I am the President! Help.

[Xsesiv]

Not of any country, or anything good. Of my college's RPG club. I was elected unanimously by the other members in June.

Trouble is, we definitely need to bring in more people at Freshers' Fair, which is basically where all the clubs and societies dangle free stuff and promises of acceptance in front of all the wide-eyed new people. We've wangled two tables and a noticeboard, but we'll probably be jammed into the corner with the anime society, handball club and Christian Union again.

Last year, meetings consisted of usually five or six people at a time, but sometimes as few as three or as many as eight, drawn from a roster of twelve people in total. This year, about seven members are leaving college.

Here's my problem. I want to draw in more people, first of all. Twelve members in all and five or six at a time is simply not enough and the college has made such perfectly clear. If we get lots of people in, we will be given a decent wodge of cash to spend on games. If we don't get enough people in, our budget - only £100 for last year - is to be slashed. Heavily. If we get too few in, we will get nothing, and won't even be recognised as official. How can I catch people's eye? How can I get roleplayers to sign up, and non-roleplayers to give it a try?

Secondly, how can I get my players - especially new players - to roleplay? I personally roleplay my characters, but every time I am GM the players play as themselves, especially if they are inexperienced. Neither giving extra experience to those who roleplay nor slashing experience for those who don't roleplay works, and I can't exctly sanction them in real life.

[Telonius]

At the Fair: offer punch and pie. Cosplay (works best if you have attractive members of both genders).

Otherwise, if you're ever kidnapped by ninjas, I can hook you up.

[Helanna]

Well, at my college's club fair last week, I finally found the RPG club because they had members holding up some of the games. Make sure people know that you're okay with teaching inexperienced members how to play.

Also, if you're okay with less-than-polite measures, have a couple people stand near the main flow of students and select random people and ask them if they would like to hear about your club. The key here is to not actually give them a choice. Especially if they're freshman, they may just be too intimidated to say no. This may or may not have happened to me.

And the cosplay thing is a good idea. If nothing else, it'll catch people's eye and draw them in to figure out who's dressed up and why.

What kind of college are you going to? I go to the Rochester Institute of Technology, which is incredibly geeky, so the RPG club had a good spot and plenty of new sign-ups, but if you're going to an art or specialty school, it'll be harder.

Edit: Also, free food! Seriously, they're college students. Yell "Free food!" and you'll get plenty of people over.

[Mando Knight]

Two words: Memetic. Mutation. Anything that the producers of your games use, blow way out of proportion in a lulzy way.

For example: I'm a monster! RAWR! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UqFPujRZWo)

Anything cool or amusing will work. If you've got overlap with the anime club, bring BESM (if you're lucky enough to have a 3rd edition hard copy around, that is). Got a super-huge miniature like the Colossal Red Dragon? Bring it. Makes a great paperweight. Got the AT-AT mini? 'Nother good paperweight. Play child's card games? Bring a laptop tuned to Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged. For card games on motorcycles.

...Did you know adventurers have parties? I. LOVE. PARTIES! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KqjOGdOMtA)

[Dr.Epic]

Get a mascot. If you have the time, money, and artistic skills, put together a costume of an iconic D&D monster (like the beholder). That'll attract some attention.

[druid91]

Everybody loves slurpy the mind-flayer!!:smallbiggrin:

On a more helpful note, Do you just get together and game? or do you do other stuff?

If you just get together and game by yourselves, why not try something different, yet still gaming themed that could get you some publicity the rest of the year?

Build a maze out of fake dungeon walls and have people hide inside with inflatable swords and chase people through the maze and fight each other.

Of course this is if you manage to get your funding. I mean give the college something to brag about you with.

And as for suggestions for now, have a few people dress up and have an epic battle in someplace easily seen by the freshmen, Offer people an inflatable sword and send them on their merry way.

[Dr.Epic]

Everybody loves slurpy the mind-flayer!!:smallbiggrin:

Yeah that'll be easier, but not nearly as badass.

[Noircat]

Look more closely at available advertising methods, preferrably digital ones like campus forums or something else people will look at, but never discount word of mouth.

[Tirian]

These are good ideas. Make it look like you're a group that is having fun and not taking yourselves too seriously and that you're happy to have new people come in to have fun with you too, and you'll do fine.

Also, just so that it's clear, you're only the president of the club. If the members aren't motivated to thrive, then there's no amount of leadership qualities that will disguise that base level of apathy.

