Recruitment Video - Help!?!
 

So, I've only ever given advise on these forums, but now I am asking for your help.

My chapter is trying to find inspiration or a theme for the video we show during Round 3 of Recruitment.

Here is an example of one at our school (that I/we love):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvmtIQa0aHI

Here is an example of the genuine feel of our chapter that we would want to reflect in the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=lLq0xWHSvO4

If we could be as crazy fun as the Chi Omegas, we would, but you can see the standard in the first video that we need to be similar to.

The best themes I have heard suggested are Friends or GCB (both I think could be really fun!)

Please help!

I'm a little confused about why you would want a television show "theme" for a Recruitment video. Neither one of the videos you linked to used one. Your "theme" is your organization. Recruitment videos are always going to be pretty similar: socials, sisterhood, philanthropy, etc. The "personality" of your sorority will show through as you put the video together.

I'm going to sound like that obnoxious list that comes out every year, but the girls rushing next fall were 8 years old when Friends was last on the air.

I don't think GCB is appropriate, considering what it stands for.

The only recommendation I have is to use songs (both popular and sorority) that are meaningful to YOUR chapter, not the old hackneyed stuff that gets used in video after video. I cringed when I heard "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

We had Campus Speak come to teach us. While they do deal mostly with IFC, their tips on marketing your chapter work either way. As for videos, short 30 second clips works better than a long video as it conveys your message faster

Stay away from too many inside jokes, make sure to use new, fast paced music (wait til the summer to pick the most current songs for your upbeat music so you don't have anything that is too played out) then use older slow songs that are more likely to pull the heart strings for those sisterhood/big-little pics. In my day we used St. Elmo's Fire like crazy for Senior pics. Ugh! I agree that having a theme isn't necessary, but spattering in well placed videos from events or bid day, member interviews, etc may break up the monotony. Try not to mimic others videos, rather reinvent.

Heres one thing to keep in mind. A 10 minute video will not be watched by PNMs. They'll watch about 2 minutes or possibly shift around, but rarely will they watch the whole thing. Only a sister will watch it all. That is why you want to convey your message in a short amount of time.

I cannot believe to think both chapters with videos made such long videos.

It's different for sorority recruitment, though. PNM's may not be on the edge of their seats with excitement for ten full minutes, but it's a sorta welcome break from the endless rush small talk.

do you all have a budget for getting the video done? i thought most of the chapters at UF and FSU had theirs professionally done?

The PNMs are all sat to watch in a theater-style set up, so they usually do watch a good portion of the video.

We try to have a 'theme' that carries through so that we can group clips & pics. Idk how to describe it... I guess usually the video intro & any specifically recorded stuff (transitions between sections) fits with the "theme." It usually isn't a TV show (it hasn't been since I joined) which is why its slightly difficult.

We're a group of silly fun girls and we're trying to portray that through pictures that aren't all posed. I'm excited to see what it ends up looking like!

Thank you for the input so far!

Oh, yes, we have a professional person already lined up. But we do all the creative aspects...

If it helps at all, at my school all the chapters re-do lyrics from popular songs to have to do with their chapter

I've heard that several (many/most?) Alpha Phi chapters use "The Fabulous Life Of..." format, like UCLA's chapter:
http://www.aphibruins.com/
(the video runs on their website's main page)

I don't even know if the real show runs anymore, but I love, love, love these videos. I think the use of the narrator really helps flesh out the message being conveyed - makes it easy to picture this fabulous lifestyle that you want to belong to. I suppose Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous or Cribs could be used for the same purpose.

There was a great video I have been looking for where it was actually basically slides but way more creative and it only took 3 mins.. it just spoke about going greek. Does anyone know which one I am talking about? At the end of it the video said something like "I'll give you 2 mins if you'll give me the same" or something along those lines.

I'm guessing Round 3 is a round about sisterhood? Do you have a theme for your party or something that you are all wearing that is similar? Start there and try to incorporate your video into what you are already doing for the round.
Here's are the last 2 sisterhood videos from my chapter,( it doesn't have a "theme" - the theme is "sisterhood") even though I'm an alum and don't know these girls, I still love their videos and it makes me miss being an active
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wTYYLgOOF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V__VbOZAiUY

Is this the one you were thinking of?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un6c-MY4FEY

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