It might seem like it sometimes, but there's no secret handshake required to join staff. You don't have to know someone, or be invited, or anything else. All you have to do is want to help.
And as Kumoricon keeps growing, we'll need that help more and more.
If you have a question that isn't answered below, please feel free to ask and we'll get an answer for you.
1) What are the benefits?- You don't have to buy a regular admission badge, and there's no longer any fee to join staff.
- Staff t-shirt, lanyard, and custom badge (you get to choose the image on your badge, as long as it's appropriate for all ages)
- Con suite - if you're too busy to go to the store or a restaurant, stop by and these folks will make sure you get something to eat. It may not be fancy (maybe a cup of ramen or a sandwich), but it'll keep you going.
- Discounted room rate, though it's generally reserved for people who room with other staffers (since there are only so many rooms to go around)
- The staff parties, such as the staff barbecue in the summer, the "Dead Dog" party on the last day (after we finish getting everything ready to go into storage for next year), and the party on "day 4" (after we finish loading everything into storage)
- Voting rights to determine the next year's Directors
2) Will I be able to go to my favorite panels or events?It depends a lot on your position(s), but generally the answer is "Yes". Some positions do most or all of their work before the convention, for example. Most positions are primarily at-con work, but your manager or Director will do their best to schedule you so that you don't have to miss out. The con is supposed to be fun for staff too, after all.
3) But I've heard a lot of stories about staffers who hardly have time to sleep, let alone anything else. Are you sure I'll have free time?A lot of our staff are hardcore workaholics. You're always welcome to work more hours than the minimum, but it isn't required or expected.
4) So what are the minimum number of hours that I'll have to work?16 hours for most positions, but some positions may require more.
5) Will I be able to cosplay?Absolutely. We do ask that you not wear a mask or carry weapons while you're on-duty, but otherwise the sky's the limit. You probably also want to avoid bulky or hard-to-get-around-in costumes, but they're not forbidden. It's just that you'll frequently want to get from point A to point B in a hurry, and bulky costumes make that difficult.
6) What sort of positions are available?https://www.kumoricon.org/open-positions7) I've heard that you have monthly staff meetings. Do I have to attend them in order to be staff?Usually not. However, certain positions may require certain meetings for training or planning purposes, so check when you apply for staff if you think you might have trouble attending meetings. That said, it's good to come if you can - staff meetings are a great chance to get to know and spend time with your fellow staffers, learn more about how the convention is run, and get more involved.
8) If I join, how long of a commitment are we talking about?Staff positions last for one convention year. This does mean you have to re-apply every year... but that itself is a benefit in some ways, because it offers the chance to try different departments and/or positions.
9) Sounds good so far. How do I get signed up?Come to one of our staff meetings! (
https://www.kumoricon.org/meetings) Once the "official" part of the meeting is over and we go into breakouts, you'll need to approach the Director of the department you'd be working with. You can find out who your Director would be from the positions chart, and you can tell who's who because they each give a report during the official part of the meeting. He or she can tell you about the position, and/or might point you to the manager of your specific area to find out more.
You'll also need to fill out a staff form. You can print one out ahead of time and fill it out, or you can always just grab one at the meeting - we'll have them there as well. You'll need the Director of your department to initial off on your form to show that you've been approved, then you bring it to the Secretary to register.
10) I'm still not sure. Is there any way I can give staffing a test-drive without actually committing?Volunteers are an integral part of Kumoricon, and we'll always welcome any help you can give. Volunteering lets you get a glimpse of what things are like "behind the scenes", and also gives you some of the perks of staffing. If you'd like a better description of the difference between volunteering and staffing, check out
https://www.kumoricon.org/get-involved.
