Tour Guiding

I know it's far from perfect - and I've yet to actually lead a tour - all I've done is shadow and study thus far - but I'm actually extremely excited about tour guiding.  First off - it pays better  per hour than any other "survival job" I've had thus far.  Second of all - the hours are NOT DURING AUDITIONS, flexible in that its easy to find a cover and you tell the boss your availability, AND you can go off and create your own tours and be your own boss.  AND - if you get your official NY tour guide license - you can work for as many companies as you wish.  BUT - more importantly - it actually combines my two strengths/passions - HISTORY and PERFORMING.  (and in a way - directing, as you direct your own tour.)  I actually always have really loved studying history and researching history.  And then - to share this with other people via a 90 minute improvised monologue - that's just cool!  I'm having so much fun studying up on New York history and lore!  I love seeing the people on the tour get extremely excited about the history.  It's interesting meeting them all and hearing their stories - and seeing which historical figures and events really get them excited!  (Who know Hamilton Fish's third floor pipe organ would be one man's passion!  The ghost tours are particularly interesting, because one every tour, a few attendees have their own ghost encounters.  Now - I'm not really a believer in ghosts - but it's interesting hearing everyone's encounters!  One girl apparently is constantly haunted by a ghost who pinches her butt!  Another lady thinks she sees and hears her father playing piano at night.  Others see "orbs" in all of their photos.  Some have light switches go on and off like crazy with no explanation.  I can think of scientist explanations for everything aside from the butt pinching ghost, but I enjoy seeing them explain their experiences with such conviction. And who knows, maybe they exist.  "There are more things in heaven and earth Horatio than are dreamt of in your philosophy!"  (Hamlet)  At any rate, I'm actually very excited about this survival job, and for the first time, I don't feel as though I'm in helpless despair about my financial future!  I might actually have found a job resource that makes me feel invigorated and excited and if I'm lucky, might, just might, pay the bills and let me still have time to audition!  Knock on wood!