You are on page 1of 9
Email Etiquette 1) You should all have access to email. Your director will often contact the entire team with important information, attachments, rehearsal time/location changes or appearance requests. CHECK EMAIL OFTEN! 2) DO NOT SEND JUNK/CHAIN EMAILS TO THE ENTIRE SQUAD and delete any of the garbage including addresses of other people who have forwarded it to you, repeated copies of the email, etc. 3) RESPOND ONLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL; DO NOT CHOOSE THE “REPLY ALL” OPTION. Choosing this option will clog up email boxes with responses from each and every member on the team. 4) WHEN REPLYING TO AN EMAIL USING THE “REPLY ALL” OPTION, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK THAT THE ADDRESSES BELONG TO THE PEOPLE (current squad members) YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO. For example, some of the Vet's outgoing emails may contain addresses of ladies who were formerly on the squad, and if the rookies email them by mistake (by choosing the “Reply All” option), the “old timers” may not know who you are and will subsequently have messages clogging up their email boxes too. AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR RAIDERETTE VETS In order to audition as a veteran Raiderette in good standing the following must be completed: 1) You must complete an exit interview (and questionnaire) with the Raiderette Director in the time frame that will be provided for you. 2) You must complete at least 10 charities by the end of March. 3) All borrowed items, including your uniform, or items issued for your use during your year as a Raiderette must be returned. Asa veteran Raiderette in good standing you do not need to attend preliminaries. You may begin your audition process at the rehearsals after the preliminary round and complete the process with finals. You must attend both rehearsals! If you are a veteran Raiderette in good standing but have not been on the team for two years or more you must go through the preliminary round of auditions. Important Note: If, as a veteran Raiderette in good standing you audition and do not make the squad and wish to audition the next year, YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE PRELIMINARY AUDITION! No exceptions to this rule. Ignorance of this rule will not allow you to skip the preliminaries. RAIDERETTE/PLAYER FRATERNIZATION ‘The Raiders are the only team in the NFL that does not have a policy forbidding any dating and fraternization between the cheerleaders and the players. We prefer you do not date any of the players. Let’s look again at the contract you signed, under Rules and Regulations, number 13. Let's discuss what excessive means to the Raiders... There have been a few relationships between the two groups that have resulted in a few happy marriages and lovely children. HOWEVER, we have also had more situations where, quite frankly, the Raider organization and the Raiderettes narrowly escaped ruined reputations. One such example concerns a player who gave Halloween parties every year and many of the Raiderettes attended. This same player was suspended from the team for drug use, but also arrested for date rape. For you on the squad who have attended those parties, just think how narrowly you missed having your photo in all the local papers and/or being assaulted! For this reason, RAIDERETTES ARE NOT TO ATTEND PARTIES AT PLAYERS HOMES. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. FOR THOSE OF YOU, WHO DATE A PLAYER OR FORMER PLAYER; MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT PLAYER PARTIES ARE OFF LIMITS TO YOU. IF YOU ARE INVITED OUT TO DINNER OR OTHER OCCASIONS LIKE THAT, YOU MUST CALL THE RAIDER OFFICE AND INQUIRE AS TO WHETHER A CERTAIN EVENT IS OFF LIMITS TO YOU! 1. The players ARE NOT to be invited to Raiderette parties. This get-togethers and private parties as well. 2. Raiderettes are not to “PLAY HOSTESS” at parties given by players. You are not supposed to be there anyway. 3. Ifyou are dating a player (meaning an on-going serious relationship) and he is your date at Raiderette events, make sure he knows he absolutely must not invite his Raider buddies, single or married, to the party. No exceptions! 4. Make a point to find out if a player is married. In most cases, he won't tell you! You can call the Raider office with questions as to marital status and | encourage you to do so. Again, he will not tell you he’s married! 5. If you find yourself at a social event (not an appearance) at which a player is present, do not fall all over him asking for his autograph and photo to be taken with you. This includes the after game also includes sporting events, and includes the coaches. tis not acceptable to have Raiderettes all dressed up at an event, hanging onto any player. Remember you are there as a professional Raider representative — act like one! 6. There are some young men on the Raider staff who are married and yet some of the Raiderettes like to call them “just to chat”. No matter how innocent the friendship may be, the fact that you may pop in to visit them when you are in the Raider facility does not look good to others — particularly their wives! There's not a female alive (or male either) who doesn’t like attention. But you need to learn to deal with the attention you receive from the public (and especially the players) without it getting out of hand and going to your head. WE'RE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS POLICY. THE PLAYERS DO NOT BELONG AT RAIDERETTE FUNCTIONS SO DO NOT INVITE THEM. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE DATING A PLAYER STEADILY, MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT HE IS YOUR DATE AND IS NOT TO ISSUE INVITATIONS TO HIS FRIENDS. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE HAVING WOMEN ON THE SQUAD WHO ARE SPORTS FIGURE GROUPIES. YOU CAN AND WILL BE DISMISSED FROM THE SQUAD FOR EXCESSIVE AND INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. Remember, as important as you are to our organization, football is the name of the game. Fans would come to see the games whether or not we had cheerleaders. There are some great teams who do not have cheerleaders, such as the 2010 Champion Green Bay Packers. They are sold out every Sunday. Some teams who previously had cheerleaders do not now have them (Chicago Bears). Because of morality problems with their squads they decided cheerleaders were too much trouble to deal with. Cheerleaders enhance the game but the important thing is that people come to see football and will still come whether or not we have cheerleaders. DO NOT BECOME THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND/OR BY THE RAIDER STAFF. WE EVENTUALLY HEAR EVERYTHING! 10. ETIQUETTE FOR APPEARANCES Be ‘game day ready’ for any and all appearances. It matters! This means your hair is clean and beautifully styled, your make-up is professional and complete, your uniform is clean and your boots polished a gleaming white. Do not wear any clothing or cover-ups/jackets/pants that are not issued to you by the Raiders. Failure to follow this ideline will result f $10.00. Always wear your Raider-issued track suit over your uniform when traveling to and from your appearances. Being covered up while on your way to and from an event is professional decorum. ‘As you look for your contact person, smile, introduce yourself and shake hands. Ask your contact to explain your responsibilities and if there is a little time before your event begins and you are standing with your contact make them fee! at ease by asking questions about what they do or maybe more details about the day’s event. This makes it easy to break the ice when meeting someone new. And always smile! Your posture says a lot about you. Stand straight and refrain from leaning on surfaces and never put your feet up on anything, Sit in a ladylike manner — cross your ankles or cross your legs but keep your legs together. The quality of your voice is also important. Speak loud enough to be heard but do not shout across a large area to another Raiderette, friend or client. Crude language, innuendos, slang and negative facial expressions are strictly VERBOTEN! Any primping or fussing with your uniform, make-up or hairstyle must be done only in a restroom ~ never in Public. The client assumes you are professional and close to perfect. Be sure you are! At events where Raider players are present, NEVER go up and gush all over a player, ask for an autograph or hang on his arm for a photograph. You should act like the professional you are and do your job! It is advisable to keep your professional distance from the players unless requested by the client to pose for photos that include a player. Your responsibility is to the client only. You want to avoid putting yourself into an embarrassing situation ‘or become an embarrassment to the squad because of inappropriate actions on your part. Ifa client asks you to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable you should decline. If you feel you are ina situation that makes you feel unsafe you should leave. Even when you are not working in your capacity as a Raiderette you are still representing the Oakland Raiders. It is imperative that whenever you leave your home you look ‘put together’ so when someone recognizes you (and they will) they can say, “Raiderettes always look fabulous”. We've all seen the stars in the tabloids that don’t look their best. Cell phone cameras are everywhere —be camera ready! One Raiderette represents all Raiderettes. You actions reflect on all of your sisters so let’s be sure the reflection is a positive one at all times. One wrong word, one misconception can put the entire team into a negative light. Be aware ofall your words and actions. Be proud to be a Raiderette and you will make the squad and the Raider organization proud as well CHARITY APPEARANCES Charity Fee / Time Sturcture: Charity: $35 three (3) hour time period (to help cover travel expenses) Fundraiser:$100 _ three (3) hour time period There will be charity events that will provide no compensation or expense coverage whatsoever. We expect you to participate in these events. This is a part of your Raidetette responsibilities. Each Raiderette will be required to do a minimum of ten (10) charity appearances this season (from now through the end of March 2013). We will not be booking any appearances the month of April 2013. This means all of your charity credits need to be fulfilled by the end of March 2013. Those who attend more charity appearances have the opportunity for more standard ones. If you do not complete at least the minimum number of required charities you must go through the preliminary auditions for the next season. Raider Events ities includ Appearances the Raiders ask you to do such as: ‘© Raider Image store appearance (with no calendar sales) ‘© Special projects in the Raider office (3 hours equal one charity appearance) * “Real” money-raising charities © Unpaid Draft Day Events ‘© Junior Raiderette Photo Day Raider Events NOT counted as charities include: Appearances that all Raiderettes are required to participate in: © Raider Nation Celebration © Raider Ticket Promotions © Appearances you will be asked to do from time to time including paid, non-paid, in town and ‘out of town that are in conjunction with the Raider organization or for the Raider Image. You are required to participate in the Raider Nation Celebration and Raider Ticket Promotions. If you are asked to participate and you do not, you must go through the preliminary auditions the next season. STANDARD APPEARANCES © Standard: $400.00 Four (4) hour time period * OutofArea $600.00 Four (4) hour time period ‘The number of standard appearances varies from year to year. We do our best to distribute them fairly among all team members. Please do not call this office asking for appearances because you need extra money. Get a job, keep a job and manage your finances! APPERANCE GUIDELINES 1. The Raiderette office will contact you by phone and/or email for appearances. Often you will book appearances at evening rehearsals. Check your email and voicemail daily! Please respond within 24 hours of receiving our inquiry. Our office is extremely busy and prompt client notification from us is important to our continued success, customer satisfaction and repeat customers. 3. Check your calendar carefully before committing to an event. We will book events as far out as three months. If you commit to an event you must attend. Clients will put out advance publicity about you — you need to show up. 4, If,in the rare instance you need a replacement, call or emai! the office no later than 10 days out from the event so our office has ample time to search for a replacement. Do not find your own replacement. We book certain cheerleaders for specific reasons — your Director is the only one to secure a replacement. 5. You are required to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to your start time. If you are late, an additional charity requirement will be added to your minimum. There is never an excuse for being late. Check out traffic conditions an hour before departure. Check your map well before you get in your car so you know where you are going — getting lost is not an option and looks extremely unprofessional to the client. They have hired and are expecting a mature, professional representative. 6. Wewill send your appearance sheet and map with pertinent information for each event via email. Generally, you will receive these no later than one week out. If you have not received your sheet by this time, call the office. Many times we receive last minute requests (we normally require three weeks’ notice on all requests). In our effort to assist some of these clients your response is crucial within a short time frame. Check your email and voicemail daily! 7. The next page shows a sample of the appearance sheets you will receive. The underlined name is the cheerleader in charge. If your name is underlined you are required to see that all cheerleaders show up 15, minutes early and ensure the event runs smoothly. If your name is not underlined (even if you are an older vet) ‘you will follow the instructions given by the cheerleader in charge and present a polished and positive team spirit. At the end of the event the girl in charge will send the Raiderette Director a short email stating the arrival times of the other cheerleaders and the status of the event (was it good, was the client difficult, what was great and what needs work). 8. Let each other know where you are when you arrive. Keep your list of phone numbers in your cell phone only ~ do not carry around the address/phone list with you~ keep that at home. 9. Appearances are a professional activity. Therefore no family members (including but not limited to parents, spouses, children, etc.) boyfriends, roommates, etc. are allowed to accompany you or hang out with you while you are working at any appearance. 10. When we all care about providing exceptional service to our clients and exceeding their expectations, we, as a team can successfully contribute to the well-being of our business and social communities! POSSIBLE SITUATIONS AND SCENARIOS THAT OCCUR AT APPEARANCES: Meet and greet in stands before game: © Photographs with gentlemen (where do you place his hands if he puts his arm around you?) © What if he gives you lots of attention and his girlfriend/wife gets mad AT YOU? © What if he wants you to sign his clothing or body (arm, back, chest)? * Don’t put your poms down while you sign or pose ~ someone will take them, Going into parking lot to greet fans before the game —you have only 20 minutes for this: © Some of the tailgaters want to pose with us ~is this permitted? ‘+ My family tailgates at the games. Can we visit them? * What do we say to the fans as we walk by? * Dowe stop to sign calendars or photos? At Appearances ( standard, charity, fundraiser or Raider events) ‘© There's this really nice guy who manages to come to every single appearance we do - | don’t know how he finds out where we are, but he’s really nice and takes lots of pictures and gives them to us for our scrapbooks. What should we do when he hangs around the entire appearance time? Sometimes when we are signing calendars, guys with cameras will come up and keep taking our pictures and asking us to pose again and again. Is this permissible? What if 'm at an appearance and the boss comes over and is highly complementary and tells me he just wants to hire me from now on for all his appearances and could he contact me directly? How should | handle that? Now that I'm a Raiderette, many of my family members and neighbors or associates are coming to me and asking if | will please make this little appearance for them ~ it’s ust a few minutes at their daughter's school; or to teach her little cheer group a routine; or to come to their store / club opening — they always say it’s for charity... Am | allowed to do these since it’s only for friends or family? if not, what shall | tell them? What if a company in my town wants to hire me? How do | make sure | get the job? © It’s very simple - when the client calls me and | ask them to send a letter with the details, they should request you by name IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE. What we don’t allow is for you to suggest three of your closest friends to do the appearance with you. You ARE NOT TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO THE CLIENT ON THE RAIDERETTES HE/SHE SHOULD REQUEST. (Your Director will try to comply with a request but there are certain times it isn’t feasible.) When I'm working at an appearance, what if someone there has been drinking too much or gets obnoxious or is using foul language — how shall I handle that? 10. 1. 2. What if someone gets insulting, either at a game or an appearance and starts calling the Raiderettes “the silicon queens”. Without becoming defensive how would you handle it? Any elective surgery is @ personal choice, just like wearing makeup or going to the gym and working out to have a nice body. It isn’t my place to comment on the choices of others ‘But what if they persist and ask me if “mine are real” * This is a time you should see the client for whom you are working and let them know the person is out of line annoying and insulting you. Last year when | was a rookie at a Fresno appearance a big, burly guy came up and wanted us to pose for a photo on his shoulders. We said no but he said, “Well last month when two other Raiderettes did an appearance in Santa Clara, they posed on my shoulders”. | didn’t know what to do. Any advice? When you're at appearances, particularly calendar signings where people tend to stand close together, sometimes a guy will say something like, “You girls are so nice and so sweet. Last week | was at the mall and | ‘met Judy and Jennifer and they were really rude and snotty to me. Man, you guys shouldr’t have Raiderettes like that”. What should we say to them? * Unfortunately some people will tend to exaggerate or downright lie to get your reaction. No matter how much you may or may not agree with this person, WE ARE A FAMILY AND WE ALWAYS GIVE OUR SISTERS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. WE CERTAINLY DO NOT SPEAK ILL OF ANYONE IN PUBLIC. Say something like, “You know, | just can’t believe that Judy and Jennifer would act lke that. | think you must have misunderstood their intent. | know them both very well and think they are lovely girls”. ‘Keep in mind if someone gossips about one Raiderette to you they might be doing the same with other Raiderettes. One year | did the Raider/Boy Scout Golf Tournament and there were lots of players and coached there. Some of the players were openly flirting with me and asking for my telephone number. | didn’t want to be rude since they were Raider players but | didn’t quite know how to handle it At this same tournament, one of the guys’ wives was there and she came up to me and said, “I hate the Raiderettes”. What should | have said? Traveling to and from appearances Call each other on your cell phones so you can park near each other if possible. Carpool when you can, When traveling out of town you must carpool — do not drive alone! Staying together will help ensure your safety. If you ‘are unable to park next to each other, you should ALL get in one car and drive to the others’ vehicles so everyone is safe.

You might also like