Banner/Sign wave test run (looking for suggestions and reference points)

harikaried

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This morning, I packed up my 4'x8' Ron Paul Peace banner and one Ron Paul President 2012 yard sign and headed out to a nearby intersection of 2 highways: I-280 and CA 85.

I brought along a telescoping pool pole to support the 8-foot wide banner:
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Where I picked up some twigs to lock in rubber bands passing through the eyelets for easy removal:
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There was a slight breeze from time to time, but there was a handrail at the bottom to keep the banner from moving too much:
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The California Department of Transportation estimates a peak hourly traffic of 13,900. My own quick 1-minute estimates averaged around 90 - 110 vehicles per minute across 6 lanes. There was a bit of traffic, so people weren't driving the usual 70-80mph through this intersection.

I also walked over to a nearby overpass for CA 85 with an estimate 9,000 peak hourly traffic, but I counted a similar 90 vehicles per minute across 4 lanes.

I found having the yard sign to wave pretty useful to get people's attention and waving back at those who waved or honked. Hopefully next week with more people, we can cover both directions on the highway and spread the word even more.

Do people have suggestions on organizing the banner/sign wave? It seems to me that having people spread across consecutive overpasses could be pretty effective to have multiple chances of getting attention as well as repeating the message of Ron Paul.

Also, for people that have sign waved, do you have estimates on how many people pass by per minute or hourly?

For those curious what the front looks like:
 
Curious, have people here not participated in any sign waves before and just don't have any feedback? (I don't doubt that as this was my first time waving signs for Ron Paul.)
 
Where can I get a sign like that? 8( I will pay whatever the price to put those signs up on busy intersections.
 
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I don't really have any suggestions, it seems like your doing a great job. I absolutely love that vote for peace banner.

Keep up the good work!
 
Ron Paul Designs seems to now have signs 18"x24" so quite a bit smaller, but they come in packs of 10 for $129 and are double sided.
http://signs.ronpauldesigns.com/
I actually ended up ordering a pack of these, and I'll see if they work better than waving yard signs. But from an overpass, I don't think either will be that legible, although one might be easier to wave than another.
 
nice! I'd suggest next time, bringing 2 long pieces of rope, swinging the sign to the front of the cage, and then tying it down. That way, it's much more visible / prominent.
 
What's wrong with TALKING TO REAL PEOPLE?

Sign waves = dumb

Not everyone wants to canvass, table, or phone-bank.

While those are the most effective techniques.. for those unwilling, this is at least something.

My suggestion:

Have someone loop around and honk at the sign on each loop.. Get a sign for both sides of the overpass.
 
If you are committed to doing a sign wave remember that your appearance reflects on the candidate... Ron Paul. Don't wear a wrinkled T-Shirt. If you wear a Tee make sure is is a RP shirt and is clean and presentable. Otherwise, wear a nice sport shirt (polo). Wear normal pants (no shorts with strange patterns). Wear shoes, not sandals. Don't wear anything "ratty". Now, don't go all "children of the corn" on them either... that will scare the crap out of them. But, be presentable and remember you are representing Ron Paul. You want people who see your sign waving to be impressed... not repelled.

Also, keep it legal. Find out if there are any ordinances in your area and comply with them. Make sure you are legally permitted to perform your sign wave in the area you have chosen. Don't do anything overt that might cause an accident. Be respectful of the drivers and other people's property.


Your sign looks great... here is a sign option for others to consider:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...nally-Made-Ron-Paul-Banners-from-less-than-50
 
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Our average banner life was 2-3 hours. The cops will take them - don't waste your money on expensive ones. hen again, depends on the cops - some stay up for days.

There is cheap stuff for protecting houses under construction and spray paint - disposable - use that. There are YouTubes out there on how to make them.

I think it's called a bohemian row - one word per sign - stagger yourselves along a roadway and deliver a message.

-t
 
yeah man! if I had friends to go with I would do that too lol. keep up the good work!!
 
if I had friends to go with I would do that too
This time I was by myself, and it still got the message across to 100 people per minute. I plan on getting more people to help cover the other direction on the highway as well as other overpasses in the area.

The banner was $125 and apparently it only needs one person with some application of physics to hold it up. ;)
 
Our average banner life was 2-3 hours. The cops will take them - don't waste your money on expensive ones
The Ron Paul Peace banner is $125, but I never left it while I was waving signs. I could hold it up with one hand or just use one rubber band to lean it against the fencing and the wind holds the rest of it up.

Curious, what kind of area are you in (downtown? suburban?) that cops come by that quickly?
 
The Ron Paul Peace banner is $125, but I never left it while I was waving signs. I could hold it up with one hand or just use one rubber band to lean it against the fencing and the wind holds the rest of it up.

Curious, what kind of area are you in (downtown? suburban?) that cops come by that quickly?

Consider getting those little zip ties, in California, so long as you are with your banner it is okay. When you leave it they can take it down. Keep it up!
 
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