the Office of Public Records Local History program, or tours that are part of a larger project like the Carlton Flats Arts Project, produced by the Community Cultural Development Program City of Melbourne.
So, if you have an idea for applying for or earning funds to do a tour, I’m all ears!
Tour topics
The subject of your tour could be places or things in your home, street, the suburbs or the city of Melbourne that you know well, have some kind of meaning for you and arouse you in some way – through past experience, expert knowledge, underground histories, opinions, memories, feelings, interpretations, or a certain appreciation.
As you can see from previous tours like A tour of attitudes to public housing and A tour of old neighbours, the tours don’t have to be of places – you probably can do a tour of almost anything and that’s what People’s Tours are about.
You could do a tour of…
buildings stairwells signs markets public art laneways the last train home
gardens a music collection pubs lookouts neighbours
libraries share houses workplaces monuments arcades
elevators furniture outfits beaches vacant lots
toilets street art letterboxes op shops trees
or places to…
avoid read relax cause trouble laugh at
watch the sunset party be sad
be inspired get away from the world
do stuff for free plan the revolution meet random people curl up
craft geek out commemorate rock out
get homesick hide subvert
people-watch canoodle tear down heal redecorate
The audience could be…
anyone who’ll listen your friends your family
your nana your local community your dog
your secret crush
your lover your ex-lover
your ex-lover you can’t be friends with
people who love what you love people who hate what you hate
people who should know people who are curious
people with moustaches people with nervous habits
people with secrets people looking for something to do
activists creative types dags fans aspiring-somethings
It could be someone…
who’s just moved here who’s passing through
who doesn’t live here
who isn’t alive anymore
who doesn’t exist
As you can see, you can pretty much let your imagination run wild! And please do.
When you’re ready, get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.