Game masters & EVENT ORGANIZERS
Being a Game Master (GM) or Event Organizer (EO) is a great way to share your favorite games, meet new players, and earn valuable perks!
GMs and EOs are a critical part of creating a fantastic experience year after year. The variety and substance in the events run help us achieve our mission of “a game on every table, a table for every gamer”.
The thousands of events offered at the show make Origins Game Fair a fun and exciting experience for all, so thank you for your hard work!
Returning for another year of running events? We’ll get you over to Tabletop.Events so you can submit your events as you have in the past. New to the experience? You’ll definitely want to read the rest of this page, as it walks you through the tips and tricks to make your life easier.
How TO GET started as an EVENT ORGANIZER AND Game master
Want the latest GM information? New to GMing and want to get information on how to start? This page is for you!
FIRST STEPS
1 - Sign up for our mailing list to stay informed on information sent to GM’s/EO.
2 - Join our GM Facebook group for tips, tricks and feedback from other GM’s.
OVERVIEW
Anyone can run events at Origins Game Fair! You don’t need to be a company or gaming group to submit.
Every event must be submitted for approval. Once the event submission window is open, we’ll provide further instruction here. Submissions are then reviewed and either approved or rejected with requested changes. Once the event is approved, it will be assigned a location.
Origins Game Fair rarely adds charges for event tickets. However, if you would like to request an upcharge on your event, we have Origins Standard pricing based on your upcharge. The GM handbook has this pricing chart.
WHY SHOULD YOU RUN EVENTS AT ORIGINS?
Our vision at GAMA is “A game on every table, a table for everyone”. Whether you are selling games or running your favorite titles for fun, we believe it is important to support the existing players of those games, as well as create a fun and friendly environment for new players to learn and enjoy gaming of all types.
As a company attending Origins, there is no better way to support your titles than to run events for new and existing players. You can create fun experiences for your game by teaching people the ins and outs of its play and sharing fun tips and tricks. If you have an idea about how to make your game more engaging, immersive, and/or accessible, please let us know. We would be glad to help in whatever way we can.
As a GM group or individual, there is no better way to ensure you can play your favorite games than by teaching others to play them. You can share your knowledge with other players to raise awareness of your most loved titles, create some lasting friendships, and get a few games during the show.
In addition, anyone running games can earn free badges for the show! If you are part of a GM group or are an individual GM, you can also earn perks!
2024 Perks
Our perk system is a calculation for GMs and EOs. The calculation sheet can be found HERE. Please familiarize yourself with it. For examples of how to use the Calculation Table please click HERE. NOTE: If you expect to receive a free badge as part of your perks, DO NOT PURCHASE A BADGE BEFORE RECEIVING YOUR PERK CODE! Any badges purchased are subject to our normal refund policy terms.
4-7 Hours: One 1-Day
8-11 Hours: Two 1-Day
12-15 Hours: Three 1-Day
16-31 Hours: Full Show
32+ Hours: - One Full Show badge and one bonus item below*
$50 Food Stipend
One Electric Drop
1/4 Hotel Room
One Extra Full-Show Badge
One Parking Pass
*See GM Handbook for restrictions
To learn more about the perks of being an EO/GM, check out the GM Handbook!
RESPONSIBILITIES
You must read the GM Event Handbook.
The handbook linked above outlines our policies and procedures for EO/GM responsibilities before, during, and after the show. It is as comprehensive as we can make it, and we do make updates each year. Any changes in the handbook will be sent out during the year they are made as updates via our EO/GM Newsletter. We know that this document may not answer all the questions you have about events, but it is a good starting point.
The Origins Game Fair events team is here to help you make your vision a reality where possible, but ensuring the information on your event submission is correct and comprehensive is up to you. You should also double-check your event once it is approved.
If you have any questions before the convention, email events@gama.org. Once Origins Game Fair has started, you’ll need to visit one of the GM/Event HQs.
PLAN YOUR EVENT
Before you can move forward with any event you need to know the basics
What is your event? What makes your event special? The better the description, the more people will be interested.
When do you want to run your event and how long will the event take. Remember to include time to set up, tear down, and teach if you will be teaching the rules or giving instructions.
