The Fine Art of Setting the Table

Here are fourteen steps to successful tabling:

1. Set up a table in a popular location.
   Private malls of all kinds will likely not give approval, but public malls, public sidewalks in a busy area, county fairs, farmers markets, and the like would be good places. Some such places might require permits, so you need to investigate that, as well as particular rules. Be careful not to impede pedestrians (likely a legal requirement for being on a sidewalk).
2. You should have a sign saying who you are, and if there is a specific purpose for this outreach, have a large, very readable sign that states the purpose.
3. You should have handouts related to your cause, petitions if you want them signed, a sign-up sheet asking for names, addresses and emails.
4. It helps bring people to your table if you have things to give away. If you give away buttons, have signs on the front and both sides of your table saying “FREE BUTTONS”, and you can call out to passersby: “Free buttons”. All kinds of buttons are available online.
5. Having things that will attract children will bring their parents.
6. Tattoos for kids’ arms are popular. They can also be ordered online.
7. Face painting always brings kids.
8. Tree seedlings from the forestry service were very popular giveaways at a climate event. The same as with buttons, have several signs saying what you are offering, and you can call out about them to passersby.
9. Look out for special events that might allow your table—vegetarian festival, PRIDE festival, back-to-school festival, health festival, climate festival, justice festival, events of other organizations.
10. If there is a particular cause or occasion, invite other groups that are concerned with this issue to join you with a table of their own. If you are a 501c3 nonprofit, it would be best to not ally with a party or candidate.
11. You can have a donations can/box on your table. If you sell anything, a permit might be needed.
12. You should be prepared for rain. Buy a box of contractors clean-up bags at a hardware or building supply store. They are large and very heavy-duty. If it starts to rain suddenly, you can just throw everything on the table into one or two of those.
13. If a canopy is permitted, it is great on a hot, sunny day. But a small breeze or gust of wind can blow it away, and then it becomes very dangerous. Each leg must be weighted or fastened down. If it is set up on grass/dirt, pegs can hold the legs down. Bring a hammer to pound them in and a screwdriver to pry them out. If it is set up on a hard surface, each leg/corner must be weighted. A gallon jug of water works well as a weight for one leg.
14. If you will be there for some time, be sure that you have a chair or two or more for your tablers. Other good supplies to have:
    • paper weights for your papers,
    • various kinds of tape,
    • some cord,
    • pens,
    • a tablecloth,
    • any pertinent flags on poles that you can fasten to the table or canopy legs or a nearby tree.
    • Anything else that draws attention to you and your table.