Volunteering Info

**last updated 6/26/11

• There is no confirmation after applying to volunteer. Just come to Volunteer Headquarters when you are ready to work with your waiver ready.
• Changes to Day 0 Orientation schedule
• Changes to Office hours
• Changes to Refund Procedures
• VOLUNTEER HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: ROOM 410

Welcome!

To people of all gender and alien races!

The Anime Expo® Volunteers program is less demanding than our regular staffing positions but still provides lots of benefits. Volunteering is a great way to see the convention and get a small glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes. The duties are very easy and the people you meet could become your friends for life. Hop to the Volunteer Registration page to sign up or continue reading to find out more information about the program.

For those of you who are returning back again to volunteer, welcome back and thank you for joining us again!

* Please note we have made changes to volunteer procedures and FAQs. Please read on to make assure you have the accurate information.

Staffing vs Volunteering

Do you know the difference between Volunteers and Staff?

• Volunteers work very flexible hours with a maximum of 4 hours a day. As a volunteer, you can commit to work as little as 4 hours (One-Day Member ), 8 hours (Two-Day Member) or 16 hours (Four-Day Member). Volunteering is the best way to get benefits while still making sure you have lots of free time to enjoy the convention.
• Staffers work a minimum of eight hours per day but receive many more benefits in return. What you get each year varies but past examples have included staff exclusive gear such as T-shirts, polos, pins, vinyls, and water bottles. Moreover there are several staff-only events and raffles. Staffing is the way to go if you’re looking for a larger role in running the convention.

If Volunteering sounds good to you, just keep on reading! If you would like more information on Staffing, you can find it here.

Volunteer Registration

For volunteer registration page, please click here.

For the waiver, please click here.

Volunteer FAQs

Volunteers work in all areas of the convention. Volunteers assist Anime Expo® staff in these areas:

• packet stuffing
• line/crowd control
• entry/exit monitoring (badge check)
• gophering
• special assignments

Minor volunteers will be assigned to work only in areas with constant adult supervision.

So how do I volunteer?

Register online as a Volunteer, pick up your member badge during the convention, bring your signed waiver form and photo ID to Volunteer Headquarters, then get ready for a shift!

We will continue to accept volunteers during the convention, make sure to purchase your member badge first!

*Volunteers cannot work more than 4 hours per day!!!

There are 4 different types of Volunteers!

There are four distinct programs available to people interested in volunteering during Anime Expo®. Selecting the program that best matches your level of commitment will depend on how many days you plan on attending the convention.

• All Convention Volunteer (Four-Day)
• Two-Day Volunteer
• One-Day Volunteer
• Minor Volunteer

ALL-CON (ALL CONVENTION) VOLUNTEER

ALL-CON volunteers are members who pledge to work 16 hours over the course of four days. If, by the end of the convention, all 16 hours have been completed, the volunteer will get a refund of their registration fees. In order to qualify for this program, you must be 18 years or older by 11:59PM of June 30th, 2011. Please remember, all volunteers cannot work over 4 hours. This means All-Con volunteers will need to work at least 4 out of 5 days (day 0 to day 4) to complete all 16 hours!

Lastly, ALL-CONs are eligible for LIMITED crash space slots. Crash space is a scarce commodity and is never guaranteed. Please make alternative (back-up) arrangements.

Before the convention:

• Buy your ticket – Register as a member. Purchase an All convention pass (Four-Day). Register here.
• Register online to Volunteer here. You will need to provide your membership ID as proof of registration.
• Make arrangements to attend the MANDATORY volunteer orientation. Orientation is currently scheduled for Day 0 – June 30th @ starting @ 11:00 am and periodically though out the day. However, times may subject to change. Please check back periodically for any updates!
• If you cannot attend the MANDATORY orientation, you must let the volunteer managers know in advance. Alternative accommodations cannot be made for you unless prior notice is given.

Upon your arrival to the convention or at convention ticket purchase:

• Bring a photo ID with date-of-birth to the Volunteer Headquarters with a signed waiver.

TWO-DAY & ONE DAY VOLUNTEERS

Two-Day and One-Day volunteers are members who pledge to work 8 or 4 hours over the course of four days. If, by the end of the convention, all hours have been completed, the volunteer will get a refund of their registration fees. In order to qualify for this program, you must be 18 years or older by 11:59PM of June 30th, 2011.

Before the convention:

• Buy your ticket – Register as a member. Purchase a One Day or Two Day pass. Register here.
• Register online to Volunteer here. You will need to provide your membership ID as proof of registration.
• Make arrangements to attend the volunteer orientation. Orientation is currently scheduled for Day 0 – June 30th starting @ 11:00 am and periodically though out the day. However, times may subject to change. Please check back periodically for any updates!

Upon your arrival to the convention or at convention ticket purchase:

• Bring a photo ID with date-of-birth to the Volunteer Headquarters with signed waiver.

