Author Topic: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion  (Read 57935 times)

Offline chocolateshake

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #255 on: April 12, 2019, 05:36:59 PM »
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First time volunteer, 2nd Con
I understand there is an email to sign up for pre con shifts.  I assume we'll get one with where the volunteer HQ will be, yes?  I got a good shot at MMM in hotel sale (no jinx) , so if there again would be awesome. 

So far, I think the process is,  we go to HQ to sign up for a shift, then go back to sign in for the shift, get escorted to location and then go back and sign out, is that the gist?

Yes, there will be a email calling for pre-con shifters at some point.  That's my next anticipation pressure point.  2 years ago it didn't stay open very long but then there was a miraculous second call.  Last year, it stayed open for a while.

Pretty much.  You sign up for a shift at HQ for later that day or the next day.  You show up back at HQ to sign in for your shift.  You are escorted to the location to do the shift unless your shift is at HQ or you are on in the stand by group.  Some volunteers hang out at HQ just in case they need to be sent somewhere that needs help.  When you are done with your shift you are dismissed and leave.  There's no sign out.

Offline Breq

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #256 on: April 16, 2019, 10:13:17 PM »
Last year pre-con shift opportunity went out 6/28 and assignments were received 7/6, if anyone's curious. I always get nervous about whether I forgot to tick the box.

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
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Offline marcia29

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #257 on: April 17, 2019, 03:12:08 AM »
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Last year pre-con shift opportunity went out 6/28 and assignments were received 7/6, if anyone's curious. I always get nervous about whether I forgot to tick the box.

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Offline Lavendar

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #258 on: April 19, 2019, 02:56:30 PM »
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Yes, there will be a email calling for pre-con shifters at some point.  That's my next anticipation pressure point.  2 years ago it didn't stay open very long but then there was a miraculous second call.  Last year, it stayed open for a while.

Pretty much.  You sign up for a shift at HQ for later that day or the next day.  You show up back at HQ to sign in for your shift.  You are escorted to the location to do the shift unless your shift is at HQ or you are on in the stand by group.  Some volunteers hang out at HQ just in case they need to be sent somewhere that needs help.  When you are done with your shift you are dismissed and leave.  There's no sign out.

sadly, I can't get there before Wed night.   You mentioned sign up for shift for the next day, do they give you that days badge at that time? or do you have to go back, wondering about how to balance Hall H lines, etc. 

Offline accelerate

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #259 on: April 19, 2019, 05:11:50 PM »
What’s the earliest timeslot available? We plan on getting in Tuesday afternoon, so I’d like to do a shift before Preview Night.

Offline Jonathan

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #260 on: April 19, 2019, 05:35:52 PM »
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What’s the earliest timeslot available? We plan on getting in Tuesday afternoon, so I’d like to do a shift before Preview Night.

It really depends on their needs. I've seen pre-con shifts as early as 8am.  Generally they start around 10am.

Offline chocolateshake

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #261 on: April 20, 2019, 11:53:55 AM »
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sadly, I can't get there before Wed night.   You mentioned sign up for shift for the next day, do they give you that days badge at that time? or do you have to go back, wondering about how to balance Hall H lines, etc.

You can get a badge even before you do a shift.  Or do shifts before you have a badge.  The badge is only a RFID carrier.  It's whether that RFID is active for that day in the system.  Once you sign up for a shift, your badge will be active for that day whether that day is today or tomorrow.  If you do a pre-con shift then you pick any day and that day is active.

Offline chocolateshake

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #262 on: April 20, 2019, 12:03:00 PM »
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What’s the earliest timeslot available? We plan on getting in Tuesday afternoon, so I’d like to do a shift before Preview Night.

That's going to be tight.  Also last year there was a mix up where people got shifts other than what they signed up for.  It didn't happen to me.  I got what I asked for but it did happen to others.

Since you have preview night then you must have the full set of passes.  So are you doing a volunteer shift just to stay a volunteer?  If so, I find that Sunday post-con is the most convenient to avoid missing any of the con.  It's much easier to schedule than a pre-con shift.

Offline accelerate

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #263 on: April 20, 2019, 12:16:09 PM »
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That's going to be tight.  Also last year there was a mix up where people got shifts other than what they signed up for.  It didn't happen to me.  I got what I asked for but it did happen to others.

Since you have preview night then you must have the full set of passes.  So are you doing a volunteer shift just to stay a volunteer?  If so, I find that Sunday post-con is the most convenient to avoid missing any of the con.  It's much easier to schedule than a pre-con shift.

Yup, I'm doing it to get priority status for next year, as I feel like my luck with getting badges is bound to run out at some point (I felt extremely lucky this year because I only got badges due to the last minute group I formed). I wouldn't mind Sunday, or even an evening one after the main hall closes (there are night time slots, correct?). But ideally, I'd be gunning for Wednesday before Preview Night.

Offline hikanteki

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #264 on: April 20, 2019, 12:32:47 PM »
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Yup, I'm doing it to get priority status for next year, as I feel like my luck with getting badges is bound to run out at some point (I felt extremely lucky this year because I only got badges due to the last minute group I formed). I wouldn't mind Sunday, or even an evening one after the main hall closes (there are night time slots, correct?). But ideally, I'd be gunning for Wednesday before Preview Night.

