Working with Volunteers

©2005 Avner Eisenberg

  1. Make your volunteer look good. Goal should be for the rest of the sudience to say to themselves, “That looked like fun. Maybe Ill get picked next time.”
  2. Get agreement before making contact - come with a proposition.
  3. Be clear what you want the volunteer to do.
  4. Enter the space near the prospective volunteer. Don’t be afraid of rejection.
  5. Make the volunteer feel like the chosen one, not like you need them to bail you out.
  6. Never pull someone on stage who doesn’t want to go If volunteer is uncomfortable, or uncooperative, return him to his seat and apologize nicely so next volunteer knows he will be treated well.
  7. Take the blame if the volunteer screws up. Example: If a ball is thrown over your head, react as if you were in the wrong place, rather than the ball were thrown badly.
  8. If the volunteer is happy, the audience will be happy. Take the time to be sure your volunteer is breathing.
  9. Use verbal and non-verbal yes-sets.
  10. Always reassure volunteer that they are doing well, and that whatever they do is correct.
  11. Find verbal and non-verbal tactics to get volunteer.