Convention Etiquette: Discussion and Advice on Do's and Don'ts

[EH-T]

Perhaps those who are volunteering just to get some sort of perk need to look up the definition of "volunteer".

[SG7]

Perhaps those who are volunteering just to get some sort of perk need to look up the definition of "volunteer".

Indeed! I vollunteer once a week sometimes more at a drop-in centre for street people and people who just want a casual place to hang out and chat, play games, get a free hot meal etc. And have been doing so for almost 17 years. What are the perks? Sure I get a Vollunteer apprecation dinner at Christmas time, and the odd other thing. But the true reward is knowing that I am able to give marginalized people a safe place to be for a few hours (3hrs) each day. And I get to meet people who may just need someone who cares about them, and doesn't judge them or think badly of them no matter their circomstances. We get winos, prostitiutes, druggies, drug dealers, individuals with mental illness along with regular people who just like to have the company of others. And knowing that I can be a part of giving them a safe place to be is the real perk for me.

Those choosing to vollunteer just to get the perks, may want to re evaluate why they are vollunteering. Yes it is nice to get perks when vollunteering, but for me, I vollunteer for the love of what it is and for the love of the place and people whom I am vollunteering for

[Skydiver]

i volunteer at cons not for the perks. honestly. I do it to help out and also, well cons can be kinda boring with lots of 'sit and wait' time if you're not dong something. And i kinda have a 'pitch in and help' personna.

Maybe volunteers get an extra autograph or photo with the guests. or maybe they get good seats as a 'thank you' or you get an extra t-shirt or a small amount of credit in the dealer's room. One year at gatecon, all volunteers, once they completed their shift, got a patch and a token gift

but the stuff isn't done to 'bribe' people to help, it's a thank you to those that give of their time...and it's not expected. it's something the organizers choose to do.

the people that volunteer hoping to get the 'plum' assignment and score extra actor time....well usually the con organizers know exactly who they are and they go no where. or the roster is full or...well jobs in contact with the actors are few and far between and they're not going to give them to just anyone but rather those that have proven that they know how to act and how to behave themselves.

chances are, even if these attention seekers score a volunteer position, they'll be doing the 'grunt' work. teh boring stuff that the more experienced and trusted people don't want to do.

volunteering isn't just a way to score freebies, it's a gesture of assistance and offer to help and the beginning of a building of trust. which is a very difficult thing to build and keep. And once you earn it, you respect it and don't blow it.

if the attention seekers are trying to earn their way to some exalted position, well they'll either have a severe attitude adjustment and will change their actions to something more acceptable or they'll mess it up and get kicked out.

[Frostfox]

i volunteer at cons not for the perks. honestly. I do it to help out and also, well cons can be kinda boring with lots of 'sit and wait' time if you're not dong something. And i kinda have a 'pitch in and help' personna.

Maybe volunteers get an extra autograph or photo with the guests. or maybe they get good seats as a 'thank you' or you get an extra t-shirt or a small amount of credit in the dealer's room. One year at gatecon, all volunteers, once they completed their shift, got a patch and a token gift

but the stuff isn't done to 'bribe' people to help, it's a thank you to those that give of their time...and it's not expected. it's something the organizers choose to do.

the people that volunteer hoping to get the 'plum' assignment and score extra actor time....well usually the con organizers know exactly who they are and they go no where. or the roster is full or...well jobs in contact with the actors are few and far between and they're not going to give them to just anyone but rather those that have proven that they know how to act and how to behave themselves.

chances are, even if these attention seekers score a volunteer position, they'll be doing the 'grunt' work. teh boring stuff that the more experienced and trusted people don't want to do.

volunteering isn't just a way to score freebies, it's a gesture of assistance and offer to help and the beginning of a building of trust. which is a very difficult thing to build and keep. And once you earn it, you respect it and don't blow it.

if the attention seekers are trying to earn their way to some exalted position, well they'll either have a severe attitude adjustment and will change their actions to something more acceptable or they'll mess it up and get kicked out.

I don't gopher, but we often do the newsletter, which eats up your time. And I MC masquerades/cabarets/toast mistress and the like. And fan fund auctions of course. For at least 12 years, probably more, I was in the dealers room, behind a table all day.
But most of my time is spent in the social space (in the UK, that's the bar, of course) hanging out with friends, some of whom I only get to see at cons, some I see all the time. I go to very few programme items unless I'm on them. I can't remember when I last went to a GOH speech (oh, yes, Paul Cornell at Plokta.con 4.0, but then single stream cons like ours are a bit different to a big con like Eastercon).

