Current crewing opportunities
Overview
Crewing can be an amazing experience - but it's not for everyone - and in particular we have to make sure we have the right people who can work together and gel as a team. We're always keen to talk to anyone who is interested in crewing so that they can find out if it's something they want to do and we can see if there is a place for them on the team. So if you're interested in one of the roles below, do get in touch with our crew manager Kate Rogers - we'll give you a quick interview and see if we can offer you a place on the team.
All our crewing roles are for volunteers - but you won't need a festival ticket, we'll feed you throughout the event, and there is a big crew party on the last day for everyone who is helping take the event down. Ultimately the real benefit of crewing is that you'll be part of an amazing team of people and can take pride in your role in creating the Empire events that players love. You'll be part of the biggest LRP event crew in the country (there are over 300 of us!), working with incredibly talented people, and hopefully have an amazing time.
The crew roles described below are specific areas that we are actively looking to fill at this time, so if they sound interesting then it's definitely worth contacting us to discuss it. If you're interested in helping with something that isn't listed below then it may still be worth getting in touch, but bear in mind that we may already have enough people helping out in that area.
Crew Welfare (3 spaces)
The crew welfare team are responsible for making sure the crew are fed and looked after. This includes preparing food; cleaning the crew hut; organising the food and drink in the hut and tent; greeting and taking in the Morrison's order; checking with other departments to see if they need any supplies getting; and leaving site to restock supplies. They work closely with participant welfare to make sure they have what they need and try to ensure that people remember to eat, hydrate and put on sunscreen. Then at the end of the event they clean everything down and pack it all away ready for the next one.
The team work Thursday and Friday to set up the welfare areas so that they just need minor maintenance during the event . While the event is running there is the opportunity to play a character and join in with the game.
Being part of the Team means being able to work hard sometimes. There can be a lot of medium to heavy lifting involved (if you can lift a 6 pack of 2 litre bottles you'll be fine). You'll also need endless levels of patience and some common sense as it can sometimes be like being a parent.
How much of the event will you see?
- You will be able to play a character and take part in the game around your shifts.
Requirements
- Enjoy preparing food and working with the other crew you are supporting
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- Be on site on Thursday morning and again on Sunday afternoon (or longer if possible)
- Be comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece when required
- A standard driving license is desirable but not necessary
Gate Crew (3 spaces)
The gate crew are responsible for welcoming players to the site, checking bookings, and taking payments for the gate bookings as well as the early arrivals on Thursday. You're the first member of PD that most players will encounter when they get to site, often after a long drive, so it's important to be cheerful and friendly.
Being part of the gate crew means crewing from around noon on Thursday to Late Friday. Once your shift on Friday is complete you are then free to play the rest of the event.
How much of the event will you see?
- As gate crew you will be working for almost all of Thursday and Friday through to the evening. This will leave most the rest of the weekend to play a character.
Requirements
- Be on site by Thursday lunchtime
- Be personable and enjoy welcoming players to the site
- Be confident handling money and have strong numeracy skills
- Be prepared to work in all weathers
- Be prepared to time in late on Friday.
Referees (6 spaces)
Our referees are one of the most visible roles we have, helping players engage with and enjoy the game, throughout time in. They offer friendly advice, carry out functional tasks recording in game actions using our tablets, and step in to ask questions when it seems that someone might not be playing by the rules. These are full-time volunteer roles and whilst you will be able to take breaks when you need them, you will not be able to play a character taking part in the game alongside your role as a ref.
Many of our refs specialise either as a Field Ref - who build up an in depth knowledge of the most commonly cast rituals, or commonly used items, particularly those that interact with plots in order to answer queries quickly and efficiently - or as a Skirmish Ref - who are experts in watching combat and being able to see whether players are abiding by the rules; make judgements about how hard they are hitting; decide whether they are fighting in a safe location, and know to de-escalate conflict between players (rather than characters) if it arises. You may either request to join the team as one or the other type of Ref, or join as non-specialised and try out both. You will be given the opportunity to spend a good deal of your first event shadowing other referees to get used to reffing Profound Decisions style.
How much of the event will you see?
- You will be unlikely to play a character, but may enjoy the event facilities around the responsibilities of your volunteering role
Requirements
- Excellent customer service skills
- Have either a year's experience as an Empire player OR significant experience of reffing other systems and be prepared to learn the core Empire rules thoroughly before your first event
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- Be comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece at all times and using a tablet to record entries in a database
- Be comfortable walking long distances over the course of the event to reach the players who need a referee in all different areas of the field
- Be on site on Friday at 4pm until the end of the event at 3pm on Sunday afternoon
If you would love to ref, but can't meet the walking requirement do let us know. We have 1 place available refereeing from the Imperial Regio.
