Recruitment Theme Ideas

[AXOrushadvisor]

I'm a Recruitment Advisor for top house located at a large university in the West. I recently was asked to help a struggling Chapter located in the same state. They are way below total and need to have a great recuitment for fall 2009. We are starting to work on recruitment right now so that we can have an organized, well thought out recruitment. This group needs some help with some theme/skit ideas. The University does a full on frills recruitment and the group that I work with does a full on NO frills recruitment. It has been years since we have done a skit and themes. I have searched the site and have not found any thing that we could use. Most of the groups on this campus do themes such as: Victoria Secret, New York, Oscars. Sophisticated and more mature themes. We also need some skit ideas. I suggested a slide show with modern music, but they feel that would set them apart from the other groups since all the other Chapters are doing skits. I do have a couple of ideas that I think would work for them, but I would like to have a couple more to present to the Recruitment Chair when we meet after the first of the year. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I need modern, girly themes that would appeal to incoming freshman and that these girls could pull off.

[KSUViolet06]

I did a search of the boards for "skits" and found at least 20 threads about skit ideas:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/se...archid=3721371

[lucgreek]

Phi Sigma Sigma at my school did a 'pop art' theme and they did really really well. That theme could have bombed really bad, but the girls and their recruitment chair really gave it their all and they got a really great group of girls. You have to make sure the girls doing the theme are 100% into it and giving it their all.

[FSUZeta]

have you contacted your headquarters to see what skits they have available? often, the local chapter feels that they need to come up with their own original skit when they could get one that has been proven from (inter)national office. you could also try networking with other sister advisors at campuses which have skit rounds.

if they are struggling, and are noticebly smaller than the majority of campus chapters, they are going to stand out anyway. why not buck the trend and do a slide show as you suggested, which gives a summary of their activities and achievements for the past year? having girls have to excuse themselves from hostess duties to be in the skit will only emphasize the small numbers.

[AXOrushadvisor]

FSUZeta-
I totally agree with what you said, but the stuff from headquarters is dated. Personally, I'm glad our school got rid of skits they are a pain in the butt! We do a slide show and it is a really good way to show what the house does and what it is like, plus it is entertaining. With todays incoming freshman being so tech oriented I'm surprised that more Universities haven't moved away from skits and gone to a video or slide show format. I will bring it up again and see if I can get buy in. Maybe if I show her the one from the Chapter up here?

[AXOrushadvisor]

Hi KSUviolet-

The link didn't work, but I'll search for skits. Thanks for the heads up.

[OneHeartOneWay]

AXO- While I don't really have a comment on a slide show vs. a skit, I would caution you to think about showing the women from the "struggling" chapter the slide show from your "top" chapter. Although we are all sisters, it's likely the new chapter you are working with feels competition and "jealousy" of your original chapter, especially since they are in the same state. They have probably always been compared to your chapter, and may hold some animosity becuase of it- showing them a slide show from your chapter and saying "this is an example of what to do" may be interpretted by them as saying that they (once again) aren't measuring up. You may have better luck getting buy in if you present another chapter's slide show or video, who isn't in the region, if you decide to go that route.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by OneHeartOneWay

AXO- While I don't really have a comment on a slide show vs. a skit, I would caution you to think about showing the women from the "struggling" chapter the slide show from your "top" chapter.

So true, it's very important not to label a chapter who might be having a number issue as "struggling" since that often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts. It's also important to avoid making comparisons between them and the other chapter you advise. You might not do it on purpose, but be conscious of saying things like "At Other School they do..." or "The AXO's at Other School have..", as different things work for different schools and every chapter is different. They make not respond well to you if they feel as though you are comparing them. Just some friendly advice

I recommend reading this thread about smaller chapters and recruitment, it provides some insight:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...maller+chapter

[Kansas City]

If you're advising a "struggling" chapter in an effort to improve their recruitment, I would just use (or update) a standard skit from HQ and focus more attention on conversation skills of the chapter to encourage growth. I don't know of any PNMs that select a house based on the skit. Focus on the conversation instead of the atmosphere (skit, decorations, etc.).

[33girl]

The slide show could either set them apart in a good way or a bad way. If they are not enthusiastic about it I would skip it and stay w/ the skit...you have to fit in with the other groups and the last thing they need is to be "those weirdos who didn't do a skit."

If the skits from HQ are dated stay FAR away from them.

I like the pop art or some other art or Broadway oriented idea.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

If you're advising a "struggling" chapter in an effort to improve their recruitment, I would just use (or update) a standard skit from HQ and focus more attention on conversation skills of the chapter to encourage growth. I don't know of any PNMs that select a house based on the skit. Focus on the conversation instead of the atmosphere (skit, decorations, etc.).

I agree with what your saying KC, but in the past they have tried to do that and they stand out because they are "different" and not doing the same thing as other Chapters on campus. They are really between a rock and a hard place with this. I personally don't think you can compete in any recruitment situation unless you are doing things like other Chapters. We are doing a two pronged approached by improving their recruitment skills with special workshops AND getting there recruitment on the same level with other Chapters in terms of decorations ect...

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by 33girl

The slide show could either set them apart in a good way or a bad way. If they are not enthusiastic about it I would skip it and stay w/ the skit...you have to fit in with the other groups and the last thing they need is to be "those weirdos who didn't do a skit."

If the skits from HQ are dated stay FAR away from them.

I like the pop art or some other art or Broadway oriented idea.

I agree they need to fit in with the other groups because they don't want to stand out as the wierdos. That is part of the problem right now for them. No panhellenic support. In fact, the other Chapters are down right mean to them and are helping to promote a bad image of this Chapter a long with some other mis guided attempts they have had trying to come up with recruitment parties that they cant pull off. They really need a plan in place that will help them level the playing field with their recruitment. They even have PNM's coming in saying horrible things to these women to the point that it makes the actives cry. Thanks for confirming what I know we have to do.

