Attention Convention Attendees: Support Your Convention Staff

Having attended anime and other pop culture conventions, I managed to have several run-ins with the staff managing the convention who tend to bark orders of these varieties:

-No running.
-This area is restricted.
-Stay in line.
-You'll have to holster and peace-bond that weapon.
-You have to put some pants on.
-Get out.

Okay, so most of the time they enforce the rules of the convention and the convention center and sometimes they come off as rude and dictatorial. But during the recent SacAnime convention in January, odd circumstances best summarized as "Typical Tom" resulted in my joining of the staff. Like Dian Fossey and her gorillas in the mist, I now had a 360 degree field of immersion that allowed me to observe the staff directly. I got to work as they worked, eat what they ate, and eventually think like they thought.

It became clear that convention staff finds themselves in an environment of stress and potential paranoia thanks to the attendees themselves. The convention bears the responsibility of making sure the attendees are safe and do not pose a fire hazard to the grounds. The problem is that as the number of attendees rises, the average IQ of each one drops. Given enough people, attendees are reduced to acts of idiocy including blocking floor traffic, mucking up the convention grounds, or thinking that the Rickroll is still fresh and amusing.

So staff has to make sure the attendees do not injure each other, assault the guests of honor, or somehow set the convention grounds on fire. Politeness only goes so far when trying to address or direct people hopped up on Pocky and Ramune so an authoritative tone is called for. Some attendees may cry bullying when staff tries to stop their antics, which really just escalates things as the antics and the staff interventions worsen. Just remember, staff has final say whether to kick an unruly attendee out of the convention.

In addition to con-ops maintaining a semblance of order in the convention for the attendees, each staff department has its own responsibilities to ensure that the convention runs its course smoothly. Guest relations have to cater to the Guests of Honor to make sure they get what they need while also making sure hecklers are properly dealt with-preferably with a brick to the head. Live and video programming ensures there is enough content to keep people entertained. Registration makes sure every paid attendee has paid and the convention operates in the black.

Even without the complaints of immature attendees, staff is a thankless job. It is hard to really enjoy the convention when you are busy working to make sure things are running. Naturally, things rarely run smoothly. As video programming staff, gravity was not the projector screen's friend. Instead of enjoying the anime presented, I had to run to the screen and block others from watching as I fixed it. Hours are long, food is rationed, and tempers can flare in frustration over attendees and other moments of calamity.

But it is during the moments when things go wrong that the best out of staff shines. Staff, guests, and attendees alike reacted quickly and effectively during a panel when a medical incident occurred. Guests kept things cool while staff provided first aid and attendees directed medical services to the location. There was a serene calm and solidarity in the room filled with hundreds of people showing concern over the patient until medical arrived.

It takes experience and a certain skill set to be a staff head for an anime convention. Some can cope with the stress and responsibility of leading a department while others fall hard. As I shadowed the Volunteer Director who also doubled as the 2nd of Video Programming, I could only openly admire the way she led her underlings. She had a handful of staffers and volunteers working under her ranging from dedicated workers to slackers. With such acumen and a cool head, she calmly rewards the diligent while firing the lazy after having given them a warning before.

All in all, staff members are at the convention for the same reason as attendees: To have some fun and enjoy the fandom. So be kind to your convention staff. And if you feel you can contribute, join them.