Recruitment Videos - Sorority Comments

pnm1 · #1 12-26-2009, 12:52 AM

As I look back on recruitment, I was remembering that during some of the parties when the sororities would show videos, the sisters would comment (on cue) like "ohhh yeah!," some other saying, or laugh. Has anyone had any experience with this as a PNM or as a sister? What are your thoughts on it?

I hope I was clear with what I was trying to describe.

LucyKKG · #2 12-26-2009, 01:52 AM

Ummm I don't get it. You know those actives have probably seen the video many, many times throughout recruitment, right? I still don't really get what you're talking about, though.

twinkle555 · #3 12-26-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnm1

As I look back on recruitment, I was remembering that during some of the parties when the sororities would show videos, the sisters would comment (on cue) like "ohhh yeah!," some other saying, or laugh. Has anyone had any experience with this as a PNM or as a sister? What are your thoughts on it?

I hope I was clear with what I was trying to describe.

The active sisters are trying to make the video more enjoyable by adding their own personal explanations of things..how boring would it be if you, a complete stranger to these girls, just sat in silence with an active for 3 minutes? Maybe some of the pictures reminded them of inside jokes or funny moments and they just had to say something.

FSUZeta · #4 12-26-2009, 08:10 AM

comments made by sisters while viewing their recruitment video can appear to be staged and come off as awkward. inside jokes should have no place during recruitment. frankly, i think that the recruitment video has run its course, and i wish that chapters would quit doing them.

33girl · #5 12-26-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

comments made by sisters while viewing their recruitment video can appear to be staged and come off as awkward. inside jokes should have no place during recruitment. frankly, i think that the recruitment video has run its course, and i wish that chapters would quit doing them.

I think this is what pnm1 meant - that either it's staged and fakey or that it's an inside joke ("nice shirt, Ashley!!") and makes the PNMs uncomfortable. Actually I would prefer the inside jokes to the staged responses. Talk about lame!!

On the other hand, if you explain it ("This was after Derby Days. Karen fell in the mud and lost her lavalier she'd just gotten the day before so we were going crazy trying to find it") it's not too bad.

KDMafia · #6 12-26-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

I think this is what pnm1 meant - that either it's staged and fakey or that it's an inside joke ("nice shirt, Ashley!!") and makes the PNMs uncomfortable.

I agree, as an advisor I feel I'm constantly reminding the girls to be careful of sounding rehearsed during Philantrophy and skit night. Something that sounds spontaneous once sounds really planned after the fourth or fifth round. I encourage during videos to explain why people laugh without distracting too much from the video and during skit to try and be as natural as possible while still being appropriate instead of planning out what they want to say or falling into a rut. It can be hard though when it's pushing ten at night and you're on your last party of the day.

qbt1990 · #7 12-26-2009, 01:41 PM

During our philanthropy video, we would definitely laugh but it was genuine. Some parts of the video were honestly hilarious and I laughed on my own every time. It wasn't staged, like they didn't say "Okay make sure to laugh during this part!" I remember during recruitment basically every chapter would add little "oh yeahh"s and other similar phrases.
@ OP, did it bother you or something?

ree-Xi · #8 12-26-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbt1990

During our philanthropy video, we would definitely laugh but it was genuine. Some parts of the video were honestly hilarious and I laughed on my own every time. It wasn't staged, like they didn't say "Okay make sure to laugh during this part!" I remember during recruitment basically every chapter would add little "oh yeahh"s and other similar phrases.
@ OP, did it bother you or something?

If I'm not mistaken, the OP has been initiated and is prepping for recruitment. It seems that she is now seeing the wizard behind the curtain and wondering how much oh her own recruitment experience was "real".

Am I close, OP?

FSUZeta · #9 12-26-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbt1990

During our philanthropy video, we would definitely laugh but it was genuine. Some parts of the video were honestly hilarious and I laughed on my own every time. It wasn't staged, like they didn't say "Okay make sure to laugh during this part!" I remember during recruitment basically every chapter would add little "oh yeahh"s and other similar phrases.
@ OP, did it bother you or something?

but what seems genuine to the chapter may come across to the pnms as staged and rehearsed. it also may only be funny if you know the background behind it(inside jokes) or the girls involved, which the pnms do not. chapters just need to be careful. as kdmafia said, the advisors sometimes have to remind the chapter of this. hopefully, they listen.

KSUViolet06 · #10 12-26-2009, 05:24 PM

We always watched the video WAY before recruitment, so we had gotten out all the BIG laughter and stuff out.

During recruitment, we were always told that we could laugh at things if we wanted too, but that we shouldn't get too out of hand. Like, out of control laughter with tears is too much, but a chuckle or too was fine (because the PNMs would laugh at some of the funny pics too).

We were also told to keep the inside jokes to ourselves, because it might make the PNMs uncomfortable. Half of the time, inside jokes are the "you just had to be there" kind of thing and explaining it to a PNM is awkward. So we just agreed to leave our inside jokes out.

pnm1 · #11 12-26-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbt1990

During our philanthropy video, we would definitely laugh but it was genuine. Some parts of the video were honestly hilarious and I laughed on my own every time. It wasn't staged, like they didn't say "Okay make sure to laugh during this part!" I remember during recruitment basically every chapter would add little "oh yeahh"s and other similar phrases.
@ OP, did it bother you or something?

It didn't really bother me so much, I honestly think I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. haha.

pnm1 · #12 12-26-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

If I'm not mistaken, the OP has been initiated and is prepping for recruitment. It seems that she is now seeing the wizard behind the curtain and wondering how much oh her own recruitment experience was "real".

Am I close, OP?

Yep! I am just trying to get a feel for what everyone else feels about them. :]

pnm1 · #13 12-26-2009, 06:34 PM

Let me try to think of an example.

At XYZ sorority, they are playing their recruitment video. A voice over on the video is saying how great XYZ sorority is, narrating through the pictures, etc. At one point the video narrator says, "XYZ is as hot as..." then the active sisters say "FIRE!!!" out loud.

Make sense?

ErinBee · #14 12-26-2009, 08:51 PM

The only thing I remember about videos when I went through is that I liked AXO's because it had funny pictures in it, but that was all.

I made our video for recruitment this year and it took way too much time. I don't like them. I don't think it ever makes such an impact that a PNM would choose to rank a house higher because of it. Sometimes I just think it's used to replace face-to-face talking. Just my two cents.

33girl · #15 12-26-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnm1

Let me try to think of an example.

At XYZ sorority, they are playing their recruitment video. A voice over on the video is saying how great XYZ sorority is, narrating through the pictures, etc. At one point the video narrator says, "XYZ is as hot as..." then the active sisters say "FIRE!!!" out loud.

Make sense?

Yes. That is LAME. I thought that sort of stuff went out with Romper Room.