SPOTLIGHT ON GANYC GUIDE: NORMAN ODER
Introducing GANYC guide Norman Oder of his own company: New York Like A Native
917-795-8595 (voice mail only)
Social Media: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
How long have you been a tour guide?
Since 2000, so this is my 17th year.
What types of tours do you offer? (Walking, Biking, Bus, etc...) Could you describe them for us?
I lead energetic, eclectic walking tours of numerous Brooklyn neighborhoods (as well as a few neighborhoods in Queens and one in Manhattan). I can adapt them to cover more ground if we use a vehicle (or take taxi or public transit trips).
Do you offer Niche Tours?
Well, I adapt my neighborhood tours periodically for college/university classes. One specialty is a tour of the Atlantic Yards (now Pacific Park) project in Brooklyn, which includes the Barclays Center.
What time of year would you consider your busy season?
Spring and fall are busiest-- October was my busiest month last year.
Have you or your company been featured in print, broadcast (tv or radio) or online media?
Yes! I've been featured in Up magazine, the NY Daily News, and Wall Street Journal.
What drove you to become a tour guide and create this company?
I've always been interested in cities, and as I worked as a freelance journalist in the 1990s, I spent a lot of free time just walking Brooklyn, then giving informal tours to friends and family. I saw "The Cruise" and realized that, hey, I could do that. In 2000, there were lots of free web tools, so I built a web site. I wanted to offer the kind of tours I'd want to take when I travel-- I think many tours are too slow.
What is the most gratifying part of your work?
Helping people understand the nuances of Brooklyn, or as one of my clients put it, the gestalt of a neighborhood. And continuing to learn, and challenge myself. Devising a tour route requires a mix of research, walking, asking questions, and repeated visits.
What celebrities (if any) have patronized your business or organization? Any fun stories about when they visit your business?
I once had a (former) TIME Person of the Year. Fascinating guy. But I'm not telling.
How long have you been a GANYC member?
Maybe 13-14 years (I forget!)
How did you hear or learn about GANYC?
A tour colleague I met at the old Brooklyn Tourism Council.
How has GANYC helped you and your business?
Fam tours, a few jobs, insurance, general awareness of tour issues.
What's your advice or Tour Guide tip you love to share to people visiting New York?
Take the subway. Get out of Manhattan. The neighborhoods in Brooklyn have a richer mix of architecture and social history, but the variety of food is probably better in Queens.
(For more info or to book a tour with Norman check out his GANYC profile by clicking here.)