Nerves

I’ve been working as a Tour Manager for just over 12 years, led over 100 Tours (think of it as being 3,000 people) and I like to think that by now I’ve more or less got the hang of it. I’ve led Tours world-wide and dealt with a raft of incidents of varying severity. I’ve pulled victory from the jaws of defeat and occasionally screwed things up all on my own, with nobody else to blame. Like the man (never) said… If you can’t take a joke you shouldn’t have joined.

By now I’m pretty chill about most Tours. They will usually be those that I have taken previously, or will at least contain elements (cities, trains) that I have done before, in countries that I am broadly familiar with.  The job of a Tour Manager is to manage, on the day, making best use of the assets that you have available – these may not always be the assets that you would like, but that’s what keeps you on your toes and makes the work interesting. I know that there’s a sub-set of Tour Managers (I call them the “The Civil Service”) who insist on having every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed in advance for every day of every Tour. Protocols for this, Procedures for that… For me, I’d rather wing it – that’s the fun and that’s how I stay frosty.

Before a Tour departs, you’re always nervous. Will the itinerary trains run to schedule? Wildcat strikes in Italy? Bicycle demonstrations in Paris? Will I forget to do something and then look like an idiot? Will my people be fun? Will they like me? (Some don’t). Have I checked all the tickets? (Yes, twice, but now I’d better check them again). Will a random hotel deny all knowledge of our existence. Have I packed enough underwear and remembered the phone charger. It’s kind of like everybody else does before going on holiday, only magnified… massively. The way I see it, the day you stop being nervous before a Tour is probably the day that you should start thinking about a new line of work.  It’s a necessary part of the job. I’ve reached a sort of Nirvana of nervousness as time has gone by; yes, the adrenaline pumps but it’s manageable and controlled.

Here’s the strange thing. For the first time in a very long time, I’m getting really nervous about my next Tour. Mr “in-control” isn’t so much. There are occasional beads of sweat and an accelerated pulse, and I still have just over 4 weeks to go (I know, a nice break before the season accelerates). What is this Tour that is exercising me so? It is the Grand Tour of Japan for Great Rail Journeys. Why is it so?

I’ve only been to Japan once before and that was for 48hrs when I was flying, back in the day. Essentially it’s an unknown. We will have a Local Guide throughout the Tour which is a big help. It means that there is assistance with the basic mechanics of moving folks around and managing the language chasm. I’m confident that working together we can get our clients around successfully, on time and on itinerary.

The scary bit is the culture side. I’ve been knee-deep in YouTube videos about things to do, and not to do in Japan. Don’t point with a finger (used to that already): Sunglasses are disliked: Don’t eat in the street: Never be late: Don’t make phone calls in public: Don’t be critical of your food: Don’t dip sushi rice in soy sauce, just the fish bit: Don’t pass food chopstick to chopstick: Don’t wear strong fragrances… ever… anywhere. Most of these rules (and there are many more) seem to revolve around the fact that there are an awful lot of people living in a relatively small space and so etiquette, respect and courtesy are necessary lubrication for the gears of social and public activity. That makes sense and should act as a solid basic path to follow. But there is always the possibility of giving offence unintentionally, without realising what you are doing, and that’s the bit that concerns me. I really don’t want to be the worst kind of Gai-Jin (Foreigner) in Japan, the kind that makes the Japanese turn against Tourism. I want to be both respectful, and respected. 

Anyway, there you have it. I leave on 06th April so there’s plenty of time yet to learn more; but for the first time in ages, I’m sweating!