Safety and volunteers for next year

[moonanstars.livejournal.com]

I originally posted this as a comment on this post: http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncon/2542632.html

Since then I emailed several people at Dragoncon and my emails are being forwarded to the Security department and to the Convention Operations Director. I am sending along some of the ideas from below in hopes of putting together an actual sanctioned by D*C safety crew but some of us think that if that doesn't happen then there are still ways that we can all help out next year.

Here is the idea:

Ideally in a perfect world the best solution would be more police or official security but that costs money and might not be something they'll implement.

Comicon has a volunteer program where you do 3 hour shifts, one each day you're there and you get a special t-shirt only available to the volunteers. If you successfully do all your assignments then you get special access to an event the next year that others don't.

If we offered something like a discount on your ticket, the shirt and the access the next year along with the shorter shifts (I was told DragonCon volunteer security was 25 hours mandatory over the weekend which probably scares a lot of people off) you could get a whole squad of people to help out.

Now they wouldn't be full on security with the ability to kick someone out or manhandle them into submission probably but what you could have is a large group of people in very bright and obvious shirts (Say Neon orange with a huge DRAGON CON SAFETY VOLUNTEER logo) that let you know they are the DragonCon brute squad and they have a radio. They could be escorts from one hotel to another on the street level. They could be the people that you know to look for in a crowd if someone is being hassled who could instantly radio for the off duty police or other security. They are the people that could come and stand with someone who is feeling threatened and waiting for someone to come from their room or another hotel.

For people who aren't there all the days of the Con but would still like to help they could have a meeting every morning to train people in how to use the radio, where to meet up for their shift, get a map of the grounds and hotels etc. That way there isn't the hassle to try to attend a pre con meeting that is a pretty far trip for everyone that doesn't live in Atlanta.

I happen to know at least one very large man who would do jump at the chance to do this after the things being reported this year. And if we could sprinkle a lot more bodies out there to move people along and be there for someone to run/yell for when there's a problem it would probably help. And since they are there looking for trouble it's a lot more likely they could take a photo with a phone or something for the police than the person who is just trying to get away from a dangerous situation.

Just something to think about.

If no one will sanction it for being affiliated with the con there are still ways we can help out. Volunteer escorts to other hotels etc could be arranged pretty easily and we will come up with other ideas as needed.

I will let you know what kind of answers I get back from talking to people affiliated with the con. Thanks.

Comments

Re: Security's POV

[asim.livejournal.com]

I'm going to say this, as I did on another related thread: 25 hrs. for a staff position is, as other shave said, Too Much.

Before you dismiss -- I spent a huge chunk of the last decade running a piece of the SCA event Pennsic. That included a stint where I volunteered for a management position that ran for all of Pennisc, 2 weeks, including a couple of sleep deprived nights. Not to mention having to help setup and breakdown a 50+ person encampment. And there was no comp ticket for it.

I've been there, done that. I'm not speaking out of my ass. There are good, talented, and motivated people who'd like ot help, but for a variety of reasons cannot commit to 25 hours. That 25 hrs. is do-able to you and I doesn't mean it's a reasonable timeframe -- and that your numbers, as you yourself indicate, are 1/2 what they should be is a sign that something's up in your structure.

I think there's a assumption that people'll only work for badges. That's horrifically incorrect. I fly to Arisia every year, and do between 6-9 panels, enough to get in free most years. I've never taken advantage of that; I always pay my freight, donate the badge back to the con. I know many others who do so.

And I think if DragonCon took the energy and effort to actually talk to people who's like to help, to try to open up this process, you'd find a lot more interest in getting that kind of help than you think, and a lot more boots on the ground when and where it counts. Having roomed this year with a staffer, and seeing his condition when his work was done, I don't envy those working, nor feel pulled towards helping from seeing his state.

I have an interest in helping, assuming I make it back next year. I have no interest in free admission, yet nor do I have an interest in spending 25 hours helping 2 weeks after the work I do at Pennsic. It's too much, for me personally, but 5-10 hours would be do-able.

I hope this helps.

Re: Security's POV

[littledrow.livejournal.com]

Dude. You worked Pennsic? I bow before your greatness. ;)