The first impressions we make when we’re serenading a whole chapter of sorority sisters are going to be the ones these ladies will remember us by as well. Here’s the thing: even one minor faux pas can make your chapter look embarrassing or cast you & your brothers in a negative light – it doesn’t matter how great your song is or how stellar your chapters look attire-wise.
That said, here’s some advice worth following to not only ensure that your serenades go smoothly but also to prevent such occasions from turning into epic fails.
Practice makes perfect. Devote as much time as you can to practicing the song: lyrics, melodies, etc. In addition, see to it that both your brothers & the new guys whom you received during Rush memorize the serenade in advance. All the extra time & practice you & your brothers put into getting the serenade right will pay off – plus, who knows how many sororities will love you for it.
Show up on time!! To show up late – or worse yet, not at all – is not only disrespectful to the women you’ll be serenading to. It’s also an insult they won’t take lightly. So if you said your fraternity’s arriving to serenade these ladies at, say, 9:15 p.m. everyone needs to make it a point to be there by 9:15 p.m.
Wear the proper attire. Serenading a whole chapter of sorority sisters in a T-shirt, torn-up jeans & gym shoes isn’t simply tacky – it makes you & your brothers look awful in the eyes of these women – seriously!! Dress in formal attire: suits, ties, dress shoes; if you want, put your own little spin on what you & your chaptermates are going to wear for this event – at any rate, wear the appropriate attire for serenading.
Bring presents for each sorority you serenade. Most fraternities send flowers (viz. roses or the sorority’s flower), chocolates or cookies. You can bring all of these things (& much more if you’re so inclined) but make sure to do this for each sisterhood you’ll serenade to. Doing something for a few sororities while bypassing a few others isn’t simply wrong or lame – it’s inexcusable & an insult to those few chapters you chose to serenade but didn’t give any flowers & candy to!! (Believe me, these women won’t forget it.)
Get the right message across!! A serenade’s about creating a good reputation for your chapters; likewise, it tells sororities a lot about who you are & what you do. Any inappropriate comments, actions or interjections which take place prior to, during & after the serenade will leave a negative impression on you & your brothers; worse yet, such out-of-term behavior is going to make other fraternities around you look ten times better.
When it comes to serenading, it’s not just about delivering your songs with class & style. It’s also about delivering your songs from the heart & like you truly mean it & taking the time to make your songs of choice a truly wonderful experience for the women you’re singing to.
of love & roses 