How many people will your event seat? Are you running multiple copies of the game at once? This is a good way to add more seats for players, to teach/facilitate more play.
Is this a game that needs tables or a seminar that needs a whole room? Think about what space will best accommodate your event.
If you are hosting multiple events or are part of a team of GM’s planning many events, be sure to think through all the events and work out a schedule before submitting. This will help us consolidate space to make more room for others and keep your space active and engaging throughout the show.
If your event is in the gaming hall, please be sure to schedule it early enough to be finished with tear down by the time the hall closes for the day.
EVENT SUBMISSION
Be expressive in your description. This is your chance to attract players by letting them know what your event is about. It also is the main way for you to set expectations before they sit down to play, so take advantage of adding photos and information during the submission process.
The title of your event should clearly state what you are providing. If it is confusing or vague for new players, it is likely that they will pass over it rather than click for more info.
Don’t repeat information from field to field. After stating the name clearly don’t repeat it in the description or long description. Be sure to explain what game you will be playing, or how your event will differ from other similar events.
Remember the long description can help you fully explain your event. TTE allows you to post photos, use hyperlinks and provide a full description of your event. Remember you may know your event “Chucky goes home” is an RPG where the Chucky the doll returns to find his maker and take vengeance only to find his turf being run by The Cabbage Patch Kids. Who will win in this epic battle of dolls come to life? If you don’t use the long description to explain this, sadly no one will know!
Are you running a tournament? Do you have prizes? Let potential participants know in the long description and a picture wouldn’t hurt!
Consider the time slot you are running your event. Would the atmosphere of your event be better suited to a certain time of day? Who might play in your game? Families with small children may not show up to your game of “King of Tokyo” at 10 pm, so an earlier time would be better if that is what you are looking for.
IMPORTANT: You are not allowed to run demos for events. You may run “learn to play” events as long as the play is a full game.
If your group or company is running enough events to have your own room and you plan any kind of special effects in that room, you MUST put this in your long description. Fun for one person can be traumatic for another, so give us and attendees advanced notice.
For the actual submission process Tabletop.Events has wonderful details on how to submit an event on their website.
How-to videos are also available on our YouTube Channel.
Once your event has been fully submitted the events team will review your events and either:
Approve it – after it has been approved it will be placed into a location.
Request Changes or more information.
Deny it – we either do not have space or it isn’t a fit for Origins.
Running the Event
Check in with Event HQ – Pick up your OEARS – Origins Event Attendance Reporting Slip.
Please take the time to find where your event will be held before the start time of the event.
Do not move the location of your event. If you have any problems with the location of your event, go talk to Event HQ.
Do not change the event! Players have signed up for your event based on the information you provided.
Collect tickets from all your players. It is important to collect and turn in the tickets to your event.
If an attendee wants to attend your event and you have open seat, they can buy a ticket, just verify the purchase on their mobile device and record their information on your OEARS. Just be sure to take down their badge information.
Remember Event HQ is there to help you! If you need help with any of the above, Event HQ has the answers!
Remember to have fun and make the experience fun for others!
WHEN YOUR EVENT IS OVER.
Fill out your Origins Event Attendance Reporting Slip (OEARS)
Turn in your OEARS to the Event HQ nearest to your event location along with all the tickets you have collected.
Turning in your tickets and OEARS is important! It provides the information needed if you are asking for reimbursement. It also provides important information about events during Origins Game Fair. A lack of information may be considered a lack of interest, and may impact the ability to run similar events in the future.
Fill rates are processed and available after Origins Game Fair, so GMs can make informed decisions on games they want to run next year!
2024 Important dates
Event Submission Opens - October 14, 2023
Event Submission Deadline - February 2, 2024
Late Event Submission Opens - February 3, 2024
Late Event Submission Closes - March 17, 2024
Layout Request Closes - April 10, 2024
Perk Request Form Closes - April 20, 2024
Event Registration Opens - May 4, 2024 (1pm ET)
ORIGINS GAME FAIR - June 19-23, 2024
(Dates subject to change)
If you have any questions about submitting events, or ideas for new events please email us.