Submitted by EmpireStateBuilding t3_11xrk3i in IAmA

Hi everyone! My name is Siobhan MacShane and I've been an observatory host at the Empire State Building since 2004. In over 18 years I've seen it all at the World's Most Famous Building and want to share my wealth of knowledge with Reddit! Want to come pay us a visit? Check out esbnyc.com for tickets and further information.

PROOF: https://i.redd.it/2yynfklr6xoa1.jpg

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Stepsonrakes t1_jd4gwgj wrote

Did they fire the guy who lit the place up in Philadelphia eagles colors?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4kxwb wrote

We always light for the AFC/NFC championships! Our special lightings originated with the World Series and we look forward to keeping this tradition alive.

For the record, we also lit for the Chiefs later that evening.

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GlennSeaborg t1_jd89m0q wrote

Does this mean you would do this if the Cowboys won the NFC Cham---

Nevermind, that'll never happen.

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geriatric-sanatore t1_jd9r250 wrote

Damn catching strays everywhere, where's a commanders fan when you need one.

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GoochThunder t1_jdcx6nk wrote

I’m ready to be hurt

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geriatric-sanatore t1_jdedd16 wrote

Look I hate you guys but I sincerely hope you get a new owner and they appreciates his or her fans and you get a new stadium but never a franchise QB.

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speurk-beurk t1_jd9vxzm wrote

Light it yellow and black for Swedish football team Mjällby AIF on the 18th of may

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GlennSeaborg t1_jd89bla wrote

>Did they fire the guy who lit the place up in Philadelphia eagles colors?

Did they fire the guy who lit the place up in Philadelphia eagles colors from a cannon off the top of the ESB?

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apreche t1_jd4kor2 wrote

I am an NYC resident. I haven't been in the ESB since I was like, 10 years old. If I want to come just to go to the top and go down again, just for the sake of it, what is the best time to go to avoid the tourist crowd as much as I can?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4p6p0 wrote

That is a great question, If you really want to avoid crowds, come during the middle of the week after sunset. After 8PM is your best bet.

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shorthanded t1_jd637wv wrote

I went at around 11pm? Maybe 10pm? Been 10 years, but it was amazing and no lineup. The best part (next to the view)? Snowing at the top, not even raining at the bottom. Hard to fathom how high up you really are.

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Junkstar t1_jd4sfp0 wrote

That’s surprising. And great to know!

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waitfaster t1_jd9oc8j wrote

I went several times during 2011-2012 and always after or around midnight. Just walked straight in, through security and then up to the top without any delay. I worked right by the Flatiron building and had some visitors who wanted to see, so I ended up going up a lot. My ears always pop in the elevator haha. Loved it every time and can't wait to go again some day (I'm quite far away these days).

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canadave_nyc t1_jd4s1vo wrote

If I may jump in here as a former NYC resident: I've always recommended that anyone who wants to visit the ESB try to time your visit to just BEFORE sunset, while it's still light enough to see things in at least some kind of light. Then stick around if you can for a little while longer and get to see the "glittering city lights" at night.

Lots of people say to just come after sunset, but then you don't get to see the actual city around.

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technicalityNDBO t1_jd4g436 wrote

What is the most common thing you have to ask guests to stop doing?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4kj8y wrote

Jumping over ropes/stanchions that are set up. Can't blame them when the view is as good as it gets.

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JeffRyan1 t1_jd4htf0 wrote

When the Empire State Building was used for docking airships, how did the people on board disembark? to what floor?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4lhxs wrote

There were only two tests in the building's history trying to moor the ship to the top floor, neither of which were successful.

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Bliz515 t1_jd4mh88 wrote

From one Siobhan to another, what's the worst/best way you've seen the name get messed up?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4pyo8 wrote

I've heard every pronunciation imaginable. It's honestly most exciting when someone gets it right.

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ztmwvo t1_jd4uamw wrote

Shuh von

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SunSaw t1_jd5wvpr wrote

Chiffon

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stevenmc t1_jd75gja wrote

>Chiffon

That's a fabric.

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SunSaw t1_jd7n34b wrote

True. It's also a mnemonic for how to pronounce Siobhan mostly correctly.

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Smokey_Katt t1_jd7leue wrote

Sigh-o-bhan? See-ob-han?

I’ve only seen this name written.

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apginge t1_jd7sj2l wrote

“Shi-von” or “shiv” for short. Like the woman in Succession.

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AllanKempe t1_jefngai wrote

So... how is it supposed to be pronounced? Like "see-bun", "sue-ban" etc.?

