I am Siobhan MacShane. I've been a Observatory Host at the Empire State Building since 2004. AMA.

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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technicalityNDBO t1_jd4g436 wrote

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

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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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Neckwrecker t1_jd4hmcj wrote

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

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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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PonyEnglish t1_jd4hwx3 wrote

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

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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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Spartanfred104 t1_jd4i40e wrote

How many times have you heard the "he's not coming" joke?

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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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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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PonyEnglish t1_jd4j5hn wrote

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

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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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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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PeanutSalsa t1_jd4kpuy wrote

What is an observatory host and what do you do?

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4l6cv wrote

Replying to Neckwrecker (#2,294,583)

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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Big-Parfait2589 t1_jd4lply wrote

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

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4lu6z wrote

Replying to PonyEnglish (#2,294,598)

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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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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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_jd4mmi0 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,294,620)

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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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4o1qa wrote

Replying to PonyEnglish (#2,294,681)

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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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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ehhhwow t1_jd4oapl wrote

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

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ps1ke t1_jd4opl2 wrote

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

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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4oucs wrote

Replying to Frankyagain (#2,294,716)

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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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4pp48 wrote

Replying to PeanutSalsa (#2,294,811)

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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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4qkbv wrote

Replying to uburoy (#2,295,059)

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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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4r2t3 wrote

Replying to ehhhwow (#2,295,063)

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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collegedropoutclub t1_jd4rqgu wrote

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

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canadave_nyc t1_jd4s1vo wrote

Replying to apreche (#2,294,810)

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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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4sc7l wrote

Replying to Solid_Scallion6097 (#2,295,277)

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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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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EmpireStateBuilding OP t1_jd4svlk wrote

Replying to collegedropoutclub (#2,295,301)

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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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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UnderstandMeaning t1_jd4teqc wrote

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

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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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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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dougola t1_jd5f1mu wrote

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

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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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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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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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cropguru357 t1_jd5uqj3 wrote

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

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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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Benes3460 t1_jd8pmu6 wrote

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

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waitfaster t1_jd9oc8j wrote

Replying to EmpireStateBuilding (#2,295,137)

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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Jim105 t1_jddfc01 wrote

How fast are the elevators?

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uburoy t1_je8r85v wrote

Replying to EmpireStateBuilding (#2,295,237)

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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