Painless Parade Planning

Why are Parades Important?

• You have the ability to personally meet and get your name in front of THOUSANDS OF VOTERS
• You have the opportunity to show energy, excitement and support
• By working hard at the parade, you can prove to voters you will work hard if elected

Pre-Parade Planning (2+ Weeks Out)

• Get signed up! Earlier the Better
• Recruit Volunteers – More is Better!
• Order Lapel Stickers
• Order T-­Shirts
• Order Signs
• Secure Vehicle to Use
• Book Photographer
• Sound System

Pre-Parade Planning (1 Week Out)

• Doorknock town week before the parade
• Secure lawn sign locations on main street
• Recruit volunteers – more is better!
• Print Parade Program
• Determine Volunteer Meeting Spot (at end of parade)
• Shuttle System to Get People to Parade Unit
• Got Flags?
• Purchase Candy
• Purchase Water/Soda for Volunteers
• Volunteer Reminder Calls (parade line up number if known)

Pre-Parade Planning (Day Before)

• Wash Parade Vehicle
• Load vehicle(s) with all supplies (don’t forget umbrellas!)
• Communicate parade line up number to volunteers

SHOW TIME! – Day of Parade

• Signs go up early – 3 plus hours before parade
• Arrive at designated meeting spot a minimum of 90 minutes before parade starts
• Candidate greets volunteers as they arrive
• Move parade vehicle(s) and signs, candy, water/soda to line up number and volunteers begin to decorate
• Distribute t-shirts to volunteers as they arrive and begin to shuttle them to line up area
• Last shuttle leaves 30-45 minutes before parade starts and brings remaining volunteers and supplies. Drop them off and return to meeting spot at end of parade route
• 60 minutes before parade starts, candidate, photographer and volunteers walk the parade
• Volunteers sticker both sides of street
• Candidate casually works crowd – until parade starts – shaking hands with people on both sides of street – this is prime time for photographs!
• Candidate joins unit and works parade again from beginning until end
• One volunteer is the “barker” who announces the candidate along parade route
• Other volunteers wave signs, pass out lapel stickers and candy, hoot, holler and make noise
• It’s a parade, not a funeral procession – have fun!

End of Parade

• THANK THE CANDIDATE (who should be physically and emotionally exhausted if they’ve worked hard)
• THANK THE VOLUNTEERS
• Collect t-shirts from volunteers to be used at next parade (better yet, volunteers walk around at the town celebration all day wearing your t-shirt!)
• Disassemble parade unit(s)

 Parade DO’S & DONT’S

• Candidate ALWAYS walks the parade route
• Hustle back and forth from one side of the street to the other mee?ng voters – show them you will work hard!
• Don’t fall behind and get separated from your unit!
• Be organized!
• There are hundreds or thousands of voters waiting to meet you – avoid the classic parade mistake of standing around and talking to volunteers or other candidates before the parade starts – USE THIS TIME TO MEET VOTERS
• You should not join your unit until the parade starts

Parade Photo MUST-HAVES

• Large group of supporters holding signs (near unit)
• Small groups of supporters holding signs
• Candidate shaking hands with people along parade route (take many of these)
• Candidate with military honor guard (1st in line)
• Candidate with police/fire/EMT/ (2nd in line)