[skywalker]

Identify your most charismatic (in this case, no offense, it could be the most "normal") people to head up this shin-dig. If you're looking for new, non-gamer people, make sure it's as non-threatening as possible. Emphasize that you're not really doing much, just getting together and rolling some dice, really. Make a point that you're fun people outside of a gaming environment, but that the dice and character sheets are just a means to get together. I personally think you'll go far with that.

Have everyone familiarize themselves with a specific (but general, not a script) way to present the group, and try not to deviate too much.

If you get a bad location at set-up, try to keep an eye out for groups that no-show, and ask to move to their place. It could work out beautifully. If you do wind up having to pull people out of the main crowd, make sure you have very skilled handlers doing that.

That's all I've got for now, I have to go plan my own meeting. More later!

[Xsesiv]

Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately I would think dressing up is out of the question, because we only get back two days before the Fair and in the unlikely event that we meet up it would be unfair to expect people to throw together a costume.

We are presented on the college website, but nobody really uses that much, so it's there for what it's worth.

It seems the best policy is to grab passers-by. I shall go out tomorrow and buy myself a man-catcher (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/everyday_life/img/IM.0649_zp.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/everyday_life/control/1750-1820/TL.0151/&usg=__Xh99oPHblyz306tlrKFAzavgQ6k=&h=400&w=283&sz=11&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=6T42HaYepTbdCM:&tbnh=156&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmancatcher%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26clien t%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1R1GGLL_en-GB___GB386%26biw%3D1126%26bih%3D447%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=129&vpy=52&dur=1618&hovh=267&hovw=189&tx=100&ty=124&ei=xO2HTPLpI4OQjAeOqLSQCA&oei=tO2HTISZIY724AaWhInSBA&esq=3&page=1&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0).

Keep the ideas coming, I'm still in need of help.

[Avaris]

I think the most important thing is knowing what you're going to do with the new players. There is no point getting loads of people interested if there is nothing for them to do at your first session.

To this end, ask the current members of your group if any of them are willing to run one-of 'newbie' sessions. Each gm will need to make a selection of simple characters, and ideally you'll have a variety of systems and settings for people to try. This way people new to rp can give it a go without commiting, and hopefully enjoy it! Follow it up with a social or something, when you are just hanging out rather than actual rping, so as to get to know newbies through something other than just rp.

As for the stall... colourful books and models if possible. More importantly, don't be afrai to talk to people! There is nothing more off-putting than a bunch of guys sitting glumly behind a table waiting for people to talk to them!

Edit: on another note, what do you actually need the money for? Having spent two years as treasurer of a fairly large uni rp group, I didn't ever really find much need for it.

[snoopy13a]

Flyers in academic buildings, dorms, etc are a good idea (assuming this is alright with the university). Also, put up a flyer in the local comic book/hobby store (assuming the town has one). Finally, the best way to bring in new members is to try and draw in friends and aquintances (and make new friends and aquintances). For example, suppose someone in your club has a part-time job in the student library and works with a few other students. He (or she) can ask his/her co-workers to give the club a shot. If you can bring in one of these people then there's a chance that this person could bring in another.

As for people roleplaying themselves, that's usually what new roleplayers do. In fact, some people never go beyond that stage. It's best not to worry too much about it.

[Xsesiv]

Edit: on another note, what do you actually need the money for? Having spent two years as treasurer of a fairly large uni rp group, I didn't ever really find much need for it.

Games. Between being a student, having a social life, and living in a place with next-to-zero job opportunities, I've not got much cash left over.


To this end, ask the current members of your group if any of them are willing to run one-off 'newbie' sessions. Each gm will need to make a selection of simple characters, and ideally you'll have a variety of systems and settings for people to try. This way people new to rp can give it a go without commiting, and hopefully enjoy it! Follow it up with a social or something, when you are just hanging out rather than actual rping, so as to get to know newbies through something other than just rp.

Taster sessions would be great. Thanks.


Flyers in academic buildings, dorms, etc are a good idea (assuming this is alright with the university).

If it makes any difference, this is a college, not a university. The two are distinct in the UK. The point still stands, I'll get some flyers done.

[KenderWizard]

I am also the President. I also need help, actually, because my committee is falling apart (one guy's just a bit useless, one guy's quit ALREADY and one guy transferred to a different college, not by choice). But I don't think anyone here's going to be able to help with that unless you happen to attend Trinity College in Dublin!