FF

[EH-T]

Can't quote you Sky but I agree. The point of volunteering is to help and, in fact, some volunteers risk missing things at the con because of their responsibilities. I think a thank you is a nice gesture (although not necessary) from the organisers. I know that as an attendee I try to thank the volunteers at every turn because without them the event could not happen. That's why it is so annoying when a few try to spoil things by only volunteering to get (or try to get) something in return.

[slamaina]

I have just been catching up on the last year of posts to this thread.

I am a Con volunteer. If you want to volunteer for the perks, don’t bother. The reason that I volunteer is to be with my friends. Don’t get excited, I don’t mean the actors, I mean the other volunteers and fans. In my usual position as a volunteer I do get to spend time around the actors but I don’t get to participate like the fans do. I am working. I am being the actors eyes so they can pay attention to the fans and not have to watch out for the over zealous attendees. I know their schedule so they don’t have to watch the clock. I know that many of the fans think that the volunteers are partying with the actors in the green room, but in truth, most of the volunteers are never in the green room when the actors are.

As to over zealous fans, attention hogs, and the badly behaved… tell the Con Organizers/Staff/volunteers if there is a problem. Don’t take it upon yourself to be the Con police. Show by example proper and polite behavior but don’t be surprised that they don’t follow your example. I hate to tell you but there are people in this world that are selfish and don’t care about the actor or the fans.

Children at Cons… If the audience for a Show/Movie is adults then the Cons for that fandom will be geared for adults. That does not necessarily mean “adult” as in NC17, it also means adult as in lots of listening and waiting. That said, I do bring my children to some Cons. My children are 6, 11, and 18 and I have been bringing them for years. I only bring them to Cons they are interested in going to and schedule the activities around them. You have to be flexible because, with kids, what the want to do can change in a minute. If they are getting restless, we leave before they are bothering the other fans. But I do the same thing, at the movies, out to dinner, at a play, at a sporting event, and even at McDonnalds. I don’t know why some parents think they have the right to let their children spoil other peoples activity. I actually would have no problem with any Con that said, no children or put age limits on some panels.

Many fans do little things to get a little extra attention from the actors. Maybe wear a shirt from another show they did or a team they like or wear an outlandish hat or have a stuff animal dressed up like the actor. That fine as long as it doesn’t intrude on the other fans.

Also, don’t hesitate to write or email the Con Organizers if there were problem, you have suggestions, or you have complements.

That is all…
Slam

[SG7]

Spoiler:

I have just been catching up on the last year of posts to this thread.

I am a Con volunteer. If you want to volunteer for the perks, don’t bother. The reason that I volunteer is to be with my friends. Don’t get excited, I don’t mean the actors, I mean the other volunteers and fans. In my usual position as a volunteer I do get to spend time around the actors but I don’t get to participate like the fans do. I am working. I am being the actors eyes so they can pay attention to the fans and not have to watch out for the over zealous attendees. I know their schedule so they don’t have to watch the clock. I know that many of the fans think that the volunteers are partying with the actors in the green room, but in truth, most of the volunteers are never in the green room when the actors are.

As to over zealous fans, attention hogs, and the badly behaved… tell the Con Organizers/Staff/volunteers if there is a problem. Don’t take it upon yourself to be the Con police. Show by example proper and polite behavior but don’t be surprised that they don’t follow your example. I hate to tell you but there are people in this world that are selfish and don’t care about the actor or the fans.
Children at Cons… If the audience for a Show/Movie is adults then the Cons for that fandom will be geared for adults. That does not necessarily mean “adult” as in NC17, it also means adult as in lots of listening and waiting. That said, I do bring my children to some Cons. My children are 6, 11, and 18 and I have been bringing them for years. I only bring them to Cons they are interested in going to and schedule the activities around them. You have to be flexible because, with kids, what the want to do can change in a minute. If they are getting restless, we leave before they are bothering the other fans. But I do the same thing, at the movies, out to dinner, at a play, at a sporting event, and even at McDonnalds. I don’t know why some parents think they have the right to let their children spoil other peoples activity. I actually would have no problem with any Con that said, no children or put age limits on some panels.

Many fans do little things to get a little extra attention from the actors. Maybe wear a shirt from another show they did or a team they like or wear an outlandish hat or have a stuff animal dressed up like the actor. That fine as long as it doesn’t intrude on the other fans.

