Feb 26 2009
Going Behind the Scenes: An Interview with Convention Volunteer Nathan Lilly
A lot of my past interviews on this blog have been with cosplayers, and I have finally found a seasoned convention volunteer who has agreed to be interviewed! Nathan Lilly is one of the first contacts I have made in the Philadelphia convention scene, and I have asked him to share with you some of his comments about convention volunteerism.
The fact is, conventions would not exist without volunteers. They need them to help set up, man information booths, act as security, run programming events, take tickets, design promotional materials, check badges…the list is pretty much endless. The vast majority (if not all of the time), the only compensation these volunteers get is reduced or free entry into the convention. It’s a lot of hard work, but it can also be outrageously fun. Anyway, on with the interview!
So Nathan, what was your very first convention experience like? How old were you, and what convention was it?
Nathan: My very first convention experience was at my University RPG group’s convention: RUCon. I was 18. It was a very small RPG convention. My first convention after that was many years later: GenCon 2000. I was 26 and it was awesome.
What conventions are you involved with as a volunteer?
Nathan: I first started volunteering for Philcon and did their website and flyers between 2002 and 2006. I’ve also been on the programming committee since 2002. In 2007 I did the website for the Philadelphia Browncoat Ball. I designed the Philcon program book in 2008.
Professionally, I’ve done web development and graphic design for a series of conventions from Planet Xpo - Great Bird of the Galaxy in El Paso 2003 and The Farewell Tribute to James Doohan in Hollywood 2005 before he passed (http://planetxpo.com/doohan/, http://www.greententacles.com/articles/3/33/).
How many conventions have you attended in your lifetime, and which ones are your favorites?
Nathan: RUCon and GenCon (both attended twice), and then my first Science Fiction convention was WorldCon/Millenium Philcon. I’ve attended Philcon annually since then. About three years ago I began working a circuit: Philcon, Lunacon, Balticon. Philcon is my hometown con, and I almost always have fun there, but the first year I was at Lunacon I had an absolute blast (between volunteering for Security: Mr. Shirt’s Pink Fluffy Bunny Squad, being on panels, and just generally being a gopher). Balticon is a great convention for technology (podcasting, Internet, blogs, webcomics, etc.). Blobfest in Phoenixville was fun last year, too.
I’m trying to add Shore Leave, some of the more local Anime cons, and some of the more Northerly conventions to that list (ReaderCon, Albacon, Arisia, and Boskone). I also keep meaning to get to RavenCon and I want to get out to Otakon and DragonCon before I die.
How did you get involved with volunteering?
Nathan: Like most people, it was unavoidable. I was pressed into service, some might say kidnapped, by a well meaning pair of Science Fiction fans: Hugh Casey and Jeff Linder. They were Chair and Vice-Chair of Philcon, and President and Treasurer of PSFS. I had joined the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, and the rest was simply unavoidable. I offered to do the website for PSFS, and found myself involved with Philcon.
What kind of duties do you have as a volunteer?
Nathan: Mostly Web Development, Graphic Design, and Panel Programming - but I’m not above helping out at fan tables, watching over the dealer’s room (i.e. room sleeper), working the registration table, or even just gophering.
What advice would you give to those who are considering volunteering at a con, but have never done it before?
Nathan: Volunteer early and volunteer often.
1. Contact the conventions ahead of time, so that they can best plan how to use you.
2. Let them know any skills or experiences that you have that might come in handy.
3. Many hands make light work: get your friends to volunteer as well.
What’s the most important thing to keep in mind as a volunteer?
Nathan: Just make sure that everyone is having a good time (everyone: fans, panelists, and other volunteers).
What advice would you give to those volunteers who encounter rude attendees?
Nathan: Always be friendly and courteous, and make the people in charge of the convention aware of the situation as soon as possible.
And finally, what conventions can people find you at this year?
Nathan: I’ll be at Lunacon in March, Balticon in May, (hopefully) Shore Leave in July, and Philcon in November.
Thanks so much for talking to me, Nathan! You can usually find out more information about volunteering at a con by checking out a convention’s website! If you’d like to read more interviews with convention attendees, click here! Are you a con volunteer? You could be interviewed next! Just send me an e-mail!