[Kansas City]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

I agree with what your saying KC, but in the past they have tried to do that and they stand out because they are "different" and not doing the same thing as other Chapters on campus. They are really between a rock and a hard place with this. I personally don't think you can compete in any recruitment situation unless you are doing things like other Chapters. We are doing a two pronged approached by improving their recruitment skills with special workshops AND getting there recruitment on the same level with other Chapters in terms of decorations ect...

I didn't say to not do a skit if that is what the other chapters are doing. I just wouldn't put too much time and energy into creating a brand new skit if HQ or another AXO chapter nearby has one that you can borrow from. Your attention needs to be focused on making relationships with other girls and not on winning an Oscar or having the coolest decorations and t-shirts. I believe if you got a preview of the other chapter's skits on your campus you might find that they too are rather generic. In the end, you want the PNMs who you have made an honest connection with, not the ones that only liked your chapter's "Sorority & Co." theme and skit with the teal t-shirts and black heels.

[ASTalumna06]

If the chapter wasn’t struggling, I would suggest maybe doing the Powerpoint or slideshow presentation, as they’d have room to completely step out of the box and be original without it hurting them too much. But it sounds like they’re trying to build themselves back up right now, and they need a way to stand out without completely standing out… if that makes sense.

So why not do the same old thing, but make it different? Instead of doing all the typical themes, why not do one that focuses on sisterhood, and base the skit around that? I know of one chapter that had a theme called “Pearls of Wisdom” (the sorority jewel is the pearl) and focused on what they’ve learned about the sorority, and learned about themselves because they’re a part of it. Their skit was about one girl’s journey from the first day of recruitment through the rest of her life as a member of the organization. It was both funny and heart-warming. One of the more humorous parts was the recruitment process and how scared the girl looked while the sororities chanted. They also held thought bubbles above her head about what she was thinking, similar to what a lot of PNMs think to themselves during recruitment events. I think that this part is essential, as the potential new members feel a connection with that, and they're able to laugh at themselves. You could even have a short Powerpoint or slideshow to end the skit, showing pictures from recent chapter activities and events: philanthropies, socials, fundraisers, formals, intramurals, bid day, etc. Or.. you could put on a skit called "A Day in the Life of a PNM", and show all of those awkward, funny moments during recruitment, ending with the excitement of bid day.

For the most part (I hope), girls don’t choose a sorority based on the theme of recruitment or the skit. The point is to make it entertaining, to present an idea that the potential new members can relate to and understand, and to show the PNMs that you’re confident and love what you’re doing. Because if you were to read the recruitment stories on this site, you'll find that PNMs will say, "oh, they had the cutest skit!" and they might describe it a bit... but when a PNM has negative comments about a skit, detailed descriptions usually include statements such as, "It didn't seem like they put as much time into it as the other sororities"... "They told little inside jokes that only the sisters understood"... "They didn't seem like they were having a good time"... etc.

Whatever they do, make sure that they look confident on the outside... even if on the inside, they're desperately wondering how many new members they'll get.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

If the chapter wasn’t struggling, I would suggest maybe doing the Powerpoint or slideshow presentation, as they’d have room to completely step out of the box and be original without it hurting them too much. But it sounds like they’re trying to build themselves back up right now, and they need a way to stand out without completely standing out… if that makes sense.

So why not do the same old thing, but make it different? Instead of doing all the typical themes, why not do one that focuses on sisterhood, and base the skit around that? I know of one chapter that had a theme called “Pearls of Wisdom” (the sorority jewel is the pearl) and focused on what they’ve learned about the sorority, and learned about themselves because they’re a part of it. Their skit was about one girl’s journey from the first day of recruitment through the rest of her life as a member of the organization. It was both funny and heart-warming. One of the more humorous parts was the recruitment process and how scared the girl looked while the sororities chanted. They also held thought bubbles above her head about what she was thinking, similar to what a lot of PNMs think to themselves during recruitment events. I think that this part is essential, as the potential new members feel a connection with that, and they're able to laugh at themselves. You could even have a short Powerpoint or slideshow to end the skit, showing pictures from recent chapter activities and events: philanthropies, socials, fundraisers, formals, intramurals, bid day, etc. Or.. you could put on a skit called "A Day in the Life of a PNM", and show all of those awkward, funny moments during recruitment, ending with the excitement of bid day.

For the most part (I hope), girls don’t choose a sorority based on the theme of recruitment or the skit. The point is to make it entertaining, to present an idea that the potential new members can relate to and understand, and to show the PNMs that you’re confident and love what you’re doing. Because if you were to read the recruitment stories on this site, you'll find that PNMs will say, "oh, they had the cutest skit!" and they might describe it a bit... but when a PNM has negative comments about a skit, detailed descriptions usually include statements such as, "It didn't seem like they put as much time into it as the other sororities"... "They told little inside jokes that only the sisters understood"... "They didn't seem like they were having a good time"... etc.

Whatever they do, make sure that they look confident on the outside... even if on the inside, they're desperately wondering how many new members they'll get.

Thanks AST for the information. I think you have some good advice and the skit sounds cute. I agree that the PNM's only seem to notice when a Chapter is not up to par with the other groups- that is EXACTLY what has happened to this group in the last couple of years. The positive thing is the recruitment chair has a good understanding of what is going on and what she needs to do. She is also warming up to some ideas that she was not to big of in the first place. It is a lot of the little things that were making them stand out- no decorations, wearing things that were out of fashion or completely different than other groups, doing very juvenile themes and being the only group on campus to have to double and triple recruit.