Top 10 Serenade Don’ts
10. Mumbling members
Public speaking can be daunting, especially when the audience is a group of sorority girls. And if a brother isn’t ready, his speech may sound more like a foreign language than an announcement. While sorority members may overlook mumbling or think its “cute”, it really doesn’t reflect well on your chapter. Prepare your brothers with a public speaking workshop or a quick bullet-point presentation. Not only will you salvage your chapter’s reputation, you’ll also ensure that your brothers feel confident and avoid embarrassment.
9. Not practicing the song beforehand
One of the easiest things to ensure your serenade goes smoothly is to practice, practice, practice. This doesn’t mean have your brothers practice the song for the first time in the parking lot outside the sorority house. Rather, devote time during meeting to practicing the song and go over how serenades work. Your extra time and practice will pay off. Guaranteed.
8. Showing up late
Just like a date, a final exam or a game, showing up late to a serenade can be taken as a sign of disrespect. While some sororities may overlook your tardiness, its never a good idea to test their patience. If a time is agreed upon for your fraternity to arrive, make sure you show up! And if you’re late, remember to apologize… and don’t do it again.
7. Inappropriate Dress
Showing up to a serenade in a sweatshirt and worn jeans is like showing up for a date with a stain on your shirt. While your brothers may agree on a more casual dress, remember that your serenade is competing with other serenades, and every little thing counts. Feel free to put your own spin on what you wear (matching ties, pinstripe suits, etc.), just remember: When you serenade a sorority, dress as if you were serenading the girl you want to marry. Will she choose the guy with holes in his t-shirt? Probably not.
6. “Bored” or “inattentive” members
When serenading, you want to make the sorority feel important, special, and the only one you have eyes for. This is very hard to accomplish when your brothers look bored and are inattentive. While we all have our preferences, remind your brothers that their actions during serenades reflect the entire chapter. And even if they are bored or uninterested, they should never show it.
5. Doing something for one sorority and not for another
Bringing presents for sororities is a great addition to your serenade. Many fraternities will bring flowers (either roses or the sorority’s flower), chocolates, or cookies. However, if you plan to add this extra touch, be sure to do it for every sorority. Let’s face it: sorority girls talk; they especially like to talk about what fraternities do for them. So chances are, if you do something for one chapter and not another, sorority members will find out and your attempt at going above and beyond will come back to bite you in the ass.
4. Rude behavior
Just like lewd comments, rude behavior can be offensive to sorority members and put your chapter in a negative light. Whether a brother intentionally or unintentionally behaves inappropriately, the end result is never good. Let’s take a popular example: your fraternity is serenading when a brother passes gas. What do the sorority members do? They now associate your chapter with bad smells and uncontrolled flatulence. That’s a reputation no one wants.
3. Not knowing which sorority you’re serenading
While this may be a great joke among your guys, saying the wrong name during a serenade is actually very embarrassing. Thus, make sure every brother knows who they’re singing to. It only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch.
2. Lewd comments
Remember: a serenade is about seducing a sorority and creating a good reputation for your fraternity. Inappropriate comments, whether before, during, or after the serenade, is completely counter-productive. From the second your brothers enter the sorority house to the time they leave, anything they say should be appropriate for their mothers, sisters, girlfriends and grandmothers. Lewd comments during a serenade, whether joking or serious, will tarnish your fraternity’s image, strain sorority relations, and, quite honestly, make other fraternities look better.
1. Inappropriate touching
Just like when you meet a girl in a bar or at an exchange, unwanted or inappropriate physical contact during a serenade can be disastrous. There are some instances when contact is acceptable (if a brother knows a sorority member); however, never encourage your brothers to make contact with a girl they don’t know. Nothing ruins a serenade and a fraternity’s reputation more than inappropriate physical contact. Your song may sound great and your boys may look stellar: but if the sorority members feel uncomfortable, that’s the only thing they’ll remember.
This post was generously provided by ChapterBoard.
Category: Fraternity, Management, Sorority
