OK, so you’re a member of your local MOMSquad and you’ve decided that you want to paint a banner for your upcoming protest or event. Even if you can’t draw a stick figure, you CAN create an eye-catching, media attracting banner that will send your message to the masses. The following tips are adapted from the Creative Direct Action Visuals Manual written by Hannah Strange of The Ruckus Society.

SUPPLIES

• Paint (water-based acrylic, latex house paint, or spray
• Paint are best. Do NOT use enamel or oil-based paints.)
• Brushes (cheap foam brushes work best.)
• Grommets
• Scissors
• Needles and thread or sewing machine
• Flat nylon webbing
• Thin nylon cord
• Computer and digital projector (or old school overhead projector)*
• Permanent markers and pencils
• Wooden poles *
• Fabric

* optional

PLANNING

Before you begin making your banner, consider the following:

• Location – Where and how will the banner be used? What are the environmental conditions (high winds, wet weather, etc)?
• Size and Scale – How large does the banner need to be to be visible, legible, and have an impact at the location where it will be used? A 30ft banner could look tiny if the scale of the background is large
  enough. Scout the location before making the banner!
• Message – Keep it short and sweet. Test it out on a lot of people before you commit. Make sure it makes sense to your target audience and to the general public, and not just insiders.
• Time – Making banners takes longer than you think! Plan time for buying materials, construction, painting, drying paint, attaching hardware and rigging the anchoring system.
• Budget – Is there enough money for the labor and materials involved? The budget may end up determining the size and location of the banner.

Perhaps you’re on the heels of a major victory, having just persuaded a big polluter to shut down operations and to clean up the air in your community. Or maybe you’re looking for ways to put on the pressure and use media to help leverage a change in legislation. Whatever your message might be, make sure you get your story straight. You don’t have to be a media maven to get great coverage for your cause. You just have to know what to do when, whom to contact, how to follow-up, and the best ways to communicate your messages. Luckily, we have our very own media maven, MOMS co-founder Kristi Chester Vance, at our disposal to share her tips for taking advantage of our 24/7 media cycle. Check out our video interview here.