25 Ideas for Recruiting

1. Use school announcements to promote instrument sign-up. Be sure to use background band music to make it stand out. 2. Create a Be Part of the Band WEEK, and do something special every day in class or on the announcements. 3. Play “cool” music with a horn section over the PA during the week. 4. Place posters about sign-ups around campus. 5. Include the sign-up on the school website. 6. Include sign-up information in school emails. Ask your administrators to send out a special email announcement and/or flier. 7. Send a flier home with every student. 8. Host a lunch time or after school instrument “petting-zoo” where kids can see, touch, feel, and try all the instruments. 9. Work the school lunchroom wearing a neon colored shirt that says “ASK ME ABOUT BAND!” 10. Use current band students to recruit new band students. 11. Ask the high/middle school teachers if they can send an ensemble to play. 12. Create signs to put in the car pool/student drop off and pick up lanes. 13. Ask teachers if you can spend 5 minutes speaking to individual classes. Be sure to reward them with a $5.00 Starbucks gift card. 14. When students sign up, ask them to “refer” their best friend. 15. Create a contest and students that sign up are entered to win. Drawing held on the first day of band. 16. Do “early bird” sign up in the spring. 17. Have parents call other parents (script is provided) 18. Have a school wide assembly and invite a professional quartet/jazz combo/parent group to play. 19. Ask your principal to participate in recruiting (he/she playing an instrument at an assembly)… the worse they are the better it is! 20. Challenge the kids/teachers, if a certain number of students sign up, you will let them throw a pie in your face at a future event. 21. Visit the P.T.A. and mention what you are recruiting and ask for their help in getting the word out or financially supporting the effort. 22. Ask your music stores for freebies that you can give away. 23. Play for each class for five minutes and hand out fliers. 24. Give every student a flier for their parents and if they return it signed the next day (even if they don’t sign up for band) they get a prize or candy. 25. Be the smiliest, happiest, friendliest, most outgoing person you can be during this process. Kids are attracted to both the instrument and the teacher.