Volunteering
From ThreadsWiki
Contents |
Working as a Volunteer or Writer
Staff Organization
In January of 2009, Threads of Damocles moved to a completely Community-Based model for Self-Government. The Executive authority in the group moved from the "Continuity Staff" which had been formed out of the 1948: Signals Campaign, to a membership controlled structure, based on weighted voting. More information about the leadership model can be found here: Leadership White Paper.
In short form, the Executive Producer acts as Vice-President or CEO handling the day-to-day affairs of the organization, within a policy structure. Major questions are referred to the Membership which votes by weight based on stakeholding in the organization (see Government) or the Writer's Staff which acts akin to a Legislature or Board of Directors.
Do I want to Work with the Campaign
You will need to read the Writing Information for the campaign. If you want to work on a background, you'll be becoming a writer of sorts, and need to be OK with the basic philosophies, culture, and methods of the Production Team.
We think its important to be realistic about volunteers. On one hand we want to offer every opportunity for interested new volunteers to move into leadership roles, and become involved in creating the continuity. At the same time, we don't want to engage in another round of the inevitable cycle of moving staff in at a level of high demand, burning them out, and having them leave, resentful.
For that reason we have tried to create a path to large scale involvement, organizing the group as a meritocracy. The path is fairly broad, and we're generally willing to take all comers. Threads is dedicated to opening many more opportunities for writers to get involved on all levels.
There are two routes to stronger involvement in Threads of Damocles. One is to begin working as Tech and Cast. That's the role for people who want to be involved as Production Staff. The other is to be involved as a Writer bidding and Contributing Scenarios or run-in material. Typically Contributions will emerge out of a successful Scenario, and expand.
We don't expect everyone who becomes involved in writing to Tech the events. However, we have to be realistic and say that's key to working in a primary role. The people who do the work produce the events hands on who pull the long hours and lift the boxes are going to tend to be the ones who hold the key roles in making decisions and determining arc. While it might be theoretically better to have a complete separation of writing and production staff, on the level of small community productions it isn't practical. For morale purposes alone it is critical that those people seen as key coordinators also be putting their hand to the wheel.
Getting in for Free
While there is the appearance that Threads of Damocles automatically admits Staff for free it is the case that generally free admission is based on either working as Tech, or on being a Producer (in which case it is assumed you are probably paying well over your $700 a year, just at different points). Practically speaking the system for Threads of Damocles is antiquated and involves some grandfathering.
For Threads of Damocles, free or Tech rate admission will be based either on contributions as a Producer or work as Tech. It is the case that many writers do Tech work, but many also do not, and some writers may be FRC or players.
Staff Positions
Executive Producer and Producers
These are the people who bankroll the events. The Executive Producer is responsible for raising money, and paying off the other Producers. The Producers have to exercise some financial oversight of the events, and ultimately hold the veto on Capital Expenditures. Over the course of the year, a Full Player will invest about $700 in the campaign, directly. A producer is someone who is looking at investing on that level. There is no guarantee of any return (at most you'll get paid back obviously, we're not an investment opportunity). Producer is a courtesy title to those people who act as consistent financial backers to the events. Not every Coordinator or Writer is a Producer, but those who aren't have to understand they won't have a strong say when it comes down to money matters.
Sponsors
People who give stuff to the campaign money or major properties. As with Threads of Damocles we will offer opportunities to those more fortunate individuals who want to go above and beyond to help support the campaign for everyone else, and in return well offer them our gratitude and honor. We thank everyone who has sponsored Threads of Damocles, and hope we can make Threads of Damocles an even better experience. Major sponsors may want to look at being a Producer.
Coordinators
The roles of Facilities and Administrative Coordination will generally carry over from Threads of Damocles. The Continuity staff will also have some carryover of personnel. Administrative and Continuity Coordinators work at a high level to administer and organize the Campaign, and ensure its continuity. While Coordinators also tend to work as Principal Writers, these tasks are somewhat separate. Identification as a Coordinator occurs as individuals, over months or years, do quality volunteer work, and indicate an interest in moving to more active roles in the campaign management. The entry track for Coordinators is to work as a Contributing, then Principal Writer, and go "above and beyond" in successfully undertaking responsibilities.
Production Managers/Leads
These are the principals who are responsible for getting things done onsite. These are heavy duty and time consuming roles. These aren't jobs that you tend to apply for, but rather positions that tend to go to the Lead Tech that clearly fill them. If you are interested in becoming principal Tech for the campaign, talk to us we have work available in Threads of Damocles and you can start right away. In general, there will be some continuity here between Threads of Damocles and Threads. Identification as a Lead occurs as individuals, over months, do quality volunteer work, and indicate an interest in moving to more active roles in the campaign management. Leads are typically identified from people who are doing hard work, and successfully undertake responsibilities.
