If you haven’t applied to become an Agent (GeekGirlCon speak for “convention volunteer”) at GeekGirlCon ’19 yet, now is the time!
The deadline to submit your application is coming up in just 3 days, on this Sunday, September 8 at 10pm PST.
Here Are The Details:
Date: GeekGirlCon ’19 will be held November 16th and 17th
Location: Washington State Conference Center, located at 8th and Pike in downtown Seattle (across the street from the Convention Center)
Commitment: By applying, you commit to being available to work at least 2 shifts (4-5 hours each)
Age Requirement: You must be at least 16 years of age to be an Agent
Here’s Why You Should Apply:
Join an incredible team of fellow geeks
Receive a free pass to the Con
Gain access to our Agent Headquarters
Get a behind the scenes look at how we put on such an amazing convention
Volunteering as an Agent is a wonderful opportunity to level up your commitment to GeekGirlCon. So don’t wait, apply now!
Image Description: A gif of singers, actors, and sisters, Chloe and Halle Bailey, pointing and mouthing the words “You Got This,” which are also written on the screen. The background is a pink and blue pastel gradient.
In Agent Profiles: Part One, we met three of our GeekGirlCon Special Agents and learned a bit about who they are, what they enjoy geeking out about, and what made them become GGC Agents. In Part Two, we continue our conversation.
GeekGirlCon Special Agents play a vital role in making sure each Con is a success. This year, a record-breaking 180 Agents from 7 states and 3 countries have volunteered to help us keep everything running smoothly. I interviewed three of these Agents to learn a bit about who they are and what made them sign up to help out this year. Here’s what they had to say:
All good things come to an end, and so too will our Agent application period, at 10pm PST tonight. If you’ve ever thought about being an Agent, this is your year to apply!
Okay, I get that sometimes for us with geekish leanings, it can be difficult to be outgoing and friendly and talkative to a whole bunch of new people. But if that’s a concern for you, never fear! GeekGirlCon is an incredibly welcoming and inclusive environment, geared especially towards making all of our attendees feel safe. We work hard to foster that sense of community, and we would love for you to help us!
Although GeekGirlCon is unique in a variety of different ways, you can enhance your con experience by helping us out! We have just opened our applications for agents (and special agents) for GeekGirlCon ’16!
What is an agent, you ask? Agents are our army of volunteer helpers who do a range of awesome tasks. From answering questions from convention attendees to setting up A/V equipment or leading games of pictionary, agents are there to make sure that our con runs smoothly and that everyone has an awesome time.
GeekGirlCon is entirely volunteer-run, and at convention time we really need help to fill out our ranks! Last year, we had 150-180 volunteer agents, and this year, with the fourth floor expansion, we’ll have room for more.
Interested? All we ask is that you’re over 16, are enthusiastic about our mission and are available to work for part of October 8-9. Apply here before July 1st! We’d love to have you at the con!
This month has been a fantastic time to apply to be an Agent for GeekGirlCon. But all good things must come to an end, and our application deadline for becoming an Agent or a Special Agent will close this Friday July 31 at midnight.
But don’t despair! You still have the week to send us an application! And we are still looking for people! We need volunteer Agents and Special Agents for a variety of roles to make sure our con runs smoothly, such as setting up and breaking down the con, helping our panelists, directing our attendees and generally being lovely, friendly people.
Special Agents are drawn from our Agent pool for specific tasks, such as being on our Reaction Team—these are the awesome people who make sure that everyone feels safe at the con, and can help out if an issue arises. Other Special Agent positions (such as photography or IT wrangling) are available, and you will get the opportunity to specify your skills so we can match you up with the best job available.
We are expecting over 6,000 people to attend this year, and we basically can’t put on an amazing con without an army of volunteers. To show our appreciation for your support, you’ll get free admission into the convention and a fancy, official Agent t-shirt in return for a few hours’ work on October 10 and 11. You’ll also be helping put on one of the best geeky conventions in the country, so there are bonus warm fuzzies for that.
