International
Mike’s guide to 200 signatures
At each show on the U2 360° Tour, I have a group of amazing volunteers who work hard all day encouraging fans to sign our petition to end mother to child transmission of HIV and become ONE members. Every volunteer finds a different level of success, so I asked Mike, one of the team in Horsens, Denmark, to share the strategies that helped him sign up a staggering 223 people in one afternoon.
Here are his top 5 tips:
1. Be friendly and smile without being unnatural.
2. Don’t think about what people look like. Just ask them and often people are interested even if they seem a little scary!
3. Start out asking if you may interrupt them for 30 seconds. A group is the best to ask because if one of them signs up the rest will usually follow.
4. Tell them it’s not about their money, but about their voice.
5. Tell people that they won’t be spammed at all, and all it takes is that they give their name and email right now!
I thought Mike’s insights might be the missing key, but lo and behold, just as I was putting this post together, Saara in Helsinki, Finland edged Mike out of the top recruiter spot by bringing in 232 signatures, and the next day 3 volunteers brought in more than 200! Saara said her trick was, “to stare straight to eyes so intensively as I could. : )”
Thanks to all the volunteers who’ve helped at the shows so far.
I hope your experiences can help those volunteers yet to come as the tour keeps rolling on across Europe!
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About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
25/08/2010 at 1:35 pm
I started with a small relevant joke: “I’m asking for names, not money. Bono doesn’t need any more money.” That made people smile and made them instantly take a positive attitude towards what I’m saying.
201 names.
25/08/2010 at 1:41 pm
Well done Helsinki! And congratulations to Saara! 232!! Super!
Volunteering for ONE in Helsinki was an amazing experience and I had probably the coolest day of my life.. so far. Thank you to all the lovely people who signed up and my fellow volunteers.
The show was ace!
And thank you Weldon for your guidance.
Maija
26/08/2010 at 4:20 am
I too collected a good chunk of signatures in Toronto. People are more curious and willing nowadays to help make a difference. And walking around with a laptop getting email signatures made the process simple. Hope I get the opportunity again next July!
Thanks to Weldon & Matt. You guys are awesome!
Janice
26/08/2010 at 10:15 am
It nice reading from the world on issues like this.
i must admit that very little is being made in Ghana and for that matter the village i originate from,WOE in the volta region of Ghana.
i will like to know if you can come help assits the people of my Nation so we can all meet the dead line in 2015.
you can reply through the email address given.
We need to create the awareness to all citizins in the world .
we are all ONE people.
Thanks and counting on your prompt respond
29/08/2010 at 10:07 pm
Awesome to read the results for getting people to join! Also for those who were in Helsinki on the 20th-21st August, I’d like to tell I put up a group in facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=153131874698503&v=wall&story_fbid=154605521217805&ref=notif¬if_t=feed_comment so that people can share info, thoughts, photos etc… We didn’t have the chance to get everyone’s contacts-info, so we figured this way people can also find maybe others of the group who volunteered then, if they feel they want to keep some contact every now and then
Have a great autumn everyone and cheers Weldon for your guidance for the job 
27/09/2010 at 9:22 pm
Hey, 200 signatures is too much!!! I only could get 60 yesterday in San Sebastian…
Very hard work, indeed…
I admire people who can convince others so easely!
Cheers!