Phoenix Comicon adopts paid volunteer model

24 JANUARY 2017

After weeks of controversy regarding changes to its volunteer model, Phoenix Comicon has arrived at a surprising decision: they are going to pay their (reduced) volunteer force.

Actual statement: "After much deliberation, we have decided to shift to an all paid staff in the operation of Phoenix Comicon and all events associated with Square Egg Entertainment, including Phoenix Fan Fest, Minnesota Fan Fest and Keen Halloween."

The email didn't discuss numbers but I'm hearing the plan is to reduce from 1300 volunteers to 400. (Emphasis on "hear".) A colossal reduction in volunteers seems inevitable, along with these questions:

• How do you drastically reduce the number of volunteers for a rapidly growing Con? Remember, PHXCC joined the 6-figure attendee club last year. One proposed answer is that one paid volunteer can do the work of several unpaid volunteers. That suggests they won't have time to enjoy the Con, always a selling point of volunteering, but these paid volunteers may be more like the security guards and other staff we see at Cons: procured as labor and nothing more. Given the number of volunteer hopefuls, though, it's impossible to discount their enthusiasm for PHXCC.

• Will badge prices go up? We don't know yet - but I would guess any increase would be moderate. And the money would be unlikely to come only from badge sales, since Cons have other revenue streams such as sponsorships and booth fees. But I'm only speculating here.

• What about the former volunteers who now won't be picked? This we have an answer for: each 2016 volunteer will receive 2 free full event tickets for 2017 if they're not selected to volunteer.

• Will this turn the tide of ill will that's been mounting in the Phoenix nerd community? This is subjective, but I'd wager... not so much. I can't say this enough: the free badge aspect is not the chief draw for most volunteers. (Though sheer access may be for sold-out Cons like SDCC.) Passionate fans love to feel involved with Comic Cons. Some genuinely enjoy helping attendees, others love the small amount of authority they have, many look forward to the social opportunities that come with joining a fun community, and so on. While it's laudable that the organizers want to compensate their volunteers fairly and stay on the right side of the law, anticipating their own exclusion has left many people feeling sad or resentful today. (On the positive side, I'm sure some of them will be inspired to host an event or participate in the Con another way.)

The decision is being justified as as a move that "avoids further controversies as this industry changes, keeps us compliant with changing laws and increases the professionalism and effectiveness of our team." Everyone's free to dissect that wording however they like - but it can't be denied that the burgeoning Con sphere is introducing complex questions around volunteering and compensation, and even the definition of non-profit vs. for-profit. So don't think this conversation is over - we'll be having it at other Cons, in other years, with many possible outcomes in play.

New Phoenix Comicon volunteer policy on hold

5 JANUARY 2017



Due to protests over the proposed Phoenix Comicon pay-to-volunteer plan, director Matt Solberg and the rest of the convention organizers have gone back to the drawing board. An email today stated that Solberg will not remain on the board of Blue Ribbon Army, the organization which prospective volunteers would pay to join, and will have no voting stake.

Meetings have already been planned with volunteers and staff; those meetings will discuss other options, such as a smaller but paid workforce and/or unpaid volunteers recruited through a nonprofit. While it sounds like Blue Ribbon Army will still be the nonprofit of choice, there will be an increased degree of separation between PHXCC and BRA. In theory.

I don't think there's going to be a perfect solution here that makes everyone happy - but the recognition of community feeling is a positive development, as is the solicitation of input. I'm sure the dialogue over the coming weeks and months will be an interesting one. Whether it's an effective one remains to be seen.

Interview: Phoenix Comicon volunteer speaks out

4 JANUARY 2017

Another day, another update in the controversy around the new Phoenix Comicon volunteer policy. If you've missed it so far, here's the deal: to volunteer at PHXCC, you'll need to join social club Blue Ribbon Army and pay $20 for that membership. Outrageous? Logical? Absurd? You decide.

Every Comic Con involves multiple factions - vendors, attendees, guests, volunteers, laborers - and some of those factions matter more than others from a business perspective. While there's a general nod to volunteers as the unsung heroes of any convention, they really don't get enough credit for all of the help they provide in presenting attendees with a great experience - and with helping for-profit event organizers stay successful.

To find out what actual volunteers think about the changes, I interviewed James Palestini, a Phoenix criminal defense attorney and long-term Phoenix Comicon volunteer who has moderated top panels.

