Tips on Running a Successful Action

New money billionaires are doing a great job around the country.  To make the most of these events, we offer a few extra ’stage production’ tips we’ve learned over the years that make for the best media, visuals and effective action.

Be The Star – not the Spectator (or: Beware the unwashed masses)
Billionaires shouldn’t mingle with or among ‘protestors’ but stand apart and serve as a counter-foil.  Use counter chants from our Be A Billionaire pages (http://www.billionairesforwealthcare.com/be-a-billionaire/) to have fun with the scene, respond to their chants in a back and forth and all-in-all drive home their message by being the physical representation of the wealthy few who benefit from the broken system as is.

Up the Ante of the Absurd:
For more daring billionaires, this media event presents a great opportunity to create a unique, powerful image that will reinforce our message.  This includes upping the absurd.  For instance, billionaires can gather to Lock Arms Against Reform, and literally form a human chain in front of a town hall, health insurance headquarters, or other nearby ’symbol’ or institution that is part of the healthcare debate. Overall, the idea should use traditional, familiar protest methods.  Try to envision the images you create with these events as tuxedoed and ball gowned billionaires grappling with organizers or police.  While we don’t suggest you actually get arrested, just creating those visuals while negotiating before being moved could be both absurd and hilarious, but also powerful.

Here are some more tips to help you stage a great action. Always find more at our Be a Billionaire page.

Stay POSITIVE – the more those people who don’t get it (or do) may yell the more you thank them for fighting so hard for our interests.  ”You’re fight is not with us, son, it is FOR us.” is a good line.

Stay IN CHARACTER –Breaking character breaks down the appearance of conflict between the Billionaires and normal protestors, and your goal should be to emphasize that conflict as much as possible.   Look the part as long as possible!

Stay TOGETHER – Both safety and a better media presence is created when you are all in a tight group w/ signs, chants, smiles and waves.  Stay near media cameras and/or police officers as much or as often as possible.

Stay CONSISTENT – Memorize 2 – 3 talking points and 2 -3 1-liners from our site and use those over and over again when talking with media or passersby.  It might seem redundant to you but it is not at all to those listening.  And remember when talking to the media: you are in charge.  The old media training adage still holds true: “Always answer the question you wish you were asked.” And remember to stop talking. Answer by working in your memorized talking points but then wait for the next question.  The reporter will use what you say, and the more sharp, concise and focused you remain the more likely it is that the reporter will use a great quote.  Even the most experienced of our Billionaires tend to start rambling on about our mega-yachts and 300-room mansions when given the chance.  The problem is that all that frill stuff really doesn’t help get our message out and help the cause.

Stay IN TOUCH – Please let us know what you did. Send us a description of your action along with pics and media hits we might use in a post on the front page or on other parts of this site.  Don’t forget to inspire other billionaires with your fabulousness by posting your pics to Flickr (http://Flickr.com) using the “billionairesforwealthcare” tag and/or on other social media websites (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.).

ACTION IDEAS

An Apple a Day/Let them Eat Asprin – Bring Apples or Asprin to hand out, ala our “Apple a day…” and “Let them Eat Advil” signs.  Take your apples or Advil (try to make the bottle conspicuous) and hand them out to members of the rally, saying things like “Would this apple taste as good if I HAD to give it to you?” and asking if they have any ‘pre-existing conditions’ before handing them over.  You can also hold up the apple as a prop to go with the “apple a day” sign on our website.

Human chain and greeting – Try to get to the site of the action before the main organizers, and attempt to form a human barrier to ‘defend’ the insurer targeted by organizers.  Don’t expect to prevent them from convening, but the physical comedy of trying and failing to stop the action should be pretty effective.  Potential names for the action – BlueCross/HumanShield or UnitedWealth

Taking Over the mic – if you have a chance to coordinate with event organizers, try to take over the mic while organizers are talking, and give a speech as a billionaire (we’ve attached what we think is a pretty good speech).  Be careful when using this tactic – we don’t want to disrespect anyone talking about their personal experience with illness or insurance companies, and we want to be on pretty good terms with organizers.

***IMPORTANT***

What should we do during speeches of sick people?
Don’t disrupt or upstage folks giving their personal story – it’s bad form and pretty rude.  Only try to ‘disrupt’ event organizers, who will understand what you’re doing. Instead, register indifference.  You can try to do a hear no evil/see no evil shtick, with Billionaires covering eyes and ears.  Also, do billionaire-y things like, talk on cell phones or shine jewelry.

Know who your ‘real’ friends are:
At pro-reform actions, Teabagger counter-protesters may appear.  Standing by, in front of, or near teabaggers is  recommended.  Chant with them, thank them profusely. If they start a chant of USA! USA! don’t fight it – simply JOIN IN! And end by thanking them even more for their passion and anger on behalf of the wealthy few.  If they get angry with you, simply remind them as gently as possible and with a smile, that their “fight is not WITH us, it is FOR us.”
Another good line – “Never have so many gathered so strongly for the benefit of so few!”

Posted on | September 19, 2009 | Comments

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