Interested in becoming a volunteer and contributing to giving an amazing OTAKUKON experience?
Being a volunteer is a great way to gain experience, learn a variety of different skills, and enjoy yourself while making an impact in the Anime community. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, and learn more about how we operate.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
We’re asking you to work, so it’s only fair that you want to know if there’s any benefit to you giving us your time. Volunteers will be asked to donate their time on convention day (Saturday 7 December 2024). Volunteers that are willing to put in at least 4 hours of work are eligible for the following:
- A volunteer badge which grants full access to the event.
- Access to lunch, drinks and water.
- Preferential seating and priority access to most events and programming. Volunteers usually work each day, so when it’s time to go to that event you’ve been waiting for, you can skip the line and grab a good seat!
- Special access to VIP and add-on events. Some spaces within the convention may be restricted to certain groups, you are legible to enter these spaces.
- Activity tokens will be granted to Volunteers and these can be used when you’re off shift. A great way to blow off some steam before or after you do your volunteer duties.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Volunteering can sometimes be overwhelming. This is our first major convention and the first time we are having volunteers, here’s how it’s going to work this year.
- Fill out the volunteer application.
- Wait for us to review your application, run background checks, and either approve or decline your request to volunteer. Once we have made a decision, you will receive an email from us letting you know what we’ve decided.
- If you are approved, you will be placed in the general volunteers pool to be assigned to the area you requested or an area that has open spots.
- Once you are assigned to a Department, you will receive an email confirming your staff assignment and providing you with contact information for your coordinator. From this point, you are welcome to contact your staff coordinator for any volunteer needs.
- Your staff coordinator should reach out prior to the event and provide you with your schedule, and any instructions you will need to claim your badge, check-in on-site, and anything else you’ll need for the event.
VOLUNTEER RULES
No volunteer experience would be complete without a long list of rules to follow. We don’t want you to miss out on this culture we are creating, so here’s a long list of rules for your reading pleasure.
- You must be 16 years old to volunteer. As long as you are 16 on or before the date of the OTAKUKON event you want to volunteer at, you can apply.
- You must abide by all of the rules, procedures, and policies including, but not limited to, those regarding behavior, attire, weapons, drugs, and alcohol.
- You agree to submit to a criminal background check and any information obtained may be shared with the relevant personnel. We may also elect to terminate or decline your volunteership at any time based on the information we receive.
- You agree to carry a valid picture ID (Driver’s License, or Passport) at all times while on shift and be willing to produce it when requested by a coordinator, manager, executive, or law enforcement at the event. This ID must match the ID provided as part of your application.
- You are expected to check in with your staff coordinator when you arrive and throughout the event as requested.
- You must check in with your staff coordinator at least 15 minutes prior to any assigned shift. If you are going to be late, you must notify your coordinator immediately to let them know the situation so they can make proper arrangements to cover your shift. If you do not contact your coordinator and fail to show up for your shift, you will be marked as a “no show”, your badge will be revoked for the event, and we may not let you take the Chunnin exam ever again. We will remember you too…don’t think we won’t.
- You agree while on shift to wear suitable clothing. We recommend that you wear shorts or jeans, a comfortable shirt, and good sneakers or tennis shoes. You may elect to wear nicer clothes if you want, but please do not show up in bikinis, thongs, or banana hammocks with flip flops. You may cosplay while on shift provided your coordinator says it’s ok. Check in with us if you aren’t sure what to wear.
- You agree to maintain a socially acceptable level of hygiene while working the event. Please wear deodorant, take a shower, and wear clean clothes. Just do it.
VOLUNTEER CONDUCT & ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
OTAKUKON is dedicated to providing an harassment and violence-free event experience for everyone, regardless of gender, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. OTAKUKON participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without refund at the discretion of the event organizers. Exhibitors, vendors, guests, panelists, event staff, and any other individuals associated with the event are also subject to the anti-harassment policy, and we expect all team members, guests, panelists, vendors, exhibitors, and other individuals who are affiliated with the event in any capacity to follow these rules at all event venues and social events.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to, verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion.
Harassment can also be defined as deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, sustained disruption of panels or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Team members asked to stop any harassing behavior, including unsolicited or unwanted photography or recording, are expected to comply immediately.
Abuse of power is defined as the act of using one’s position of power in an abusive way. This can take many forms including but not limited to: taking advantage of someone, gaining access to information that is outside the known and accepted purview of their position, or manipulating someone with the ability to punish them if they do not comply. For all allegations, a member of the OTAKUKON executive team will assess whether the act in question constitutes an abuse of power.
If a team member or other participant engages in harassing or violent behavior or appears to have taken actions that constitute an abuse of power, the event organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender, expelling the offender from the event (up to and including permanently), and/or contacting local law enforcement. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, and/or have any other concerns, please contact a coordinator, first responders, a director, or executive operations immediately.