Interested in helping out at Ai-Kon?   Well, we're always looking for eager, responsible people to give us a hand with tasks during the convention. Both new and returning volunteers may sign up using the following form.

 

Ai-Kon is a large event that just keeps getting bigger! Volunteers are essential to making sure the whole weekend runs as smoothly as possible. From showing rooms to registration, bag check & more, without volunteers, none of it would be possible!
 

Check out what's involved in volunteering with us by taking a look at our Volunteer Handbook or keep reading below

 

What's in it for you?

Well, if you're a returning volunteer, you get in this year for free, and new volunteers will get in at a reduced rate. You are also granted access to the volunteer lounge over the course of the weekend. Upon completing your commitment, you get an invite to the staff party!
 

We generally put out the call for volunteers in the April-May range. If you're over 16 and interested in volunteering, all you need to do is fill out the form and wait to hear from us!

 

What's the requirements to be a volunteer with Ai-Kon?

 

We have several requirements for volunteering. Each volunteer must:

•     Be at least 16 years old

•     Complete at least 8 hours of volunteer duties

•     Abide by convention rules and policies at all times

•     Notify a volunteer supervisor if they will be unable to make their shifts 

•     Be Famaliar with the Ai-Kon Volunteer Guide Booklet, we update it yearly with your supervisors
       and reference points to help you

If it is determined that you did not meet these requirements then it is possible you may be removed as a volunteer. In extreme cases it may result in you being asked to leave the convention or return your volunteer badge and pay for a regular badge. Fortunately, we have not yet had any such extreme cases. 

The most important thing to remember is to be at your shifts or contact the volunteer supervisors if you cannot make it. There will be a contact phone number provided closer to the convention that will always reach the volunteer supervisors on duty. If you will be unable to attend your scheduled shift for any reason then you should notify us as soon as possible so we can arrange a replacement.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

It is important to us that our volunteers enjoy the convention just as much as anyone else, 

however as a volunteer you have agreed to work at the convention and with that come certain duties and responsibilities which need to be performed. Below you will find some information about these expectations.

 

Shifts

The first and foremost of these duties is to cover shifts in various roles around the convention including monitoring the Showing Rooms, helping at the registration and information desk and manning the Bag 

Check. It is your responsibility to arrive on time to these shifts, preferably 10 to 15 minutes early to ensure an easy switch from one volunteer to the next especially in the Showing Rooms. If for some reason you will 

be unable to make your shift or you will be late it is important that you notify one of the volunteer supervisors as early as possible so that a replacement can be arranged instead of leaving the shift uncovered.

It is also required that a volunteer complete a minimum of 8 hours of volunteer time to qualify for some of the privileges provided to volunteers.

 

Convention Safety

Our first and most important method for keeping our attendees safe and make sure that everyone enjoys the convention are our volunteers. As such it is important that at all times volunteers take note of any activities which are against the convention rules and policies or which might seem unsafe. If you are uncertain or there is an immediate emergency notify a volunteer supervisor or other Ai-Kon committee member right away. If you are ever uncertain about anything bring it to the attention of a volunteer supervisor, 

we are here to help you just as you’re here to help the other attendees.  Part of our safety policies is that all people attending the convention must be wearing a convention badge and it must be visible. This 

is not just so that only the people who have paid are able to enter the Showing Rooms and other areas of the convention but also to keep anyone not attending the convention from causing problems. Even more important 

is the fact that the badges each have an identifying number on them. If there are any problems you should take note of this number so that it can be tracked and so that it can be used to identify the person if one 

of the Ai-Kon committee members needs to pick them out again later or try to find them. For this reason it is important that you ask people not showing their badges to please have them visible at all times and if they don’t have one inform them that they will need to either leave the convention area or go to the 

Registration and Information desk to get a replacement for lost badges or register and obtain their badge. If possible, taking them over to the Registration and Information desk is preferred.

 

Sometimes a parent will be looking for a child that is supposed to be home or that they were supposed to meet. We understand that they want to find their child but they cannot wander the convention without a 

badge. Politely let them know that one of the Volunteer Supervisors or other Ai-Kon Committee members will be glad to help them find their child if they will go to the Registration and Information desk to let them 

know of the situation.a

 

If an attendee feels uncomfortable about traveling by foot in the downtown area, please encourage them to use the Safewalk Program. You can contact a safety escort at 958-SAFE (7233) and they are available from 7:30am-

11:30pm, 7 days a week. They are happy to walk you to and from your car or bus stop.

The DownTown Biz program has great resource for this you can view it here 

 

Professionalism

As the most numerous and commonly visible members of the convention Volunteers are in a position where they represent the convention to the public. The way you behave, treat the other attendees and your appearance will all reflect on the convention as a whole. For this reason we ask that our volunteers all behave courteously and politely at all times. Help any attendees you can when approached, even if it is to simply direct them to the Registration and Information desk or to refer them to one of the Ai-Kon committee members. Even a little help goes a long way to providing a positive experience for that one person.   If someone approaches you with a question try to answer it and, again, if you don’t know the answer that is 

perfectly fine but direct them to someone who might be able to help them such as an Ai-Kon committee member or the Registration and Information desk.
 

Also, your appearance is important to showing that the convention is professional and organized. We of course don’t require that you wear a suit and tie but please make sure that your clothing is clean and not filled with rips or holes. Shirts and shoes are required of attendees and volunteers alike. Cosplay is also perfectly acceptable provided your costume does not prevent you from fulfilling your other duties. As such it should not obstruct your view substantially, should appear clean and not be overly distracting or cumbersome. 
 

If your costume includes props these should not be large, unwieldy or cumbersome either. A large sword or staff can be a problem in some of your duties by blocking the doorway

 

Badges

Almost all positions need to check for badges. We want to make sure that everyone who’s making use of Ai-Kon’s festivities is also contributing to allow us to continue in the years ahead!Sometimes someone will outright say. “Oh, I’m not here for the convention. I’m just having a look around, to see how you’re doing things”. No one is to be admitted into a room without a badge throughout the duration of the convention. Direct them that they need a badge from the info desk to gain access to the room (which is obtained via a ticket from Ticketmaster).  Sometimes it will be an adult stating they are looking for their child. Escort them into the room if there is someone else to watch the door. If not, try to contact a volunteer supervisor to escort them around the convention.As stupid as it sounds there have also been attempts to counterfeit our badges. These 

will be hard to spot, but we do ask that you become familiar with the different kinds of badges and be on the lookout for discrepancies.