Anyway, as far as running a good Fresher's week goes, we've got a good set-up. We usually manage to pull in about 200 people, although I'm hoping for more this year! This is how we do it:

1) Arrive early. Our table spaces aren't pre-determined: arriving early is the way to get a good spot. A good spot is near, but not beside, really popular societies, preferably beside a "sister society" (ie another nerdy one), or close to somewhere where Freshers congregate, or queue. The sooner you get set up, the sooner you're signing people up!

2) Have an attractive stall. Find someone artistic to do a big, simple sign, just saying "GAMES" or something. (Put "RPG" if it's the official name of the club, but not if you think it'll put people off). Cover the table with a tablecloth or just a big sheet: it makes it look professional. Put out a couple of D&D books or other RPG books that look cool. I like the 3.5 books and Dark Heresy for this. Put out some dice for people to play with, especially oversized ones. Put out a big prop, or a game. We put Hungry Hungry Hippos on our stand last year, and got people literally running over to play. Keep the place neat: have a treasury box and a book, and keep unnecessary or personal items off the table.

3) Be very friendly. When people come over, act thrilled. You should be: they're potential sign-ups! Explain your club simply. You get together to play games and socialise, especially to play RPGs, which are like fun storytelling sessions where you roll dice and tell a story together. Emphasise that you were sceptical when you first got involved, but it's great fun, and well worth a try, especially with your friends!

4) Don't be shy. If someone looks at the stall, call out to them to come check it out. Challenge them to a dice-rolling contest. Tell them they could fight a dragon. If someone looks interested but shy, you are the one who has to be confident! Say "You there! In the blue shirt!" if you have to. One of our most popular lines to call to people last year was "Join Gamers, and you could RULE THE WORLD!" :smallbiggrin:

5) Offer an incentive. I don't know if your society charges a membership fee, but in our college, only the charity societies are allowed not to. Means people are less likely to join on a whim, especially if they don't have change on them! (The fee is only 2 euro, but still.) Anyway, we offer a can of soda and a chocolate bar with membership. With such a small budget, I don't know if you'd be able to do that, but it's worth looking into.

6) Run events. We run a miniature convention halfway through Fresher's week to showcase our games. We book a big room in college and all day keep members in there, running easy, accessible RPGs, and with a pile of boardgames to keep them occupied when the RPGs are full. Put up big signs if you do this: sometimes people just wander in! Make sure there's always something on either today or tomorrow when you're signing up new members that you can point them to, it makes it much more likely they'll stick around if you seem like a fun and active society.

7) Attract attention. If you can't do full cosplay, can you get cloaks? Cloaks attract attention! Can someone dress as a towncrier (high socks, waistcoat, three-cornered hat, you're sorted. If you don't have a three-cornered hat, I can tell you hot to make one from a cereal box and some crepe paper) and shout the news of the best society in the world? How about some flags with d20s on them? Actually, I'm just making these ones up, but I might use that towncrier thing at our own Fresher's week! My point is, try hard to stand out from the crowd.

I hope some of that helped. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about it. I know with such a small group and budget, it must be pretty challenging to get a good Fresher's week going. We're really lucky because due to some weird flukes over the years, we've got an operating annual budget of about 5000 euro.

Talking about all this has made me realise it's really time for me to get organised for Fresher's week!

[Noircat]

Tip on the flyers, you'll want to do them in 20 words or less with huge letters and at least one picture(preferrably of a gaming session).

You have to sell it in the first sentence or they won't read the rest.

The details on what they need or don't need to bring should also be on there next to the time and place.

[Aidan305]

*Snip*

Having served on a committee myself several times, I have to say that this is all good advice.
And I don't just say that because she's in charge of my society.
Look and see what resources you have available to you. Any Rubber Sworder's in the society? Ask them to bring their weapons along and give a demonstration. A large and showy event will attract attention and get your society noticed. If possible have many large showy (or even small showy) events.

Have a couple of the games you have in the society ready and waiting to show people. But be careful to make sure that they're all simple and easy to pick up and play. If you make things too complicated their eyes will glaze over and the only response you'll get is "I'll think about it." Remember that the average person has no idea what a d20 is, and probably wouldn't understand what a d6 was either.

With regards to the stand, make sure that you have people that are approachable and willing to approach. Have several of these minions if possible so that you can go out and canvas people rather than stay in the one place. (Though always have one person on the desk)

Make arrangements with other societies. Offer to swap signatures. They want more members just as much as you do after all.

