Tour-Mate Systems - Industry leaders in Creative Technology & Interpretation.

Content Creation

Content Creation Overview

Our award winning producers have a simple philosophy:
Content should be a memorable experience that involves the senses- guide the visitor to make discoveries, and personalize the ‘visit experience’.

From on-site research, to creation of scripts, to final audio/multimedia production, our production team will endeavor to provide a positive, enlightened, and sometimes a provocative interpretation. Every content creation project that we undertake begins with us listening to you. We understand what a privilege and responsibility it is to help you tell your stories to your visitors.

Tour-Mate’s preferred approach is to treat content creation as a ‘work for hire’. We believe that having clients own their own content provides them with the maximum flexibility to provide quality interpretation to their visitors across a variety of platforms. Should your institution have Tour-Mate create your content as a ‘work for hire’, all tour copyrights that would normally attach to Tour-Mate would transfer to your institution upon completion of the project.

Content Options

We understand that communicating your vision is a big responsibility. Tour-Mate will bring its many years of production experience to help make your tour shine. From the moment we receive the scripts, to final production, our production team will endeavor to provide a positive, enlightening, provocative interpretation that satisfies your vision and your budget. With Tour-Mate you have three Content Creation and Tour Development options:
Option 1: Write, translate (if required), and record your own tour, independently. We would then process and upload your completed tour(s) onto the Tour-Mate Interpretive Platforms of your choice.
Option 2: Write your own content and deliver the finished scripts to us at Tour-Mate. We would then translate, if required, the script into the desired tour languages. You would choose voice talent from options provided and Tour-Mate would professionally record and mix the tour(s). We would then process and upload your completed tour(s) onto the Tour-Mate Interpretive Platforms of your choice.
Option 3: Tour-Mate can research, write, translate (if required), shoot original footage, and record your tour using professional script writers, translators and narrators. We then process and upload the completed tour(s) onto the Tour-Mate Interpretive Platforms of your choice.

The Interpretive Tour May Include:

  •  Interviews and Commentary
  •  Music
  •  Sound Effects
  •  Oral Histories
  •  Character Actors
  •  Multiple Narrators
  •  Original Footage
  •  Archival Material
  •  Language Options

Tours We Offer

Tour-Mate can produce audio and multimedia tours in multiple languages and targeted to different demographic groups such as:

  •  Adult/General Tours
  •  Family/Children Tours
  •  Multilingual Tours
  •  Architectural Tours
  •  Walking Tours
  •  Bus/Tourism Tours
  •  Accessible/Described Audio Tours
  •  Virtual Tours
  •  Botanical Garden Tours

Services:

Audio and Video Production: Tour-Mate designs productions using professional narrators and character voices, unique music and sound effects, creative videographers and editors, and talented animators to fulfill the linguistic, aural, and visual requirements of your interpretive vision.

Script Creation: When Tour-Mate is contracted to create a script, the process usually begins with our experienced writers visiting the client’s site and familiarizing themselves with the content matter. This is also an opportunity for the writers to meet with the client team and reach consensus on detailed interpretive objectives. During this initial visit, our writers may also set-up and record interviews for the tour; material that may subsequently be edited into tour stops.
Subsequent to the on-site visit, our writers will create an initial draft of the scripts and submit them to the client team for review and comment. Comments received back from the client team form the basis of script revisions. The script creation process is an iterative one and continues until a final script has been crafted that meets the client’s interpretive vision.

Script Polish: Take your script to the next level! If you already have a script or a tour that you own and would like to use, this service helps edit and perfect it for your audience.

Language Translation: Tour-Mate works extensively with many attractions that provide multiple language options in their interpretation. We work closely with translators who have considerable experience with script translation, allowing us to ensure idiomatically correct translations, and offer translation services into any language possible.

Assisted Interpretation: We offer a number of solutions that were created with differently-abled individuals in mind. Braille, raised keys, talk-back features, printed tours, induction loops, and low-grip handles, are all examples of assisted interpretation options provided through Tour-Mate.

Storyboarding and Wire Framing: In creating a rich multimedia experience, Tour-Mate’s production team works closely with the client’s staff to develop an interpretive vision consistent with the client’s objectives. Through a series of storyboards Tour-Mate ensures that the client’s interpretive vision has been accurately captured. These then serve as a pre-cursor to design treatments used to build the finished application.

FAQ – Content Creation

Content Creation FAQ 

Who creates the content?

It is entirely up to you. You can create and produce your content yourself, or with a third party, or you can contract with Tour-Mate to create all, or some of your content.

Who owns the content?

Our philosophy toward content is that it should be owned by the client exclusively. This means that should you contract with Tour-Mate to create your content, it will be treated as a ‘work for hire’. Once we have received full payment for any content that we have created, those copyrights which would attach to Tour-Mate, transfer to the client. If the cost of creating your content has been built into a lease or revenue share arrangement with Tour-Mate, ownership of your content will vest at the completion of the initial term of the agreement.

Do I have to use Tour-Mate to create content?

Absolutely not! While we welcome the opportunity to work with you and your colleagues to create captivating content, we do not obligate our clients to use us for creation of their tours.

Can we have a celebrity narrator?

You can have a celebrity narrator but talent fees for a celebrity will be greater than for a professional narrator whose voice is not well recognized. If you feel that the inclusion of a celebrity will increase your tour’s uptake amongst visitors, add to the tour’s credibility, or generate significant positive publicity for your institution, then you may feel that the extra costs associated with contracting with a celebrity narrator are justified.

Can we have foreign languages on the same program?

Yes you can have a multilingual program.

Can we include our own experts, staff members and/or Board members as narrators?

Yes you can. This is often something worth considering, as comments from those intimately associated with your institution will likely add to the perceived credibility of your content.

How do we choose a narrator?

If you decide to work with Tour-Mate to create your content, our producers will work with your team to determine the tone, or mood, that you are trying to set with your tour(s). They will then develop a shortlist of potential narrators for you to consider; narrators whose voices they feel will assist in achieving the tour’s goals. While our producers will make narrator suggestions, the ultimate decision will rest with you and your team. After all, it is your tour.

What about music and sound effects?

Music and sound effects can greatly enhance the impact of a tour. They can assist in fostering a mood, or conjuring up a period in history. As with narrators, our producers will work with your team to select music and sound effects that enhance the narration and increase the impact of the narrative.

Can I change my content after we receive the system?

Absolutely. We make the necessary edit software available to our clients. No matter what platform, or platforms are selected for tour delivery, clients can easily change and/or update tour content. Consistent with our approach to content creation in general, you may wish to include us in modifying your tour(s) or you may wish to undertake tour changes internally or via a third party.

What are my options for content creation? How much can Tour-Mate help me?

YOUR TOUR. YOUR CHOICE! We can help a little, a lot, or not at all. If you have talented people on staff who can write and/or produce content, then you may not wish to involve Tour-Mate in Content Creation. If you have the ability to write your tour, you may only want to contract with us for production services. If you lack the writing and/or production resources internally, you may want us to create your content from ‘soup to nuts’. This is your tour. You decide how much, or how little you want us to be involved.

How long does it take for content to be complete?

Creating memorable content takes time. Our approach to creating content leans toward collaboration. We actively seek to have creative input from those connected to the attraction. While this tends to result in longer production timelines, the inclusion of people committed to the process results in a greater commitment to the end product. No two attractions’ requirements will be exactly the same. If we are selected by you to create your content, we will develop a content creation timeline that fits within your time frame parameters and ensures that your tour(s) will ‘go live’ exactly as scheduled.