At a crossroads
July is pondering time. Join in?
Bonjour, c’est Véro
Earlier this week I received a few photos captured by a client including this shot, when we were exploring Montmartre in June (Merci, M’sieur “Z”)
It’s my favorite, not the typical photo of the (energetic!) tour guide in action.
I was honored. As I nursed a bad cold the photos and the client’s kind message got me thinking.
I find Paris to be one of the most challenging French destinations to share with visitors. I know because I lead tours all over France for several months each year.
The city’s so famous, mentioned so often on social media. People have such high expectations!
There are experts at every street corner ready to share their vision of the French capital city, “tour guides” with different backgrounds, training and abilities.
Montmartre is an iconic location that separates the men from the boys.
You’ll hear it all there, often the same anecdotes featuring the same characters.
For the last 5 years I’ve tackled the challenge of digging out new stories (even if this involves more research and considerable effort) to continue educating folks about France on and off the beaten path.
I just watched an old episode of my 2020 virtual tour series on the former villages of Paris (Find them on the France with Vero YouTube channel.)
As I listened to my own voice - muffled un peu by a face mask - I remembered instantly the time spent before the tour reading about that neighborhood, then scouting memorable locations on site. Hours of prep work, for a 50-minute, free virtual guided walk led rain or shine, face mask on, fogged up glasses, as long as the cell signal held out.
A gratifying exercise during challenging times as it turns out: There were many interactions with viewers during livestreams when this community was born, and encouraging comments left later on YouTube. I had found my purpose and built a solid business in the middle of a worldwide crisis.
Life has changed.
Everyone had more time then. People were stuck at home and francophiles were looking for ways to return to the French world off limits to international visitors for months.
We’ve all moved on and millions of tourists will descend upon Paris in 2024 keeping tour guides busy, chasing their dreams by the Seine, en terrasse or along cobbled streets all over the city.
These days I lead tours in person for groups or individual travelers in Paris but mostly around France.
I continue to share my homeland as a “content creator” un nom à la mode, a trendy moniker.
I’ve been active on social media for well over a decade. Somehow that format and the incessant talk about moody algorithms limiting the reach of my publications leave me increasingly frustrated, less in control, in short sur ma faim (wanting more.)
In 2024 viewers’ patience, attention span and availability have drastically shrunk, experts say. Soundbites and catchy tunes are in. People consume content, scrolling by quickly, often without bothering to “like” or share a post. C’est dommage. That’s unfortunate. Engagement is the only way to give a creator a standing chance against powerful algorithms.
Picture this adult educator talking to a classroom looking at students’ faces, only to hear deafening silence (or watch students leave the room) when she asks: “Do you have any questions?”
Inside the virtual hamster wheel, many content creators are happy to comply with the ever-changing rules of the game. Dreamy images, sexy filters, soundbites, cultural stereotypes, catchy music it will be.
I do my best, to an extent. A new YouTube series I launched this year “French and Entrepreneur” features video interviews capped at 20 minutes.
What’s next, long term, for Véro?
Maybe more writing. I still enjoy the exercise when I am not on the road. Substack is the ideal platform to hop on the keyboard and create away as I did today on a whim.
Maybe more teaching. In addition to online French conversation classes in the fall and winter, I’ll be working on developing weeklong immersion stays in Tours, my city, in 2025.
I’ve sensed for a while I may have reached a crossroads and need time and a chance to step back and ponder.
What do I want to do? What do I want to focus on? Guiding? Teaching? Writing?
In full survival mode since Covid years I’ve tried to do it all, switching hats at will, working all year.
The balance can be precarious. Motivation and enthusiasm must be preserved at all costs. And of course this single gal must continue to make a living. No business can survive distilling products and services just for free.
If you know me and have followed France with Vero for a while what would your suggestions be? What do you still enjoy in the stories I share in various formats? What would you like to hear (or see) from my desk or camera over the next few months?
This newsletter has close to 4000 subscribers.
Parlez. Je vous écoute. Time to chime in. I am listening.
Leave a comment below or email more personal messages to vero@francewithvero.com
Merci et à bientôt,
Véro
Your Best French Friend in France
Tour guide. Adult educator. Writer.
I’m sorry to say that I have been one of those subscribers adding to the ‘deafening silence’. Please do not confuse my silence with indifference. I truly appreciate all of the content you have provided. You are a rarity; you are authentic. There are many expats providing content but you are une vraie Parisienne. I hope that you continue Vero.
Best regards.
Bonnie L
Dear Vero
I have followed you for years now—watched you grow in the various iterations of your online work. From the states to Paris, with your folks, your wonderful son, then finally taking root in your beloved adopted new hometown of Tours. Your content has always inspired me and will continue to do so going forward in whatever form it takes.
If you’ll allow me this observation: Tours seems to me to be directly on your future path. It energized you to move there and seems to reenergize you every time you return. From Le Monstre to your favorite Place Plume you clearly come alive in the Loire valley and your heart clearly swims in the mighty Loire. Methinks there is a strong clue about your future in the very place you’ve chosen to settle—after all you picked it for a number of reasons.
Whatever your future path I will follow and support you as long as I can. You have given France and Paris back to me in a way I thought was impossible. That is worth everything to me as I have tried to show you with my ongoing support. That will not change.
This won’t be any different—you are a smart, lovely, talented woman who still has much to do and give. I will be happily and proudly watching as you take your next steps! Dr Michael (and Kaya).