James' responses are his opinions and nothing more - so please take them in that spirit, rather than a factual accounting of this issue.


How did you become a volunteer? What inspired you - are you a typical nerd?


4 years ago I answered a "casting call audition" to volunteer.  And no, I'm not. I love everything pop culture. One of the main reason I got involved with Phoenix Comicon was seeing how much it was helping Phoenix and the downtown, by bringing events of that magnitude to the area. I wanted to be part of it.

What kind of shifts did you work?

I'm a moderator, which means I was there 24/7. I've moderated every kind of panel - comic authors, graphic novelists, big movie stars like Jason Momoa.

Ah yes, I was at that panel. A fan offered up a candle for St. Momoa, Patron Saint of the Lustful. What kind of training did you have? I've been to some panels moderated expertly and some that were amateur hour.

The year I auditioned, it was an intense process. We had to submit headshots and they had us read over 3 scenarios. Then we had to get on stage in front of 10+ judges, who picked a scenario and had a coordinator serve as a mock guest. We were judged on intros, handling questions from the audience - they do that to avoid moderators who can't relate to the crowd and then they bomb and make Phoenix Comicon look bad.

It becomes a full-time job with the training and everything else.

When did the change in volunteering get announced?

PHXCC Director Matt Solberg came out with an email last week that sent the nerd community into a frenzy. He talked about decreasing the number of volunteers going forward.

Did he say why?

I don't recall reading why, but there's a professed issue of no oversight on top of these volunteers and making sure they're doing what they're supposed to be doing.

So the official complaint is that some volunteers skipped out and left others holding the bag - which implies a shortage of labor, yet they're going to reduce the force. That doesn't make sense to me. Is there going to be a restructuring so the same amount of work can get done with fewer people?

Not that I know of. As attorney, my perspective is that this could be a smokescreen for avoiding certain volunteer caps and paying minimum wage, and was dressed up as a volunteer accountability thing.

Is your perspective shared by others?

I've spoken with quite a few volunteers - they know I'm an attorney and have asked me about the legal implications. I think it's legal, I think it would stand up to any lawsuit. I'm not saying ethically I support it, though.

Solberg is the director of PHXCC and sits on the board of the BRA. This may be legal, but from a PR perspective, it creates an image of a cabal running things behind the scenes, rather than being open to community input. Do volunteers feel they still have a voice, especially after giving blood, sweat and tears to the Con for years?

No - I don't think they don't feel that way at all. This came straight from Matt. It was an order, not a discussion, though apparently there are a few meetings set up to discuss it further. So maybe things will change. But I doubt it.

This doesn't go against 501(c)7 requirements, and the requirement from the IRS is to make information available to the public, so I don't think Matt would violate that or profit directly from it since he has to be up front.

There's the legality of the issue, but also the community fallout. Comic Cons are popular in part because they're a very accepting environment where outsiders feel at home. Do you think this issue has poisoned that perception locally?

You can see it on the BRA Facebook page. People are posting their dissatisfaction on how it's being handled, critics are trying to quash that and delete posts, people have called each other idiots - it's a terrible thing to see. You want to include everyone, create that feeling of "We're all in this together to have a good time and make friends." But the last week has eroded that pretty heavily.

Will there be difficulty in getting 1300 volunteers for PHXCC 2017?

Not at all. I think Matt knew there would be backlash, but he could take a risk like this because he'd still have enough volunteers.

You're an insider. You know what it's like to volunteer. Do you think there really is an issue with people abandoning their posts? Getting their badges, slipping off into the night never to be seen again yet still somehow enjoying the full Con?

I'm sure there's a small, very small, issue with this. But most people who volunteer do it because they love the Con, not for free tickets. I think this is a smokescreen. And why blame the volunteers? Go after the managers. Put the onus on them and make sure they're following up. Find these people and pull their badge. That might sound difficult but with how well everyone knows each other in the community, I guarantee that could be happening.

They do have oversight. And they do follow up, from what I've seen. So I don't think that's the issue. I think it's more about avoiding paying minimum wage - which is smart from a business perspective. But when you've got volunteers who poured their hearts into this, I think they feel betrayed.

I can see that. It's not just the volunteer shift, it's the meetings, the training. It can feel like a slap in the face to be told hey thanks for your years of free labor, but now you need to jump through more hoops and you still may not get picked.

It's insulting.

