1. Face the crowd, not what you’re talking about. Tour guides often get so wrapped up in their subject they forget to face the peple they are addressing. One secret to avoid this is to “deputize” somebody in the crowd to interrupt you if they can’t hear you.
2. Be personal. No matter how much we love buildings, it’s a fact that people connect with people. So it’s good to have a few personal anecdotes ready, even if they’re just about past tours you've done. You’ll build a more personal connection to your group and create a memorable tour.
3. Tell a story (historical or contemporary). Make sure you have a few fun and compelling stories to tell about the buildings and sites you’re looking at. People are more likely to feel engaged when they are listening to a story, rather than a list of dates and names.