What is the Yes Lab?
At the moment, the Yes Lab is a series of brainstorms and trainings to help activist groups carry out media-garnering creative actions, focused on their own campaign goals. It's a way for social justice organizations to take advantage of all that the Yes Men have learned–not only about our own ways of doing things, but those we've come in contact with over the decade-and-a-half that we've been doing this sort of thing.
How does a Yes Lab work?
In a typical Yes Lab project, an activist organization comes to the Yes Lab with a target–a particular company, politician, corporate front group, bad government policy, or even an abstract idea–as well as a campaign goal: to affect public debate, push for legislation, or embarrass an evildoer, for instance. The Yes Men work with the group remotely (by phone or Skype) to help them refine campaign goals, define the ™ask,∫ organize action teams, and so on. We'll then lead an in-person brainstorm (one, two, or three days, in a location convenient to the group) to develop the smartest, most effective actions around those goals, and then conduct trainings on the tactics we'll decide to use to reach our goal. Afterwards, we'll check in on the project until it's successful.
Is the Yes Lab only for activist groups?
Universities can also participate in the Yes Lab in partnership with activist groups. In this context, Yes Labs bring together students, faculty, an activist group or an NGO, and the Yes Men to devise effective (and educational) activist projects. The group oversees the project after the initial brainstorm, and makes sure it moves forward toward clear campaign goals. A Yes Lab of this sort can give students real-world experience while advancing an important cause they care deeply about.
What does a Yes Lab look like?
Each Yes Lab is tailored to fit the sponsoring group's needs, but the general content will include:
- Presentation of "laughtivism": developing effective, mediagenic activist projects around the issue at hand
- Brainstorming out numerous project ideas, evaluating the options, and choosing the best one
- Fleshing out chosen project(s) fully, and developing a complete action plan with timelines, deadlines, and chains of responsibility
- Trainings as needed, with the Yes Men and external trainers, to cover media handling, improv, writing, video editing, etc.
- Mapping out teams and determining additional staffing needs (which can come from the Yes Men's network if necessary)
- Bicycle, kayak, or hang-gliding tours of relevant local areas—or other fun activities of some relevance
Trainings can include stuff like:
- Writing press releases and other things for specific audiences
- Making catchy video pieces, including Video News Releases (VNRs) and viral videos
- Planning a big project from beginning to end
We also try to mull over:
- Using public spectacle to affect the public debate
- Using humor to open minds, share ideas, and change the world
- Figuring out what's effective
- Figuring out what we, ourselves, can do to change the world, given our skills and abilities
After the initial brainstorm, the Yes Men remain in touch to answer questions, offer advice, and generally help guide the process through to completion.
Does it work?
If Yes Lab participants put in the needed energy, the actions developed can garner a great deal of visibility for an issue—much more than a few paid ads—and can be a powerful tool within a full campaign. Also, you're pretty much guaranteed to have tons of fun while doing it. See the recent projects list to get a better idea.
How do I sign up?
If you want to do a Yes Lab, visit the yeslab.org's Get Involved page. If you want to sign up as a possible participant in future Yes Lab projects, please sign onto our database.
