Maid and Butler applications for HotaruCon 4 ARE OPEN
Doesn't everyone fancy a bit of tea and cake on a Sunday afternoon?
Taking inspiration from the classic Maid Cafés we bring you HotaruCon's Charity Cosplay Café!
This year's theme is: Sailor Moon!
Café Manager/s: Bex as Ami/Sailor Mercury and Jen as Luna
Welcome to the Moon Kingdom Café…
The Charity Cosplay Café runs for 3 hours on Sunday afternoon of HotaruCon and you can sign up as a volunteer Maid or Butler to help raise money for this year's Con Charity for some or part of that time.
Costumes
Every year the café has a theme and we'd love for you to join in with the spirit of café as a Character Maid or Butler. That can be a main character, a side character, a villain, a humanised/gijinka version of a non-human character, you name it.
Simply put them in a maid or butler-esque outfit and you're good to go!
You don't have to act in-character but if you want to add in some flare you're more than welcome. We suggest if your character's demeanor is mean, sarcastic etc that you ask guests first if they'd like an in-character ineraction so they're not taken by surprise.
If you're not familiar with the theme and would prefer not to be a Character Maid/Butler but you do want to be a Maid/Butler that's a-okay. We just ask that you don't wear any particular accessories or iconic character wigs from other universes.
As a server you will be handling real food and drink so be aware you may get some stains on your costume so be careful!
Duties
There are two main roles for volunteer Maids or Butlers. Serving confectionaries to customers and manning the game stations.
You can sign up for one hour, two hours, or all three if you're feeling brave.
One server will usually cover one table of 8 seats for the duration of their time. The number of guests at the table may vary during the hour depending on how busy the café is and how groups may want to sit together. If your friends specifically want to be served at your table they can let our doorman know and they'll make it happen (though they may have to wait a moment if your table is full when they get to the front of the queue).
Sailor Servers
Servers will collect orders from guests and collect the appropriate tokens for the order. If a guest has a token for tea but wants to order cake, they'll need to purchase the appropriate token.
You'll then collect their order from the cake and drink table where one of our Permanent Maids/Butlers will be there to plate up for you.
Notebooks, pens and trays will be provided though you're welcome to bring your own if you'd like to.
Menus with confectionary selection and allergen information will be available at the tables for guests to consult but it's always a good idea to remind them.
Water, milks and sweeteners will also be available at the tables. As a server you'll need to keep an eye out for anything that needs topping up.
When a guest is finished simply collect their plates, cups etc and take them to the dishes station. This will be removed by the hotel staff and taken back to the kitchen. Don't worry, you won't need to leave the hall.
Please do not serve externally procured food or drinks to customers.
As a server you'll be going back and forth from the tables quite a lot, so wear comfortable shoes!
Game Guardians
Every year we have a selection of fairground style games for guests to play. They'll need to purchase tokens at the front desk and you may need to explain the rules and reset the games after they have been played. There'll be more details on the games closer to the convention.
Whilst it's always appreciated to keep an eye on if any of the servers need help with their table, the game guardians main focus is staying with their game/s.
Chekis/Polaroids
A café tradition for guests is getting a print-and-go style photograph taken with their Maid or Butler as a momento of their time at the café.
We have three photo options available for guests to purchase.
Single Cheki: (1 guest, 1 maid/butler)
Group Cheki: (Group of guests + 1 maid/butler)
Full Cast Cheki: £8 (1 guest + ALL maids & butlers)*
*The Full Cast Cheki will be taken at the end of each hour of the café and involves all maids or butlers who want to be involved.
We'll have a photo station set up with a backdrop to pose against, maybe even props for guests to hold. Some easy pose suggestions are encouraging the guest to form a heart with their hands while you form a heart with yours. Half a heart each, meeting in the middle. Posing side on with your palms up flat against the palm of the guests. Poses are determined by your comfort level and we'll help you communicate your boundaries.
Photos will be taken by one of our Permanent Maids/Butlers and printed in the café. Guests are then able to collect their photo and take it back to their table to decorate. They may ask you to sign or mark the Cheki with the pens provided. Our suggestions would be hearts, stars or smiley faces.
If you do not wish to be involved in Chekis, just let us know in the application form.
How do Applications work?
Using the google form below you can apply for this year's café.
Applications will be reviewed by Bex and Jen in due course.
Succesful applicants will be added to the Café Discord where you'll have the opportunity to meet each other, ask any questions you might have, discuss outfit ideas and more!
If you wish to switch characters or switch service hours for whatever reason, that'll all be handled there.
The important thing to remember, is it's about having fun and raising money for Charity.
You won't be on your own.