Skirmish Team (10 spaces)
We need more people to join our skirmish team - The Hundred - to bolster our numbers and help in delivering combat encounters during skirmishes and battles. The skirmish team run in two groups to deliver as many combat encounters for players as we can during the event. The more orcs we can muster for skirmishes, the more players can join skirmishes and have fun fighting for the Empire.
The majority of the time we play barbarian orcs from the tribes that surround the Empire, but also crew as human bandits, magical heralds and fearsome monsters. It can be an exhausting experience, but as a team we look after each other and make sure we don’t push ourselves too far. We stop work each evening at 10pm, then run through the brief for the battle the next day. After this is done there is time to rest and relax with the rest of the team or head in character to enjoy Anvil.
Ideally we are looking for people who already have experience of playing or crewing LRP, both large fests and smaller events. Experience of Empire LRP is not essential, but will help make it easier to understand the encounters you are part of and what we as crew are trying to achieve. Being a competent fighter is useful, as is being able to lead a small unit of fighters, but these are not essential; being able to roleplay is however an essential thing we need!
The extra cool bits: 'You get to play the varied threats faced by the players!; Access to the Empire arsenal of weapons and armour for monstering with; Support from the rest of the team on creating cool orc tribe costumes and kit
How much of the event will you see?
- You will be skirmishing during most of your event, but you may occasionally play a character as well as using event facilities between skirmishes
Requirements
- This role involves considerable physical exertion, LRP combat and frequent running
- This role includes frequent changes of kit, armour and makeup
- Able to wear a latex orc mask for extended periods
- Can understand and follow the Empire LRP rules, especially those relating to combat
- Work with our battle team, referees and writers to deliver exceptional combat encounters
- Help with set-up and take-down of the plot area if you are on site before or after the event
Site Crew (8 spaces)
We’re looking for more recruits for the Site Crew team, the ones generally referred to as “the Red Caps.”
This team is responsible for preparing the site before the event and for clearing the site afterwards. This includes erecting and dropping the PD tents that are deployed as well as numerous other jobs like collecting benches and rubbish bags. We also get called in when the going gets tough and the weather gets bad, helping out players and all the other PD teams to make the game happen, no matter what the conditions are. We are the face of PD in the field before and after the event.
We work hard all day Thursday and Friday to set up and after the event too. However, while the event is running most of the site Crew get to play a character and join in with the game.
Being part of the Red Cap Team means being able to make lots of fun out of hard work - but it isn’t for everyone. We have a lot of practically capable people - if that’s you, great - but you don’t have to be very strong (or a tent expert) to be useful. What you do need is a degree emotional and physical stamina - we work through good and bad weather and everyone on the Red Hats team shares the job of being committed and focused.
How much of the event will you see?
- Although as site crew you are "on call" for a lot of the event in case of emergency, you can also play a character and take a full part in the game around your shifts before and after the game
Requirements
- Be on site on Thursday morning and until Monday (or longer if you can)
- Be prepared to carry out physical work in all weathers
- Be prepared to time in a little late on Friday and finish playing a little early on Sunday when necessary to get the job done
- Be prepared to walk away from role-play in an emergency in order to carry out your crew role.
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- Be willing to learn new skills (or apply existing skills to new ways of working)
Plot Tent Set-Up (2 spaces)
We recruited 2 people into these roles at E1, and they did brilliantly, so we'd like to expand and have two more places available.
If you have played 2 or more Empire events, and have free time on Thursdays, Fridays and late into Sunday this role might be for you. We are looking for two more people to join our crew as - members of our site crew - but working directly with our plot production team to help set up and take down the main plot tent. The role allows you to mostly play your character during game time - with some restrictions and the standard limitations for members of the site team - in return for work before and after the game and a few hours during the game.
We need help from midday Thursday until time-in Friday setting up the monster tent, fetching and carrying shelves, boxes, bags of costume, unpacking costume onto nation rails, carrying cables for theatrical lighting specialists. We then need help in the 2 hours immediately after the battle on Saturday clearing the battle prep tent and setting it ready for the next day. Finally your game will finish half an hour after the Sunday battle and you must be free until at least 7pm to help with the clear up of the battle tent and monster room, filling of boxes, loading of boxes and bags into storage etc.
How much of the event will you see?
