According to Michael Boimoil, the term "chauffeur" is rarely used anymore.
"It's an old-fashioned term," he says. People no longer expect the white-gloved
man with a top hat and a crisp tuxedo. They don't expect a driver who opens
the door and serves cocktails on a silver platter. "The regular corporate
guys will wear a suit. Most people call you a driver or a limo driver. Chauffeur
is actually not a term that's used."
That said, Boimoil still asserts the need for class when it comes to presentation,
conversation and efficiency. He drives a modest Lincoln in a bustling urban
center. His clients range from corporate executives to rock stars and darlings
of the film industry.
Maintaining the level of class that his company stands for, Boimoil respects
the privacy of his clients and will not reveal their names. He asserts that
they are "very interesting people" who expect the best.
Boimoil provides the best by determining what an individual needs. "You
have to know what the...traveler needs. Good service, someone who can communicate
properly. Have cellphones and laptops at their disposal. Know how to shuffle
them from one need to the next," he says.
Boimoil says that travelers of all kinds are a challenging bunch to handle.
You simply have to be on the ball to do the job well. "They're demanding people
and I don't blame them. If they have to get to the airport in half an hour,
they have to get there. If they have to change a flight, then you get them
there."
In order to keep his panicked passengers from getting the better of him,
Boimoil has to be totally organized himself. "If you really plan well, you'll
do OK. It takes a lot of organization. A lot of guys in this business are
not organized and they don't do so well. They're always falling behind."
Boimoil adds that a successful chauffeur is prepared to work unpredictable
and long hours. "It's not a 9-to-5 thing. You're out early, sometimes 5 in
the morning."
When and how often chauffeur Margaret Wheeler works depends mainly on the
whims of a busy clientele. "People travel at all times, every day," she explains.
Flexibility, says Wheeler, is a chauffeur's most valuable characteristic.
"A typical day could start with a pickup at 5 a.m., followed by a cluster
of jobs until 10 a.m. Then, there may be a break until 4 p.m. or nothing until
evening."
Wheeler talks about the biggest perk of the job: the people and the relationships
with regular passengers. "I have many funny, poignant moments. I chauffeur
many people on a weekly basis and for 30 minutes to an hour each trip. I have
running dialogs on a theme, or talk about something current."
Good clients, says Wheeler, make all the difference -- and the drivers
actually fight over them. "Our clients are really great people and I usually
look forward to the job. There are a few that all of the crew will want. We
have to draw straws over who gets to pick [these clients] up!"
Not all of Wheeler's clients have been easy to deal with. A chauffeur must
have a history of patience and tolerance. "You have to like people and be
tolerant of everyone's eccentricities," she says.
As you pull up to the departure gate, a passenger might confess his fear
of flying, or tell you how to drive faster just to get there in the first
place. "Get past that and you develop a relationship with people. That is
the biggest perk."
A broad knowledge of current events, an interesting background and a willingness
to talk are helpful when it comes to making conversation, says Wheeler. She
needs to "just be able to talk to everyone about anything."
Boimoil and Wheeler are clear about the need for well-developed people
skills in this business. But a good chauffeur is also intuitive, handy when
it comes to the tricks of car travel, and generally aware of the surroundings.
"Common sense is very necessary," says Wheeler, "and the ability to read
maps quickly. Being out on the road all day, every day, your driving skills
must be sharp. You see every kind of driver, mostly bad. And you have to dodge
all the crazy maneuvers while keeping everyone calm in the car!"