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GenCon 2023

Gen Con 2023 DM Sign-up

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. We’ve drummed up some of the best benefits we can to entice you to swap over to the dark side of the DM’s screen.

DM’ing is a great way to give back to your hobby, and we have some really great rewards that make helping out even easier – and it’s a great way to attend the show and save some serious $$. You can earn a free badge to the show, or even a spot in one of our hotel rooms next to the convention center (a huge perk this year). It is also a great way to make new friends and immerse yourself in the show community, more than a casual attendee ever could. Our DM pool organizes events most nights of the show to help build camaraderie and let everyone blow off some steam after a long day of gaming. Our judge retention rate is extremely high, so fair warning: Once you work for us, you’ll probably come back and do it again next year.

Now for some show terminology:

  • Badge Level: If you DM at Badge Level, you’ve worked enough to earn a free badge to the show. This badge is paid for by the Baldman Games staff. You need to have created an account in the Gen Con registration system before registering with us. You will then provide us your email address attached to that account, and we take care of the rest. You’ll receive an email from Gen Con when the free badge has been attached to your account.
  • Room Level: If you DM at Room Level, you’ve worked enough to earn a spot in one of our hotel rooms. These rooms are for four nights (Wed Night to Sat night), and we have three-four (see details below) people in a room.  We do our best, though, to put you in a room with the roommates you prefer whenever possible. So if you are unsure about staying with strangers your first time, then get a couple buddies to DM with you, and we’ll put all of you in a room together. We all win!!
  • 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 2023, a slot is four hours long. Every event and day is put together using slots so events line-up nicely, start and end at the same time in relation to each other, and help you put together a schedule that fits your needs easy as possible. The slots are numbered so the first slot on Thursday at 9am is called Slot One. The last slot that runs from noon to 4pm on Sunday is Slot 11.
  • 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:

  • The D&D eXPerience @ Gen Con: This is our premiere experience event at Gen Con. Players in this event get a set DM, table, and show exclusive content. This event is run by our established, best-of-the-best DMs. In order to be considered for this, you must be a Level 3 or higher DM in the Herald’s Guild program (see www.heraldsguild.com for more details). If you are new, this is the event you want to be running. The top of the D&D DM mountain. Do 2-3 shows for us and knock our socks off, and you to can be part of this awesome group.
  • D&D Adventure League Event: This is our standard four-hour event at the show. Perfect for new and experienced DMs. It is set to run in about 3 1/2 hours so you have a little time at the end to gather up your stuff, hit the bathroom or food court really quick, and get back for your next slot (or if your last slot for the day run to the Dealer’s Hall).
  • D&D Learn to Play Event: This is our two-hour (90 minutes of play) fast-play event. It is still a four-hour shift of work, but in that you will run it twice. It is fast-paced and a lot of fun. It is sometimes interactive. Which means several tables around you could be working along side your table towards some kind of group goal. It makes for a fun time and is very popular at the show. It is great for newer DMs as preparing a one hour mini-event is a lot easier then a four hour one.
  • D&D Demo Hall: This is 15-20 minute quick demo’s for as many players as we can rope into them from 9am to 7pm each day (so make sure to watch slot times – they are different). Everything is provided (map, mini’s, not so mini-mini’s, pregens, dice, etc).
  • D&D Onslaught: This will be helping with Onslaught Demo’s, scenario play, and tournaments. Really fun new game and we’re going to work hard to build a great community around it.
  • Avalon Hill Boardgames: We just keep going with the cool stuff. This is helping the Avalon Hill space with Hero Quest, Yawning Portal, and Betrayal at House on the Hill.
  • HQ: You will get to know this gang well as the show goes on. These are my minions whose job it is to take care of all the little things going on around you at the show so you don’t have to. Their job is to make sure you have everything you need, so all you need to do is focus on your game and give your players a fantastic time. They are long-time DMs and staff members, most of whom have been doing this 10+ years – and some closer to 30. We usually have a few open spots each year for data entry and reception here. This is great for example if you want to help DM and get a free room but your significant other doesn’t DM. We can put them to work earning a room in another fashion, and you can still share a room together. We have many couples who do this.

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 (outside of HQ staff) works on 4-hour shifts. This means the show has 11 slots from start to finish as listed below (D&D Events Schedule)

Thursday – Aug 3rdFriday – Aug 4thSaturday – Aug 5thSunday – Aug 6th
Slot 1: 9am-1pmSlot 4: 9am-1pmSlot 7: 9am-1pmSlot 10: 8am-noon
Slot 2: 2pm-6pmSlot 5: 2pm-6pmSlot 8: 2pm-6pmSlot 11: Noon-4pm
Slot 3: 7pm-11pmSlot 6: 7pm-11pmSlot 9: 7pm-11pm 
    

For 2023 D&D Demo’s, Onslaught, and Avalon Hill run on a slightly condensed towards the middle of the day schedule. See below. Some of this time at the beginning and end will be setup/breakdown. Those working shifts in a row will be given breathers to get food/bio break/etc.

