VOLUNTEER STAFF POSITION BOARD
Have you volunteered for MAGFest/MAGWest before? Do you have an understanding of how we run but want to do more? Check out what departments need to see if your skills or interests match!
When responding to a listing please include:
- what you love about MAGWest
- an overview of your interests for this particular position
- where you've worked in MAGWest before (department and year)
- a department head or manager who might recommend you (if applicable)**
The positions here are not representative of all needs at MAGWest and we will continue to update as needed. Please reach out to Staffing Operations at stops@magwest.org with questions about how to get involved with other departments or areas.
Please note, all of these positions are volunteer positions. MAGWest is entirely volunteer-run and does not have a paid staff.
Finally, all applicants will be considered but acceptance is not guaranteed. Thank you for your interest!
Consoles
Responsibilities:
- Maintain inventory of games and systems
- Manage tournaments and events
- Coordinate with shift leaders and external partners
- Assist Gaming Division Head in location management
- Help enforce rules (such as no food and beverage) at gaming stations
- Familiarity with various gaming consoles
- Management experience (coordinating a shift schedule, working with volunteers, etc.)
- Basic customer service skills
COSPLAY & cRAFTING
Responsibilities:
- Pre-Event: Work with Cosplay and Crafting Department Head to plan themed crafts.
- Set up and break down craft area each day.
- Understand the crafts and teach to others.
- Assist with cosplay repair where possible.
- Experience with crafting skills (e.g. sewing, handling scissors, glueing, etc.)
- Organizational skills
- Cleanliness
- Experience working with children preferred.
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Responsibilities:
- Assist Cosplay Department Head in scheduling cosplay gatherings and events.
- Assisting at cosplay repair
- Answering any cosplay-related questions
- Experience with managing crowds/crowd control
- Experience with cosplay and cosplay gatherings
- Experience with managing a schedule
GUESTS
Reports to: Guest Department Head/Programming Division Chair
Responsibilities:
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Responsibilities:
- Research and identify potential guest talent based on their relevance to the event's theme, audience interests, and budget constraints.
- Contact talent agents or representatives to inquire about availability, booking fees, and any specific requirements for appearances or performances.
- Negotiate contracts and agreements with talent representatives, outlining terms such as appearance fees, travel arrangements, accommodations, and promotional activities.
- Coordinate logistics for guest talent, including scheduling appearances, arranging transportation, accommodations, and providing on-site support during the event.
- Communicate effectively with talent, guest team, and programming division head to ensure smooth coordination and execution of guest appearances.
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Reports to: Guest Department Head/Programming Division Chair
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
- Work with the Guest department to obtain necessary information about guest talent and assignments (travel plans, social media, special requests, etc).
- Be prepared to problem solve outside of shift hours, as needed.
- Assist guest talent at-event with navigating the facility and needs outside of their performance(s) or content.
- Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and problem solve when appropriate.
- Ability to see past guests’ profile or status and treat them as people instead of celebrities.
- Experience with working with high-profile guests and/or contracts is helpful but not required.
indie games
Staff for the Indie Games Expo aim to create a fun experience for both the Indie Game Developers/Exhibitors AND the attendees of MAGWest. Let's build our community to be fun and welcoming and supportive; and let's make wonderful memories together!
Responsibilities:
- Pre-Event:
- Participate in Indie Games meetings
- Promote the Indie Games Expo at MAGWest.
- Assist in evaluating and curating the list of exhibited games
- During event:
- Assist with set up, basic cleaning, and tear down
- Assist exhibitors with checking in. This may involve carrying equipment to their table.
- Answer any questions from the exhibitors or the attendees.
- Assist exhibitors with general needs (borriwng tech supplies, etc.)
- Familiarize yourself with the exhibitors' games (either you would have tested the game during the pre-convention phase or by talking to the exhibitors/playing their game during the convention) so that you can speak knowledgably to attendees.
- Stand in for devs at their booth if they need to step away.
- Crowd-control and line control.
