Guide to Cage-ins and Video Rigs

Staging cage sit-ins and setting up mobile video rigs are easy and effective ways to spread a powerful message against the atrocities of factory farming and slaughterhouses. We expect that the experience and confidence participants gain during this World Farm Animals Day will translate into many more street theater demonstrations and video showings in years to come.

Cage-ins

Cage-ins are another great way to draw attention to the plight of factory-farmed animals. You can make or purchase cages large enough to fit one or more people, or use smaller props to represent the cages, crates, and stalls used in factory farming. Home Depot, Lowe's, and other home improvement stores have various supplies for both intricate and simple cage props.

Folding crates used for dog training are also an easy and effective means to demonstrate some of the discomfort that confinement brings. If you or your friends don’t already have a crate, ask your local pet store or look online. This small investment will offer you years of ready-to-go props to use for a variety of campaigns.

There are many ways to use the props:

• You can have activists sit in them (with or without costumes).
• You can make them available for passersby (purely for the experience).
• You can offer incentives for passersby to sit in them. For example, offer gift certificates or polaroid photos for those willing to watch a video while sitting in the cage.
• You can use stuffed animals or paper cut-outs of animals to fill the cages.

Video Rig Set-up -> What You Need

1) TV & VCR or TV/VCR Combo
No purchase necessary - any personal TV & VCR will work. DVD’s are great too!

2) An Inverter
Power inverters are simple devices that allow your TV/VCR to draw power from your car battery (via the cigarette lighter) or from a separate battery pack. Running times vary so practice, practice, practice!

You will need an inverter that converts 12-volt DC power into 117-volt AC power. Small inverters (150 Watts) are suitable for most small TV/VCR combos and may be suitable for a TV and a VCR as separate units, if total wattage does not exceed 150. Larger units may require a higher wattage. Check your unit to ensure compatibility.

Less expensive inverters often have a single outlet. A splitter (with two outlets) may be used if total wattage is within limits, or you may choose to spend a few extra dollars on an inverter with multiple outlets, which tend to have a higher wattage capability.

Online options include BUY.com or Radio Shack. Other options include going to a Radio Shack store or camping or boating supply stores. Store clerks can assist with details.

A two-hour run is likely to discharge the average car battery, so start your car frequently or consider investing in a separate battery. Instructions for a more serious rig are available here.

3) Video from PETA, Farm Sanctuary, or Compassion Over Killing:
If you are doing a chicken-related demonstration, we recommend COK’s 45 Days: The Life and Death of a Broiler Chicken. For more general demonstrations, we recommend Meet Your Meat from PETA. These videos run about 10 minutes, but you can request a 2-hour loop or DVD format to avoid frequent rewinding.

For those who prefer a less graphic video (e.g.: sanctuaries, schools and indoor events), we recommend Farm Sanctuary’s factory farming video Life Behind Bars.

Please mention WFAD when placing your order, and don't delay!

4) Event Pack from FARM
Event Packs contain banners, posters, handouts, reproducible leaflets and petitions, and more. We encourage you to order one when you register.

Event Packs will arrive in mid-late September, so register today, even if your plans are incomplete.

Hints for Successful Cage-ins and Video Screenings

• Video screenings work best after dark, but can still be effective during the day. To increase visibility, find shading or create your own with a tent or other cover.
• Conversely, when using a cage you may want to use a light to illuminate your display.
• If you are using a car battery to run your video, bring a pair of jumper cables and another car in case the battery runs low. You may also decide to take turns switching vehicles or invest in an external battery pack. Remember, you can use these materials again and again so it’s worth the small investment, and the animals will thank you.
• Try to have at least one person on either side of the display to handout leaflets.
• Never leave a caged-in activist unsupervised.
• Increase visibility with a display table.
• Attract more attention with somber music and by posting the banner high.
• Wear black mourning ribbons or black clothing to create a more somber mood.
• Make sure the local media knows about your event. Be persitent: call them from the event site and tell them what they're missing! Download the Guide to Effective Use of Local Media.
• Practice! Practice! Practice! Running times and visibility will vary, so do a test run before the big day.