Have some events arranged before you go out recruiting so that when they say "So what sort of games do you play then?" You can not only tell them, but give them a few dates for a introductory RPG night, or a Boardgames night or a LAN night or what have you.

Have a spiel prepared for when they ask questions. If you just say "We do this, this and this" without giving any real details, then they won't be as interested. And if you try to explain all the details you risk eye glazing. Make it short and simple enough for anyone to understand.

Finally, remember that everyone's a potential target. They might not be gamers, they might not ever show up to meetings, but don't let that stop you from trying to get their names on your piece of paper.

[The Succubus]

Not of any country, or anything good. Of my college's RPG club.

Your college has a Rocket Propelled Grenade club? Sounds awesome. Do you blow up specific targets or camp out on the motorway taking pot shots at traffic?

[Lioness]

My prospective Uni has a games club too...what I've seen them do:

Free BBQs occasionally
They made a giant D20 and rolled it around. Catches people's eyes, and makes them go "OMG GIANT DICE LOL"

If you don't have enough members to keep the club open, expand a little. Be a games club too. Offer monopoly, jenga, twister, and also RPGs. Everyone loves games.

[Danne]

*grumbles* I wish my school had an rpg club... :smallannoyed:

OT, plan to advertise yourself outside of just the club. I'm not in any clubs at my school. Know why? It's not because I wasn't interested, it's because I couldn't make it to the club fair last year (I had classes the whole day) and outside of that one day it's impossible to know what clubs the school actually has. (So I suppose we could have an rpg club, but not one that anyone knows about.) You say you're on the school's website, and I assure you that there are people who look there, especially if you have a webpage and not just your name on a list.

But seriously, get word out there, and don't give up. Post flyers around campus. Draw on the sidewalk with chalk (that one's very popular here). Make fancy posters with swordsmen and mages and rogues and evil dragons and leches on them. And do this throughout the year, not just in the first few weeks. A lot of freshmen are so overwhelmed by adjusting to college that they put off joining clubs until later in the semester, but by then all the interesting ones have stopped advertising. The clubs that advertise get the members, even if some of them don't join until midterms.

[xPANCAKEx]

a few things:

select two or 3 of your best looking members. be presentable on the day. the first taste is with the eye. Everyone assumes gamers are unwashed, neckbeards, so prove them wrong. Dont overwhelm people with excitement if they approach. You're not shut ins, and if you are, pretend you're not.

If anyone asks what your about, dont give them too much detail of the games or the systems you play - you dont want to overload people.

be honest about your games: if you're like 90% of gamers, most of time is spent sat round mucking about cracking silly remarks and having a laugh together while getting drunk. You will sell it to far more people on this point than you will by telling them they might be able to make a level 14 half-drow wizard who beat up an ogre single handly

Be prepared for potential criticism.

answer any accusations of being uncool/dorks/neeks with the name "vin diesel". Dont yell it. Dont shout. Just say "vin diesel". If they ask why or what (the two most likely answers), just simply say "vin diesel plays dungeons and dragons all the time - cant be that uncool can it?". Throw 'gerrard way' at the rock crowd, especially anyone into my chemical romance. Tim duncan is your fallback for the sports crowd. Never be flustered. If they throw further criticism at you after playing the "well if a celebrity likes it, so can you" card, just answer with a polite 'well if you ever change your mind and feel up to checking it out, let me know' - say it with a smile and let them walk off.

The above point works on the principle of selling through celebrity association, and lets people feel socially accepted. an important thing when trying to sell something as looked down on as role playing

being pushy or desperate suck, so you know.... dont?

appeal to the drama crowd - as long as its not a pretentious drama crowd you might be able to swing it on the "acting" side of RPGs. Blag it by telling them it can actually be a good chance to stretch their improv skills

dont tell big lies, and keep the small lies limited

[Don Julio Anejo]

- First order of business: you want people at least interested enough in what it is you do there to come over to your stand.
- Second order of business: you want them interested in joining.
- Third order of business: you want them to like the club after joining

How to approach #1:
Remember this. Appearances matter. They are the most important thing there is. You may have the most boring club with the meanest people, but if your station looks good, people will come over. This, however, means that not just the station but also people have to look good.

First way to go about it: costumes (mentioned before I believe). They're fun and chances are everyone at least a little zany will come over to take a look. I know you said it's unfair, but maybe at least dress up yourself in something fantasy-esque. Bright, colorful and nice looking, not historically or RPG accurate. Like a leprechaun - nothing to do with fantasy but an awesome costume.