- After event: Participate in retrospective to discuss observations from the convention and discuss how we can improve our work.
Required Skills:
- Willingness to learn
- Teamwork
- Communication skills
Nice to haves (if not, we can teach you):
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Basic customer service skills
- Basic photography skills
- Familiarity with handling videogames and technology
Contact: stops@magwest.org
LAN
Responsibilities:
- Help set up and tear down the network
- Assist LAN Department Head in location management
- Help enforce rules (such as no food and beverage) at LAN stations
- Familiarity with PC Gaming and Windows OS
- Basic customer service skills
- Familiarity with networking software and hardware a plus, but not required.
MARKETPLACE
Reports to: Marketplace Department Head/Programming Division Chair
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
- Pre-Event:
- Work with the Department Head to assist and obtain necessary information about vendors and tasks.
- Attend West-Con (volunteer planning meeting) - optional
- At Event:
- Provide exceptional customer support to 15-30 dealer groups.
- Manage crowd flow to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees and dealers.
- Work at the information desk to assist attendees, volunteers and dealers with questions or concerns.
- Convert event-specific currency into USD currency as requested by dealers.
- Excellent candor, communication and customer service skills.
- Able to work with a large group of people from diverse backgrounds
- Problem-solving skills with good judgment.
- Previous experience in customer service or event support is preferred but not required.
MERCH
Reports to: Merch Department Head
Responsibilities:
- Sell merchandise, facilitate transactions, and help attendees pick up their pre-ordered merch.
- Handle cash and credit card transactions.
- Answer questions about merchandise, sizing, and prices.
Requirements:
- No experience needed, skills can be taught.
- Previous experience in customer service or cash handling
Contact: stops@magwest.org
MUSIC
Responsibilities:
- Work with booking team to obtain necessary information about acts (travel plans, social media, special requests).
- Communicate pre-event about expectations.
- Assist talent at-event with navigating the facility and needs outside of their performance(s).
Qualifications: Experience with negotiation and contracts is helpful but not required.
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Responsibilities:
- Manage pre-event checklist/planning
- Assist in writing RFQ for AV needs
- Assist in selecting gear for sound and lighting
- Review Artist checklists and ask clarifying questions as needed
- Create an at-event documentation for Stage Crew, Audio Tech and Lighting Techs
- Coordinate with Music Liaisons to determine the music backline (drum kits, guitar amps, etc.)
- Work with/as a Sound Tech (if you have experience doing so)
- Work with our video/recording team
- Work with/as a Lighting Tech (if you have experience doing so)
Qualifications: Experience with stage or show management.
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Responsibilities:
- Work with booking or Music Liaisons to obtain stage plots and/or artist needs
- Review artist checklists and ask clarifying questions, as needed
- Connect gear to the AV system on stage
- Optional: help dialing in monitor mixes and setting up mics
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Responsibilities:
- Handle the audio mixing of acts on-stage
- Assist on-stage team in setting up monitor mix
- Set up mix quickly during changeovers for each instrument
- Work with our video/recording team to record performances
- Preferred but not required: Creation of scenes for the mixing console, based on act.
Contact: stops@magwest.org
Responsibilities:
- Load-in: clamp lighting fixtures to truss, run cables; details at the direction of other staff
- During event: operate a MIDI controller to control lighting effects; keep the performers sufficiently lit for the cameras
- Load-out: dismantle the setup, coil cables
Qualifications:
Lighting experience is not required; folks should be comfortable with tech / AV gear, and ideally with musical background.Contact: music@magwest.org
PANELS
Responsibilities:
- Coordinating with panelists to relay an understanding of expectations, and seamless logistics.
- Managing a detailed schedule for panel sessions, including room setup, clean-up and relaying technical requirements to our TechOps and Mediatron teams.
- Moderating panels for time checks.
- Soliciting feedback from attendees and panelists to assess panel effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Contact: stops@magwest.org
More opportunities are coming soon! Please check back again later.