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I got back last week from Dragon*Con which is one of the larger convention in the United States. Dragon*Con depends on volunteers to help run the convention. There are rules to getting onto staff for the convention including a first time fee to weed out those who are just trying to get a free pass for the weekend. If you get a volunteer badge at Dragon*Con, then expect to work for that badge or expect to be informed that you will not be needed next year.
I have done a lot of jobs at various conventions. I started by volunteering as staff and they would put me where they needed me. I stood in front of the Art Show and various panel rooms and checked badges. I have helped out convention guests by being their handler and allow them to be nice because I was willing to be the bad guy. I have been on more tech crews that I can remember. Eventually I was asked to be the director of tech ops for Dragon*Con which I was until I found a replacement in Bill Harrison which worked to everyone’s advantage.
Volunteering means that you might not to get to see all of the convention, but you will see a chunk of it from whatever you are doing. I always took pride in helping others at the convention. For some strange reason to this day I get asked where things are and how to get to them. Guess I have that kind of face that looks like it knows what is going on.
But I have had some very unique experiences because I volunteered. I have met people and become friend with people that I would not have otherwise. I have learned about things that I wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t volunteered. I met Dr. Timothy Leary because of volunteering at a convention and had a really interesting conversation with him about academia that I am not going to forget.
It is not all sweetness and light. The hours can really stink. One is still paying for one’s hotel room even if they aren’t in it much. It can be frustrating when one can’t get away for the one panel they want to see the whole convention.
But I always walked away happy that I had done so.
So questions about conventions in general or volunteering in specific, feel free to ask.
I am grateful for each convention experience I had while volunteering.
I have done a lot of jobs at various conventions. I started by volunteering as staff and they would put me where they needed me. I stood in front of the Art Show and various panel rooms and checked badges. I have helped out convention guests by being their handler and allow them to be nice because I was willing to be the bad guy. I have been on more tech crews that I can remember. Eventually I was asked to be the director of tech ops for Dragon*Con which I was until I found a replacement in Bill Harrison which worked to everyone’s advantage.
Volunteering means that you might not to get to see all of the convention, but you will see a chunk of it from whatever you are doing. I always took pride in helping others at the convention. For some strange reason to this day I get asked where things are and how to get to them. Guess I have that kind of face that looks like it knows what is going on.
But I have had some very unique experiences because I volunteered. I have met people and become friend with people that I would not have otherwise. I have learned about things that I wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t volunteered. I met Dr. Timothy Leary because of volunteering at a convention and had a really interesting conversation with him about academia that I am not going to forget.
It is not all sweetness and light. The hours can really stink. One is still paying for one’s hotel room even if they aren’t in it much. It can be frustrating when one can’t get away for the one panel they want to see the whole convention.
But I always walked away happy that I had done so.
So questions about conventions in general or volunteering in specific, feel free to ask.
I am grateful for each convention experience I had while volunteering.
