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Job Description

Job Title: Art Lounge and Workshop Monitor

Division: Programming
Department: Panels and Meetups
Reports to: Panels & Meetups Manager
Position Type: Unpaid Volunteer
Location: Remote with occasional in-person meetings (location-dependent), expected to be on-site during convention dates, including the day before and the day after for setup and teardown.

Anthro SoCal is a community-driven convention celebrating furry fandom through art, performance, gaming, and social connection. Our success depends on the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteer team. Anthro SoCal was formally known as Another Furry Con in 2024-2025.

The Art Lounge and Workshop Monitor is the primary facilitator of the convention's creative and interactive community spaces. In this staff-level role, you will wear two hats: acting as a supportive resource for the hands-on art and maker spaces, while keeping a watchful eye on the high-energy entertainment happening nearby. Your responsibilities include managing the art supply inventory for attendees, ensuring workshop hosts are prepared and maintain a clean space, and serving as the first line of defense for troubleshooting the karaoke room located nearby. If you are an organized, proactive multi-tasker who enjoys a mix of quiet creative spaces and lively event environments, this role is a great fit.

• Year-round: None
• As convention approaches: Attend online staff meetings and trainings when requested
• Convention weekend: On-site presence is required with flexible hours
• Pre and post-convention: On-site presence is required to assist with setup and teardown activities the day before and the day after the event

Your shift will center around supply logistics, space maintenance, and host hospitality:

• Art Supply Inventory Control: Securely manage, track, and check out various art supplies and tools to attendees utilizing the Art Lounge, ensuring items are returned in good condition
• Workshop Host Readiness: Welcome and assist workshop hosts before their scheduled slots, ensuring they have the room layout, table space, and basic setups required to start their session on time
• Space & Cleanliness Oversight: Monitor workshop spaces during and immediately following a session, ensuring that hosts and attendees thoroughly clean up their materials, discard trash, and leave the tables ready for the next group
• Karaoke Room Troubleshooting: Act as the primary, quick-response monitor for the karaoke room across the hall. You will step in to assist attendees with minor audio-visual issues, song selection system freezes, microphone connectivity, or room volume adjustments
• Problem Escalation: Maintain an active presence, quickly escalating larger problems, supply shortages, or crowd control issues to department leads

Required:

• Punctuality & Reliability: Strict adherence to your scheduled shift times. Creative tracks run on tight rotations, requiring staff to be present for seamless transitions
• Multi-Tasking & Problem-Solving: The ability to "think on your feet" and pivot smoothly between managing a quiet art lounge and addressing technical issues in a loud karaoke room
• Professionalism & Firm Hospitality: Strong interpersonal skills to interact warmly with attendees, combined with the assertiveness needed to ensure hosts clean up heavy creative messes after their sessions

Preferred:

• Fandom & Convention Knowledge: A deep understanding of convention culture and the specific sub-communities that frequent maker workshops and art tracks, helping you anticipate their unique needs
• Customer Service or Maker Space Experience: Prior experience working in a community art studio, retail environment, or managing recreational events
• Conflict & Stress Resolution: The ability to stay grounded, polite, and completely unbothered when managing packed creative rooms or balancing requests from two different spaces at the same time
• Basic AV & Tech Troubleshooting: Comfort working with basic audio-visual equipment, cords (HDMI, auxiliary cables), and software interfaces to handle minor karaoke system glitches

While this is an unpaid volunteer position, we provide:

• Free convention membership and staff perks
• Staff hospitality (meals/snacks during your shifts at-con)
• Exclusive staff events and social opportunities
• Recognition in convention materials
• Experience in event management and team leadership
• A supportive, creative community environment
• References and recommendation letters upon request

Anthro SoCal is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, experiences, and skill levels. All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.