Rallies usually begin with a short introduction by an MC and then a series of speeches, chants, music, and so on. Some things to help rallies go well:
<ul>
<li> Keep speakers on strict time limits that you warn them about in 
advance. Have a fearless MC signal ‘timeout’ if they go over.
<li> Use the rally to promote your group. You deserve the reward for 
organizing it.
<li> If it’s outside, remember to put a rain location on the posters.
<li> Have a good diversity of speakers (gender, race, etc.) and don’t rely again and again on the same good speakers. New people need to
develop those skills too, and they’ll have a blast. Trust them.
<li> Have several people designated as representatives to the press.
</ul>
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Press tips:
<ul>
<li> Find them—don’t wait for them to find you. Control the media, instead of letting them control you.
<li> Have several “sound bites” ready beforehand. Saying these, and repeating them if necessary, is a higher priority than answering the reporter’s questions (sad, but true).
<li> Don’t make long-winded speeches; they’ll be edited to death. 
<li>  A press packet prepared beforehand with detailed information might help.
<li> Do what you can to make the audience well informed—it looks bad for them to say, “Well, uh, I guess I came cause, well, yah know, I’m really concerned about the earth.”
<li> Getting people to crowd together and having colorful banners in the background will make for good pictures.
<li> Have a few marshals on hand to direct the crowd, lead chants, and so on.
<li> Make the rally visually attractive—lots of signs and banners, T-shirts with slogans, costumes and theater and so on. You can cheaply make full color T-shirts with color inkjet printers, an iron, and T-shirt transfer paper (<li>1.50 a sheet). How about a nighttime march, carrying torches?  Ooooh!
</ul>
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