MINOR VOLUNTEERS

The Minor volunteer program is similar to the Adult program, except that minor volunteers must be at least 16 years old as of 11:59PM, June 30th, 2011 but not yet 18 years old or older. Minor volunteers are also a One-Day, Two-Day, or All-Con Volunteer.

*** A reminder to minor volunteers: Your parents/guardians MUST BE present at the convention in order to complete the registration process for the volunteer program. The following waiver must be brought with you along with some form of identification.

Minor volunteers may only work in areas with constant supervision and staff monitoring

• Packet stuffing
• Manga Cafe
• Minor volunteers may not work more than 4 total hours in a single day.
• Minor volunteers are NOT ELIGIBLE for crash space.
• Before you can begin, we must verify that a parent or legal guardian has authorized you to work at Anime Expo®

Before the convention:

• Please register online as a member.
• Sign-up online to become a Minor volunteer. Entering your information early will expedite the check-in process at Headquarters when you arrive.
• Make arrangements to bring a parent or legal guardian with you to the Volunteer Headquarters for initial check-in. (Detailed information about legal guardians can be found further down the FAQs sheet.)
• There is no need for Minor volunteers to attend the volunteer orientation.

Upon your arrival to the convention:

• Escort your parent or legal guardian to the Volunteer Headquarters.
• Both you and your parent/legal guardian and you must have a photo ID.
• Your photo ID must show date-of-birth.
• If you did not enter your information online, enter your information at one of the computers in Headquarters.

If your parent or legal guardian cannot make it to Anime Expo® in person, they can authorize another adult to vouch for you in their place.

• A parent’s signature must be on the appropriate portions of the waiver form.
• Have the parent/guardian write a note authorizing the responsible adult taking their place.
• The authorized adult must be at least 25 years of age.
• One authorized adult can sign the waiver for up to 4 Minors.
• Authorized adults must bring valid photo ID.

Example: I want to be a Minor volunteer with three of my friends. We live far away and our parents cannot come to AX. My parents will sign the waiver and write a note. My older brother is 25 years old. He will come with us to volunteer headquarters. We will bring signed waiver forms showing that our parents have authorized my brother to represent them. Everyone present will bring a valid I.D.

Waivers

For the waiver, please click here.

Obtaining refunds: Procedure

This is the refund procedure for All Volunteers:

Please notify a staffer when you have finished your volunteer hours. You will then receive a certificate of completion and your refund at check-out.

Every effort will be made to provide you with a refund before you depart. If you leave the convention without obtaining your refund, a refund check will be mailed to the address provided on the Registration form.

An overview of Crash Space

Crash space is an EXTREMELY LIMITED commodity. We are not able to accommodate everyone, so please make back-up plans. Anyone expecting to receive crash space should bring their own sleeping bag and pillow.

Crash space will be distributed on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis. Men and women have separate crash space rooms and separate queues for any available slots.

Crash space slots will be given out based on the order in which you sign-up to volunteer online. (If you are the first All-Con volunteer to request crash space online, odds are good that you will receive crash space. If you are the 100th All-Con volunteer to request crash space, odds are NOT good that you will receive crash space.)

When you sign-up to volunteer online and request crash space, you are holding a reservation. You must come to the mandatory orientation session to claim your reservation.

• If you are not present to claim your reservation, we will give your slot to the next person.
• If you know in advance that you are unable to attend the orientation session, contact a Volunteer Manager. Only then will we hold your reservation.
• You MUST attend the crash space roll-call or you will lose your place in the line.

After all the slots are given out, if you are still in need of crash space, check with the Volunteer Managers every night to see if any new rooms or slots open up. Available slots will be given out based on an individual’s place on the list.

Crash space is ONLY for VOLUNTEERS. Anyone who invites their friends or family to stay in crash space will forfeit their slot.

Obtaining shifts

A typical shift lasts 2 hours. Start times are staggered to begin throughout the day, almost every hour. In the Volunteer Headquarters, a shift schedule will show all known openings for the day. Some assignments generate greater interest than others. To make shift distribution fair for all, shifts are never assigned sooner than 20 minutes prior to the start time.

Volunteer Headquarters will be open to the public during these hours:

• Thursday, June 30th (Day Zero) — 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Friday, July 1st (Day One) — 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Saturday, July 2nd (Day Two) — 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Sunday, July 3rd (Day Three) — 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Monday, July 4th (Day Four) — 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

There is a possibility to choose to work two shifts back-to-back. However, working 4 hours straight is not a requirement.

* Office hours are subject to change.

Availability of Pre-Con Shifts

We are currently accepting any volunteers to work Day 0. Please note we will be prioritizing shifts to All-Con members first.

*** Volunteers who want to work Day 0 do not need to pick up their badge before coming in to Volunteer Headquarters.

*Please look out for periodic updates from the Volunteer Department to keep you updated on the latest news about the convention.