How to Table Like a Pro

© 2014 Enroll America and Get Covered America EnrollAmerica.org | GetCoveredAmerica.org

Kate Doehring, National Regional Field Director | Summer 2014

How to Table like a Pro

2 © 2014 Enroll America and Get Covered America

EnrollAmerica.org | GetCoveredAmerica.org

Agenda

1.   Why Should you Table? 2.   How to Plan a Tabling

Event 3.   How to Set up your

Table 4.   Best Practices 5.   Next Steps

© 2014 Enroll America and Get Covered America EnrollAmerica.org | GetCoveredAmerica.org 3

WHY SHOULD YOU TABLE?


What is a “Tabling” Event?

Any event where passersby are asked to take a particular action.

No Tables Necessary!



Why Should You Table?

•  Proven best practice to collect consumer contact information.

•  Useful for reaching specific neighborhoods/consumers.

•  Provides great visibility. •  Good strategy during summer

events (concerts, festivals, farmers markets, fairs).


It Works!

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Door to Door Canvassing Tabling

Commitment Cards Per Shift


Where Should You Set up a Tabling Event?

•  Hospitals •  Public transportation hubs •  Community health centers •  Farmer’s markets •  Festivals •  County Fairs •  Health Fairs

Any areas with high pedestrian traffic!

© 2014 Enroll America and Get Covered America EnrollAmerica.org | GetCoveredAmerica.org 8

HOW TO PLAN A TABLING EVENT


Key Steps to Planning Your Event

Step 1: •  Choose your location,

date and time

Step 2: •  Recruit some help

Step 3: •  Train volunteers

Step 4: •  Confirm your volunteers

participation at the event

Step 5: •  Prepare all the

materials for your volunteers and to handout at the day of your tabling event

Step 6: •  Have a successful

tabling event!


1 to 2 weeks out

Choose your location, date and time •  Be strategic--make sure it’s a visible area. •  Check your location at the time you want to table (make

sure it’s still high traffic). •  Make sure you have permission to set up your table.


*Pro Tip*

Look at a community calendar for events that are already being planned. Festivals, markets, and concerts all

make great tabling opportunities!


1 to 2 weeks out

Recruit some help •  List of all the volunteers you’ve worked with previously,

your neighbors, family friends and call them! •  Make sure to over-recruit. •  Give volunteers specific roles. •  Find a Leader to coordinate volunteers the “Day Of”.



Shifts

•  If you’re planning to table for more than three hours, break the event into shifts.

•  We recommend 2 hour shifts for an all-day event.


Shifts Tracking Sheet


*Pro Tip*

Have other events planned before you start calling volunteers. If they can’t make that particular event

schedule them to volunteer at another event!



1 Week Out

Train volunteers •  Make sure each

volunteer has completed some type of training before they begin tabling.

•  (Optional) Gather your team of volunteers a few days before the event to run through the day.


2 Days Out

All About Confirmations •  Confirm participation of your volunteers by phone. •  Write confirmation emails with all the final details.


2 Days Out: Materials Prep

•  Commitment Cards •  Flyers or other handouts •  Sign in Sheet •  Buttons/Candy/Other Giveaways •  Banner •  Table •  Future Event Sign Up Form for Volunteers

You can find examples of these materials on our website.


1 Day Out

Final Prep: •  Final phone confirmations (anyone you couldn’t get ahold of the day

before). •  Materials: make sure all materials are in the correct location and are

ready to be taken to the event the next day.


Game Day


Game Day

Don’t Forget: •  Prepare for the elements.

Bring water, food and good shoes.

•  Over-recruit: The 50% rule. •  Have every volunteer sign

in (even if you know them!) •  Set Goals - make sure you

have goals for each volunteer overall.


Post-Event Follow Up

•  Thank your volunteers. •  Data enter new information. •  Evaluate your work: do the field math.


Timeline in Review…..

1-2 Weeks Out: Confirm location, event leader and begin recruitment

1 Week Out: Continue recruitment and train volunteers

2 Days Out: Confirm volunteers and prep materials

1 Day Out: Final confirmations and materials ready!


HOW TO SET UP YOUR TABLE


Be on the Arc!

Table


Setting up your Table

Table

Something Flashy!

Sign In

Lit Lit Lit Lit Lit


BEST PRACTICES


Best Practices

•  Ask every single person. You cannot predict their insurance status and don’t be afraid to ask someone twice.

•  Don’t engage long with people who want to argue. •  Interesting greeting, we recommend:

“Hi, are you content with your health insurance?” “Hi, do you have a minute to talk about new health care options?

•  Try to approach people one-on-one. •  Make eye contact. •  If you have a clipboard, keep it at your side--think about your body

language.


Best Practices

•  Be on the Arc! Always stand in front of the table or walk around. •  Arrange materials in a way that’s easy for consumers to read and

access. •  Never leave the table unattended. •  If you canvass someone who’s super engaged, ask them if they

want to volunteer! •  Politely relentless and relentlessly polite.


Best Practices

•  Wave. •  Big smile when you greet people. Don’t wear sunglasses.

•  Finally, have fun!

Your efforts are crucial in connecting consumers with new

health insurance options now available to them.


Final *Pro Tip*

We can’t say it enough: always be in front of the table, imagine an arc and approach anyone who walks by!


Next Steps

1. Find our resources online. 2. Get Tabling!

Healthcare

How to Table Like a Pro