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
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

EnrollAmerica.org | GetCoveredAmerica.org3
WHY SHOULD YOU
TABLE?

What is a “Tabling” Event?
Any event where passersby are asked to take a
particular action.
No Tables Necessary!

5
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!
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
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!

EnrollAmerica.org | GetCoveredAmerica.org8
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”.

13
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!

16
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!

How to Table Like a Pro

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to How to Table Like a Pro

Similar to How to Table Like a Pro (20)

More from Enroll America

More from Enroll America (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

How to Table Like a Pro