The Art of Tabling
Tabling is one of the best tried and true recruitment and campaigning methods. It’s extremely effective for the following reasons: - An active, attractive table can draw people over to see what the issue is all about
- A table allows us to get information out through attention grabbing materials such as posters, brochures, fact sheets, buttons and other merchandise, and allows us to sign up new CAN members and recruit new volunteers.
- If tabling efforts are done regularly in well placed areas they will become extremely visible symbols of our grassroots campaign and accessible locations for dialogue with the public
- Tabling skills are easy to learn and therefore are good tools to develop volunteers and leaders in the campaign.
The cardinal rule of tabling is to avoid hiding behind the table. Don’t be a part of the display and don’t wait for people to approach you. Work the crowd. Call out to the people passing by. Urge them tot take information, sign up for CAN, buy a bumper sticker or whatever the current focus of your effort is. When Tabling, Remember these Tips: - Smile!
- Make eye contact.
- Have a “rap” or “hook” ready to go.
- Be aggressive, but not pushy.
- Engage people in conversation.
- Stand in front of the table with a clipboard and ask people to sign your petition.
- Always target tabling to a specific action, such as recruiting CAN members.
- Avoid arguments. Cut off harassers as quickly and courteously as possible.
- Be accurate with your information. If you don’t know, say, “I don’t know, but I can find out.”
- Encourage people to take something with them from the table. A flyer for a forthcoming event, a magnet, a sticker or a brochure helps increase the visibility of the pro-choice community
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