People keep telling me, "It's going to become about favorites." Nerds aren't always the most socially outgoing people and there are many shy people who volunteer to make new friends and feel more a part of things. If you now need to be a member of a club, some people may worry they need to go to certain events, schmooze, be part of the cool kids to get picked - whether that's actually the case or not.

That's already happening. Friends have told me BRA is full of cliques and some feel excluded. And with all the in-fighting now, I can see it getting worse.

What's your prediction for the future? I don't think people have soured on the event, but I do think this has become divisive enough to spark alternatives for the pop culture and nerd community in Phoenix.

There very well might be. I wouldn't be surprised if something like that came up. It might be necessary as a protest, a reminder that says, "You went about this the wrong way." Right now people think the protesters are going to drift off but I don't think that's the case.

On the other hand, PHXCC has instituted policies before where there was a backlash and Matt changed them. So that could happen. I don't know what's going to happen here.

And on that note of uncertainty, we'll conclude. There's an all-hands meeting this weekend to discuss this issue; I won't be there but some friends are going to report back to me. Stay tuned!

On the Phoenix Comicon volunteer drama

2 JANUARY 2017

A small controversy has been blowing around the Con sphere these last few days, picking up enough momentum to outrage attendees everywhere. I wanted to stay out of this because I know some of the people involved. But everyone has been asking me about it so here it is.

Phoenix Comicon is making its volunteers pay for the privilege - sort of.

Essentially, to volunteer at Phoenix going forward, you'll need to be a member of local organization Blue Ribbon Army, which costs a minimum of $20 a year. (PHXCC director Matt Solberg is on Blue Ribbon Army board, if you're wondering what the connection is. That's part of the debate.) Joining BRA doesn't guarantee you a volunteer position, either; it just makes you eligible to volunteer. Virtually 100% of the Phoenix attendees/past volunteers I've spoken to feel negatively about this.

So is this unfair and horrible or is it a reasonable solution to what PHXCC says is a real problem - people abandoning their volunteer posts and burdening their fellow volunteers? Here are the factors in play so you can judge for yourself.

• Joining the Blue Ribbon Army doesn't mean you get to volunteer. It just puts you on the list. In fact, while there will be about 1300 volunteers for the 2017 Con, they are hoping to only need 950 for 2018. But joining BRA isn't just about volunteering. You pay to join a non-profit organization  (a fan organization turned social club) and enjoy benefits beyond just the eligibility to volunteer - early access to hotel reservations and the BRA lounge, entry to other events, for instance.

• Much coverage of this kerfuffle has positioned Phoenix Comicon as a top Con. I'm going to say that it's not. The attendee numbers may be respectable (106K in 2016) but I feel that's because it's in a city where not much happens, especially for nerds; also it caters to a younger demographic (I've never seen so many high school attendees at any other Con) by offering tons of events while offering limited panels of substance. The numbers may be there but the offerings aren't, not in my book. I felt the same way about Alamo City Comic Con, as well as other Cons that manage to draw in half the city without offering the type of talent you'd see at SDCC or NYCC. I am not saying that's bad, because obviously these Cons are delivering something great for the people who love them; I am saying that you can't judge a Con in conventional ways by its attendance numbers. From instance, most of the artists, writers and retailers I've spoken to were vastly disappointed in their Phoenix Comicon sales - the attendees were not their typical fans and customers. I say this not to be mean, but to gently correct the recent suggestions that Phoenix is at par with NYCC and SDCC. You can see my past reviews here.

• The struggle over volunteering and other past PHXCC challenges - like the badge system going down last year and thousands of people being kept outside in 117 degree heat, some of whom required medical attention - are typical of Cons that grow very quickly. Bigger Cons have had the luxury of learning over many years, or they got snapped up by organizations like ReedPOP that know how to handle logistics more smoothly. This Con has doubled in size in the last 3 years. They're going to make missteps and adopt strategies not everyone agrees with. However, the acrimony of this particular debacle suggests to me that we will see significant change over the next few years - either with a new organization/event, or a regime change. 

