Helping Hands

Volunteering in the Gaming Community.

- Danica Enyart

A core component of the tabletop community is volunteerism, and you might be surprised by how many opportunities there are surrounding the gaming hobby. Whether hosting a game night, starting a meetup, or running a convention event, volunteers can be found at every level. More and more opportunities are available as the popularity of board games continues to rise. Due to the variety of volunteer roles, this article simply strives to become a launch point into potential areas to support the community as a whole.

Volunteering Benefits

The reasons for getting involved as a volunteer vary based on the person and the role. Some gamers fill roles for the personal satisfaction of participating in the process and helping others discover a love of tabletop gaming. Introverts often use their assignments to meet new people, and shy hobbyists can find self-confidence through volunteering in areas where they are knowledgeable. The community is also known to provide verbal recognition and, in some cases, published appreciation like playtester names in a rulebook or thank you letters on convention websites.

College students are often encouraged to volunteer or intern in their chosen fields before graduation and the advice can be applied to the board gaming industry as well. For those considering a career in the gaming industry, giving to the hobby can be well worth the effort.

Ways to Volunteer

In the hobby, there are two levels of volunteers: staff and general volunteers. For the most part, the suggestions below pertain to the general category for those interested in becoming new volunteers. Again, the list is to help a casual gamer find ways to pitch in and pulls information from experience, surveys, and interviews over the past few months.

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