Wizard World is back in the Chicago area from August 6 - 9, 2009 and we're looking for a few good volunteers to help out at the show.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JULY 31, 2009. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT DATE
Being a Wizard World Volunteer means:
Getting into the show for FREE on your scheduled work days!
Free Wizard World Staff Shirt
Bag of Free Stuff - Like all good Wizard World Employees, cash in on all the free swag.
Meeting and chatting with some of the hottest artist and writers in the comic world.
Escort some of the biggest celebrities at the show. Past stars include Gene Simmons, Kristen Bell and the cast of Heroes!
All we ask for is 10 hours of work over the course of the weekend, and you're all set!
So whether you're into getting free stuff or meeting famous people, being a Wizard World Volunteer gets you everything. To sign up e-mail your
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS
AGE (must be 18 years or older to Volunteer, unless volunteering with a legal guardian)
CHOOSE WHAT DAYS YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK
& IF YOU CAN COMMUNICATE THROUGH SIGN LANGUAGE
And, most importantly, which convention you're applying for. Remember, we run 3-5 conventions a year, so we need to know which list to add you to!
to our resident taskmaster, Spat at spat@wizardent.com.
Wizard World - Volunteer Rules
Arrive on time. On time is 1 hour BEFORE the convention starts. The convention hours are Thursday 4-8, Friday 10-7, Saturday 10-7, and Sunday 10-5. Plan on being at the show at least one hour before the doors open, if not two hours.
The convention ends pretty late. We always need people to help close out the convention. If you can stay late, please do. We need all the help we can get!
No drinking or drugs while on duty!
Dress comfortably. You will be given t-shirts, so you may want to wear shorts, or loose slacks. Please, no sandals. The place is going to be crowded, and your feet will get stepped on.
Try to get enough to eat, enough sleep and keep hydrated. Taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes once a day is also a Good Idea. We need reasonably alert people, not zombies.
Other basic information that each of you absolutely needs to know:
All our guests will be appearing all three days of the show unless otherwise noted on the website.
We generally don’t have signing times for our Media Guests. They sign all day unless they are on a panel, at a Photo Session, or on a break.
The Media Guests usually do charge for Autographs. This is not something that Wizard World has anything to do with. People should be sure to ask about the price first, before getting the autograph.
Some guests will allow a photo to be taken with the fan, some will not. Some will charge for it, some will not. They will need to check with the Guest first.
Video cameras and still cameras are allowed at the convention. People may video and photograph anything they want so long as the person being taped does not object. They must ask permission of any Guest BEFORE they photograph or tape them.
If someone wants to interview a Guest, they must first speak to April Wiggins. Please have them go to the Information Booth and fill out an “Interview Request Form”.
If anyone wants to enter a contest at the show, the forms to fill out for entry are available at the Information Booth, or the information table outside the Panel Rooms.
Wizard is not selling any of the Exclusives themselves this year. If people want to buy an Exclusive item, they will have to go to the vendor that is listed in the program as carrying that item.
Children 10 and under are free all weekend at the show.
Lines:
Lines at a convention are as normal as can be. There will be lines everywhere, and a line that is not controlled will become a HUGE problem very quickly. Any line must be orderly. It must stay all the way to one side, against a wall (where there is one), and cannot drift, or block the flow of traffic in the hallways. This is a Fire Code hazard and will not be tolerated. If you see a line getting out of control, it is YOUR responsibility to tell the people (in the nicest way possible) to move to one side, single file and to be orderly. Do not assume that someone else will come by and fix it, do it yourself.
It is YOUR responsibility to correct out of control lines wherever you see them.
Lines cannot block, or be near a fire exit, elevator, or stairwell. Ask the people to please stop and leave a space for the doors.
Lines cannot block a door, or connecting hallway.
Security:
You are not permitted to touch ANYONE for any reason. You are not allowed to search people, look in people’s bags, or place your hands on anyone. EVER. If a fight breaks out, call Security and let them take care of it.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY YOU GET INVOLVED!!
If you see a shoplifter, call for Security, and follow the person until help arrives. Do not detain anyone.
If someone yells at you, NEVER raise your voice, even if they can’t hear you over their own screaming. Raising your voice will not help anything. Raising your voice will cause them to raise their voice even more. Speak softly, and they will have to be quiet to hear you. Call for a supervisor, and remain calm. Remember, the people are not really yelling at you, they are yelling at the convention, and you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do not take it personally.
You can not give or promise refunds. Anyone that has a problem with their pass, or what they paid, will have to take it up with the staff at Registration.
No wristband no entry. No exceptions. Everyone will have a story for you about why they should be allowed in without a pass, and if I see you fall for it, I will throw you out myself. They must go to Registration and tell their story there.
If you see anyone walking around the convention without a wristband, call for Security and they will find out how the person got in without a pass.
