We have put together recommendations for every part of the narration in a Cabinet of Wonders guide – from the introduction to the museum or gallery, through the design of routes and topics, to stops at specific exhibits.

If you are wondering how to promote Cabinet to visitors on site, we have prepared this article.

Decide who you are telling the story to and why

Before you start creating your Cabinet of Wonders guide, think about its purpose and target audience. A clearly defined purpose will help you choose the right content, style and language for the narration.

• Target audience: Think about who will use the audio guide most often - Families? Tourists? Experts? Children? Adapt the language, depth and level of expertise of the content accordingly.
• Defining the goal: Do you want to enrich the experience, entertain, improve accessibility or educate? Also consider how the guide will complement your existing materials – e.g. physical labels, catalogues, etc.

Use the introduction to say what the museum offers

The museum/gallery introduction is the first part of the narration that Cabinet of Wonders offers visitors when they enter the museum, or even before their visit. It should include:

• A welcome and an introduction to the museum/gallery: Explain what makes your institution unique and what it focuses on. Don't forget the building itself. It is surely remarkable too.
• A description of the spaces and exhibitions: Briefly explain the layout of the museum, where the permanent exhibitions are and who they are intended for. We don't recommend mentioning temporary exhibitions or information that changes often, so that the introduction stays up to date and you don't have to change it in a few weeks.
• Brief instructions for using the audio guide: Explain the available routes, how to use the QR codes and how to control the player – skipping content, pausing the narration, etc.
• Where to go next: Point visitors to where they should continue in the museum and wish them a pleasant visit.

Design a route of up to 60 minutes

First, prepare a script for the route – who it is for, where it starts and ends, how many stops it has and how long it takes. The total length should not exceed a regular tour, ideally 45–60 minutes including walking between stops. For most visitors, this is the limit for holding their attention. For children or visitors with visual or hearing impairments, the time is even shorter (according to research, such people have a shorter period during which they can fully perceive stimuli). The number of stops is individual and depends on the size of the museum, the walking time and the complexity of the exhibition, which affects the time needed to take it in. There is no universal recommendation – look for a balance between engaging listening and overwhelming the visitor. Cabinet of Wonders lets you quickly create a route, test it with visitors and adjust it as needed, including the number of stops.

• Route introduction: Clearly state what awaits visitors, where the route starts and where in the building they should go.

• Listening dynamics: Visitors concentrate most at the beginning. Take advantage of this and offer them the most interesting stories and key information.
• Stops: Alternate eye-catching exhibits or places you want to talk about with those that require deeper context or knowledge of the subject.
• End of the route: Recommend next steps, such as a visit to the café, the shop or a related exhibition in the museum.

Keep the narration at each stop under 2 minutes

Individual narrations should not exceed 2 minutes, which corresponds to approximately 260–320 words, or 1,300–1,900 characters in Czech. Even though Cabinet of Wonders technically allows longer narrations, studies clearly confirm that listeners' attention drops with long recordings. On the other hand, tracks that are too short (less than 30 seconds) may not provide enough information. Balanced content is ideal – concise, engaging and with a clear message.

Try to capture attention with the very first sentence

In the narration at each stop, try to grab attention immediately. Start with important information that will engage the visitor and think about an attractive form too – for example:

This is more striking and easier to follow than:

Devote the main part to context and stories that draw listeners into the story. At the end, where appropriate, link the content to the next stop so that the tour feels natural and smooth.

• The recommended balance of information in a narration according to the book Writing for Museums by M. Wallace:
  • 20 % – an introductory description of the object
  • 60 % – the core, context and interesting facts
  • 20 % – a transition to the next topic/stop

Expand physical labels with additional insights

The guide should not simply copy the printed labels in the installation, but complement them with new information, interesting facts and stories. It is important to clearly divide the roles of the exhibition texts and the audio narration – for example, keep the basic facts on the labels and offer wider context or further thematic narration in the guide. Physical labels can also serve as teasers for the guide. Cabinet of Wonders lets you reduce printed labels and avoid overwhelming visitors with long texts, which is one of the most common annoyances when visiting museums and galleries.

Tell stories, not just facts

The narration should offer more than just facts – add stories, interesting details or unexpected connections. Include topics that visitors often ask about. They are interested not only in information about the exhibition itself, but also in the wider context – for example, the price of the exhibits, how a work came to the museum or details of how it was made. Actively find out what interests and entertains your visitors. Don't be afraid of humour, visitors appreciate fun facts and engaging anecdotes.

Speak less formally, as if to a friend

An audio guide should be clear and friendly, as if you were showing a friend or acquaintance around. Avoid a curt or overly formal style.

• Choose a narrator: Think about who will be “speaking” in the audio guide. The simplest option is a neutral voice. However, the narration can also be told from the perspective of the exhibition's curator, or a historical or fictional character. Narration by a notable personality adds authenticity and appeal – it often suits heritage sites, or exhibitions connected with a particular author. It does, however, place greater demands on the accuracy of biographical facts and on style.
• Use the first person plural: Saying “we” instead of “you” feels more natural and comes closer to the real experience of a guided tour. For example:

Sounds better than:

Be clear and easy to understand

The language of the guide should be simple and accessible. Don't waste words – listeners' attention span is shorter than when reading a book.

• Use short sentences and short, familiar words: Words longer than 4 syllables don't sound natural in spoken language. Sentences should contain no more than 10–15 words.
• Limit exact dates and names: The century is usually enough; too many details and figures will needlessly overwhelm and tire listeners.
• Adapt the level of expertise to your target audience: For example, with visitors from abroad who are not familiar with the basics of Czech history, culture and local context, it is important to start by explaining the basics. Don't assume they have knowledge that is common in the Czech Republic - such as who Bedřich Smetana or Charles IV was.

Encourage listeners to interact with the exhibit or place

Help listeners to actively perceive and observe the physical work – use demonstratives such as this painting, that sculpture or prompting verbs such as notice, look. Research shows that people instinctively look at what they are hearing about at the same time. Make use of the potential of a simultaneous experience – with Cabinet of Wonders you engage both hearing and sight at once. For this reason, avoid describing things that are not visible or are hard to see.

Engage with rhetorical questions

Use rhetorical questions to prompt visitors to think. Then answer them. This encourages interaction and draws listeners further into the narration and dialogue.

Offer basic and extended narrations

Not every visitor wants the same level of detail. If you want to provide more content for a stop than fits into 2 minutes, consider splitting it into two versions of the recording – e.g. a basic and an extended narration. The first recording provides the key information, while the second offers wider context for those who want to know more. Cabinet of Wonders lets you create multiple recordings and QR codes for a single exhibit or place.