Anime Boston - The Northeast's Largest Anime Convention

Volunteering Info

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A message from the Volunteer Manager:

'Ello there! Steve here, inviting you to become a big part of what has so far been a historical and record-breaking event year after year! Each year volunteers are a crucial part to the success of Anime Boston. By volunteering, not only would you be helping with the convention's operation, but you'd get special perks and sneak peeks behind the scenes at what really goes on when the curtains are closed and iron doors are locked (plus without your help and support, well.. we would go insane). And should you decide that you like the atmosphere that Anime Boston brings and would like to further get involved, by volunteering you'd have learned enough of the different positions, roles, and responsibilities to have a big foot in the door in becoming a staffer next year! Volunteering is a lot of fun here at Anime Boston and volunteers come back year after year despite the hard work just to have a good time and be part of the "family" again. So, without further adoodoo, here's the lowdown on volunteering...

How to Volunteer for Anime Boston

Sign up as a volunteer through our volunteer sign-up form online or at the convention at the Volunteers Headquarters (VHQ). Please make sure you fill the form in its entirety.
- Make sure you have a valid mailing address for reimbursement purposes.
- When you sign up, please indicate whether you're an AC (All-Con Volunteer, volunteering throughout the convention) or an OD (One-Day, volunteering for only one day). Volunteers who are at the ages of 15-17 at the time of the convention must sign up as a minor.
If you apply online and your application is accepted, you will get a confirmation e-mail from the Volunteers Manager (that's me) as Anime Boston draws near. Don't worry if you don't get an e-mail from me right away or in a matter of weeks. I look at every single application so it could take a bit of time.
When you arrive at the convention, go straight to the VHQ in the Hynes, room 209. If you're signing up as an AC volunteer, you must have a valid photo ID that has your name and birthdate on it (driver's license, state ID, military ID, etc.) as well as your Anime Boston badge with you. You will be filled in on anything and everything you need to know as a volunteer as well as given everything you need to get started. Off you go!" to "If you're signing up as an AC volunteer, you must have your badge with you
When you are done with your assignment/shift, come right back to the VHQ to check back in - you be signed off by me or one of my staff that you've completed your shift. You can then take a break or go on to your next assignment. Lather, rinse, repeat!

What Do Volunteers Do?

Volunteers do whatever is needed and necessary to keep the convention gears well-oiled and cranking. Here are some (but nowhere finite) of the duties we are responsible for:

Have fast hands? You can assist Registration in bagging, ID assembly, and managing the attendees!
Have eyes of a hawk? Help check badges at various panels and events!
Have tech. know-how? Help the Tech. Dept. in making things dazzle!
Always been told you can't sit still by your teachers? Use that energy, and become a runner/gopher for supplies needed by the staff!
Always wanted to become a super hero? Well now you can in the eyes of the staffers here at the convention! When you have over 10,000 people to manage, any extra help you give, no matter how small, makes you a hero here at Anime Boston!

Volunteer Types

Here are the different types of volunteers you can become or qualify for:

AC (ALL-CON VOLUNTEERS)

You must be 18+ at the time of the convention.
You must have pre-registered for Anime Boston (meaning you've paid to be in attendance for all three days).
You must pick your badge up at Registration before checking in at the VHQ.
You must complete at least 14 hours of volunteering to qualify for reimbursement. Refunds will be sent to the mailing address you provided when you signed up for volunteering.
You are entitled to food and beverages at the VHQ during the entire duration of the convention.
You are entitled to crash space pending open slots. It's "first come, first serve," so if you want crash space, apply soon! Should you become eligible for crash space and accept, you must volunteer at least 14 hours.

OD (ONE-DAY VOLUNTEERS)

You must be 18+ at the time of the convention.
You do not need to be pre-registered as an attendee at Anime Boston. Come straight to the VHQ upon entry. You will pay a deposit in the same amount as a One-Day Pass in which it will be fully refunded upon completion of 4 volunteering hours.
You must complete at least 4 hours of volunteering to qualify for a One-Day Pass at the convention. Until you complete your 4 hours and receive your One-Day Pass, you will not be able to explore the convention as an attendee.
You are entitled to beverages at the VHQ for the day you are volunteering.

MINOR VOLUNTEERS

Minors at the age of 15-17 can volunteer as a M-AC or M-OD. All of the rules for AC and OD volunteers still apply to our minor volunteers as well as a few additional rules.

You are a considered a Minor Volunteer if you are at the age of 15-17 at the time of the convention. Unfortunately we can not take anyone under 15 as a volunteer due to Massachusetts child labor laws.
When you check in, you must have your parent(s) or legal guardian with you to sign a volunteer waiver. This must be signed at the time of check-in.
You can only volunteer for a max of 8 hours a day. Minimum hour requirements for reimbursement still apply.

Other Things You as a Volunteer Should Know

Volunteers has its own headquarters, cleverly dubbed the VHQ, or Volunteers Headquarters. The VHQ is where all volunteer operations are managed and will act as your home-away-from-home while you're a volunteer. This is where all our meetings are held, where you check in and out for your shifts, relax, munch on food, watch some DVDs, and chat with your volunteer buddies.
Volunteer shifts can range from 15 minutes to 2 hours - 2 hours is the maximum amount of time that any shift can be assigned. This way your workload can be paced so you will have time to rest, eat, and hydrate.
Crash Space: Crash space at the hotel is only available for AC (All-Con) volunteers and is very limited, so the sooner you sign up, the better. Regardless of when you may have signed up to be a volunteer, please remember that there are no guarantees you will get a crash space spot. A few other notes about crash space:
- Crash space is literally "crash space". You may find yourself sharing a bed or sleeping on the hotel room floor. It is recommended that you bring a sleeping bag (if you have one) to guarantee that you'll stay warm and comfortable.
- You must be 18+ to be eligible for crash space.
- Should you become eligible for crash space and accept the offer, you must volunteer for at least 14 hours to avoid being penalized. Should you fail to meet the minimum 14 hours, you will not be eligible for a reimbursement, t-shirts, pins, or prizes of any sort and could be further penalized by Anime Boston.
- Crash space must be claimed by the Friday evening of the convention. Otherwise, your slot will be forfeited and will be eligible for grabs by volunteers (and trust me, it will be grabbed.
Other rules will be posted and explained in the VHQ and at the hotel rooms.
Meetings: All meetings are mandatory and are held in the VHQ.
- Orientation meeting. There are two available times in which you can attend the orientation meeting: Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 7PM or Friday, April 6, 2012 at 9AM. If you can't make it to either of these meetings, please let me know when you first check in and either I or one of my staff will brief you on what the meeting covered.
- Event/Random meetings. The exact times of these are pretty last minute and are announced and posted in the VHQ during the convention. Please keep your ears and eyes open for such meeting announcements while volunteering.
Gifts and Prizes: Good deeds never go unrewarded, and here in Volunteers we make sure you get shinies for your hard work. Every 4 hours you volunteer you get a gift (4, 8, and 12-hour mark). An exclusive Anime Boston 2010 t-shirt is rewarded when you volunteer 12 hours. It is also a tradition here in Volunteers that we give prizes to those that went above and beyond the call of duty as a volunteer. How these prizes are won are kept secret and are revealed only during the convention ;).

Staying Connected

Check back often to stay updated on the latest news and announcements for Anime Boston Volunteers. Also check us out at the following locations:
2012 Volunteers forum thread
Volunteers Facebook Group

Volunteer Application

To apply to be a Volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer sign up form.

Online Volunteer registration begins on January 8, 2012 and closes on March 8, 2012. Please check back and register then! Any questions, please contact the Volunteer Manager.