vegan streets stalls, how do you do them? what is the best way to do them?

[olly stearn]

 

I thought it would be interesting to discuss some of the less spoke about aspects of vegan street stalls (sounds terribly sinister!).  they seem to be very popular and I think it would be interesting to know how people go about them and feel the best way to conduct them is. some aspects that I think are of particular interest are:

do you go up to people or let them come to you?
how do you attract people...?
is how you dress important?
how many people on a stall is a good number?
if it is applicable, is there a particular demographic that you would target. the young, the "alternative looking", the academic looking? also is there kinds of people that you would not really approach?

thanks! olly.

 

just to add I don't in general think the differential treatment of people because of how they look is acceptable but I do think how people dress can be a pointer to some aspects of there personality, but not necessarily. cheers.

p.s hope this is the right catagory.

[Carolyn Bailey]

Hi Olly,

Where I live I'm not even allowed to leaflet, legally, in many areas. I have to go across the bridge to do it there, and even then, the local council insist on seeing the literature before granting approval.
I used to use the Australian version of the Vegan Outreach leaflets, but that was some time ago. I would probably use different literature now as well.
I think how you dress and how you present yourself is very important too, and agree with Barb, I would dress similar to those you were hoping to attract, which I guess depends on the area you are in. 

I always used to let people come to me, but that's because if I didn't they used to run across the road to escape from me!! 

Sorry I can't be of more help! :)

 

[Kate✯GO VEGAN+NOBODY GETS HURT Ⓥ]

http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk/campaign/handbook/stall.htm

[Jordan Wyatt]

Hi Olly!

I'm not sure of the best way to do street stalls, my local group are yet to try them, but I'm sure we'll do something along the lines of our stall at the Eco Festival :-)


http://www.coexistingwithnonhumananimals.co.nz/2011/10/invsoc-sprin... 

Keep up the great work Olly! 

[olly stearn]

scotland seems very easy to do stalls from what you have said! never have any bother.

it is interesting that you say you have some interesting information when you leaflet. i have always said "would you like a leaflet" will try it your way next time!

from my experiance food always goes down well. im a big fan of the "cake for a chat" tactic. i think people see it as frindly and gives them something to say when they come up to you. altho it does mean you have to be able to cook......   thanks.

[Janine Laura Bronson]

I just graduated last summer from U with my Master of Arts degree so my "feedback" really focuses just on life at school (was living in the dormitories five years long), I slept at school, worked at school (had a student job) and studied at school ate at scool, literally spent my whole time at school... anyway, what worked really well for attracting people was screening movies on the walls of the buildings (with permission beforehand, or course) and leafletting, handing them out personally along the walkways (many exhibits year round allowed for stalls under umbrellas, put literature on tables (spread them out attractively) and talk about it on the On-line School Radio Talk Shows and video-tape interviews with guest speakers and leave pamplets out in the communal dining room area/restaurants/fast-food types of snack shops/vending machine areas and in the common areas of the Student Housing... (laundry room, mail-box area, social halls, ping-pong and other games recreation areas and at the gym and even in bathroom stalls!!! Ha, ha, ha)... Oh, and in my humble opinion, Olly, I would not worry what people wear, and instead, think about being inclusive instead, in other words, Olly, everyone is to be targeted, regardless, no discrimination, in other words!!!

 

 

[Louie Gedo]

Hi Olly,

I think the answers really depend on what your description of "street stall" is. I'd been spearheading tabling with video here in New York City for a few years so I can discuss aspects of this type of outreach but it may not be what you are interested in.

Warmly,

Louie Gedo

[Kerry Baker]

Ho Olly

Being vegan is very threatening to some people so the best thing in my experience is to wait until you see someone showing some interest and then to walk up with a smile and ask if they would like information. But let them lead.

THE very best way to get people to come up is to have some animals around, dogs are usually great or if you can get something that is unusual that is used to people, wildlife or a goat or something like that, they draw people like magnets.

I feel that most people feel some sense of guilt about eating meat and those who are going to approach you are on the way to being vegetarian / vegan anyway. But I have seen some pretty vitriolic comments posted in our local newspaper when there was an article about vegan nutrition a few weeks ago. People can get very nasty and will then accuse vegans of being aggressive and so on without recognising that the aggression is often themselves.

It's a fine line. But getting people to change relies on making them feel good about themselves. The next difficult thing is showing how they can go about it without sacrificing everything they love. Have perhaps some examples of vegan footwear, vegan cupcakes, whatever it takes so people recognise they can eat very well as vegans. I think there is still a perception that being vegan means a couple of celery sticks and lettuce (-:

How you dress will depend on the venue. I think casual, jeans and T-shirt or knit. I think that the less challenging the dress the more people will be comfortable about approaching you.

Who wouldn't I approach? probably only those who look like they go out shooting kangaroos for a living. But being vegan is a broad church and I think everyday ordinary people are fine. If a person starts up an argument just thank them and move on. They won't be worth using up your energy on.

Good luck.

[Elaine Vigneault]

I suggest reading these web pages:

http://vegfund.org/video-intro.html

http://www.farmusa.org/PPV/

http://www.peta.org/action/activism-guide/tabling.aspx

http://www.mercyforanimals.org/exhibits.aspx

I don't exactly know what you mean by "street stalls" but I have done plenty of leafleting, tabling, feed-ins, and I've done PPV twice. My main pieces of advice are: get good handouts/information and be friendly. Personally, I don't think dress style is nearly as important as just getting out there and doing it. If there's anything about doing this activism that seems daunting, just forget about that part and fix it later. Getting out there and doing it 80% right is way better than not doing it at all. Don't overthink it and worry, just do it and learn fom your own experience how to improve. Then do it again. And again.

[cath ens-hurwood]

Hey, Olly - i hope this is still of some use to you; i know the request is from quite some time ago....

I've tabled for many years and have had some success ...(as far as it can be judged)...met some wonderful people, who have in turn, become involved.  Anyway, I would usually let people approach the table - sometimes a 2nd or third person may leaflet near the table ...but usually if the table is attractively laid and the posters, leaflets are colourful, and eye-catching....people will approach.  You need some good sized posters "advertising" the issue and personally, i feel try to keep the literature on the table easily accessible, i.e. not overcrowded with 101 issues being covered - it's always tempting to talk about other issues, but if the table is a jumble, many people will be turned off.  Sadly, I think the way one dresses IS important.  You want the average person on the street to approach, regardless of age, sex, race, etc....then it is probably best to dress in a "neutral" way; if you feel that having face tatoos and 101 piercings is more important than getting the message out, well, that says it all, doesn't it.  People shouldn't judge, but they may - what message are you trying to put out???  ...as well, if you have 10 people milling around behind the table, you may find that folks are less likely to approach.  I don't think you would want to limit your target audience for veganism. Why???