• Much has been made of Phoenix being one of the poorest cities in the nation, with almost 1 out of 6 people beneath the poverty level. Say it isn't so! Oh wait, that actually lines up with much of America. People know that about 1 in 5 American children are beneath the poverty level, right? Forgive my bitterness, but I'm not sure why people who normally overlook real poverty issues - like going hungry or forgoing medical care - are suddenly concerned when it comes to spending $20 for a Con badge. Don't get me wrong; I want everyone to be able to afford to go to Comic-Con. But given that you'll spend that much on a parking garage each day for this Con, I have a hard time seeing this as a  massive financial burden. Of course, it's a bigger deal for broke attendees who count on volunteering to cover their badge, and now will have to shell out almost $100 for the whole shebang. Unfortunately, this is an issue at every Con: you can't count on volunteering for a free ride in most cases.

• That said, I'm not sure that paying $20 is going to make a volunteer stick around. People don't volunteer at Cons just to save money. Some people like being behind the scenes, some are looking for a way to meet other people or chat up hot cosplayers, and some people feel a sense of contribution in putting on a great community event. And it's likely that a lot of the people who flake out on their shift are just bored, irresponsible, got invited to happy hour, have a panel they don't want to miss, etc. I understand the problem the Con is trying to solve - I just think there are better solutions, like compensating someone for their badge after they complete their volunteer shifts. Hardship cases can have their own process.

• While the media attention around this has intensified in this last week, I'm told by BRA members that the policy itself is not a sudden decision and has been brewing for a while.

• This isn't a one-off issue. Other Cons have struggled to compensate volunteers fairly - check out ECCC's class action lawsuit. I don't think this is an easy issue to resolve, unless Square Egg Entertainment (PHXCC's owner) wins the lottery and is flush enough to pay their volunteers - and monitor them closely. Even then, as Comic Con culture continues to swell, we'll see this arising in other convention and fan organizations.

I may interview some BRA members and volunteers for their take on this; as a non-volunteer my opinion isn't worth nearly as much as theirs. For now I will say that a few years ago my Phoenix Comicon badge fell off me 90 seconds after I got it (they didn't have lanyards so I had to pin it on my shirt) and they refused to replace it, so a volunteer named Felipe stepped up and gave me his volunteer badge. So I can tell you that some Phoenix Comicon volunteers are wonderful people and I hope they can still volunteer this year if they choose. (I still love you, Felipe.)

Stay tuned.

ECCC is being sued for not paying volunteers

20 MAY 2016




Define "volunteer." Is it someone who works for free? At a Con, is it someone who works in exchange for admission? If that arrangement violates labor laws, but the said volunteers don't mind, should there still be a class action lawsuit? 

Well, there's one now and it's aimed at Emerald City Comicon. The suit alleges that ECCC treated its volunteers like employees but didn't pay them. Specifically, the plaintiffs say that ECCC didn't keep a record of hours worked, didn't compensate volunteers for their time and violated the minimum wage law. And if you're thinking, "Well, duh, they're volunteers," that brings into the question the legal definition of a volunteer - usually someone who works for a non-profit. (That's not ECCC. SDCC qualifies, though.) Also at stake: if you exchange your time for a badge, are you still really a volunteer or an employee who accepted an alternate form of payment?

The lawsuit targets 2014 and 2015; this year ReedPOP paid ECCC volunteers, as they generally do. This could fizzle out, or it could stir up an interesting discussion on volunteering at Cons. We know that when it comes to popular Comic Cons, there are usually more willing volunteers than shifts available. But even if prospective attendees are willing to overlook a few pesky laws, they're not the ones who cast the deciding vote. We'll see how this plays out.

Pro applications & other ECCC updates

17 NOVEMBER 2015




We've had another burst of Emerald City news, both for attendees and pros.

Pro half table applications are open. If you're wondering what a half table is, it means you get 3 feet of a 6 foot table in Artist Alley. You also get access to discounted hotel rooms for exhibitors and an Artist Alley badge. Deadline: 5 pm PST on 11 December.

Professional applications are also open. This is for entry to the show and includes "the full spectrum of the Pop Culture industries." Which, practically speaking, is huge so it helps that they list these categories: librarians, writers, producers, publishers, licensers, artists, buyers, editors, creators and retailers. The deadline here is 11:59 pm PST on 26 February but they caution you to apply early - once these badges are gone, they're gone.

Minion information (volunteering) will be posted soon.

The ECCC team wants to know which fandoms should be represented at ECCC for meetups, so go ahead and tell them on Tumblr.

And as a reminder: you can still keep requesting the celebrity and comic guests you want to see. Just check to see if they've already been requested.

Too late, you missed your chance to volunteer

8 OCTOBER 2015



If you were still debating as to whether or not to sign up for the Volunteer Interest List for SDCC, never mind - it's full. 