To be part of this amazing team, all you need to do is submit a quick application form. But hurry, as they are closing this week. So if you’ve been on the fence about becoming an Agent for GeekGirlCon, this is a great time to join our family. Send us an application today!
It’s a very exciting time of year for everyone here at GeekGirlCon; as of Monday, June 22, it’s exactly 110 days until GeekGirlCon ‘15 on October 10 and 11! We’ll be seeing you at the Conference Center at the WSCC, plus an exciting evening of kickoff events on Friday, October 9–so mark your calendars now.
Agents and staff manning the GeekGirlCon ’15 Merch Booth
How can YOU get involved in GeekGirlCon?
Buy passes! They’re available now at Early Bird prices, which only last until July 31:
2 Day Pass: $35
Kids Pass* (6-12): $10
Kids Pass* (0-5): Free!!
1 Day Pass: $20
*All Kids Passes are 2-day passes, with accompanying adult pass.
Once August 1 rolls around, the prices increase. We’d hate for you to miss out, so go buy your passes right now.
Individual Sponsorships! As we are a non-profit organization made up completely of dedicated volunteers, a contribution in the form of an individual sponsorship is a great way to contribute to GeekGirlCon. We encourage you to become an Individual Sponsor of GeekGirlCon and take advantage of awesome benefits today! Some of our different levels of Individual Sponsorship include Silver, Gold, Platinum, Unobtanium, and Adamantium, ranging in amounts from $50 to over $500, and each of those levels comes with a set of unique gifts. It’s an amazing way to help support our mission.
Corporate Sponsorships! Many of our GeekGirlCon followers work for amazing companies around the United States and the world, and another way to help us meet our mission (for our yearly convention and beyond) is to get your company involved in non-profit giving as well. Levels for Corporate Sponsorship range from Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Unobtanium, ranging in amounts from $500 to $2500. Each of those levels also includes a set of gifts from GeekGirlCon, including passes, advertising, and possibly booth space at the convention (subject to amount of donation and available space).
Many companies do sponsorship matching, which means they will increase the amount of money an individual employee of theirs gives–sometimes dollar for dollar. This means that if you give GeekGirlCon $200, your company may match your donation with another $200. Contact your company’s Human Resources to find out about their level of possible participation; it’s a quick and easy way to boost your personal donations, and it’s tax deductible as well.
Agents–all volunteers!–at GeekGirlCon ’14
Volunteer! We’re done accepting applications for Exhibitors, Artists, and Performers for GeekGirlCon ‘15, but you can sign up to be added to the mailing list for our volunteers–we call you Agents, and we can’t put on the convention and events throughout the year without you.
We’re also looking for talented people to fill a few open positions for our dedicated, all-volunteer staff. It’s another way to meet amazing people and help spread the word for GeekGirlCon and its mission, both during and outside of the convention. Check out the open positions and their descriptions on our website, and see how you can join the team.
Written by GeekGirlCon Copywriter Sarah “SG-1” Grant
While a full-time volunteer staff is essential to making the magic happen, an extra-inspiring aspect of our yearly convention is the contribution of geeks who come from across the country to work during the big weekend. These GeekGirlCon Agents donate their time and effort to ensure a smooth, seriously rad celebration for all. Not only is their hands-on help hugely important, but their energy and unique insight into the Con makes for a dynamite time.
This fall, we have Agents joining us from nine different states across the USA, as well as Canada and even Australia! There are 183 Agents in our ranks, and four of them have written us to share their experiences and excitement for GeekGirlCon ‘13.
Returning Agent Laura Lucas learned about the very first GeekGirlCon in 2011 by seeing a flyer for it:
Why do you think GeekGirlCon is an important event?
Girls need to know that they can be geeks too, and that it’s okay to be a geek if they want to be.
What was your favorite volunteer activity at GeekGirlCon, and why?
