Sounds like things are blowing up in the Arizona cosplay community over a recent change for volunteering at 2017 Phoenix Comicon.
From what I gathered it sounds like anyone who wants to volunteer has to become a member of the Blue Ribbon Army, which costs $20 for the lowest level membership. Keep in mind that this does not guarantee you a Volunteer position.
Many people think that this is a shady deal. Staff responded that this is being done because they had a lot of Volunteers run off with their free pass and not actually work. This new rule change will weed out the people who won't commit to the work.
Thoughts?
They also want to cut down the number of staff to about 1000 eventually.
I hope they either don't get any "volunteers", or all the volunteers end up taking the pass and not working anyway. What bullshit. If I was a dedicated con volunteer I wouldn't pay for that
Can it come of as scummy? Yes, but they're trying to avoid being sued like other large for profit cons that don't pay 'wages'. Too soon to say what will happen but I've been to other cons that use the funds to buy better/more food for the volunteers.
People are getting over emotional and entitled about this. Shouldn't be in the con scene if worker or attendee if you are incapable of paying even 20$. .. this is part of a hobby. If you really are passionate you'll pay. If not then treat it like a business ( as cons actually are. Not geek "safe havens" we deserve) boycott and go to another con.
I agree with it. I'm sick of people ghosting cons too. They're petty and entitled and if you genuinely don't find a con worth it, don't go. Volunteers also get other benefits.
If only they called it a discount on passes for volunteering.
>>9304690
What upsets me is that it's like paying for a badge and having to work 4 hours a day. Plus staff pretty much get treated like crap from attendees. It's like paying for a chance to work for an actual job. I even worked it out. If you buy your pass now, it's cheaper then actually paying the Blue Ribbon Army and getting a chance to volunteer.
>>9304690
The thing is that you're working for them in exchange for your badge as payment. Paying to work to pay for the badge seems backwards.
>>9305029
Lol no. Badges are not $20, they're more than double that. Blue ribbon alliance is $20 for the cheapest option. Plus volunteers get food vouchers on top of their badges. It would be nice, however, to allow 2017 volunteers to enjoy a new perk like parking since paying to volunteer is new.
>>9305311
I meant it adds up. From what I gather it's $20 per month.
Yes they get money for food. Four $5 vouchers for this one place at a hotel. Two of them can pay for one meal if you plan right. Even then you might have to shell out a dollar or two.
They got a discount on parking though.
>>9305320
$20 per year
Do you think they'd go as far as making panelist have to do this too?
>>9306067
So far panelists have been told that they are not required to become BRA members.
>>9306026
Yeah, just reread the email. Sorry, I'm just getting over this nasty sinus infection and my mind registered year as month for some reason.
>>9305251
Seems pretty dodgy, I can't see why people would shell out to work instead of enjoy the event for a little more
>>9305251
But that's the thing. If tons of people are running off and not actually working, they're losing money. This could have been avoided if people actually did the jobs they volunteered to do.
From what I hear from Cali cosplayers, it's actually not that outlandish. Again, that's just what I hear - I'm not part of the Cali cosplay community myself so I could be wrong.
Why does it matter. Phoenix is terrible in the con scene any way. California has their cons planned well and it's very pleaent to be at. I don't think it's bad to make someone pay to assure that they won't run off with the passes and not work. Plus 20 dollars is nothing. If that's too much then stop being a poor whiny bitch and do something about it. Geek culture isn't cheap if you take it more seriously then torrenting doctor who and doodling crappy sonic characters. Then whining about not being given free handouts? You all are a much of moochers.
Tl:dr if you can't afford it then get a real job and stop whining like spoiled brats.
>>9313754
This
My two cents on this is there are better ways to make sure people don't ditch out on there shifts. Mainly, put them on a blacklist and have security revoke their badge then escort them out if they don't show up for their shift but are still at the convention.
Any convention is only as good as its community. This stuff about funneling money into BRA which then goes into Pheonix Comicon by some means is shady as fuck. Most people volunteer because they wanna go but can't pay for it. Most of them are high school/college kids, which is why they're poor. Berating them for not having $20 but still wanting to contribute is kind of rude.
>>9313805
I don't think you understand how poor collage and Highschool students work at cons. They are the ones that usually whine about how they want some thing to eat but are too poor to afford it. Then they magically have 50 dollars to buy that weeb figure they found in the vender hall. There is ways to make money. Like mowing lawns for your neighbors, baby sitting, washing neighbors cars, plasma or blood donation. Not sitting at home binge watching crunchy roll and playing overwatch. If you want to go, you find ways to afford it. Or you don't go. It's not the end of the world if you can't attend a convention due to costs. 20 dollars is not a lot. Stop acting like it asking them to buy a 1000 dollar computer.
Here is an update from what I gather. The CEO of PCC (and Square Egg Entertainment) was on the board of directors or something for BRA, but step down after major backlash. Also, they sent out another email basically saying it's either you pay us and have the number of people we said we would have or we pay you and have less people. So they will have a meeting where people can voice their concerns and they'll take them into consideration.
>>9313805
As someone who was a "poor college student and teen in the lower socioeconomic level," I feel little sympathy. This is again, an expensive hobby. There are plenty of other cons in az big and small that take free volunteers. If you do not have the money yet due to lack of income or bigger bills, prioritize correctly if you REALLY want to get involved.
>>9313754
>You are entitled if you complain about paying to work
>>9314503
sorry your too poor that you can't afford a 20 dollar ticket.
Sorry but if you go to the phoenix comicon you are already fucking up.
Pay to volunteer or not, PCC does a lot of shady shit and is a messy, disorganized monster.
Honestly, I think all they'd need to do is offer badges at a discounted rate for members of the BRA or whatever it's called.
Sure, it might not amount to much in the long term, but it looks like you get some other bonus aside from being able to work their events.
>>9316312
It's probably the only perk worth paying the $20 for they have listed. They don't sat how much of a discount it is though.