Your job: build the event, then put it away. Before the first team walks in, the fields have to be square, the tables placed, the power run, and the signs up. After the last award is handed out, all of it has to go back in the bins. Teams never see this work — and the day does not happen without it.
Setup, before the doors open
You'll work from a field setup diagram. Getting it right matters more than getting it fast: a field that's out of square or missing a game object has to be rebuilt later, usually while teams are waiting.
Typical setup work:
- Laying and squaring the field tiles, then placing walls and game objects to the diagram
- Carrying and positioning tables, chairs, and pit assignments
- Running power and cabling to the fields, scoring tables, and displays
- Hanging banners, signage, and the awards backdrop
Teardown, after the awards
Teardown is faster than setup, and the same rule applies in reverse: everything goes back where it came from. Game objects into their labelled bins, tiles stacked the way they arrived, cables coiled rather than bundled. The next event is often someone else's, and they inherit whatever you pack.
Take the venue back to how you found it — tape lifted, rubbish cleared, borrowed furniture returned.
Be awesome at it
Lift properly and lift together. Field tiles and equipment bins are heavier and more awkward than they look. Bend your knees, ask for a second pair of hands, and don't be a hero with a stack of tiles.
Check the diagram twice before you call a field done. A field that's 5 cm out of square will be found by the first inspector who measures it, and the fix costs ten times what the check would have.
Work steadily, not frantically. Setup crews that sprint tend to leave things half-finished. A crew that works methodically finishes earlier.
Ask where something goes rather than guessing. A mystery box in the wrong bin is a real problem for the next event.
What to wear and bring
Closed-toe shoes, clothes you don't mind kneeling in, and a water bottle. This is the most physical role at the event — expect lifting, carrying, and extended standing.
Who this suits
No experience required, and no robotics knowledge at all. If you'd rather be useful with your hands than talk to people all day, this is the role. It's also a good fit if you can only give a couple of hours at the start or end of the day rather than the whole thing.