Contacting Schools- Straight to the Top or Athletics Director?

[Applesauce and Foils]

Hi, all,
When you go about contacting schools to do a fencing demo, do you find it works best to contact the head of the school, i.e. the higher-ups first, or go to the athletics director?

AF

[Craig]

I think you need to figure out your goals and the target market for the fencing demonstration.

What I would do is find an ally within the school (like a teacher who could be a "faculty sponsor" - maybe it's a teacher or maybe a coach) and then use that faculty "in" to figure out what is needed and whose approval is needed to both put on a demonstration and to get the best push from the school.

Sometimes that will be the athletic director, sometimes the Principal, and sometimes the Vice Principal. Regardless, get the right people looped in and talk to them. A couple of phone calls to the school will do wonders. Make sure to be up front about your goals and motivations as well.

Craig

[Applesauce and Foils]

Thanks for the detailed answer, Craig! Sounds like you're right. I will keep it in mind.

AF

[Craig]

Here is some guidance from a program director for the YMCA on what you need to show in order to have your program considered:

Who ---- is qualified to teach... will they be willing to have a background check in order to teach?

What ..... would be the benefit of running the program.... what equipment would be needed.... what would be the expectation of payment for offering the program?

When ..... would it be offered?

Where .... woulkd be the space that would need to be provided to run the program

Why...... would the [school/facility] want to take up space at their location to provide this program?

That should help you structure any kind of formal presentation. Also work on your 30, 60, and 90 second "elevator pitches".

Craig

[Applesauce and Foils]

Hi, again, Craig,
Those are very good things to remember. I did call a school recently and they are happy to let us demo there. Everything went great over the phone.

What are "elevator pitches"?

AF

[Purple Fencer]

Hi, again, Craig,
Those are very good things to remember. I did call a school recently and they are happy to let us demo there. Everything went great over the phone.

What are "elevator pitches"?

AF

Never heard the term before, but I'd guess it's a "sales pitch" that takes the length of an elevator ride to give....short enough to get the point across, but not so long that you bore the listener.

You may also want to provide injury stats before they ask for them, or at least have them ready. I have a Powerpoint presentation on homfencing.com you're free to use.

[Applesauce and Foils]

Ha, ha! Good guess.

Thank you for the Powerpoint! I will take a look at it.

AF

[Craig]

Hi, again, Craig,


What are "elevator pitches"?

AF

Your 30 second rehearsed sales pitch to get you in the door with that person. Think 'canned response' or 'scripted response' and you'll get the idea.

When working in a company and you want to get traction on a project, you use the elevator pitch to get a targeted executive to show support for your project when you get into the elevator with them and they ask you "so, what are you working on?"

Any good sales person will be able to do a good 30 second pitch for what they are selling (product or service) with the goal of getting enough interest to then go through a more detailed demonstration or consultation.

A good practice is to have practiced 30, 60, and 90 second versions of your pitch so that you can do a good job and provide the information you need to within the amount of time you have available to talk to the person and hold their interest.

(I used the elevator pitch about fencing a couple of weeks ago and ended up getting filmed for a foreign television station educational program.)

Craig

[Craig]

You may also want to provide injury stats before they ask for them, or at least have them ready. I have a Powerpoint presentation on homfencing.com you're free to use.

Have the injury stats ready, but don't include that in the initial pitch. The pitch should focus on the benefits of fencing. Showing that fencing is safe answers one objection about fencing, but that's for the long presentation of your leave-behind materials.

The main objections you should be able to answer (yes, rehearse these as well):
- Is it safe?
- Is it expensive? (Compare it to equipment-heavy sports like lacrosse, football that are popular in your area and demographic.)
- Does it hurt? (More of a parent thing.)

[Applesauce and Foils]

Thanks, Craig. All good advice.

AF

[summersjk]

We've had luck getting in to do demos through different channels depending on the situation - athletic directors, PE teachers, and school principals. If you have an "in", go through that person first, so you already have an ally. If you don't know them, we usually start with the PE teacher, then see what they say. Most principals don't have time to make a decision either way, so you get forgotten. PE teachers are the most excited to have you in for demos (in our experience), but if you want to do a whole ongoing program or after school club, then go for the principal.

Example: One high school team had been pestering their principal for months to be able to do a demo and were getting nowhere. When they changed tactics and asked the athletic director, they got in within a week. So if persistence doesn't work, try changing the method or contact person.

Another thing we've done: Many of the charter or private schools in our area have to continually raise money. If you find out about an auction, offer to give a gift certificate for a fencing birthday party (basically a one hour group mini lesson) or a private lesson or demo... in exchange for being able to do a demo at the school. This is double publicity for you, and seems like double value for them.

[oiuyt]

This is double publicity for you, and seems like double value for them.

And you're both right.

-B

[Applesauce and Foils]

Another good idea. One reservation I have had about doing birthday parties is that the kids are just there to have "fun", you know? Expecting to do swordfighting, which is not what they'd get. It would still be fun for them, but I don't know if I feel like running around after them trying to protect our equipment.
I appreciate your advice. It will come in handy.

AF

[erik_blank]

Another good idea. One reservation I have had about doing birthday parties is that the kids are just there to have "fun", you know? Expecting to do swordfighting, which is not what they'd get. It would still be fun for them, but I don't know if I feel like running around after them trying to protect our equipment.
I appreciate your advice. It will come in handy.

AF

When it comes to "fencing Party" type thing, it would probably be better to use foam swords (Walmart has foam sabers that while not the most durable, will allow the kids to get a basic understanding of fencing without having to worry about masks and gloves.

Another option would be the plastic fencing sets that have plastic foils and epees, plastic masks and half jackets. These are sold by Leon Paul (http://www.leonpaulusa.com/fencing/a...Fence__31.html)
as the "mini-fence" system.

[Applesauce and Foils]

I have discovered Walmart's foam swords and bought several of them! I've been letting the kids use them to have a little respite from the serious stuff and also to teach them about distance.

We play a game where they have to go for a different target area than foil, like legs or arms, just to change things up a bit. We don't have ROW in this game because it's too hard to keep up with that and I just want them to have fun. Anyway, their first instinct is to just go in and whack the blades together, but I tell them "hit his legs, not his blade- that's what gets you the point!" and they usually do it.

With this game, I'm trying to make them aware of where their body is, and maybe even teach them some creative manipulation of distance. It's fun for them. I don't think they realize they're actually learning something. :}

If I do a fencing party, I will definitely use the foam swords. Thanks for that idea. And also for the link.

AF

[Cookeit]

Umm, shouldn't they be calling YOU to ask you to do the demo?

[Applesauce and Foils]

Well, since most people in my town aren't even aware of fencing OR the fact that there's a fencing club locally, I could be waiting a long time for that call! LOL!
Every time I read about clubs marketing/advertising themselves, they are the ones that have to take the initiative.

AF