The last two years I had a 4-day badge (with PN in 2017, without in 2018) but wanted to volunteer the same reason...to keep priority status. I somehow got a shift from 2-5 PM Wednesday both years. Timing wise it was perfect, however, in 2017 going straight from my volunteer shift to PN ended up being a bit tiring and honestly kind of threw off the pace for the entire weekend. It was fine in 2018 though as I didn't have PN so I got to regroup in the evening.

This year I have 4 day + PN again and I want to fully enjoy the con so I'm just going to chance it and not volunteer. My rationale is that volunteer registration stayed open nearly a month this year, so priority status is no longer a huge advantage. (Of course, anything can happen and it could start filling up right away again -- but I don't see that happening. I think the peak is over.)
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Offline Jonathan

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #265 on: April 20, 2019, 01:12:01 PM »
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Yup, I'm doing it to get priority status for next year, as I feel like my luck with getting badges is bound to run out at some point (I felt extremely lucky this year because I only got badges due to the last minute group I formed). I wouldn't mind Sunday, or even an evening one after the main hall closes (there are night time slots, correct?). But ideally, I'd be gunning for Wednesday before Preview Night.

There are very few night time shifts after the main hall closes. As I pointed out with pre-con shifts, it's all about what they need.  Chances are most of the convention center volunteer work will be over, but there may be opportunities at the Horton Grand (for the various panels and showings there) or a few of the other offsite locales.

Offline chocolateshake

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #266 on: April 21, 2019, 12:07:59 AM »
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Yup, I'm doing it to get priority status for next year, as I feel like my luck with getting badges is bound to run out at some point (I felt extremely lucky this year because I only got badges due to the last minute group I formed). I wouldn't mind Sunday, or even an evening one after the main hall closes (there are night time slots, correct?). But ideally, I'd be gunning for Wednesday before Preview Night.

There are night slots.  The latest shift I was offered was like 11:15pm or something like that.  Aren't some of the viewing rooms open 24 hours?  They probably need people to make sure those manga watchers don't get too rowdy.

Sunday right after the exhibit closes is a popular shift for people looking to maintain their volunteer status.  I've met so many people on that shift that are doing that.  There are a variety of things that still need doing like handing out t-shirts, handing out premiums and the always needed directing people where to go.  Just be ready to do whatever needs to be done.  I haven't done what I signed up for on that shift.  I end up doing something else.  Which is fine by me.

As I said, it's a popular shift so there will be more volunteers than needed.  Which can be kind of boring since there's not enough work to go around.  Last year, there were 4 of us doing the same job.
« Last Edit: April 21, 2019, 12:10:24 AM by chocolateshake »

Offline Jonathan

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #267 on: April 21, 2019, 09:57:17 AM »
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There are night slots.  The latest shift I was offered was like 11:15pm or something like that.  Aren't some of the viewing rooms open 24 hours?  They probably need people to make sure those manga watchers don't get too rowdy.

Sunday right after the exhibit closes is a popular shift for people looking to maintain their volunteer status.  I've met so many people on that shift that are doing that.  There are a variety of things that still need doing like handing out t-shirts, handing out premiums and the always needed directing people where to go.  Just be ready to do whatever needs to be done.  I haven't done what I signed up for on that shift.  I end up doing something else.  Which is fine by me.

As I said, it's a popular shift so there will be more volunteers than needed.  Which can be kind of boring since there's not enough work to go around.  Last year, there were 4 of us doing the same job.

Yep I mentioned the viewing rooms, also as you state with when the convention center closes, they still need volunteers for line management for the Programming Premiums Room. And then there is the Programming Premiums Room itself that needs volunteers for after the convention center closes.

Offline sessionka

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #268 on: April 22, 2019, 10:38:14 AM »
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Yup, I'm doing it to get priority status for next year, as I feel like my luck with getting badges is bound to run out at some point (I felt extremely lucky this year because I only got badges due to the last minute group I formed). I wouldn't mind Sunday, or even an evening one after the main hall closes (there are night time slots, correct?). But ideally, I'd be gunning for Wednesday before Preview Night.

Same here.  Volunteering is my backup.

I'm thinking about signing up for more shifts.  The past 2 years I got a pre-con shift, and got BBL (Bags, Books, and Lanyards).  One year I signed up for another shift in the evening, and was a 'runner' for one of the evening panels.  I liked it.
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Offline Jonathan

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Re: SDCC 2019 Volunteer Discussion
« Reply #269 on: April 22, 2019, 01:02:39 PM »
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Same here.  Volunteering is my backup.

I'm thinking about signing up for more shifts.  The past 2 years I got a pre-con shift, and got BBL (Bags, Books, and Lanyards).  One year I signed up for another shift in the evening, and was a 'runner' for one of the evening panels.  I liked it.

BBL is one of the less fun shifts, BUT I tell people if you get to do it pre-con, it's actually really nice. Since it's usually fairly quiet and calm. Being a runner can be super fun. I could suggest some shifts for everybody, but I'd probably be breaking some unwritten rules. But suffice to say there are some jobs that you wouldn't believe you could get and be doing....(in a good way.)