#stewarding

Johnny Herbert lost his stewarding role (something he has held since the position of driver steward was instituted in 2010) because, "…after discussion, it was mutually agreed that his duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible." Most organisations would be able to pull this off successfully. Indeed, since Johnny started being a media pundit back in 2012. Most sports would disqualify someone from being a steward, referee, umpire or the like the moment such an appointment was accepted - journalism is an inherent conflict of interest with being in the organisation of a power-broker, however minor the role. Yes, stewards and journalists are both required to be impartial. But whose impartial? So, the FIA had a window of many years to remove Johnny from the list of stewards for the reason of media pundit. This included some time where the FIA President was the current one. However, Johnny ceased all media punditry activities at the end of 2022. Sometimes he talked to the press, but the role of occasional interviewee is different to the role of media pundit. The FIA would and should have known this. Also, the time to stop it would have been as soon as the first post-pundit interview was done. No sign of this was seen. The fact Johnny stewarded at 8 different events (included consecutive ones in Mexico and the USA, which should never happen) indicates that the FIA outright approved Johnny's conduct. That is why the claim that Johnny is not a steward any more due to his (former) punditry role cuts no ice, and constitutes an obvious lie.

It has since emerged that Johnny's gambling sponsorships may have been a factor. Depending on the nature of those sponsorships, these could have resulted in either a conflict of interest or a breach of the FIA requirements regarding competition manipulation. Specifically, Appendix M of the International Sporting Code, Article 5.1 (PDF link),

Hey, so a steward is basically someone who helps out at the con (RDC6) you give up a little bit of your time (usually 3 hours a day) to help out with photo sessions/autograph queues/checking badges anything really.

In return for your help you get a 10x8 of the cast which no one else has access too and you get to sit at the front of the regular seating in talks. So you sit just behind the golds.

Further if you steward the autograph or photo sessions you might miss your slot, so you just get put in at the start, at the end, whenever they can fit you, so this may mean you have to queue far less for these things.

I stewarded at RDC1 in autos and I didn’t queue for a single autograph (amazeballs, but I did have an incident when I nearly bumped right into Mads running around like a crazy person, so pros and cons XD) and I stewarded at RDC4 in photos and didn’t queue for a single photo. So it’s super handy, I think it’s far better to be working and interacting with people for the auto time rather than be stood queuing. 

The only reason I don’t do it at all the cons is because if I have too much else to do (hoodies etc) then it’s simply too much work and I’ll knacker myself. So I have to be choosey about when to do it, this year I can’t physically afford to steward, I’ll be too tired. 

To my knowledge Steward applications haven’t opened for RDC6 yet but I’ll let you know when they have. You just submit your details and what you’d like to do and you get assigned work. Starfury have always said that Fannibals are one of the most generous fandoms with their time. 

If you’re coming to the con on your own and your new it’s also a great way to get yourself out of your comfort zone if you’re that way inclined. You don’t have to be a con expert, you’ll be told exactly what to do on the day. I stewarded at RDC1 and it was my first ever convention, I’d never done one before, and it was great.

If you have customer service experience it’s a doddle.

Today, starfury sent out emails for steward sign ups, so I just wanted to write a quick post about what it’s like for anyone who is going to an RDC for the first time or who hasn’t stewarded before!

Essentially, stewards are con attendees who help out at the conventions a little bit over the course of the weekend to help the event run smoothly, they do things like badge checks to get into the main hall, counting off attendees as they go through the autograph rooms and keeping the photo queues moving.

If you have bought tickets, a form will be in your email inbox for you to fill out if you want to be steward. You get to let them know what elements of the con you’d be happy to help out with and which elements of the con you don’t want to miss in order to help out. For example, you may miss the meet and greet if you’re stewarding Friday night’s party doors (but if you’re a regular it doesn’t effect you.)

Stewarding Upsides!

It really helps with confidence, I was super nervous for RDC1, it was my first ever convention, but when you steward you have to talk to everyone, even if it’s just to ask to see their badges. But just asking about someone’s badges leads to talking about other stuff. It’s lovely to see nearly everyone, and also, to see how happy everyone was once they’d met the guests and to hear about all their experiences. I met people stewarding who I’ve been friends with ever since.

They do work around you as much as possible, your choices are taken into account.

You get to sit just behind the gold ticket holders in the main hall, so if you have a regular ticket you’re a little bit further forward. 

QUEUE JUMPING - OH GOSH did I manage to miss out on standing in lonnnngggggg queues forever at RDC1. I didn’t queue for a single thing that whole weekend it was fucking marvellous. Basically, if you’re stewarding when you should be getting photos/autos, at a quiet point you’ll be allowed to go and grab what you need without queuing which is nice!

When you hand your lanyard in at the end of the weekend, you get an exclusive 10x8 photo of all of the guests, it’s super fun, here is my RDC1 one!

Stewarding Downsides!

You don’t get complete freedom about which sessions you do. They do have to fill in all the sessions. But the more people that apply, the fewer hours we’re all scheduled for, so we share the workload, and it seems the fannibals are all really generous with their time and willing to help out, so that’s fantastic!

It is hard work, made easier if you’ve worked in service or retail, which is basically everyone. I would recommend bringing a bottle of water (the first 3 hours was in a basement room at RDC1 that was like a SAUNA and I was talking the whole time and I had no water, massive regrets on that oversight!)

There are far more pros than cons and really, the cons can be counteracted!

If you want to steward, check your email, starfury should have sent out the sign up form. At the con, once you’ve picked up your convention badge, there should be a station for stewards, and you find out your duties then.