"We are no longer accepting additions to the list."

Worth noting: online volunteer registration will be in early 2016, first for returning 2015 volunteers and then those of you on the interest list. The first group gets a 2 week window in which to register; after they pick and choose their desired spots, the interest list volunteers will grab what's left on a first come, first serve basis.

Also worth noting: CCI's shoutout to volunteering for WonderCon Los Angeles. Yes, that's what we're calling it now. They want you to know that those volunteer opportunities will be available soon as well, so keep checking that page. You're not interested in WonderCon Los Angeles, you say? Well, maybe you should be. But I'll post on that later.

The SDCC Volunteer Interest List is now open

30 SEPTEMBER 2015




Have your thoughts been lingering on San Diego Comic-Con lately? Wondering when Pre-registration will be exactly and if the lottery gods will pick you this time or if you'll be staying home next summer? It's okay if you have; those are perfectly normal thoughts to have after the bloodbath that was Open Reg for SDCC 2015.

Either way, you'll be happy to hear that the Volunteer Interest List is now open. This only applies to those of you who didn't volunteer this past summer; if you did - even for one shift - you're eligible for Priority Volunteer Registration and already set.

But everyone else can log into their Member ID account, go to the Volunteer tab and sign up for the Interest List. Do that and you'll get an email notifying you of online volunteer registration in 2016. You won't get first dibs on volunteer spots - those go to Priority Volunteers - but you can try to fill in any remaining spots after those people have had their shot. Volunteers get in for free the day of their shift, so obviously it's a popular option.

I've never volunteered so I can't speak to the actual experience but everyone I know that's done it has been happy. In other words: it's worth signing up.

ETA: You can still do this if you've never been to San Diego Comic-Con before. As long as you have a Member ID account, you can sign up. This is absolutely an option for first-timers and you have nothing to lose by doing so. Even if you change your mind later, you can just skip volunteer registration. There's no commitment at this stage.

Should Comic Cons pay their volunteers?

29 MARCH 2015




The Mary Sue has a provocative article up on whether Cons are legally obligated to pay their volunteers. If you've been to a Con, you know that volunteers are everywhere in their matching shirts - and that they can save your Comic-Con life by directing you to the right room at the right time. It's worth noting that volunteers are there because they want to be, and so their attitudes are generally positive and enthusiastic - making them a nice change from surly security guards who are sick of being asked where the Legends of Korra panel is.

Usually volunteers are compensated with a free badge of some type. However, this doesn't exempt Cons from paying them, nor does it serve as non-monetary payment in the eyes of the law; if anything, that can constitute legal evidence that volunteer labor is worthy of compensation in the form of minimum wage, overtime or more.

It's not entirely surprising that this could be an issue. Comic Cons have swiftly ballooned from podunk, grassroots events organized by nerds with more passion than business experience to mammoth, glittering superconventions that demand business expertise. And as we SDCC attendees know all too well, in many cases the business expertise doesn't always keep pace with the demand.

That said, I don't think the companies behind Cons have nefarious intentions. We all know that volunteers are eager to help and usually consider the badge they get in return adequate compensation. (I haven't heard any horror stories of volunteers being abused or overworked - if you have, let me know.)  So hopefully this doesn't become yet another ordeal for event companies to deal with, or a stumbling block for volunteers who might lose out on positions that could go to formally hired and compensated temp workers.

Don't forget to claim your Volunteer badge tomorrow

2 FEBRUARY 2015




Did you know that a small but exciting badge registration will take place tomorrow - Tuesday, 3 February? Probably most of you didn't, but that's okay; it's only for people who joined the 2015 Volunteer Interest List.

To back up a bit, anyone who volunteered last summer - a returning volunteer - already participated in their own more leisurely registration. This is a separate registration for those people who asked to be on the Interest List. And the competition will be intense.

If you're included in this group, then you should have already received an email from CCI with instructions. Basically you're off to the races Tuesday at 9 am PST - you'll log into your Member ID, go to the Volunteering Tab and click the registration link. This is first come, first serve, so obviously you shouldn't waste one red second getting in there.

As for the rest of you, you can't finagle a way into this. If you didn't already join the Interest List, you're out of luck. What you can do: pay attention late this summer and over the fall for when the 2016 list opens up. Returning volunteers get priority but it's still worth signing up.

Good luck and try not to stress.

Do you want to volunteer at ECCC?