Thursday – Aug 3rdFriday – Aug 4thSaturday – Aug 5thSunday – Aug 6th
Slot A: 8am – NoonSlot D: 8am – NoonSlot G: 8am – NoonSlot J: 9am – 1pm
Slot B: Noon – 4pmSlot E: Noon – 4pmSlot H: Noon – 4pmSlot K: 1pm – 5pm
Slot C: 4pm – 8pmSlot F – 4pm – 8pmSlot I: 4pm – 8pm

Benefits:

Payment: We pay all of our DM’s and HQ staff. You’re doing work – you deserve to get paid. How you get paid and where it goes is a decision left to you.

  • 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. This means your are responsible for all your own arrangements. Badges, a hotel room if you want it, etc. BIG CHANGE – You have to be eligible to work in the US to be paid (I need a valid Tax ID # for your 1099). This is not something that is negotiable.
  • Payment to Benefits: You wish what you earn at the show to go towards your badge and hotel benefits. You will not be cut a check at the end of the show (but neither will we hand you an invoice if you don’t make enough to cover everything).
  • 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 – $4 per ticketed and seated player
  • 4-hour standard AL event – $8 per ticketed and seated player
  • D&D eXPerience – $10 per ticketed and seated player (per play session)
  • D&D Demo – Benefit only (not ticketed – still counts towards badge/room)
  • D&D Onslaught – Benefit (mostly) – we can workout paid but this is new – we need to figure out the how.
  • Avalon Hill – Benefit (mostly) – Once again new – we can figure this out if needed

Gen Con 2023 DM Registration

    Your Name (required):

    HG #:

    Your HG # is in your show schedule emails that you receive. If you do not have one we will assign one when your schedule is processed (just put 'NEW" in this field to continue).

    Your Email (required):

    All correspondence will go to this email. Please make sure it is correct. If you are registered in the Gen Con system under a different email address then please give me the correct email in the 'Anything Else' box below or I will not be able to attach a badge to your account.

    Your Discord Username; e.g. ted366#1284 (required)

    We require all DMs to be present and pay attention on discord servers set up for our events, whether in-person or online. This will be our primary means of answering questions quickly as well as the way DMs share resources with each other. It's also how you'll distribute end-of-game rewards to players.

    Phone #:

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    Benefit Level Desired (required):

    How many slots do you want to work? (required):

    Do you want your DM Fees to be paid to you for the show (Must have 1099 on file) or roll them into your benefits?)

    Please confirm whether you want to be paid or receive show benefits instead.

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    What slots do you want to work?

    Slot 1/A - Thur 9am - 1pm
    Slot 2/B - Thur 2pm - 6pm
    Slot 3/C - Thur 7pm - 11pm

    Slot 4/D - Fri 9am - 1pm
    Slot 5/E - Fri 2pm - 6pm
    Slot 6/F - Fri 7pm - 11pm

    Slot 7/G - Sat 9am - 1pm
    Slot 8/H - Sat 2pm - 6pm
    Slot 9/I - Sat 7pm - 11pm

    Slot 10/J - Sun 8am-Noon
    Slot 11/K - Sun Noon-4pm

    What events do you want to run?

    Intro to D&D / D&D Demo

    D&D Dragonlance - AL 1-4
    D&D DRW - AL 5-10
    D&D DRW - AL 11-16
    D&D Moonshae - AL 5-10
    D&D Moonshae - AL 11-16

    The D&D eXPerience Track A - Dragonlance - Slot 1, 3, 5, 10
    The D&D eXPerience Track B - Dragonlance - Slot 6, 8, 9, 11

    The D&D eXPerience Track C - DRW Tier 2 - Slot 1, 2, 4, 5
    The D&D eXPerience Track D - DRW Tier 2 - Slot 6, 7, 8, 10

    The D&D eXPerience Track E - DRW Tier 3 - Slot 1, 3, 5, 9
    The D&D eXPerience Track F - DRW Tier 3 - Slot 2, 4, 7, 11

    The D&D eXPerience Track G - Moonshae Tier 3 - Slot 2, 4, 8, 10
    The D&D eXPerience Track H - Moonshae Tier 3 - Slot 3, 6, 9, 11

    D&D Onslaught

    Avalon Hills Boardgames

    HQ / Worked Bee

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    T-Shirt Size (required):

    Anything Else? (preferred roommate, special needs, etc.)

    By submitting this registration form you agree to have your personal information stored in the Baldman Games / Herald's Guild systems, that you are 18 years of age or older, consent to potentially have a background check run, and have read and accepted our Code of Conduct. (required) Yes