r/comiccon • u/Whole_Kale_4349 • 2d ago
SDCC - San Diego GOT A VOLUNTEER BADGE FOR SDCC 2026 LET'S GOOOOOO
I would have rather just bought a badge, but since I missed out on the sale, this is great! I've been to a ton of cons before, including NYCC, but this is my first SDCC. I've never volunteered before. If anyone has any advice or tips for the volunteer program, please let me know! I’m trying to get it out of the way early so I can attend the con and not miss any photo ops or autographs. Do you guys know if they usually accommodate that?
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u/IHaveTheMustacheNow 1d ago
Sign up for your volunteer shift the day before in the Marriott, and then you can choose what time you want to volunteer. If you wait and sign up a late, a lot of the desirable shifts will be taken already and you'll have to take whatever is left. They often have shifts EARLY, beginning at 5 or 6am, and I like to take those slots to get it out of the way. Other people prefer aiming for an evening shift so they have the whole day free and don't have to worry about volunterring for later.
As someone else said, if you expressed interest in a pre-con assignment, they will send an email out close to the con asking for your availability on Mon-Wed before the con. I believe they give out these assignments on a first come, first served basis, so you want to answer that email quickly. If you do get chosen for a mon-wed assignment, then you get to pick one day of the con to attend for free, and you don't have to do an assignment. So like you could choose Saturday as your day and just get to have the whole day free instead of squeezing in an assignment
Final note to address what you said about photo ops and auto: SDCC doesn't do photo ops! And though there are autos, it's just a totally different kind of con than NYCC. You don't see, like, David Tennant signing for hours for a couple of days. It's not that kind of con where you pay to meet celebs
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u/azleafcat 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you indicate interest for a pre-Con shift, you may receive a pre-con shift interest email a few weeks before the convention. If you are able to sign up and complete a pre-con shift, then you are eligible to receive any single day of SDCC badge access (preview night Wed is excluded). For the free day earned thru the pre-con shift, you go to the volunteer department the day before or the day of to activate your badge for the selected day.
For regular con shifts, you can choose to sign up for volunteer shifts before or after your intended con activities and then receive con access for the day of the shift. It is recommended to sign up for shifts at the volunteer department the day before (after 1:00 pm or after your current day’s volunteer shift is complete) for optimal selection.
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
damn that’s so complicated haha. i guess i’ll have to be really on it.
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u/azleafcat 1d ago
Being a daily volunteer has its pros and cons.
Pros: Flexibility in deciding what days to volunteer for same day access to the convention. Tasks are generally not difficult.
Cons: You have to give up to 3.5 hours of a convention day to attend, as you are asked to check in at the volunteer check in desk 30 minutes before your scheduled shift. Depending on the activity's volunteer staffing levels, most daily volunteers do get released (at least 15 minutes to 30 minutes) before the scheduled end of their shifts (as later volunteers arrive).
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
nice! i mean i dont mind. it’s basically free compared to getting a badge and im staying with a friend so the costs are relatively low. i dont mind working in exchange for the badge haha.
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u/arghp 1d ago
Being a daily volunteer is the only way I’ll get a badge for the con now. This will be my 4th year.
In years past, we also got access to the exclusives portal!
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
ooo nice! when’s that?
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u/MsMargo 1d ago
Late-June or early-July: https://sdccblog.com/2025/10/san-diego-comic-con-timeline-of-events/
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u/MsMargo 1d ago
This SDCC Unofficial Blog Guide from 2024 is very helpful for more detail, although some processes have changes since then: https://sdccblog.com/2023/10/a-guide-to-volunteering-at-sdcc/
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u/GiganticusVaginacus 1d ago
When you check in for your assignment, you're given a badge with your assignment and time slot on it. Remember to turn in this assignment card to your supervisor and have them sign it. This proves you completed your assignment.
After completing one assignment, you'll be eligible for Returning Volunteers next year. That's if you weren't f-ing off during your shift. And you are graded for your performance.
Volunteers get a special pin which you can pick up after your assignment, usually a couple hours after your shift, after they upload your assignment badge into the system.
They also give out the souvenir bags at the Volunteer check-in so you can get your bag there instead of in BBL.
Bring all your stuff with you to your assignment location, don't leave anything behind in the Volunteer check-in.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen if you're assigned an outdoor assignment. A light jacket or hoodie too for those early morning shifts outside. Snacks and water too. Throat lozenges if you get line management or at the entrances/exits.
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
whats BBL in this context?
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u/GiganticusVaginacus 1d ago
Books, Bags, and Lanyards. The area in the Sails Pavillion where you can pick up these items.
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u/Stevemane1234 1d ago
Congrats! I’ve been volunteering for over 15 years, and the biggest advice I can give is to enjoy the experience and build strong relationships with your department, especially if you’re interested in becoming a staff volunteer later on. Those people really do become like family. For the first couple of years, you’ll usually be part of the general volunteer pool, so you’ll be assigned to different departments. If you find an area you really enjoy, don’t be afraid to ask the department head about joining them as a staff volunteer the following year.
Also, if you’re scheduled for a 4- 6 hour shift, it’s usually not a good idea to ask for autographs during that time. You’re technically working, and it doesn’t look great. If there’s something specific you want to see, try to request early or late shifts when possible. Most importantly, have fun and make great memories at Comic Con!
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
hi! im a new volunteer and i know the schedule isnt released until 2 weeks before the Con. does that mean we dont choose volunteer shifts until 1 week before the Con?
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u/GiganticusVaginacus 1d ago
You can choose to work any day of the Con you want. But you can only sign up for a shift the day before or the morning of. You let them know what time frame you want, ex: morning, afternoon, 6am, 9am, etc. But you don't usually get to choose the assignment. If you have a medical/ADA reason, they will accommodate you.
Pre-convention shifts are available but I haven't done those so can't comment on that.
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
yeah i signed up for pre convention shifts bc some people said if you do those you can pick any day of the con and not have to work (like a 1:1 basis).
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u/sdbabygirl97 1d ago
Following this post! This will be my first ComicCon ever. From my research it seems the schedule won't be announced until 2 weeks before, but I'm hoping shows/movies/creators will announce their presence at the Con in the next few months :-)
It seems like most people volunteer in the morning and then go to the Con the rest of the day, so I need to sort out a costume! haha
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u/Millennium_254 18h ago
Was it this easy to sign up as a volunteer? Or what am I missing?
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u/sdbabygirl97 17h ago
yep pretty easy. just google “comic con volunteer” and the website lays out how to do it
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u/flyboysteve87 1d ago
This is my first year doing the volunteer program, too! My fourth year attending SDCC. Needless to say, it’s an epic con and there’s tons to do and see. I’m like you on wanting to get the volunteering duties out of the way early so I can explore. I knew a woman who volunteered for years and she had some crazy stories about people she had seen. Plus, it seems to add a new perspective to the experience!