Video Outreach

Best Practices

Steps

Before the Event

  • Familiarize yourself with VegFund's website and guidelines (including the FAQ.)
  • Select a location for the event. If you aren't already part of a college campus animal rights group, we strongly recommend partnering with one and organizing a Pay Per View event on campus.
  • Select the vegan literature. For suggestions, check out our educational literature page.
  • Decide on whether or not you'll distribute vegan food samples. We strongly advise against this for your first Pay Per View event. If you do sample food, please keep it simple. Vegan cookies are usually well received and give you the opportunity to show people that it's possible to bake without eggs/dairy.
  • Complete and submit an application for funding (please try and submit the application at least two weeks before the event date).
  • Print out the Pay Per View checklist and make sure that you are prepared for the event

During the Event

  • Get there early!!! Allow yourself enough time to set up the viewing booths, laptops, and other equipment.
  • Post the required Pay Per View signs (color version or black and white version).
  • If serving food, place the required sign on the food table (color version or black and white version)
  • Provide free vegan educational literature at your table/booth.
  • When someone comes to the table and says, "I'll watch!" first see if the person looks 14 or over. When in doubt, ask! Err on the conservative side.
  • If he or she is 14 or older, say something like this: "Here's the deal. This is about where meat and dairy comes from in the U.S. If you watch the 4-minute video, we'll give you a dollar."
  • If a person asks if it's scary, say, "Yes, it is bloody and gruesome, but it's only 4 minutes long and it's important information."
  • If it's a child under 14, say: "We need permission from your Mom or Dad or a grownup who's with you today."
  • Talk to the adult yourself. Say, "It's up to you whether you want to let the kids watch." Let the adult pre-screen the video if they want, and offer a dollar if they watch at least 4 minutes. The adult does NOT need to watch the video along with the child—just needs to give permission for the child to watch. We've found it necessary to do this to avoid parental complaints to event organizers, which can result in Pay Per View or the group not being allowed at the event anymore and possibly wasting the tabling fee and your hard work!
  • If you get the go-ahead from the parent/adult, explain "Here's the deal," etc., as described above.
  • Tell kids nicely but firmly that they need to pay attention in order to get the dollar.
  • Put a dollar bill inside whatever vegan-oriented educational material you're giving out. When they finish watching, say something like, "Thank you for watching," and hand them the brochure with the dollar in it.
  • To find out the effectiveness of the video, you can ask, "What'd you think?" (Ask this AFTER they've gotten out of the chair so that your discussion doesn't delay others who want to watch).
  • You can also say, "If you have any questions, we have lots of information." (Your vegan starter guides, recipes, nutrition info, more info about cruelty, etc.)
  • If a person doesn't make it to the end of the 4-minute video, they don't get the dollar. (If that happens, they probably won't want it anyhow.)
  • Take lots of photos! At a minimum, take photos of the COMPLETE table display (which includes the laptops/ screens, literature, and required signs). Also, be sure and take pictures that capture people while watching the videos.
  • Please jot down your impressions and memorable comments from viewers.
  • Maintain a clean table and use gloves to serve food.
  • Smile! It goes a long way :)

After the Event

  • Within 30 days of your event, log back into your VegFund account
  • Find your application and click on "Complete"
  • Complete the brief recap of your event, including the number of viewers, memorable moments, how the information was received, how people liked the samples (if sampling out food), and anything else you wish to add.
  • Upload ITEMIZED receipts. Do NOT submit receipts containing personal items (non-VegFund).
  • Upload photos of the COMPLETE table/booth (laptops, literature, signage, food samples--if applicable) as well as photos of people while watching the video (it's best to copy and paste photos into a word document, and upload the word document)

Checklist for Events

(Please note: Not all of the items on the list are reimbursed by VegFund. Refer to the FAQ for more information.)

  • At least one vegan volunteer (must be at event entire time)
  • A second volunteer
  • Single dollar bills
  • Vegan educational literature
  • Pay Per View signs (color version or black and white version)
  • Viewing booths (see FAQs for more info)
  • Laptop computers or TV/DVD or TV/VHS players
  • DVDs of graphic factory farming footage
  • Earphones
  • Splitters (see FAQs for more info)
  • Chairs (sometimes the facility will have these available)
  • Camera
  • Your group's banner
  • Donation jar for your group
  • Power strip (highly recommended if you're using two laptops)
  • Extra-strength (usually orange) electrical extension cord (you may need to cover it with a rubber mat so that people don't trip on it)
  • Tablecloth
  • Cart for moving stuff
  • Sign-up sheet for your group
  • VegPledge sign up form (optional, but encouraged--see FAQ)
  • Duct tape, clear tape, scissors
  • Vegan food samples
  • Required food sign--if applicable (color version or black and white version)
  • Pad and paper so you can jot down viewers' comments or other notes for the recap that you'll send us
Additional Items For Outdoor Events
  • A box with one open side works best as a viewing booth because the laptop holds it down and it won't blow away.
  • If your table has no access to electricity, you may be able to send a volunteer to recharge one laptop while using another one, or use an extra battery if you've got one.
  • You'll also need a way to prevent glare on your computer screen. We are experimenting with a dark-colored display tower placed behind the viewers. Anti-glare filters that fit over the computer screen haven't seemed to work well.

Ideas & Tips
  • Before the event, you may want to promote it through websites, Facebook pages, twitter, and other convenient channels.
  • Have a checklist and go over it twice before the event.
  • Make sure you have enough single dollar bills. We recommend starting with $100 ($200 if it's an event that lasts more than a day). Make sure you count the bills before and after the event to find out how many you gave out. A fanny pack is a convenient way to carry them.
  • DVDs are preferable to VHS. No rewinding required.
  • The bigger the viewing screen, the better.
  • Sign volunteers up for 2 hour shifts. They usually stay longer, but 3 hours is too long to expect them to work the table.
  • Allow enough time to set up - about 45 minutes if you have two laptops and several pairs of earphones.
  • Have a clipboard handy and get email addresses!
  • Wear same-colored tee shirts. We have large VEGAN buttons available free.
  • Please try not to talk too loudly or laugh loudly while visitors are watching the video. It's a traumatic experience that you've already been through, but they haven't.
  • While people are watching the video, stay nearby to make sure they're paying attention, but don't be too conspicuous.
  • If sampling out unwrapped food, you MUST wear gloves.
  • Try to have a designated volunteer just for leafleting.
  • Try to be friendly and informative, not pushy.
  • If someone watches for 4 minutes or more but refuses the dollar or gives it back, put it in your donation jar. Your group has earned that dollar by inspiring that person to donate it.
  • Promote veganism rather than "humane reforms" such as "humane meat" and "cagefree eggs." Many viewers will ask you about this. You can give them a flier that explains why these practices are not cruelty-free.