Also, don’t hesitate to write or email the Con Organizers if there were problem, you have suggestions, or you have complements.

That is all…
Slam

Agreed. I don't wear shirts or anything to get the actor's attention. Rather I like to wear shirts that are a representation of who I am. At GateCon '08 I wore a shirt that said "Duct tape specialist" on it just because those who know me, know I love to make things out of duct tape. I may give the guest a little "thankyou" gift when getting an autograph or something, but it is usually something like a little gift card or something. Nothing fancy. Nothing that takes up much room. Just a little something to show them that I appreciate that they took the time to come to the con for me as a fan. I'm not looking for any special treatment or looking to "stalk" any of the guests. In fact with my "social" issues, I have just enough problems getting up the nerve to get my photo op or autograph, nevermind trying to make conversation with any of the guests. I had gotten a gift card for Corin Nemec at GateCon '08 and it took me about 15 minutes to get up the nerve to go over and give it to him. But that is just because I am very shy when it comes to meeting and talking to people that I don't really know or may only have met once or something.

[halfbloodme]

Agreed. I don't wear shirts or anything to get the actor's attention. Rather I like to wear shirts that are a representation of who I am. At GateCon '08 I wore a shirt that said "Duct tape specialist" on it just because those who know me, know I love to make things out of duct tape. I may give the guest a little "thankyou" gift when getting an autograph or something, but it is usually something like a little gift card or something. Nothing fancy. Nothing that takes up much room. Just a little something to show them that I appreciate that they took the time to come to the con for me as a fan. I'm not looking for any special treatment or looking to "stalk" any of the guests. In fact with my "social" issues, I have just enough problems getting up the nerve to get my photo op or autograph, nevermind trying to make conversation with any of the guests. I had gotten a gift card for Corin Nemec at GateCon '08 and it took me about 15 minutes to get up the nerve to go over and give it to him. But that is just because I am very shy when it comes to meeting and talking to people that I don't really know or may only have met once or something.

I understand the trouble getting the nerves up. I'm off to Collectormania 16 in a couple of weeks and whilst I'm looking forward to the convention and seeing friends, the idea of meeting several stars that I've long since admired is causing me to have minor panic attacks.

As for the what to wear, last year for Collectormania 15 I wore what I was most comfortable in, and seeing as my 'comfortable clothing wardrobe seems to have a lot of fandom related t-shirts I didn't really think much of wearing my 'Dyslexia of Borg' t-shirt. It didn't really bother me, gave the people I was with a laugh but wasn't meant to be a topic conversation starter, although John De Lancie did comment and ask me what Dyslexia of Q would look like, that was enough to send me bright red. This year it will be my work tops that get packed I think. I'm not sure I could go through that again.

[slamaina]

I don't see anything wrong with wearing attention getting t-shirts. They are conversation starters. Anyone who knows me knows that when I am not working/volunteering, I only wear shirts that have cheeky sayings or are fandom related.

And I understand anxiety issues and I understand extreme shyness. Most laugh when I say that because I have the coping mechanism of using a very extraverted personality but it had taken me decades to get to where I am.

Slam

SG7 - Where can I get a "Duct tape specialist" shirt?

[SG7]

I don't see anything wrong with wearing attention getting t-shirts. They are conversation starters. Anyone who knows me knows that when I am not working/volunteering, I only wear shirts that have cheeky sayings or are fandom related.

And I understand anxiety issues and I understand extreme shyness. Most laugh when I say that because I have the coping mechanism of using a very extraverted personality but it had taken me decades to get to where I am.

Slam

SG7 - Where can I get a "Duct tape specialist" shirt?

I got mine at a "Giant Tiger" store here in Ontario. Which is a smaller department/discount type place. However if you check out cafepress.com they have all kinds of different shirts. I did a search on Duct tape and came up with all kinds of cool shirts. I got my "Kill Your TV" Tshirt from there.

Here is a link to a search I did on their site. Didn't look hard, but you may find it in amongst any of the ones in there:

http://t-shirts.cafepress.ca/duct-tape

[discodiva]

People will always try to make the most of their few moments with their favoured stars and as long as it is in good taste, with some gentle banter and good humour I see no reason why not wear a catchy t-shirt or something with (again tasteful) a relevant slogan....most of you know me by my trademark "stripes" in my brightly colored hair....sure, it gets me recognised and remembered by some guests (others not)....however I hasten to add that's how my hair has been colored for over 5 years now and at all times during the year, con or not - and I ain't gonna change it until every bit of hair on my head is pure white!!..

