Applying to be on Staff

2024 Mitten Mayhem staff (instructors, associate instructors, teaching assistants, and production assistants) are on an invite-only basis.

Why?

  • Historically, Michigan has been an underserved region to learn from SAFD-certified instructors and get staffed at regional workshops. One of the primary reasons we founded Mitten Mayhem was to provide more training opportunities to the communities around us. Teaching and Production Assistants are pulled from a pool of local stage combatants in SE Michigan (and others who might not have resources in their local area) to give opportunities to those who might not otherwise be on staff at other stage combat workshops.

  • Invite-only allows us to focus on creating an as-diverse-as-possible staff. We are committed to highlighting BIPOC, LGBTQ+, femme-presenting, and other diverse voices and faces with a wide variety of movement and pedagogy backgrounds.

  • We are also still a fledgling workshop and our staffing selections are based on our budget and what will best serve the workshop students at our current size.

We will consider opening staff applications for all positions in future years.

If you are interested in learning more about the responsibilities we ask of our staff and how we compensate them, please read on.

Staff Responsibilities

Instructor

Instructors are the lead teachers of the workshop.

  • Teach at least two (2) and up to eight (8) classes (also be available for SPR)

  • Serve the needs of the students in their classes. Students first, empathy always.

Compensation:

  • Paid $300-500 for the weekend

  • Travel reimbursement

  • Lodging at the workshop

  • Per diem provided to cover food costs

Associate Instructor (A.I.)

Associate Instructors will be those who wish to have more hands-on experience in teaching. They lead the Introductory Track.

  • Co-Teach the Introductory Track

  • Two (2) positions available

Compensation:

  • Paid $200 for the weekend

  • Assistance for Travel, Lodging, and Food needs.

 

Teaching Assistants (T.A.)

TAs assist in instructing classes. Each class will be provided a teaching assistant to aid the Instructor in the material they’re teaching and to serve the students of the class.

  • Assist Instructors in workshop classes

  • Four (4) positions available

Compensation:

  • Paid $150 for the weekend

  • Assistance for Travel, Lodging, and Food needs.

Production Assistant (P.A.)

The backbone of any workshop. PAs assist the Coordinators in the execution of the workshop

  • Serve as facility attendants to each space

  • Handle equipment and weapon transport between spaces (must be able to carry up 50 lb., 100 lb. assisted.)

  • Serve as a communication network between spaces, instructors, and coordinators.

  • Partner in on odd-numbered classes as necessary

  • Eight (8) positions available. Will be 50% utilized; can attend classes as a regular participant during off-periods.

Compensation:

  • No monetary compensation. Can attend classes as a regular participant during off-periods.

  • Preference will be given to local staff for both travel reimbursement and lodging