Gen Con Online 2023 DM Sign-up
PLEASE NOTE: This page and form only apply to the online show, GenCon Online. For GenCon Indy signups click here
Welcome! Thanks in advance for your interest in DM’ing at Gen Con 2023 for Baldman Games. Without DMs and helpers like you, shows like this would not exist. I’ve always said that even when you’re DM’ing you’re gaming, and that is never a bad way to spend the day.
Now for some show terminology:
- Slot: This one confuses a lot of people and is a very old term from the RPGA days. A slot is the same as saying a shift. In the case of Gen Con Online 2023, a slot is four hours long, with a one hour break between slots. Even though this means you have a bit of buffer, remember to check with your players as they have other games booked directly after yours is scheduled to finish. The slots are numbered so the first slot on Friday at 2pm is called Slot One. The last slot that runs from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday is Slot 7.
- Slot Zero: So if the first slot is called Slot One then what the heck is Slot Zero? Slot Zero is any game that runs before the show itself, allowing our DMs to see a game they will later from the player’s perspective. Usually these are done so DMs can prepare to run a better game. Seeing things from a player’s perspective then preparing it is a huge help for some. Sometimes these are also special DM-only events done as rewards for them helping out. Regardless of whether you get to play an event before the show or not, you are always expected to be prepared when the show starts and it is game time.
- Judges: “Judge” is just a fancy word for “DM.” It is a remnant from a bygone era, but we are so used to saying it that sometimes it slips through. If we say “judge,” we mean “DM or other type of gamemaster.”
Now on to some event specifics:
- D&D Adventure League Event: These are our standard four-hour events at the show. Perfect for new and experienced DMs.
- D&D Intro Event: These are our two-hour fast-play events. It is fast-paced and a lot of fun. It is great for newer DMs as preparing a two hour mini-event is a lot easier then a four hour one.
- D&D Epic Event: These are our four-hour events that have multiple tables interacting with the same adventure and with each other. There are one or more “Epic Admins” who oversee the events, keeping everyone in sync and sometimes dropping by as “wandering monsters” to terrify players, while each epic will have at least one senior DM as the LEad Admin, sometimes we have room for less-experienced or new DMs to assist or help; it’s a great way to learn the ropes.
Well, hopefully that was helpful in getting you up to speed on what we are about and how you can help us help you. Now on to the nitty-gritty details that hopefully will now make more sense to you.
For 2023, everything at the show works on 4-hour shifts. This means the show has 7 slots from start to finish as listed below (D&D Events Schedule)
| Friday – Aug 4th | Saturday – Aug 5th | Sunday – Aug 6th |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 3: 9am-1pm | Slot 6: 9am-1pm | |
| Slot 1: 2pm-6pm | Slot 4: 2pm-6pm | Slot 7: 2pm-6pm |
| Slot 2: 7pm-11pm | Slot 5: 7pm-11pm |
Benefits:
Payment: We pay all of our DM’s and HQ staff. You’re doing work – you deserve to get paid.
- Paid to DM: You will be paid per ticketed, seated, and confirmed player at the table per the payment schedule below. This payment will happen approximately 6-8 weeks after the conclusion of the show once Baldman Games is paid by Gen Con. All payments are made by PayPal, this is non-negotiable.
- Taxes: If you are located within the United States (for tax-purposes) while DMing at GenCon Online, we need a completed W-9 form from you on file. If you are located outside the US (for tax purposes) you must reside in a country that has a tax-treaty with the United States, and we need a completed W-8Ben form from you on file. If you have previously filed one of those forms with us, and nothing has changed for you since, you do not need to file a new form.
- Contractors: You are a contractor doing work for hire. You are not an employee of Baldman Games LLC or Gen Con LLC at anytime. This is why you get to pick when you run, what you are running, how you are going to run it, etc.
Pay Schedule for Gen Con 2023:
- 2-hour Intro events – $5 per ticketed and seated player (limit 5 players per table)
- 4-hour standard AL event – $10 per ticketed and seated player (limit 5 players per table)
- Epic Event DM – $10 per ticketed and seated player (limit 5 players per table)
- Epic Event Admin – Varies based on number of tables and admins. Lead Admins are guaranteed at least $50.
Gen Con Online 2023 DM Registration
Please Note: For GenCon Online we will only be using Discord + Roll20. Other VTTs will remain options at VDDWs and other online events.