Helping the vendors unload before the Con! They were thrilled that we were there, and happy to tell us about whatever cool stuff they were selling/had just done/had planned.
What are you hoping to gain from your time volunteering for GeekGirlCon?
Fun, a good experience, and some new skills are never a bad thing!
The very first GeekGirlCon logo!
Agent Alison Rapp will be bringing her enthusiasm back this year as well:
How did you hear about GeekGirlCon?
I can’t remember the first time I heard about GeekGirlCon, but I know it was a couple years ago, when the convention was just getting started. I was in grad school (feminist media scholarship represent!) in Minnesota at the time, and all I can remember thinking was, “Gosh, I’d really like to go there and meet some more geeky ladies interested in feminist stuff.” I moved out here to the Pacific Northwest in early August and am so psyched to not only be attending GeekGirlCon, but also helping out however I can.
Why do you think GeekGirlCon is an important event?
One of the reasons I think GeekGirlCon is important is because it’s a space where women—not to mention other marginalized folks—are visible and are able to freely share their love of geeky things, AND issues with being excluded from more traditional spaces and cultures. I think that’s awesome, and I’m so happy I can finally be a part of it.
Agent Lauren Smith will be joining us as a volunteer for the very first time this October:
How did you hear about GeekGirlCon?
I honestly don’t remember, but it would most likely have been through one of the geek feminist spaces I frequent on the web or follow on Twitter or Facebook.
What makes you proud to be a geek?
My geekdom generally revolves around television and movies I grew up watching that are deemed nerdy. I have always identified as a geek and consider it a very important piece of myself because those movies and television are foundational to who I am as a person. For example, on a rewatch of Star Trek: The Next Generation I discovered a small scene where Picard explains to Wesley Crusher about the importance of, essentially, a broad range of study in one’s education. I was stunned. This scene was immediately familiar, though until that moment forgotten, and basically sums up my entire approach to my formal and informal educations. This is something about myself that I value and take pride in, and it came directly out of my geekiness.
Why do you think GeekGirlCon is an important event?
I have too often felt uncomfortable and out of place, even in geek circles where I am familiar with the material, because of dynamics of misogyny and elitism that permeate geek culture. While those dynamics go in a number of directions (directions that reflect mainstream kyriarchal values, such as white supremacy, able-bodied supremacy, classism, etc.) their misogyny is particularly forthright and needs to be addressed. Having a space that centers women, and that I hope strives toward an intersectional understanding of what “centering women” looks like, is desperately needed while the things we want to talk about within our fandoms, genres and communities are sidelined and ignored. Frankly, the panels I’ve read about coming out of GeekGirlCon are ones that should exist at most Cons, that they don’t says a lot about where geek culture at large still is and why GeekGirlCon needs to exist.
What are you hoping to gain from your time volunteering for GeekGirlCon?
I have only recently moved back to the Seattle area and am hoping to connect with other feminist/womanist geeks, get more involved in fandom and geek culture in the physical world, and go to my very first Con!
Agent Lauren Hambacher also tells us about her excitement to volunteer for GeekGirlCon for the first time:
How did you hear about GeekGirlCon?
I ran into Terra Clarke Olsen. I learned about it from her after I moved to Seattle.
What makes you proud to be a geek?
Being a geek about something just means you are passionate about it. There’s pride in loving something that much and being excited about it.
Why do you think GeekGirlCon is an important event?
This will be my first year, but I’m so excited about it that I wanted to volunteer and help out too! I’m proud to be a girl geek, and it’s really nice to see a con with that specification. (Without excluding the men-folk as well!)
What are you hoping to gain from your time volunteering for GeekGirlCon?
New experiences, new friends, and a fun time!
A thousand thanks go out to these vital volunteers, and all who celebrate women and girls in geek culture. Come meet all our awesome Agents at GeekGirlCon ‘13! Pick up your passes today to be part of the geeky goodness! Want to be notified when the Agent application for 2014 goes live? Sign up for this list today!
