Want to help us bring a little geekery to Edmonton? Want to get a little bit more involved with Speculation? Then volunteer! We are always in need of energetic and enthusiastic people to help us keep the festival hopping.

How to Volunteer

Volunteering for Pure Speculation is easy. You just have to do two things:

Step One Email us at pure.speculation@gmail.com, with "Volunteering for Pure Spec" in your title. In your message, please include:

*your name and phone number

*a little about yourself and your abilities. (ie, "I am familiar with database software" or "I have retail experience" or "I can manipulate matter on a quantum level") Also include what jobs (see below) you would be most interested in.

*what days and shifts you would like to work (ie, Saturday and/or Sunday) Don't say "All Weekend" unless you mean it; we will take you at your word, and you will be expected to work all weekend. We also need help on the Friday night before with set-up, and Sunday after the con for tear-down; please let us know if you are available for that.

*food allergies and any medical conditions we should be aware of (for insurance reasons)

We will respond to your email right away, and let you know about the dates/times for volunteer orientation when we set that up.

Step Two Register for Pure Speculation, and pay your fee (but see "Volunteer Appreciation" below). This lets us know that you are a little more serious than the average joe or josie about volunteering with us. And that's it, you are a Pure Speculation Volunteer. Congratulations!

Volunteer Positions and Duties

Security/Runners - people to get done what needs to get done. Merchant needs you to keep an eye on their table while they go for a potty-break? Sure! Anita needs you to get something from Point A to Point B? Done! Spot a shop lifter? Body Slam! But seriously, we just need a few people wandering around, helping out and keeping the peace (not that we actually expect a nerd-fight to break out).

Gatekeepers - (because I don't have a job for Keymasters) Because of the layout of the Shaw, we're going to need to post people at the doors to the panel rooms and the main room, checking passes. This would be an excellent job for someone who wants to catch a lot of the great panels we have set up this year!

Guest Wranglers - want to hang out with some famous people for a weekend? Have a car? Most of our guests are from out of town and might need some shuttling around; it would really help if there was another available car and driver!

Info Booth - this year we're going to set up an info booth apart from the registration desk. Just a place where people can check the schedule, get directions and ask questions. Mostly you just have to sit there and be nice to people!

Registration - as always, we need people handing out passes, giving swag and taking money!

Muscle - I admit it, we're still going to need some people to move stuff around. The staff at the Shaw will do most of the set-up and take-down, but they won't do everything. Also, our "Taste of Pure Spec" event Friday and the Shindig on Saturday night will be at Happy Harbour, and I don't think the Shaw will set anything up that far away. ;)

"Bouncers" - as I said, our Shindig is at Happy Harbour this year, and because we like Jay so much, we want to make sure the place doesn't get raided. So we're going to need some people at the door, checking IDs and tickets/passes.

Volunteer Rewards

We know that you love us so much you would gladly slave the weekend away with no thought of a reward. But that isn't how Pure Speculation rolls, my volunteering campadre! As soon as how we can best figure out how to reward you faithful volunteers, we'll post those details right here.

So if you want to help make the Pure Speculation Festival all it can be, volunteer today!