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PonyEnglish t1_jd4hwx3 wrote

Are there places off-limits to the public that you wish you could show?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4lu6z wrote

Well, our VIP tours give the public access to the basement which homes our steam plant, the refrigeration plant, and own bank vault and other building innerworkings. Generally, these are off-limits to the general public so these are a blast to show our guests.

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pingsinger t1_jd4hxc4 wrote

Have you ever encountered people trying to recreate a Sleepless in Seattle situation?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4lyuo wrote

Sleepless in Seattle, not so much but folks are always trying to act like Buddy the Elf in our Lobby.

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PonyEnglish t1_jd4j5hn wrote

Is true there is a rivalry with the Chrysler Building? If so, how serious is it?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4o1qa wrote

There's a few ways to answer this. There were rivalries between all the sky-scrapers being built during the period and whoever had the tallest building was going to win. There was a small rivalry between John J. Raskob and Walter Chrysler.

The Chrysler Building secretly added their spire as a last ditch attempt to beat out the Bank of Manhattan building that was being built simultaneously.

Beyond that, everyone had a rivalry going, but these days we love our neighbor the Chrysler Building.

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Weekly_Priority_1884 t1_jd4fue4 wrote

What was your favorite day on the job?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4kdg3 wrote

My favorite day on the job was when we launched our private tour program. I got to give my first full VIP tour and showcase the history of the building. I had been at ESB for 12 years and was always something I wanted to do.

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ihaveathingforyou t1_jd54d0z wrote

Thanks for doing this.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with 500 Fifth Avenue, but it was designed by the same firm as the Empire State Building. I used to think of it as a baby brother of the ESB and I’m curious if you had any info on that building?

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Neckwrecker t1_jd4hmcj wrote

What's your favorite color combo for the top of the ESB?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4l6cv wrote

When I first started in 2003, we still had the old drum light. I'm not partial to any particular scheme, but its hard to choose when there are 16 million different colors to choose from. I am still blown away by our music to light shows.

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uburoy t1_jd4oa41 wrote

The Empire State Building was built in some really fast way that even today is impossible to replicate. How did they do that?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4qkbv wrote

I think the best way to explain it, is the time period. It was the heart of the Depression. As I understand it, we had approximately 3400 workers working 7 days a week and doing 13-hour days. I give lot of credit to the Starrett brothers who served as general contractors for the project and planned meticulously to move the process along as fast as possible.

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uburoy t1_je8r85v wrote

It sounds like the planning was the big difference. You can't just throw more people at a problem, that usually makes it worse.

Interesting. Learning about the Starrett Brothers is great inside info, thank you!

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hungry-traveler t1_jd4ihny wrote

Who designed the host uniforms? Is there a reason for the color choice? I do like the aesthetics but, for some, a little tailoring would go far.

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4n8gz wrote

Turkish Designer Peyman Umay designed our new unforms. The color referred to as Empire State Steel lines up with our reimagined observatory experience following our 165 million dollar renovation.

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hungry-traveler t1_jd4phrt wrote

>Peyman Umay

Cool. I checked their website. Really clean designs. Thanks and see you all soon.

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ehhhwow t1_jd4oapl wrote

What's the most interesting fact/new thing you've discovered over the 18 years?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4r2t3 wrote

It's the fact that there is still so much to learn about the Building after being here for 18 years that ewime. Even though I've been here for 18 years, there are folks on staff who have been here for over 40 years, so they certainly have things to teach me as well. I'd love to learn more from our Chief Engineer.

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edave22 t1_jd4slwi wrote

Never heard the name Siobhan once in my entire 30-something year life.

I binge Succession in one weekend and now I’ve seen the name at least 6 times on the internet and met someone with that name.

What’s that phenomenon called again?

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UnderstandMeaning t1_jd4teqc wrote

What is your favorite floor (can’t say 2nd, 80th, 86th, or 102nd) and why?

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[deleted] t1_jd4i6ur wrote

[deleted]

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4mmi0 wrote

I am not afraid of heights and the building doesn't have a sway. We have a "give" of a quarter of an inch in winds over 110MPH. Other newer buildings do have a sway, but they were constructed in a much different fashion with a much narrower base. Our wedding cake design provides us with greater stability.

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Frankyagain t1_jd4jn78 wrote

Why do you think the Empire State Building is the world's most famous building?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4oucs wrote

We were the tallest building in the world for 42 years, we were the first building in the world to have over 100 floors, we've been in over 600 pieces of media, beginning with King Kong in 1933. We could another 100 reasons why, but I may be slightly biased.

