There are so many movies that feature animals and can be used by rescuers to their advantage! Here are a few ideas for hosting a tabling event at your local movie theatre to capitalize on the blockbuster hits and get your group some attention, and possibly a few dollars! Here, I discuss some options a rescue or humane society could do for the opening of Garfield: Tail of Two Kitties in June 2006.

First, ask permission to host a table at the movie theatre where your group can pass out info on cats and adoptions. It would help to have a few cats available for adoption, but not necessary. If you can’t have live animals at your booth (b/c you will be inside near food, or other reasons), have a scrapbook of your adoptable animals available for people to look at! Be sure to have info on your group, your wish list items, your biz card, a SIGN-UP SHEET for people to request to be on your mailing list. It works SO much better if they give you their e-mail address and phone number, rather than you giving yours and hoping they’ll call. This way, the ball is in YOUR court to contact them and get them to volunteer, donate, adopt, etc.

One great way to make sure your group is seen is by dressing the part! Have all of your volunteers wear their group t-shirts, and perhaps a headband with foam/ felt cat ears on it, and some whiskers painted on their cheeks with a black triangle nose.

Have a DONATION BUCKET so people can donate money to you. They probably just got some change from either the ticket booth or the concession stand, so they can drop in their spare change to change the life of homeless animals.

I’d also recommend a raffle, or door prize drawing for a basket of items. This could be a pack of 4 movie passes, some refreshments from their concession stand, etc. Or, it could be some Garfield items. If your group isn’t allowed to do raffles, then make a door prize for anyone who stops by your booth, or for anyone who donates at least $1 to your group.

You might be able to sell paw prints for $1 each and hang them around the movie theatre for 2 weeks or so. This will serve to encourage MORE people to attend the Garfield movie, and it will bring money in for your group.
I’ve heard that groups have been able to ’sell’ concession coupons for the movie theatre. For instance, you can sell the concession coupon for $5 and it gives the people a large tub of popcorn and 2 drinks, which might cost $8 to $11 in your area. This way, the people get a good deal, your group gets the $5, and the movie theatre is able to donate something for a good cause.

I personally love the idea of setting up a table and selling ‘tickets’ for $1 off concessions, buy one drink get a free small popcorn, etc. Talk to the manager and see how friendly the theatre would be. You could start small from just a free drink if you donate to the group, to more elaborate ticket purchaes such as selling the combo meals of drinks, hot dogs, candy, etc. Theatres usually make the most money at the concession stands… as if we didn’t know how much it costs to pop some popcorn! The smallest event you could do would be to just have a small table with some stuffed animals on it, a donation jar, and lots of brochures on adopting a cat, cat behavior (check out HSUS, ASPCA and Petfinder resources for more info), and possibly have some photos/ scrapbook of your adoptable pets.

Got some small cat-related items to sell? Ask the manager if they’d mind giving you some space to sell some cat shirts or pins, rub-on tattoos of Garfield or pawprints, etc. Perhaps you could put together a raffle basket of Garfield items and raffle off tickets to the customers at one or all of the movie showings over the weekend. The basket could just be a few items like an alarm clock, beanie Garfield, odie boxer shorts, etc. worth about $40. If Walmart or another store will donate these to you, then you’ll be making profit no matter what. Check Dollar Tree for some great items, including pens, word search books, scrapbook items all in the theme of Garfield! Be sure to have a sign or two advertising your group, as the inside foyer can be crowded and some people may not notice your table across the room. Everyone in your group can wear your matching rescue shirts and have headband cat ears… you won’t be missed! Bring volunteer forms, membership forms, adoption applications, etc!!!

There’s still time to talk to the manager today to get the ball of string rolling on this one! Don’t hesitate and don’t be shy about asking! Sit down for a minute and think things through, what you want from the manager, what times you want, have a few back-up ideas like selling cat-related items if they say no to the raffle.

Ask if you can host a special premiere night where a portion of the ticket sales go to your group as well! This can be a really great event with a red carpet and everything to make your guests feel special! Personally invite the A-list crowd in your community to come out for a special night of helping animals! This can be a major social event, like a who’s-who in your town! Have the radio DJ do a live remote from this special premiere, and it will be highlighted with an appearance by your own Garfield look-alike… or just your own spokespurrson/ cat who will lead the way into the theatre, or hand out ‘autographs’ (pawprints stamped on paper).
Advise the Movie Manager that it may benefit them too — you will be posting fliers saying that you will be outside of the movie theatre, you will contact the news media, and you will generally talk up the fundraiser. That will bring more patrons to his movie theatre.

Just wanted to remind you that if you DO decide to jump at this great opportunity, don’t forget to send out a quick call or e-mail to some of your local radio station DJs and your TV station. They might mention on air that you’ll be there supporting the rescue and reminding people about the love and affection pets can offer them, etc. Get the media involved, even if it’s just a quick notice on it, and you’ll be sure to bring in a few more folks. The theatre will certainly appreciate the extra coverage of their movie and your group’s name will be in the public again! Can’t beat that!!!

AND- since the premise of this movie is about a cat being lost and switching places, perhaps it’s a great time to talk about IDs, microchips for pets (cats, too!!), and how to find lost pets!

SPECIAL NOTE: The last Garfield movie DID have some questionable slapstick and dramatic effects, such as kicking Odie the dog off the table (typical for the comic), but also shock treatments and Garfield falling 40 storeys. I have NO idea what this new movie is going to bring, but perhaps educating people on the PROPER way to treat cats and dogs (and other animals!) is a good idea at any tabling event. Also of note, since American Humane is using Garfield as their spokespurrson for Adopt a Cat Month this year, and they are the ones who monitor animals in films, I believe they wouldn’t lead us astray with a bad movie.

Purrs and woofs,
~Danielle

OTHER MOVIES:
Seabiscuit- Great for horse rescues
Scooby Doo- Was great for dane rescues specifically!
Cats n Dogs- Perfect for talking about proper training for pets
Must Love Dogs- Dating night, arrange for some free dinner passes to local restaurants for people to win.
Benji- Rags to riches sort of story where a homeless animal becomes well loved, and the director used a rescued dog as their hero!
Hoot- Great for any wildlife people
Underdog- Aren’t all homeless pets underdogs at heart?