Mass Turnout Tips

· Getting citizens and supporters to attend your event is critical. This is where the media can be very useful. Releasing information about a planned event to the newspaper gets that information out to a wide audience quickly and inexpensively.

· Always fill or even overfill the facility where the meeting is being held. No matter the size of the room, it is essential that it be filled. A full room of people all in support of your cause is an intimidating environment for an official, and a powerful presentation of your organization. A good rule of thumb is to recruit twice as many people as are necessary to fill the room.

· Ensure that your spokesperson or representative has chance to speak. If he or she is denied the chance to speak by the officials, stand up and demand the right to speak and be heard. If this does not work, take all of your supporters out of the meeting and address the media in a conference outside of the event.

· A packed meeting room, a march, or a picket line are perfect times to use the media exposure techniques discussed earlier. Having your group in action on the evening news can be invaluable exposure.

In general, mass turnout events do more to gain attention to your cause than they do to actually educate anyone. But, being a real nuisance can be a very effective tool in bringing an official over to your side.