If you want to be a historian, don't want to anymore. If you still want to be a historian, welcome to the club! It's a passion and calling that can't be ignored; that's how you know you're a historian. Academics generally persue their own questions while public historians pursue the questions of others. There is no right choice to be a historian in regards to selecting between the two options. - but we all know public historians are way more fun at parties and just super duper cool people. Which leads me to...

I am one of these Public Historians - a Master of the Interpritive Arts (or a tour jockey if you wanna be a jerk about it). I take a "something" (usually a document or physical structure) and in most basic terms "translate" to John Q Public what it is, why it is, and what it did. Then answer their Q's about it and do it all in a way that connects them to the time, place, and event to create a contextual understanding of the "something". If you love to talk and engage with others (like you were always the odd trivia guy, for instance) it is a fantastic way to spend the day. And you get to see some cool stuff along the way, and meet some cool people. There are even different types of interpreters. Those guys in Williamsburg dressed up as period actors? Interpreters. That tour guide from the school field trip you took to whoever's famous house? Interpreter. Museum outreach coordinator? Better know your interpretation! So there is a lot of opportunity there, from historic battlefields, old estates, and museums to non-profits (like historical societies), living history exhibits, etc. Nobody ever got rich from interpretation... Nobody.

This isn't the only public history, however, as there are opportunities that don't involve personal direct engagement with the public interpretation (all historians are, in point of fact, interpreters). These jobs prepare history for interpretation, like curating a museum's collection or researching documents for answers. Those are boring jobs that nobody fun has (kidding!) but are very important and usually pay a bit more than us public talkers can expect. They also like to see things like fancy degrees for those positions which are useful but not required for many Interpritive jobs (some level of certification, training, or experience is often required, especially if you want to be paid in dollars and not thank yous).

My nickels worth is that if I couldn't get paid to do what I do I would do it for free and pay bills by other jobs (and I have, several times, and even still work another job in addition to the history thing). I won't stop doing it until I am physically unable. It's a lot of memorization and a lot more talking. It gets hot. You stand allllllll day long. Sometimes you really want to engage on a great question but time ticks and tocks, and schedules must be kept. There are always people who ask really stupid or inappropriate questions, and that's not fun to deal with. The pay will never be great. Competition in this sub-field depends entirely. You can get a volunteer/resume building gig as a docent at Joe Bababodo's plantation tomorrow. To be a guide at the Air and Space Museum, the Liberty Bell, Mt Vernon, or Monticello, it's gonna take more than that - but is not difficult if you work for it and are patient.

And did I mention, the pay will never be great?

I can't speak in depth on other aspects of public history but have been an interpreter in some form or another of history for quite a while and in different levels of "employment" at seperate locations in different states. I am happy to answer any questions my rambling may not have about interpretive historians and what that is like in real practice.

In short though, i love my job and truly enjoy doing it.