spieling question

I know the people on Paddlewheel Excursions (are expected to?) make lame jokes. But what about other rides?

I mean, I know for safety reasons you HAVE to read what they tell you to. But then I think about stuff like, if anyone's flown Southwest Airlines, they let their flight attendants spiel off all the safety stuff but toss a few jokes in too, which can be pretty hilarious at times.

So what's the policy on this? I just don't want to get in trouble for being creative if I'm not allowed to :)

I think you're given a tad bit of creative freedom as long as it's kept clean. Most rides you go to, the person on the mic usually throws in a little personal touch to the spiels. As long as you say everything you need to say, it shouldn't be a problem. You say the stupid things so often that if you don't change it up from time to time it gets to be borrrrriiiinnnnggggg.

Basically get in the stuff that has to be said and add in stuff to fill your time. You quickly start to entertain yourself and your crew since very few guest really pay attention to it fully. It becomes second nature very fast, especially on flat rides. I knew the Super Himalaya spiel all to well at one point.

I used to spiel in my sleep....

^I think every amusement park worker in the world does this. When I worked at Carowinds, my brother used to say he could hear me saying my spiels when I fell asleep on the couch.

It's pretty routine and simple. Make sure you say all the required stuff about seat belts, loose articles, guests staying off the rails...

also, be silly, make lame jokes. Don't let them get old.

Yep - just keep it clean and say all the required stuff. While you're on spiels, you're the "life" of the platform. Make it interesting. There's actually a spieling award that can be won several limes throughout the season... at least there was in 2006, and now that I think about it, I don't remember it at all in 2007. Hmmm.

The Spectacular Solo Spieler Award! It was there, Brian, I remember a few of the winners, I think. But yeah, I agree, you need to make it interesting, while still getting the point across and getting through all the safety stuff. After awhile though, you just start getting the hang of making it interesting because you don't want to bore yourself!

Brian, there will be no use of "space cadets".........

Ahem..Brian...I was totally nominated for that last season =D

And yes, as everyone else has said...just dont get too carried away or start to get boring...guests like it when you tend to make jokes and whatnot...just dont make your jokes so repetitive.

You'll be finnneeee!

P.S. Brian, please dont tell me you call guests "space cadets" on Magnum...that would be pretty janky =P

And so what if I do?!

All im going to say is, I better never be called a "space cadet" when I ride!!

=P

Also...if you call them that on your ride, what am I supposed to call my riders??

Just for that, Megan, every train you are on when I'm spieling will be space cadets.

You can call your riders... lumberjacks? Pioneers? Streakers? Mountain men and/or women?

or perhaps... in pain just sayin'

We call our riders "flyers," which kinda sucks cause when you get back to the station on Raptor they say "we hope you enjoyed your flight." But I don't know who used the term first. Raptor was built 2 years earlier, but have they always said that? I know they've been called flyers on skycoasters forever.

Screw Raptor, it doesn't even make sense.. for the most part. It makes sense completely for RipCord though.

And I like the riders for Mean Streak and Blue Streak as streakers..haha

Raptor is roughly themed to mock the flight of a bird. Birds fly, and after you "fly" on Raptor (as if you were a raptor), you would have just completed a "flight". ...That's how it is supposed to make sense.

I don't mind that they say it on Raptor, at least it is one unique thing they can say to make the experience a little more fun. I suppose it also helps dumb guests realize it is named after the bird of prey, not a dinosaur.

I wasn't so much thinking about the name, more of the ride itself.

I think we should call them danglers at ripcord.

I'm going to vote Ripcord used it first. Isn't it a Skycoaster thing?

Brandon...Mean Streak riders will NOT be called "streakers"...that just sounds stupid...and ive always thought that it was cool how they use "flight" on Raptor...but, then again..people with no sense of humor understand...

Also...Brian, Mountain people...for sure...I mean, dur...the most amazing crew member is a Mountain woman =D