Sunday, July 20, 2008
How to Campaign at Parades, Festivals and Fairs
by Matt Lewis
It's that time of year. Candidates of all stripes and sizes are receiving invitations to attend lots of parades, festivals, and fairs. I've attended hundreds of these small town events -- and I know what works (and what doesn't). Following are my tips for success: 1. Have Balloons. While I usually discourage candidates from wasting money on too many kitschy items, balloons are the exception. The most liberal mom or dad may hate your candidate -- but they won't be able to say "no" to a kid who wants a balloon. (Of course, the ultimate goal is to have hundreds of balloons floating around the event with your candidate's name on it.) So how do you use balloons effectively? - First, make sure your candidate's name is printed in LARGE letters. (Small writing is a waste.) - Arrive at the event early (it takes more time to inflate balloons with helium than you think). - Throughout the event, have one person continuously responsible for inflating balloons, while other volunteers distribute them. - If the event is a parade, have volunteers distribute balloons up and down the parade route -- before the parade starts. (Remember, observers begin lining up their lawn chairs along the parade route long before the parade actually starts.) 2. Candy. At a parade, they will usually allow you to throw candy to the crowd. Kids love it, and adults do too. And at a fair or a festival, it is a good idea to have candy at your recruitment table (along with your bumper stickers, yard signs, etc.). 3. Lapel Stickers. Forget those metal campaign pins that they used to give out in the old days. Instead, invest in rolls and rolls of lapel stickers. - Again, make sure your candidate's name is in large letters. - If the event is a parade, arrive early and have volunteers go up and down the parade route, giving them out before the parade starts. - Ideally, your volunteers will personally (and respectfully) place the sticker on a person's shirt. This insures the person actually wears it. (Stickers do you no good if they aren't worn). Never tear off the sticker (with the back still attached). If you must hand someone a sticker, pull the back off (so that it is sticky when you hand it to them). - You should be wearing several stickers. Psychologically, if you are wearing a few stickers, others won't object to wearing just one. - Like balloons, kids love stickers. GENERAL TIPS ... - Be aggressive. As Morton Blackwell says, "Nothing moves in politics unless it's pushed." Whether you're handing out lapel stickers or palm cards, you've got to be willing to be outgoing and approach folks (without crossing the line). - Get there early. Advance work pays off. Whether you are attending a parade or a fair, arrive early and set up the logistics. - Staff and volunteers should be wearing campaign t-shirts. The candidate's name should be printed large on BOTH sides of the shirt. - Have a "travel aide." At a parade, always have one person whose entire job is simply to stay with the candidate (at all times). This person is charged with walking next to the candidate and holding a sign with the candidate's name on it. If someone spends too much time talking with the candidate, the travel aide must play "the bad guy," and politely find a way to get the candidate out of there (the candidate is always the "good guy"). The travel aide should also collect business cards, remember names, etc. ... If you do these things, you will run circles around your opponent at parades, festivals, and fairs. Note: You may not feel that parades and fairs are the most exciting part of campaigning, but remember: The best run campaigns make sure to outmaneuver their opponents in all facets. So let's get out there and get to work!
Matthew K. Lewis,
President, Campaign Leadership Company, LLC
by Matt Lewis
It's that time of year. Candidates of all stripes and sizes are receiving invitations to attend lots of parades, festivals, and fairs. I've attended hundreds of these small town events -- and I know what works (and what doesn't). Following are my tips for success: 1. Have Balloons. While I usually discourage candidates from wasting money on too many kitschy items, balloons are the exception. The most liberal mom or dad may hate your candidate -- but they won't be able to say "no" to a kid who wants a balloon. (Of course, the ultimate goal is to have hundreds of balloons floating around the event with your candidate's name on it.) So how do you use balloons effectively? - First, make sure your candidate's name is printed in LARGE letters. (Small writing is a waste.) - Arrive at the event early (it takes more time to inflate balloons with helium than you think). - Throughout the event, have one person continuously responsible for inflating balloons, while other volunteers distribute them. - If the event is a parade, have volunteers distribute balloons up and down the parade route -- before the parade starts. (Remember, observers begin lining up their lawn chairs along the parade route long before the parade actually starts.) 2. Candy. At a parade, they will usually allow you to throw candy to the crowd. Kids love it, and adults do too. And at a fair or a festival, it is a good idea to have candy at your recruitment table (along with your bumper stickers, yard signs, etc.). 3. Lapel Stickers. Forget those metal campaign pins that they used to give out in the old days. Instead, invest in rolls and rolls of lapel stickers. - Again, make sure your candidate's name is in large letters. - If the event is a parade, arrive early and have volunteers go up and down the parade route, giving them out before the parade starts. - Ideally, your volunteers will personally (and respectfully) place the sticker on a person's shirt. This insures the person actually wears it. (Stickers do you no good if they aren't worn). Never tear off the sticker (with the back still attached). If you must hand someone a sticker, pull the back off (so that it is sticky when you hand it to them). - You should be wearing several stickers. Psychologically, if you are wearing a few stickers, others won't object to wearing just one. - Like balloons, kids love stickers. GENERAL TIPS ... - Be aggressive. As Morton Blackwell says, "Nothing moves in politics unless it's pushed." Whether you're handing out lapel stickers or palm cards, you've got to be willing to be outgoing and approach folks (without crossing the line). - Get there early. Advance work pays off. Whether you are attending a parade or a fair, arrive early and set up the logistics. - Staff and volunteers should be wearing campaign t-shirts. The candidate's name should be printed large on BOTH sides of the shirt. - Have a "travel aide." At a parade, always have one person whose entire job is simply to stay with the candidate (at all times). This person is charged with walking next to the candidate and holding a sign with the candidate's name on it. If someone spends too much time talking with the candidate, the travel aide must play "the bad guy," and politely find a way to get the candidate out of there (the candidate is always the "good guy"). The travel aide should also collect business cards, remember names, etc. ... If you do these things, you will run circles around your opponent at parades, festivals, and fairs. Note: You may not feel that parades and fairs are the most exciting part of campaigning, but remember: The best run campaigns make sure to outmaneuver their opponents in all facets. So let's get out there and get to work!
Matthew K. Lewis,
President, Campaign Leadership Company, LLC
# posted by RonL @ 3:19 PM 
