Ideas For Recruitments

How To Promote Membership

Moderator: Belegarth: Forum Moderators

Ideas For Recruitments

Postby Shiryu » Tue May 30, 2017 7:22 pm

Hello, I am looking for a way to make recruitments for my unit called "Aethur and his Merry Band". Does anyone have suggestions?
Shiryu
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 8:17 pm
Started Fighting: 16 Jan 2020
Realm: Korriban
Favorite Fighting Styles: Florentine
Quarterstaff
Dagger
Rocks
Pronouns: He / Him

Re: Ideas For Recruitments

Postby Akroth » Wed May 31, 2017 8:26 am

Hi Aethur,

In the interests of making this post more useful, I've decided to butcher it.
I gave you a better reply further along in this thread.

Are you talking about a unit, or a realm?

A realm is a local chapter of Belegarth. Typically a realm is a group of fighters that live nearby to one another and practice together on a regular basis.

A unit is a group of fighters that spans multiple realms and are usually spread out geographically across the country. Units camp together at larger events, but may not see each other on a regular basis outside of those events

It's hard to provide advice without knowing whether you're trying to start up a realm or a unit. If you're founding a realm, your goal is to draw in new people who have never tried Belegarth before. With a unit, your goal is to recruit people who are already involved in Belegarth. In either case, let us know what you're doing and I'm sure people can provide some more details .


Whether you're running a realm or a unit, it's entirely possible that the group will remain in existence even after you're done with Belegarth. I'd discourage you from naming it after yourself, as "Aethur and his Merry Band" becomes a really bad name for a group once Aethur is no longer a part of it.
Last edited by Akroth on Wed May 31, 2017 12:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Ranting about the BoW so you don't have to.
More rants here: http://board.belegarth.com/viewforum.php?f=66
User avatar
Akroth
Underling
Underling
 
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:27 pm
Started Fighting: 19 Apr 2009
Realm: Thunder Guard
Favorite Fighting Styles: Sword and board, spear

Re: Ideas For Recruitments

Postby Himmel » Wed May 31, 2017 9:52 am

Some of the advice you're giving is misleading, Akroth.

There is nothing unusual or wrong with a unit existing solely inside a single realm. There is nothing unusual or wrong with a unit recruiting new fighters. All of this is doubly true if the unit is new itself.

EDIT:

In fact, geddon.org/Unit has a perfect definition of units:

The Unit

The unit is a group of people that follow a particular code of conduct, fight together and share similar aesthetic. This is most often manifested in similar colored or styled garb, particular combat tactics, shared cultural experience in Belegarth and a desire to camp with each other during events.
Units are typically formed from close groups of fighters and are typically isolated to a single realm, although there are large units whose membership spans several realms these units are typically referred to as National Units
All units generally share the idea of a unit symbol. The unit symbol is a clear mark to show a person’s membership. The display or earning of unit symbols is varied and many units have strong traditions behind how the symbol is worn and by who. These traditions are not always public knowledge, so the best way to find out is to ask someone in person and even then there is no guarantee that someone will tell you.
Many units have specific ways in which you can join, some are invite only, some take anyone who asks, some are limited on purpose to only recruit from their realms. The best way to find out about a unit and how to join is to walk to those who are a part of that unit already. (If you are a little too shy for that you can always check their wiki page but there is no guarantee on detailed information)
Sometimes multiple units form together to make a generic faction.
Knight of Numenor
User avatar
Himmel
Toadie
Toadie
 
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 7:08 pm
Started Fighting: 20 Aug 2009
Realm: Numenor
Unit: Amyr

Re: Ideas For Recruitments

Postby Himmel » Wed May 31, 2017 9:58 am

Aethur, do you already have a realm/a group of people that you do Belegarth with?
Knight of Numenor
User avatar
Himmel
Toadie
Toadie
 
Posts: 104
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 7:08 pm
Started Fighting: 20 Aug 2009
Realm: Numenor
Unit: Amyr

Re: Ideas For Recruitments

Postby Akroth » Wed May 31, 2017 12:06 pm

Units are typically formed from close groups of fighters and are typically isolated to a single realm, although there are large units whose membership spans several realms these units are typically referred to as National Units.


Good to know! I was only aware of National Units - Thanks.
Ranting about the BoW so you don't have to.
More rants here: http://board.belegarth.com/viewforum.php?f=66
User avatar
Akroth
Underling
Underling
 
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:27 pm
Started Fighting: 19 Apr 2009
Realm: Thunder Guard
Favorite Fighting Styles: Sword and board, spear

Re: Ideas For Recruitments

Postby Akroth » Wed May 31, 2017 12:31 pm

If you don't already have a few other members in your realm/unit, try to find some interest in your existing social circle. You could also research other nearby groups in your area to see if there's any interest from people who are already involved in similar hobbies (Amtgard, Dagorhir, SCA, Darkon, etc)

Choose a date and time when you and your first few members can meet up - Try to be consistent by meeting every week or every few weeks at a set time and place. Once all that is in place, you can get into advertising. Some of the easiest promotions to start out with include:

  • Make A Sign - And set it up at your practices. Doesn't need to be anything fancy. Just plain text like "Come Fight With Us!" can really help. People often see us but think we're a private group and don't think to involve themselves or come to talk with us. If you have a sign that indicates that you're looking for more participants (And it's free!) it takes away that barrier and serves as an invitation for people to approach your group to find out more.
  • Create A Facebook Page - Share your Facebook page and encourage others to share. Keep your page up to date and post reminders on locations/times for your practices.
  • Create Posters - Include contact information, and meeting location day/time. Put the posters up around town in visible places. Also ask local highschools / colleges and gaming stores if you can put up posters.
  • Use Media - Take photos or videos of what you do. Share on Facebook. Include photos in your posters. Also see if any local newspapers / radio stations / news stations will cover you - Often they're looking for filler stories during slow news periods and will be happy to do a 2-3 minute segment about your group.
  • Deliver Flyers - If your park is in a residential area, deliver printed flyers to residences within a few blocks of your meeting place.

In terms of unit recruitment... Your unit and realm are probably going to be a lot of the same people to start, so this goes hand-in-hand with your realm recruitment for the time being. Once you make it out to larger events outside of your local area, make sure your unit members are garbed and showing your unit's symbol. Looking good is important in drawing interest to your unit. Most importantly though, be friendly. Interacting with people is the best way to make them interested in what you're doing - I say this as someone who doesn't socialise much at events, and is still unit-less after almost 10 years in the sport. Don't be me. :)
Ranting about the BoW so you don't have to.
More rants here: http://board.belegarth.com/viewforum.php?f=66
User avatar
Akroth
Underling
Underling
 
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:27 pm
Started Fighting: 19 Apr 2009
Realm: Thunder Guard
Favorite Fighting Styles: Sword and board, spear


Return to Recruitment Ideas

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests