This is an excellent question indeed.
It depends on the traditions of the chapter and the rules of the organization.
First and foremost, check with the rules of the org. There are some things that some orgs do which are forbidden in other orgs. There are even things which might have been done just last year which are no longer allowed this year.
The graduate advisor would know for sure.
Some chapters on some campuses almost exclusively come out and sing. Some groups do no singing, but do a lot of greetings. Some groups almost purely step and stroll, and some groups do neither.
In terms of a target audience, again, that depends on what your org’s rules say. I know of some orgs for whom the coming out show was exclusively for members of the chapter and no one else.
Now, I can tell you what I personally enjoy. Take it with a grain of salt, as I am older than most of the readers and have particular tastes.
I don’t want to be standing around for a long period of time. If it’s a long show, I would rather be seated.
I want to hear line names and introductions, but not lengthy ones, nor ones where the neo is all hoarse and screaming and doesn’t know how to project.
I don’t want to hear mumbling. If you mumble, I will know you don’t know your shit and I will clown you. Enunciate.
I want to hear you recite your founders and the purpose of the org. I also want to hear your charter members. I truly am not interested in anything else that’s not traditional for your chapter.
I WANT TO SEE STEPPING. I want to hear traditional chants and songs.
I want to be impressed by the outfits.
And I do not want to see any inkling that any hazing has occurred. Showing how “hard” you went in your process is dumb. Show me, instead, how you have been transformed for the better.
That’s my two cents.
–Uncle Rashid
I was just having this conversation w my LS after watching all the trifling probates at our school last semester. I’ve only been a member of ΖΦΒ since 3/31/17 so I haven’t been to too many probates as a Greek but I agree with all of what you just said about your preferences. In addition, if your line is spitting info, it should sound like ONE line not 5, 8, 15, whatever number of people on the line. No one can hear that way. And if no one can hear you do whatever you’re doing, whether it’s stepping or spitting history or singing, then it’s a waste of everybody’s time.
