October 5, 2002
 click here for more photos with thanks to ChrisTheCameraGirl our official photographer |
The rally got underway at around 2:30 p.m. Carrying flyers, nametags, tape, magazines, cookies, candy, and royal vestments, we set up shop at the southeast corner of Queen and John, taping flyers to the back wall of Speaker's Corner and preparing for our big moment on TV. We had a small setback when we discovered that the booth can only hold so many (five) people, but we overcame this and offered many impassioned speeches and some rousing "Hell, Yeah!"s for the camera.
Satisfied that we had made a big enough spectacle of ourselves to amuse the Speaker's Corner editors and perhaps (if there is any justice) get on the air... [ editor's note: they did! watch the videos here]... we moved outside and started handing out our flyers, cookies, and Starburst candies (the last featuring stickers with "Burst out of the ordinary! Fridays at 9 p.m. on Space").
The corner has heavy traffic, especially on a sunny fall Saturday, and we got a lot of attention. We found the simple, direct approaches worked best. "Want a Starburst? Want a flyer to go with that Starburst?" and "Hi! Would you like a flyer? We're trying to save Farscape!" were easy to remember and got results. TBZF's initial efforts to give away her cookies were balked by hysterical giggling from her fellow ralliers, which for some reason made people suspicious. However, we controlled ourselves and the cookies became a huge hit and a key element in our sales pitch: "Free cookie with every flyer!" or, for variety, "Free flyer with every cookie!"
Yes, bribery does work, and we are happy to stoop to it.
People's reactions were very positive, with several variations on the theme of "Farscape? I love that show! They CANCELLED it?" and at least one "Best show on television!" -- which were met by huge cheers. (There was one "I hate that show!" -- but everyone's entitled to their opinion.) People who hadn't heard of the show asked what it was about. People who hadn't heard of the campaign were interested to hear that the rally was taking place on four continents. Anyone who expressed the smallest interest was pounced upon by 'Scapers eager to make a convert to the cause. A lot of people said they'd check out the show, the SFC website, and the campaign.
Nearly out of flyers, and blocked in our attempt to deliver a card of thanks to Space producer Mark Askwith, we headed down the street to the Silver Snail, where Steve persuaded the store to put up a pair of flyers and we handed out our last flyers and cookies to passing comic-book fans.
Then we all went back to the pub, feeling the warm satisfaction of a day well spent.
The rally was a great success -- we achieved everything we set out to do (with the exception of attracting the media, despite a media advisory circulated to every outlet in the city -- but this seems to be par for the course). In all we handed out 300 flyers -- including a flyer exchange with a pack of French maids promoting the fetish store down the street -- and innumerable Starbursts and cookies. We made a lot of people aware of Farscape, its cancellation, and the Save Farscape campaign. And last but by no means least, we had a good time.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the rally and everyone who was with us in spirit!