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Briggykins t1_jd7tugy wrote

Taj Mahal would be my choice. Admittedly I'm not from the US but I'm not even sure I could pick out the empire state from a skyscraper lineup.

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Solid_Scallion6097 t1_jd4rgop wrote

What made you want to become an observatory host?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4sc7l wrote

My uncle who was retired NYPD who was working on ESB's security team at the time, got me the job. I started as a college student who needed a job. I was studying history, with a focus on NYC history. It all fell into place for me.

I loved being around so many people and hearing through so many languages their love for NYC and the reasons that brough them to the Empire State Building. Ther sense of family within our staff made it an easy choice to stay around.

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Nef_Fets t1_jd4te4t wrote

Some nights when I'm anxious and can't sleep and it's close to 2am, I get some comfort seeing the lights on ESB fade off promptly at 2am from my bed in Queens. Thanks to whoever does that.

Anyone ever forget to turn them off?

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seafoodgodddd t1_jd4ifbk wrote

How do I get to the super secret open air observation deck? Who’s number do I need to have to get up there lol

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PeanutSalsa t1_jd4kpuy wrote

What is an observatory host and what do you do?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4pp48 wrote

We greet and guide guests throughout the Empire State Building Observatory which includes our museum, loading & operating elevators, maintaining guest flow on the 86th/102nd floors, answering questions on the 102nd floor, engaging in VIP tours, assisting our PR/Marketing team with celebrity visits, and a host ;) of other duties.

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Big-Parfait2589 t1_jd4lply wrote

Have you met any of the celebrities that visit the building??

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4pt0g wrote

I have. My most recent and memorable was Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. They were great to show around the Building.

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collegedropoutclub t1_jd4rqgu wrote

What was it like seeing the city come back to life after the covid shutdown?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4svlk wrote

It was great. New York City's greatest asset is it's people. Last year we welcomed approximately 2.2 million people to the Observatory and especially during the most recent Holiday period, you could feel the energy and excitement throughout the building.

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IAmAModBot t1_jd4lujw wrote

For more AMAs on this topic, subscribe to r/IAmA_Tourism, and check out our other topic-specific AMA subreddits here.

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ps1ke t1_jd4opl2 wrote

Do you notice the wind when it's bad enough?

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wilsonh915 t1_jd4vdjb wrote

How did you get this job?

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galwegian t1_jd5455n wrote

Have you ever been to the basement where the cables for the elevators are?

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dougola t1_jd5f1mu wrote

How much time should I set aside for a proper tour of the building?

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smoothpapaj t1_jd5pk5r wrote

When they not only light it red on Valentine's Day, but also have it pulse like with a heartbeat, do you find it cute or disconcerting?

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Legitimate-BurnerAcc t1_jd60aku wrote

Who is the most famous or rememberable tourist that you met as you gave them a tour?

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OryxTempel t1_jd61jxi wrote

On average, how many marriage proposals are there at the ESB per day?

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boo_monster t1_jd6f4q3 wrote

I had the pleasure of experiencing one of your incredible VIP tours last year! Thank you so much for the amazing experience!

I meant to ask you and forgot at the time but I wanted to know if there are any online records for what businesses have been in the Empire State Building? I’ve been told my grandmother worked in the building shortly after it’s opening and wanted to see if I could piece together the info of what company and possibly what floor(s) she would’ve been working on!

Thanks for doing this! It brought a smile to my face to see your face again!

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Sometimesiworry t1_jd6uezz wrote

Have anyone started calling you "Shiv" after succession aired?

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cjdacka t1_jd7j97m wrote

How often is your name mispronounced?

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gerd50501 t1_jd7sfz4 wrote

How bad are the lines? What is the best time to go to avoid really long lines?

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Ok-Feedback5604 t1_jd8hjg5 wrote

What difficulties do you have to face in your work?

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Benes3460 t1_jd8pmu6 wrote

How has it been watching the skyline/view change over the time you have worked there?

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Jim105 t1_jddfc01 wrote

How fast are the elevators?

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jonnycash11 t1_jd5rket wrote

Is the customs deck at the top?

Also, what floor has the highest bathroom (with a window)?

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hert3157 t1_jd5kfxx wrote

Why does the Empire State pretend to not celebrate Columbus Day? You light up as the Italian flag

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cropguru357 t1_jd5uqj3 wrote

Do you have an apartment or can you only afford a room?

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