Gen Con 2015 presented by Pastimes

Welcome to GenCon 2015

It’s that time of year again.  Not quite back-to-school time.  Definitely time for a summer vacation, and we would love to host a big Magical summer party with you!  At Gen Con 2014 we had an amazing time making some outstanding improvements to how we serve our guests and how we serve you as judges and staff.  Guest satisfaction was at an all-time high, and round turnaround times were a blistering 57 minutes a round for scheduled events - with the majority of events starting 5 minutes early!  

With all of that being said, it’s time to make it even better this year, and we want you to be a part of it.  With that, Pastimes is pleased to announce that we are now accepting staff applications for GenCon 2015. GenCon truly is the best four days of gaming, and you don't want to miss being a part of it!  

Gen Con is a great time to gather with your gamer friends, meet new ones, and enjoy the best four days of gaming! This will be Pastimes' 12th year hosting Magic Events at Gen Con, and we know many people who come back on staff year after year just for the fun of who they get to be with on staff.   Being on the staff for this amazing weekend of events will be a great memory as you get to help thousands (and we do mean THOUSANDS) of Magic players experience Magic like they never have before.

The staff at Gen Con consists of more than just judges.  We are also looking for great people to help with scorekeeping, registration, our Magic Tour experience, the new Gen Con Prize Wall, information and help desk, as well as line management.  If you or someone you know is interested in helping in one of these areas, please share this info with them.  If they do not have easy access here, please have them email us at steven@pastimes.net and let us know of their interest.

Please fill out the following information as completely as possible. We will be processing applications and making staffing requests and announcements on an ongoing basis. While the application window will be open until May 15th, 2015, the acceptance of applications is rolling so we will be accepting some staff members immediately based on staffing needs and past performance.  Please apply early!

We will post the staff list and schedule on June 1, 2015 or earlier.

Rooms.  Rooms at Gen Con are a serious issue; they are very expensive and extremely limited.  We will have limited sponsorship opportunities for rooms (again, apply early) and will not have additional space in rooms for non-staff members.  If you receive room sponsorship, please know that for liability purposes only your assigned roommates are permitted to reside in your hotel room.  If this is a problem, please consider receiving additional compensation by not selecting “room sponsorship.”  (see application for details)

Final rooming lists and schedule will go out on June 30th, 2015.

Pastimes is greatly interested in judges and staff who are dedicated to making the event and convention enjoyable for all attendees - and fun for those of us running the event as well! If you have the desire to help us attain that goal - we are looking for your help.  Applying to be on staff at GenCon is applying to help make one of the best Events in Magic happen.  As such, we are looking for people who have a desire to help in whatever way needed to create an amazing experience for our customers – the players.  

You must have a GenCon account (you do not need to buy a badge, you just need to have an account) to apply.  If you do not have a GenCon account, go to https://www.gencon.com/login After you complete this, you can fill out the application. We will be using this information to obtain a Gen Con badge for you which will allow you access to the Exhibitor Hall as well as to sign up for events. The earlier you get us this information, the sooner we can get you a badge and your number which will allow you to sign up for events (based on our ability to utilize you on staff).

If you have already purchased a Gen Con badge - your badge purchase WILL be refunded if you are chosen to be on staff.

If there is anything that you would like us to know, such as travel restrictions, etc, please include that in your application. If you have any questions about being on our staff at Gen Con, please e-mail your questions to steven@pastimes.net . If you have any questions, comments or thoughts for the Tournament Organizer, you can email Alan Hochman directly at alan@pastimes.net  We look forward to working with you soon!

Expectations

All staff members are expected to perform in a professional manner that reflects positively on the rest of the event staff, the Tournament Organizer, Wizards of the Coast and the Judge Program.  We desire team members that diligently seek to promote a fun, exciting environment for everyone to enjoy.  This also includes avoiding activities that could in any way negatively affect a staff member’s performance.

All staff members are expected to dress professionally throughout the weekend, with all clothing clean and neat.  Staff members who do not meet this expectation will be sent to remedy the situation immediately or will be removed without compensation.  Judges are expected to wear the Magic Judge shirt, plain undershirt, black belt, black pants (tactical pants are acceptable, jeans are highly discouraged), black socks, and black shoes.  Staff members in a judging role will adhere to the above dress guidelines, donning the Pastimes staff shirt instead of the Magic judge shirt while working in a non-judging role.  Staff shirts will be provided as needed.  

In preparation for Gen Con 2015, we are expecting that all staff members attend one of two live webinars pertaining to event weekend details and customer service.  These webinars will be one hour in duration, focusing on the event structure, operations, and the guest experience.

Testing

Testing opportunities are available on Sunday morning at this event. If you are interested in testing, please include this request in your application, or contact steven@pastimes.net. Any staff requesting testing will have to be scheduled. If you do not request to test at least two weeks prior to Gen Con with all prerequisites completed, we will be unable to test you at this event.

Enjoying the Convention

We are going to work to schedule people so everyone gets to enjoy the convention, as well as being on staff.   We want you to get to experience Gen Con and we will be working to schedule so you get breaks that allow you to do this.

Staffing Packages and Compensation - Major Changes!!

There are 4 options to choose from. Each level has it's own assortment of days and compensation.  A typical judge shift is approximately 10 hours, including break times.

Option 1: One shift. You will receive a 4-day GenCon badge, 1/2 booster box Magic, limited edition Gen Con Judge playmat and $20. (Shift one day of Friday or Saturday - this option is not available for Sunday)

Option 2: Two shifts. You will receive a 4-day GenCon badge, limited edition Gen Con Judge playmat, and $40. (Shifts are Friday and Saturday).

L1 - 2 booster boxes Magic

L2 - 3 booster boxes

L3+ - 4 booster boxes

Option 3: Three shifts. You will receive a 4-day GenCon badge, limited edition  Gen Con Judge playmat, $60, and hotel for 3 nights*. (Two shifts scheduled will be Friday and Saturday, and a third day)

L1 - 4 booster boxes Magic,

L2 - 6 booster boxes

L3+ - 8 booster boxes

Option 4: Four shifts. You will receive a 4-day GenCon badge, limited edition Gen Con Judge playmat, limited edition judge messenger bag, $80, and 4 nights of hotel*.

L1 - 5 booster boxes Magic,

L2 - 7 booster boxes

L3+ - 9 booster boxes

Any judge that would receive hotel accommodation but chooses to make their own arrangements will receive an additional ¾ box per night of hotel that would have been received.

*Hotel rooms will be 3 to a room (each room has two queen-sized beds, and a pull out sofa-bed.)

Want more? Here it is! - Pastimes Frequent Judging Program

L2+ judges may be selected for the “Pastimes Frequent Judging Program.”  Pastimes is looking for judges willing to judge GP: Dallas/Ft. Worth, GenCon (3 or 4 days) and GP: Indianapolis.  Judges selected for this program will receive an additional $200 upon completion of judging two of the three events listed, or $400 upon completion of judging all three events listed.  You need to apply separately for this program, which can be found at http://apps.magicjudges.org/events/3170/.  

Applications for this program will close Monday, May 11th.

How to Apply

Judges can apply by clicking the "Apply for this Event!" link toward the top of the page. Please answer all questions in the application form.  If you are not a judge, please note what positions you are interested in filling.

The application window for this event closes May 15th.  Don’t delay – apply today!