You sell, and you take the payment.
You sell on your own: you pitch, you take the money, you hand over the ticket. Parent volunteers run the tables and come round to collect cash.
Cash goes in your pouch, never your pocket, and you hand it to the money runner whenever they ask. Venmo is paid on the buyer’s phone, never yours — they scan your sign and show you the finished payment. Check it says @dchstennisboosters, the right amount, and not “pending” before the ticket leaves the roll.
The 20-Second Pitch
In this order
- Say who you are.
Hi — we’re the Coffman girls tennis team.
Eye contact first, then talk. - One line on what it is.
50/50 raffle — winner takes half the pot tonight.
- Lead with the twelve.
Twelve for ten, or five for five?
Say the twelve first. A choice gets an answer;do you want to buy a ticket?
gets a no. - Take payment. Cash into your pouch, change out of it. Venmo: they scan your sign and show you the finished payment. Then tear the ticket into their hand.
- Close it.
We draw at halftime and you have to be here to win, so keep that ticket on you. Good luck!
Say This, Not That
“Half goes to the winner tonight, half pays for our courts, coaching and uniforms.”
“It’s for, um… a fundraiser?”
“It’s half of everything we sell tonight — the more people play, the bigger it gets.”
Inventing a pot number you don’t have.
“Twelve for ten — two more tickets than two fives, same money.”
Selling one five-pack and stopping there.
“Doesn’t matter which side you’re sitting on — visitors win half too.”
Skipping the visitor side entirely.
“No cash? We take Venmo — scan the code on my sign.”
Letting “I don’t have any cash” end it.
“No problem — enjoy the game!”
Asking a second time after a no.
Hearing “No”
Most people will say no. That is the job, not a verdict on you. Smile, say “enjoy the game,” and be talking to the next person within three seconds. The money comes from how many people you ask — not from convincing any one of them.
Where The Money Is
Best first
- The gate line before kickoff. People standing still, wallets already out. Best half hour of the night — be there.
- The concession line. Captive line, cash already in hand.
- Top of the bleacher stairs. Catch people coming up; never make someone climb over a row.
- The visitor side. Visiting fans buy, and half the pot is a real prize to them too.
- The student-section fence between quarters. Don’t save it for later — there is no later.
Game-Night Clock
Set-up
Report to the table at the time the coach gives you. Sign, ticket roll, and pouch.
Gates
All hands at the entry. Highest-volume stretch of the night.
Q1–Q2
This is the whole night. Once halftime starts you are done selling. Go quiet only during a scoring drive.
2:00 Q2
Last call. Say the words out loud in every section you pass.
Half
Sales closed. Bring your roll, pouch and sign to the table for the drawing.
After
You’re done — go enjoy the game. Check out first. The treasurer and president wait for the winner.
House Rules
- Cash lives in your pouch, never your pocket. Hand it to the money runner whenever they ask.
- Venmo goes to @dchstennisboosters only, on the buyer’s phone. Never your own phone or account, not even to pass it on later. Check the handle, the amount, and that it isn’t “pending”.
- Hold the sign over your head, not at your waist. It has to read from thirty feet. Point it at people, not at the field.
- Stay inside the stadium. Never the parking lot.
- Don’t block a gate, an aisle, or the walkway in front of the band.
- Stop selling for the anthem and any time a player is down on the field.
- Check out before you go. At halftime hand back your roll, unsold tickets, pouch and sign — the last ticket number gets written down before you leave.
- At a home game you are Coffman’s host. Rivalry stays on the field.