Second way to go about it: hot, charismatic people. If you've got a hot girl with nice, ahem, "assets," use her. No, not in that way you perverted sicko. Even if she's shy, make her at least sit around and act coy. Guys will want to join because there's a girl there and girls will be less anxious about joining because they won't feel like they're going to be alone.

Also, get the most zany, charismatic, genki person in your club. He's going to be your main speaker/"salesman". DRESS HIM UP. I don't mean a costume (I've addressed that above). I mean make him look good. I feel obliged to bring this up, as I've noticed most nerds tend to not care about personal appearances very much. But here's the thing, even if someone is a great person and extremely likeable, but if he looks like a slob or his outfit stands out in a bad way, people instinctively and subconsciously won't want to approach him. (Three piece suit, tophat and cane = stands out in a good way, torn sweats and a plaid redneck shirt = stands out in a bad way unless it's Alabama or something). Get someone who understands fashion to approve what he's going to wear (metrosexual dudes who get laid a lot and aren't in a frat are your best bet for fashion advice, if you don't know someone like that, ask a (non-nerd and non-hipster) girl).

Looking like, well, a stereotypical nerd, may work well to make sure people you hang out with genuinely like you for your personality, but it won't do much to attract more "normal" people to your stand.

How to approach #2:
Get that dude to talk. A lot. And make it sound like your club is the most fun place on earth. Don't go into detail explaining game mechanics and different game systems (unless the person specifically asks for it). And even then, use analogies to simplify what you're saying, people honestly don't care that a white mage from FF would use arcane casting in DnD and is not the same as a cleric, just say that a mage can use better spells and a cleric can smack stuff with a mace.

Advertise adventure. Again, to reiterate, don't make the game sound like you're sitting there, throwing dice to no end and spend more time sifting through rulebooks than defence lawyers. Make the game sound like you're going on an exciting quest to rid the world of evil. Or make the session sound like it's an excuse to get together and get drunk in a socially acceptable setting while making jokes about random stuff.

How to approach #3:
Bring beer.

@up: damn, ninja'd, you wrote the same thing while I was typing mine :smallsmile:

[max-is-working]

You could also use a "Save our RPG club" slant. I mean, when I woke up this morning, I didn't want to join an RPG club. Then I read this:

Here's my problem. I want to draw in more people, first of all. Twelve members in all and five or six at a time is simply not enough and the college has made such perfectly clear. If we get lots of people in, we will be given a decent wodge of cash to spend on games. If we don't get enough people in, our budget - only £100 for last year - is to be slashed. Heavily. If we get too few in, we will get nothing, and won't even be recognised as official. How can I catch people's eye? How can I get roleplayers to sign up, and non-roleplayers to give it a try?
And I thought, "Aw. I want to join this RPG club and make it better."

I think that more people would be willing to join and word of mouth would spread faster if you tell the truth: We need members. Without members we die. Will you help us live by gaming with us? With a clear slant, a clear message, your marketing campaign should go smoothly.

People need causes, good causes, worthwhile causes. Let gaming be your cause, because it really is, isn't it?

I suggest going to the photocopier's and making a flyer. Get permission from your school to post it.

Now 50% of the flyer should be the main message: RPG CLUB NEEDS MEMBERS. A clear, solid message that will catch the eye of any and all RPG people.
If your message taking up 50% of your flyer is "Got game?" or "Wizards R Us" or something too cute or nonsensical, then people are going to walk right by and dismiss it as another ad not worth reading.

The next 40% should be four bullet points:
(1) If we get lots of people in, we will be given a decent wodge of cash to spend on games.
(2) If we don't get enough people in, our budget is to be slashed. Heavily.
(3) If we get too few in, we will get nothing, and won't even be recognised as official.
(4) If you're a roleplayer, please sign up. If you can, please invite non-roleplayers to give RPGs a try."

The last 10% should be: Email ___ to sign up or see us at (time) and (place) every (day). You can also email ___ if you have more questions. An electronic version of this flyer can be found at (URL) if you want to email it to your friends.

Next, set up an online presence. Post the electronic version of your flyer there.

If you have a non-literate target audience, then you might want to throw in a picture. So make second flyer to post in non-literate zones. This variant flyer's top 50% is composed of: to one side, an OOTS-style stick-figure character screaming; to the other side, your RPG CLUB NEEDS MEMBERS message.

Good luck!

[lord pringle]

Everybody loves slurpy the mind-flayer!!:smallbiggrin:


not Tommy the terrasque?