- Although as site crew you are "on call" for a lot of the event in case of emergency, you can also play a character and take a full part in the game around your shifts before and after the game
Requirements
- Cope well with heavy lifting, both before and after the event itself
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- Be on site on Thursday morning until 7pm Sunday evening (or longer if you prefer!)
- Walk away from immediate post battlefield role play in order to carry out your crew role
Driving is not essential, but if we have lots of applications for the places, people who drive or who travel with other crew members will have priority over those who would need station collection or who are travelling with players who may need to leave earlier or arrive later
Encounter Tent & Plot SFX (1 space)
Our encounter tent specialists and plot sfx team are technical and design wizards who work magic with sets and light and sound to help us run off Anvil adventures that take place in tents. If you’ve got skills rusting away because you studied theatre design but never worked in it, or you help build am dram sets, or you love realising or improving other people’s visions this role might be for you.
You’d work in support of our existing teams in this area at your first event, and see if there is a place for you to fit for the future. We currently have 3 "heads of tents" and 2 "regio and other plot sfx leads" so if you join at this time you should expect to be mostly working in a supporting role rather than leading an area of plot production, perhaps stepping into a lead role at events where someone else is away.
This really is a role for someone who is looking to expand their volunteering in LRP because they love the hobby. You will be able to arrange for a few hours to relax if you want to (or take on a short NPC role or two), but you will be a member of the plot crew which means you'll be busy working throughout most of the event so you won’t be able to play a political character, and engage with the wider plot of the game.
Being part of the plot production team for the encounter tents, or the Regio and Hall of Worlds means that you'll have a chance to experience a part of LRP design that doesn’t happen in many places - the short immersive experience encounter set up, with a props, costume and set store to support it. It's challenging work but you'll get to create some amazing experiences for players and see the reactions that creates.
How much of the event will you see?
- You will be unlikely to play a character other than NPC's, but may enjoy the event facilities around the responsibilities of your volunteering role
Requirements
- Crew throughout the event rather than playing
- Bring enthusiasm and energy to creative encounter tent set design in a fairly high stress environment
- Know the game world well - we recommend having played for about a year or more
- Be ready to fit in to an existing team and learn from their experiences
- Cope with some lifting and shifting of objects throughout the weekend (assistance is available)
- Be willing to consider some skype planning calls between events, if you enjoy the experience and become a longer term member of the team
Crucially, you need to be confident that you will get more fun out of this backstage experience than your roleplaying experience is currently giving you. You will be joining the plot crew as a full time member of the team so balancing both will not be possible.
Props & Costume Management (varied)
We need people to help manage props & costume, both keeping them tidy during events and managing what goes back to the storeroom and how it is sourced and looked after between events. Ideally we are looking for at least two people to join our plot production team as part of the plot crew. That is a full time crewing role so you would be busy throughout the event. You would be able to combine the role with some NPCing or other crew roles where you can sign up to certain time slots to be spent in the monster room tidying, sorting and organising between taking on other responsibilities, but you can't also play the event.
However we are also looking for help between events. if there were players who live close enough to Coventry who could commit to organising (not just attending) storeroom sorting days and activities between events, making sure props that need mending are sent for mending, laundry sorting happens etc, and can be available from about midday Sunday to liaise with the “during the weekend” teams, then that might be an approach we could support with complimentary event tickets.
Rather than “please apply for these specific places” for this area, we’d just like to hear from people about what interest they have and arrange to chat during events and then see where we go from there in order to make roles that work.
Security (4 spaces)
Live roleplaying events are generally relaxed and friendly environments so we work with a small SIA registered security team. We supplement that team with with volunteer marshals who work alongside security and help them keep a watchful eye on the site each night. We have spaces for both SIA registered security and volunteer marshals at present, in order to cover all our night shifts well and make it possible for each team member to have one night off.
The team covers Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 01:00 to 08.30 in the morning. Depending on your need for sleep, you can get quite a lot of play as a character in the game fitted in around your shifts, though you do need to make sure you save enough energy to do the job well. The team work closely with first aid, and with the conduct team and participant welfare, in order to make sure everyone stays safe whilst enjoying the event. In bad weather conditions they are also responsible for securing tent structures that are at risk, and dealing with other issues as they arrive.
How much of the event will you see?
- Whilst getting enough sleep to cover your shifts is a priority, you may spend time between shifts playing a character and enjoying the event"
Requirements
- Be able to work 1am - 8.30am shifts on security, either 2 (when we have enough cover) or 3 nights per event (Thurs,Fri,Sat)
- Be able to walk around the site as part of that shift
- Be sober for your shift in order to be a fully responsible team member
- Be able to do physical tasks such as assisting carrying a person