RushBiddies - coaching for recruitment
 

Since this has been mentioned before, I found it interesting that it showed up on the front page of the Birmingham News today.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/09/...ty_rush_b.html

A television series? Really? Because I'm sure that would portray Greek life fairly and accurately.

I really hope this reality tv show trend dies soon.

Helping young women join Gamma Phi (or any other NPC sorority) is the fulfillment of my pledge to help Gamma Phi and support the Greek system - I would never take money for it.

It's just tacky.

These women have an agent that has been in contact with several major production companies, The Today show and GMA. My oldest is a producer for a major studio in NYC and called to see if I had ever heard of them. The production companies what to film them "in action" helping PNM's and parents. I told I wasn't sure of any PNM that would appear on film. Apparently from what I have been told the agent is relentless and very pushy. Just an opinion but I think the only "best interest" these women have is for themselves.

Not to mention that it would be beyond comprehension if any NPC sororities participated in any way, shape or form. I know there are stringent guidelines that Zetas must follow when representing the sorority-I am sure the other sororities have similar guidelines.

Holy cannolli, they need (from left to right) an upper-arm chemical peel and intensive pre-shampoo and post-shampoo deep conditioner before they can go anywhere near a hi-def TV.

Well, they are "biddies" after all....

I always just find it amusing when people who advise other people on appearance, etc are so clueless of their own shortcomings. All us over 40 ladies know, our upper arms don't look like they used to and even if you live in baking hot Alabama, if you're going to be photographed for something that can be viewed all over the web, you should probably cover those babies up.

This. Is. So. Wrong.

From so many angles. Reality shows are rarely flattering. (Honey Boo Boo anybody?)

This is why I ALWAYS wear sleeves. Personally, I hate the current fashion for sleeveless. :eek:

Re: reality TV. Let's see - 27 episodes....27 (or more) PNMs...multiple PNMs going through 27 different recruitments...Sees like it would get boring, but then I raptly watch Storage Wars and Pawn Stars, and it's pretty much the same thing every episode.

So..are the camera crews going to follow the pnms to the parties and watch them talk about the sororities they visited and who released them?

Seems very lopsided if they can't film the chapters talking about the pnms.;)

I'm with you on the sleeves.

(sigh)

I can't imagine that any PNM (or eventual new member) would want to be featured on an episode of Rush Biddies. I can't imagine that there is enough material of sufficient interest to even bother filming (without cooking some drama, anyway).

M. Foster's older daughter (now an adult) has some pretty entertaining blog entries -- especially under the circumstances (even mom gets some mentions). I've never heard the term "air biscuit," but assume PNMs will be advised not to 'float' any (especially at pref). ;)

Link to blog

You must have no sons!:p

Well, it could be done like Pawn Stars where they never show the products actually sell or how much they went for. But that's the problem I have with that show - no closure. And there's about a million shows out there right now with the exact same formula. They'd have dorky girls come in, get 5 minutes worth of etiquette training and shoo them off into the sunset. Or a commentary at the end saying Suzie pledged the best house on campus and Mary didn't listen to us and got the worst house. And that's probably how it would be worded. I do not hold out hope.

Does anyone know what sororities the "biddies" and their daughters are in?
(Sorry if it's mentioned in a different thread.)

PNMs might be initially enticed to be on the show (if the compensation is, say, equal to the cost of a semester at college), but are probably regretting it after accepting an invitation to a GLO. Would the actives be offended that a NM needed to be coached or applaud the NM for using available resources?

When reality shows have more success if there is drama (or manufactured drama) ... plus being in TV production for 20+ years, it's difficult to see that this show is going to put sororities in a favorable light and NOT perpetuate antiquated sorority sterotypes. Hope I'm wrong.

One is not in a GLO but her daughter is and the other, I think, is a KD but I could be wrong. Don't have time to go back and do the research this morning!

I am so sorry but if M.Foster's daughter's blog is an advertisement for how momma shaped her to get into a sorority then PNMs and their mommas better run for the hills. That woman has NO filter on her mouth!!! If I were her mother and starting a business and media career (which I think that is what they see this as) I would shut that down right now! I hope that is my daughters ever talk about their experiences of going through recruitment and my role as their mother that they don't blog about totally inane dribble!!!!

I don't think these shows pay as much as people think. The baker who catered the treats for my daughter's graduation party told us she's been asked to be on Cupcake Wars 6 times and has refused. Her reasoning:

1) They always accentuate the "drama", so it could hurt your business when (not if) you're critiqued.

2) They pay for the head baker to come to California for filming, but each bakery has to pay for their crew's travel expenses. Unless you win, it's a lose-lose proposition: you look bad, and you had to pay for it!

She said it's just too risky. I feel the same way about this proposed show, from the PNM's standpoint. From an NPC standpoint: no, just no.

That’s my understanding as well – I also understand that she has a daughter who is a KD at UGA (not sure about the Greek affiliation of other blogging daughter). I understand that the other entrepreneur‘s daughter is a ZTA at AU. One wonders if this is awkward for the daughters when their moms' clients come through rush at their respective chapters.

It almost seems as if charging for these services while serving as an alum (from a chapter these "clients" may pass through) would be a quirky COI of some sort. Awkward, anyway.

Did anyone see them on GMA this morning? I especially loved the part of this segment where the NYU student explained that "You do not have to pay for pricey consultants....you should simply be yourself."

It just goes to show you (in the day and age of MTV's 'Sweet Sixteen') just how much people are willing to shell out just because they can.

I've heard the networks make the big bucks since they don't have to pay very much.
That's why they love reality tv. I think it is getting silly now and sometimes I wonder how much is just made up or edited for the show.
I also only wear longsleeves!

Never have seen the show - and probably don't want to. I think it's good to be "prepared" for recruitment, i.e. getting recommendation letters when/where needed, selecting appropriate clothing, getting a reality check on the process itself.

But, I told my daughter and her friends that the best advice I could give them was to "just be yourself and shine." I can't imagine that anyone would want her daughter to be any place other than where she feels a connection and is comfortable for the next 4 years on campus.

I watched the segment this am. Anyone who wants to, can watch it here. I found it interesting that the first 'coach' they mentioned is actually an image consultant.

But it could be financially rewarding:

“. . . $300 per hour to coach young women . . .”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headline...y-consultants/

{ Comment -- “Some people got it and make it pay / GreekChat is happy to give it away” -- apologies to S. Sondheim for the modification}