23 JANUARY 2015




If you were toying with the idea of becoming a Minion at Emerald City Comicon, they still need people - so go on and apply if you're over 18.

ECCC says "your placement will be based on your experience and feedback in a specific area of our convention" - which I think is just a fancy way of saying you'll have some input but your skills and background will count too. You get a free shirt that says Minion and you'll "probably" get a free badge for one day you're not working. While that's a sweet deal on its own, remember that volunteering usually leads to meeting interesting people - attendees and guests - and sometimes opens a door to behind-the-scenes access.

We're closing in on March, so don't wait much longer if you've been considering this.

SDCC 2015 Volunteer Interest List is open

13 DECEMBER 2014



If you're staking your 2015 SDCC hopes on becoming a volunteer, act now. The interest list is open.

To be clear, this isn't the list to become a volunteer - it's the list where you officially tell CCI you'd like to become a 2015 volunteer. It ensures you'll get the email notifying you of volunteer registration. Yes, the process is that multi-stepped. It goes like this: returning volunteers get first dibs in Priority Volunteer Registration in early 2015. After that, it's first come, first serve through online volunteer registration.

To sign up, go into your Member ID account and click the Volunteering tab.

You might want some hard odds on getting accepted, but I can't help you with that. I do know that many thousands of people apply and only some are accepted. So go ahead and sign up, but make peace with the fact that you may not be chosen. (Something you're no doubt used to by now.)

Good luck.

Returning volunteer registration opens 4 Feb

3 FEB 2014


Did you volunteer at San Diego Comic-Con last summer? Congratulations, you are the envy of everyone anxiously awaiting more pre-registration news - because you get to register for more volunteer duty tomorrow. If you're eligible, you got an email last week with details; if you didn't get one, and you're pretty sure you qualify, contact CCI now.

For those of you non-volunteers who just had a lightbulb go on, no, you can't become a volunteer at this late date. Not for this summer, anyway. The "Interest List" already capped out, with more than 11,000 people applying. If you are already on the list, you'll get an email about your shot at registering for volunteer duty later. Although getting an assignment is certainly not a guarantee; as CCI says in a classic understatement, "We anticipate that volunteer registration for those on the Interest List will reach capacity the same day that it opens."

Now back to our regularly scheduled pins and needles as we await the Pre-reg date.

Act now to volunteer for 2014

7 AUGUST 2013


Continuing their recent unpredictable streak, CCI has tweaked the volunteering process. If you're interested in volunteering next summer - and I know that's a lot of you, based on the emails I get - here's what you need to do.

If you volunteered this summer: you're included in the "priority pool" for online volunteer registration. You'll get a special email telling you when returning volunteer registration opens.You can relax until then.

If you didn't volunteer this summer: you'll have to wait for open online volunteer registration in early 2014. But you should do something right now: log into your Member ID account and click on "Click here to sign up for the Comic-Con Volunteer Interest List." This is new and mandatory; only people who complete this step will get the email telling them about open volunteer registration. That information won't be made public. But do bear in mind that you aren't guaranteed a volunteer spot, because competition for this (as with anything else at the Con) is fierce. 

Who can volunteer: anyone with a Member ID who's 16 or older by 30 June 2014. You don't need any kind of training or know-how to volunteer. Besides getting into the Con for free the day of your assignment(s), you'll also meet a lot of people and possibly see something interesting things. Ask previous volunteers and you'll hear the stories.

Volunteer Registration is open

20 FEBRUARY 2012


And you'd better act now because from the sound of the email CCI sent out, volunteering at San Diego Comic Con is the new Ivy League. 


"When volunteer registration closes, the Volunteer Department staff will go through the applications and prioritize first by returning volunteers, then by new volunteer applicants (starting with earliest date/time stamp). Confirmations will be sent to those who are accepted into the program within 10 business days. "Not Accepted" notices will also be sent within 10 business days."


If only general registration prioritized returning attendees. I can't provide any first-hand testimonials on what volunteering actually entails because I've never done it - but it is one way to ensure you see the Con. Which means, of course, that competition is fierce. Instructions are in the email everyone with a Member ID received, repeated here:


"Visit https://secure2.comic-con.org/memberid/ and login to your Member ID account.  At the bottom of the "Member ID Change Menu" you will see a Volunteer button next to "Volunteer for Comic-Con 2012". Click this button and complete your application."


Good luck.