Principal Writers
Handle ongoing storylines, and are generally privy to all the discussions of major campaign plots, etc., and may have input across several fronts. While Principal writers may get asked to write something by the Coordinator, it's assumed they are working on their own material, and will have a need to insert some of it into any given episode. Principal writers are assumed to have responsibilities to Production Functions, and to Rules Coordination. Many people assume they want to work as Principal Writers, but find they don't. When you work as a Contributing Writer, your time is basically your own, and you can to some extent pick and choose what to do. When you are a Principal Writer, you produce according to the needs of the Continuity. You're also expected to be one of the people physically busting ass for the campaign. Showing up early, leaving late, staying up to see to it that things get taken care of, putting your shoulder behind setup, and being responsible for your scenes. Identification as a Principal Writer occurs when an individual expresses that they want to focus primarily on Writing, and is distinguished by working well with others and also developing strong independent material, as well as supporting the other functions of the campaign lending a hand with setup, tear down, being responsible for organizing scenes, etc. Threads, like 1948 will conduct most of it's business through e-mail. Principal Writers must be in heavy contact by e-mail, answer mail immediately (same day/night) and be very responsive.
Writer's List – exists for the discussion of plot and writing issues. In Game Rules issues may be workshopped here, but should eventually be referred to the Main List so players can comment on them. Procedural and Admin issues should move to the Admin List, so that Writer's is more about the content of the game.
The list is open to anyone who wishes to be on it. Members can be debarred by a vote of the List membership for any reason, including but not limited to abuse of privileged knowledge, nuisance posting, or discourteous behavior. Someone who has been barred from the list does not have the privilege of voting.
Production Functions, Admin Staff
These people are on staff on an ad hoc basis, with a descriptive term, or listed as "Production Staff" Generally the criteria here is people who are showing up more consistently, doing more work, or offering a more specific skill than someone who is just Tech staff at the events. In some cases, people who have these responsibilities may just be listed as "general staff" However, these people aren't presumed to be obligated to do work outside their area of interest. Anyone who is interested can look at joining the Signals Staff. However, the Staff is a meritocracy. Those who distinguish themselves and do well tend to get a lion's share of the respect and gratitude that goes with working on a staff for a specific episode. In general, working on Staff means Casting rather than playing. Anyone wishing to work on staff should be willing to work hard, work cooperatively with others, and get their hands dirty.
Contributing Writers
Write mostly for an individual episode or plot line. They aren't in contact as much, and rely more on the Continuity Coordinator to tell them what works and what doesn't. They may be working on ongoing material, or may primarily write at the request of the Coordinator. Some Contributing Writers may develop storylines that they are primarily responsible for. A contributing writer can and may also be a player, and we'll have guidelines for how to work around conflicts of interest. Contributing Writers should be very responsive in e-mail and in fairly close communication we would expect to be able to get replies within a few days on most matters and within a day on critical matters, or close to primary episodes or other events.
Background Writers
These are individuals who are attached to a specific Threads "B" background, and who write the continuity for it. They'll work with the Continuity Staff, but may also produce independently within the background, providing some storyline, interaction, etc. to develop elements between episodes and to enrich scenes run within episodes. Background writers may be more or less active, however the more active a Background Writer is, the more they will be in a position to act as the principal controller for their background. We may be in the position of asking a very slow, uncooperative, or unresponsive Background Writer to step aside in favor of someone who can support the other players from the Background more effectively and pro-actively. Background Writers should be fairly responsive in e-mail and in fairly close communication we would expect to be able to get replies within a few days on most matters and within a day on critical matters, or close to primary episodes or other events.
Scenario Writers
Are basically "stringers" who write a specific scene or scenes to spec. Scenario Writers are the easiest position to fulfill, but there is less potential to create major ongoing plot and storylines. On the other hand you can play, and can help support Background Writers who are interested. Scenario Writer is a good starting position to see if you are interested in getting deeply involved in the writing process.
GMs
A GM is someone who is in charge of "running" a scenario. Threads will typically use Production Leads as GMs. The GM acts as Stage Manager, and Referee during a scenario. GMs are usually tapped on an ad-hoc basis. GM is not a term for the Continuity or Admin staff. We dropped the usage long ago. GMs are line referees, and almost anybody may be a GM at sometime or another.
Rules Coordination
This position will involve some carryover from the current Threads of Damocles Staff.