Taking a Break… if you want to take a break and walk around the show, just get permission from your supervisor in your area (please do not just leave without telling anyone! Always get someone to cover your spot before you leave), and take off your Volunteer shirt, and go and enjoy the show! When you return, let your supervisor know, put your shirt back on, and you’re all set! Remember, if you’re at the con in the Volunteer shirt, you are working and can be put to work at any time. If you want to take a break, take off the shirt!
Locations:
The show comprises multiple areas (these areas change from show to show depending on the configuration of the hall, but these are the basic set ups):
There’s the Main Lobby – where people can buy their passes to the show. Registration Staff is in charge here. If you are assigned here, your duties will include checking people in, and placing wristbands on people, controlling lines, sorting people so they end up on the right lines, and making sure traffic flows in the right directions.
The Secondary Lobby – where the Professional/Guest/Press passes are given out. If assigned here, you may be the one checking people in, handing out gift bags, assembling gift bags, putting wristbands on people, handing out VIP bags, putting together VIP bags.
The Main Floor – where the Autograph Area, Artist Alley and the Vendor area are (also called the Dealer’s Room). If assigned here, you may be responsible for escorting the guests to and from panels, sitting and guarding tables of people who are on a panel or on a break, line control, sitting with a Media guest and collecting money for them, etc.
The Panel Rooms – If assigned here, your duties may include introducing speakers, calling down to the Main Floor to have guests escorted up, letting the panelists know how much time is left for the panels, setting up laptops and projectors for presentations, etc.
Other important areas:
Information Booth – This is where you’ll send people who have questions you can’t answer, who want to re-new a subscription for our magazine, or sign up for a contest.
Wizard Booth – This is where we’ll have special signings, games, and other events.
Froggy’s Photo Booth – This is where fans can buy tickets to get their picture taken with their favorite celebrity.
For those who end up working on the Panel Floor – 1 hour before a panel, someone must call down to the Main Floor and confirm with the artist, media guest, etc. that they know about their panel. 20 minutes before a panel you will call down again to confirm that someone is escorting the guest up to the panel rooms. Do not assume that they are on their way. Always get a confirmation! The last thing we want is someone missing their panel!
Five minutes before a panel ends, enter the room and hold up your sign so the panelists see you and let them know that there are 5 minutes left.
Work Hours:
You will be expected to work 10 hours over the course of the weekend. You can work it all one day, or part one day and part the next. You can also choose to stay and work all day both days.
A meeting will be held 30 minutes after the show ends each day to review the day and plan the next day.
Everyone wants to get freebies, and I do try hard to help you guys out. While I can’t actually promise anything, I will try to get a chance for the Volunteers to get a photo taken with the celebs, and a free pic signed by them. I can’t promise anything, but I will do my best. The more courteous and professional you guys are in front of the celebs, the better the chance that they will want to reward the staff with freebies. Generally, Wizard puts together a gift bag for all the Volunteers, which will be given out to you when you leave at the end of the day. Be sure to stop in at the Volunteer Station and sign your bag out before you go! Remember, the bags are not to be taken without permission! You must be given a bag by a Staff member, and then sign the form that you have received it! One bag per Volunteer!
At the end of the weekend I will see how many extra freebies I can collect from the convention to hand out to those who excel during the weekend. But again, I can’t promise anything.
Radios:
If you are assigned a radio, please remember that these are not toys! They are very expensive, and if you lose it or break it, you will be responsible to replace it, and these radios average about $400 each.
Please be professional on the radios. No joking, no cursing, no horsing around. Someone can be trying to call in with an emergency while you’re playing and will not be able to get through because of you.
Listen for the radio! Having a radio is great, but if you don’t hear it, it’s useless!
Be professional. You are representing Wizard World! When people come to this convention, anything you do can taint their experiences. We want everyone to leave here feeling like they had a great time, and that all the Volunteers were here to help them have that good time. If you do your job right, people will tell their friends what a good time they had, they will come back to future shows. It all depends on you. Be kind, courteous, knowledgeable, and professional, and everyone can have a good time!
Be sure to study the Guest Page so you know who is attending the show.
Know your fellow Volunteers and Staff members by name. Please try to follow an orderly chain of command.
Benji DeJohn is the Convention Director. Any question that no one else can answer go to him.
Rick Rosalina is the Operations Manager. Questions about the space, loading in, loading out, moving booths, etc., goes to him.
Peter Katz is in charge of the Registration Area.
April Wiggins is in charge of Media, Marketing and Public Relations. Any Press requests or interviews go to her.
Rob Baricevic is the person who can answer questions about venders and dealers.
Justin Aclin is in charge of the Toy Room
Mike Cotton is in charge of the Comics Room
Buddy Scalera is in charge of the Wizard School
Spat is the Convention Coordinator. Ultimately, most of your questions will come to me first. I am in charge of the Volunteers, the Media Guests, Artist Alley and all Programming.
Yes, there are a lot of rules, but once you volunteer and work at a convention, you will never be able to pay your admission and go to a convention. It just won’t be as much fun!
-Spat
Convention Coordinator
Wizard Entertainment
| 