I paid a LOT of money and flew a LONG way to attend my Vancouver Conventions and I'm going to make the most of my brief amount of time I get with any guest - again within the bounds of tastefulness and decency!!...however that's all I do - I only ever spend my alloted time during the official event...I have never attended a meet and greet or event outside of those I've paid to Creation for.....I consider maximising my time with Michael, Joe and or any of the others fair game within that timeframe but never outside of it.......I'd never volunteer either - prefer sitting around outside of panels, signings, photo ops, in the bar with my mates or shopping in Metropolis!!...


Oh and the piccies at the MS run with Michael and Lexa?.....discussed beforehand and double checked we'd not be intruding as we were still in the area on our vacay, wanted to show our (and MSOL's) support and because it was a normal public event for normal public people...

Bloody wet there it was too!...


Deeds xx

[Gate Geek]

I volunteered for a Con. What did I do? I was a door monitor. I still had to pay full price for my ticket to the Con and I missed quite a few of the actor panels due to my volunteering duties. But I knew that was all part of the game and I reveled in the delight of just being accepted as a volunteer!

[SG7]

People will always try to make the most of their few moments with their favoured stars and as long as it is in good taste, with some gentle banter and good humour I see no reason why not wear a catchy t-shirt or something with (again tasteful) a relevant slogan....most of you know me by my trademark "stripes" in my brightly colored hair....sure, it gets me recognised and remembered by some guests (others not)....however I hasten to add that's how my hair has been colored for over 5 years now and at all times during the year, con or not - and I ain't gonna change it until every bit of hair on my head is pure white!!..

I paid a LOT of money and flew a LONG way to attend my Vancouver Conventions and I'm going to make the most of my brief amount of time I get with any guest - again within the bounds of tastefulness and decency!!...however that's all I do - I only ever spend my alloted time during the official event...I have never attended a meet and greet or event outside of those I've paid to Creation for.....I consider maximising my time with Michael, Joe and or any of the others fair game within that timeframe but never outside of it.......I'd never volunteer either - prefer sitting around outside of panels, signings, photo ops, in the bar with my mates or shopping in Metropolis!!...


Oh and the piccies at the MS run with Michael and Lexa?.....discussed beforehand and double checked we'd not be intruding as we were still in the area on our vacay, wanted to show our (and MSOL's) support and because it was a normal public event for normal public people...

Bloody wet there it was too!...


Deeds xx

And that's what I think too. I like to wear stuff that is a representation of me. If a guest likes it or comments on it, the then that's just a bonus! And if they REALLY like it and ask where I got it then I'll tell them or offer to send them one (if where I got it was somewhere I know they wouldn't get to) if they minded I do so. For some, they may wear stuff as a way of standing out to the guests and making them remembered by the guests, which I don't really have a problem with as long as it is in acceptable taste, and they don't go overboard to the point of literally flaunting themselves. In fact it had never occured to me to actually wear anything to get noticed by the guests. I have however been selective of what to wear when getting my photo ops but that is because it will be something seen by myself and others for a long time.
As for getting their attention or spending time with them, I don't really see myself as that type. I too will only take of their time at scheduled events or if they initiate it. Sure I will make small talk in the halls or in the line at Starbucks (there was a Starbucks in the bottom of the hotel we were in for GateCon '08) or what ever, but wouldn't want to intrude.

And always ask first for things like photos and such. I know that they are at the con, but I still like to make sure that they are ok with photos and such as they have a right to their personal space too.

[Skydiver]

I volunteered for a Con. What did I do? I was a door monitor. I still had to pay full price for my ticket to the Con and I missed quite a few of the actor panels due to my volunteering duties. But I knew that was all part of the game and I reveled in the delight of just being accepted as a volunteer!

same here. I knew i'd miss stuff going in and I accepted it. no harm, no foul

[SG7]

same here. I knew i'd miss stuff going in and I accepted it. no harm, no foul

It's like my vollunteer job at the drop-in. My main job is to be there for the guests (the people that frequent the drop-in). Share in conversation, play games, serve a meal etc. Hanging out with the other vollunteers is secondary. Much like it would be at a con with the "guests". Everyone who vollunteers at any kind of con is going to miss stuff. The trick is a balance to everything so that all the vollunteers can do a little of the things that they did come to the con for.