This article is Day 28 of the series: 31 Days to Better Fraternity Recruitment.
My old man actually invented the online dating concept.
He was at the Air Force Academy in the early 70s (all guys). He and his buddy were dating girls over at the local girl’s college.
They had a scam going where they got their cadet friends to fill out a dating questionnaire and their girlfriends had their girl friends do the same.
The idea was that they were going to input the answers into a computer which was going to determine which couples were the most compatible.
However, my old man didn’t utilize a computer. He just threw names together and collected a few bucks for the effort. The guys and girls were both happy because they had a date. Everyone involved was a winner.
What in the hell does that have to do with IFC rush? Not much really, but I’ll try to tie it together.
Why Rush is Like Online Dating
IFC rush brings out the guys who are really serious about joining a fraternity. These guys are going to join a fraternity come hell or high water. And these guys are desperate for attention.
For you, it is like shooting fish in a barrel. You know these guys want to join because they are there. They want to meet you. They are dying to meet you. Their purpose at an IFC recruitment event is so obvious they should have it tattooed to their acne-covered foreheads.
They want to be invited to a rush event just like online daters just want dates.
And amazingly most fraternity brothers who are forced to attend these events huddle around a card table with your fraternity flag draped in front of it. You shoot the breeze with your buddies and check out the chicks who happen to walk by. You pay very little attention to the guys wandering around lost who are desperate for you to talk to them.
For the love of God go talk to these guys. All you have to do is say this, “I’m Pat from XZY fraternity. Are you interested in learning more about my fraternity?”
If you do that you will have their attention for a few minutes. Bring him into your bro-huddle and let him be part of the conversation. Make him feel like an insider, because that is what he is looking for.
At the end of the conversation, get his number and invite him to a rush event.
You should be able to repeat this a number of times at the event. And this is one of the easiest ways to build your names list of guys who are potential new members.
I understand that IFC Recruitment isn’t always the most exciting thing in the world. Most of you feel forced when you have to attend. However, if you are going to be there you might as well make the most of it. And if you make one good contact who becomes a brother, then it will all be worth it.
To learn more, check out our most in-depth article on fraternity recruitment: The Complete Guide to Fraternity Recruitment.