MALE (British): Good afternoon. Membership services. How may I help you?
FEMALE (British): Hello. I’m interested in becoming a member of the museum.
MALE: Glad to hear it. Do you visit the museum often?
FEMALE: Fairly often…once a month, I’d say. Your museum collections are fantastic and I really like the exhibitions you have as well. I heard that members receive special benefits, so I’d like to know a little more about them. What’s included in the membership?
MALE: Well, the first privilege is that you’ll have unlimited free entry to the exhibitions.
FEMALE: Terrific.
MALE: Another benefit is that you’re able to attend some exclusive events held at the museum.
FEMALE: What kind of events?
MALE: Well, once a month we have a lecture by one of the museum’s curators.
FEMALE: What are the lectures usually about?
MALE: They’re usually related to an exhibition we’re holding, but not always. Last month, the curator spoke about some new artefacts that were added to the museum collection.
FEMALE: Mm-hm.
MALE: We also host members’ evenings once every two months. Guest speakers present mini-lectures, and sometimes there are performances or demonstrations. For example, once a speaker discussed some ancient Greek pottery and a potter was on hand to show how it was made thousands of years ago.
FEMALE: That sounds interesting.
MALE: Most definitely. Okay, there are two more things I should mention. The first one is that you get access to our members’ room.
FEMALE: Members’ room?
MALE: There’s a small cafe and comfortable sitting area. It’s a great way to take a break from the main halls, which can become quite crowded.
FEMALE: That’s sounds wonderful. I’ve been to some exhibitions that are overwhelmingly busy.
MALE: Exactly. You’ll also receive our monthly e-letter, which contains information on how your membership fee helps support the collection. It’s not necessarily a benefit, but we do like to regularly thank our members for all their contributions to the museum and to let them know how their money is being used.
FEMALE: So, how much is a membership?
MALE: Well, that depends. Are you a student?
FEMALE: Oh no. I graduated a few years ago.
MALE: I see. Um…may I ask your age?
FEMALE: Sure. I’m 30.
MALE: Ah…in that case, you aren’t eligible for our “Under 26” membership fee. You’ll have to pay the standard individual membership fee. Now, there are two methods of payment you can choose from: either by credit card or by direct debit.
FEMALE: I think I’ll pay by direct debit.
MALE: All right. It’s actually a little cheaper to pay by direct debit anyway. The annual fee will be £60.
FEMALE: Do I need to stop by the museum to pay?
MALE: No. Everything can be done online. All you have to do is fill out a registration form and indicate that you’re paying by direct debit. Once your registration is complete, the museum will send your membership card to the address you specify.
FEMALE: Oh, okay. Actually, I was hoping to go to the Vikings exhibition tonight. Will my membership be in effect or do I need to wait for my card?
MALE: Your membership is valid from the moment of purchase. If you join online by setting up a direct debit, you’ll receive a confirmation e-mail that you can print off and use as proof of membership.
FEMALE: Great. Um, I have another question. My husband might be attending an exhibition with me from time to time. Do we get any free passes for guests?
MALE: We don’t give out free passes per say, but what you can do is upgrade your membership to a joint membership with your spouse. With the upgrade, your husband will not need to pay for the exhibitions. The price to upgrade isn’t that expensive. Instead of £60, it comes out to £82 a year.
FEMALE: Wonderful. I think I’ll go for the joint membership. I’ll get started on my registration right now.
MALE: If you ever have any questions, please feel free to call us.
FEMALE: I will. Thank you for all your help!