Wrangling at Gen Con: How Outreach Filled Every Demo Seat in 15 Minutes
In Part 1, I explained what a Wrangler does. Now I want to share what happened when I actually tried it—and how it changed everything I thought I knew about L2P.
Before Gencon: Finding My Place in L2P
Since 2024, I’ve been staffed for Flesh and Blood events. Throughout my journey, I found myself gravitating more toward floor judging than Learn to Play.
L2P was how I got the opportunity to be staffed on FAB, but I quickly became more involved with floor judging because I enjoyed the logistics and engagement more. Traditional L2P teaching didn’t come naturally to me. I struggled to find the right way to communicate game concepts without overcomplicating them. I distinctly remember spending quite some time trying to teach “reactions” and “go again” to new players, and ended up confusing them by the end of it. I also approached each demo feeling like I needed to carry new players all the way to their direct involvement in Flesh and Blood.
I started to think maybe L2P just wasn’t where my strengths were.
So when I got the opportunity to cover a judge in L2P at GenCon, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
The Role I Didn't Know I Needed
At Gen Con, one of the judges needed a break, so Emilien, the L2P Lead, took me aside to coach me on the “Wrangler” position.
A Wrangler is the front-of-house greeter who draws foot traffic, matches people to demo tables, and keeps the experience area full.
My job was straightforward: bring people into the FAB experience. Keep an eye out for convention-goers who looked like they were between events or just browsing. Once I found someone who seemed curious, I’d approach them with a quick pitch. If they were interested, I’d “wrangle” them into a Bravo Bashing L2P demo.
I decided to give it a shot. Scheduled events had slowed down anyway, so I was free to help out on the L2P side. And honestly, I had nothing to lose.
When the judge went on break, several booths sat empty with no activity happening.
Within 15 minutes of wrangling, every spot was filled.
I found that I was good at the job.
What Wrangling Actually Looked Like
People Skills: Reading the Room
As an extrovert, I learned that rejection doesn’t have to feel personal. Convention-goers are busy and can choose how they want to use their time. I saw it as a numbers game. All I needed was someone to say yes. I would approach 3-4 people before I could get 1 yes at peak hours.
I came from a place of “I’m presenting people the opportunity to learn a cool game” rather than “What if people don’t like what I have to say.”
Hi friends, are you interested in learning a TCG? If you take 5 mins, do a demo, afterwards, you will walk away with a free deck!
The demographic of convention-goers at GenCon made this easier than I expected. They were incredibly open to trying new things. All they needed was someone friendly to welcome them into the game. If they were free, especially if they had friends together, they would jump in to play.
I started iterating on the pitch Emilien gave me, catering it to different audiences. I learned to read people’s dynamics and adapt my approach based on what I observed.
Delivery Skills: Beyond the Demo Tables
When people were waiting in line to buy merch or interested in the game but no demo judges were free, I’d share my story. My TCG background, how I got into Flesh and Blood, why I chose to stay and be involved as a judge. These conversations kept people engaged and built excitement.
I made sure to be inclusive in my outreach, facing the guest, speaking clearly, and avoided high-pressure language when welcoming them in.
I would help players navigate the merch booth. I’d point out which armory decks to buy and share promotions: “If you spend $100, you get this pack of promos and several cool keychains to take with you!” I also made it clear I don’t earn commission, as my goal was helping new players start smoothly.
For existing FAB players, I directed them to the Smash Palace multiplayer format we were showcasing, a different way to experience the game.
Collaborating Skills: Orchestrating the Experience
Beyond outreach, I discovered I enjoyed managing the flow of the entire L2P area. I constantly checked how the L2P judges were doing – not only making sure they had players to teach, but also ensuring they were getting adequate breaks.
When I had time, I’d observe demos and give judges feedback on what I noticed. I asked ‘“What went well?” first, then offered one bite-size suggestion “Try dealing first hand face-up”, never more than one per demo.
Things I would do:
- Greet & qualify convention goer’s interest (10–15s)
- Seat & introduce judge by name (“This is my friend Jamie, they’ll teach you.”)
Things I wouldn’t do:
- Block aisles
- Interrupt active people
- Hover over table teachers
I felt like I was coaching and orchestrating the entire L2P experience. I took my own breaks strategically to make sure I had the right energy to welcome people in.
I was a connector.
And that’s when it clicked. I didn’t need to avoid L2P, I just needed to find the right position within it.
Floor judging gave me logistics and management. Wrangling gave me people connection and orchestration.
L2P wasn’t just one role, it was an ecosystem.
Why This Matters
I’m sharing this because I suspect I’m not the only judge who’s discovered their strengths lie in different areas of L2P.
When you’re being staffed for events, it’s easy to think L2P means one thing: sitting at a table teaching demos. But L2P needs different types of judges. Not everyone needs to be a table teacher. We also need judges who can read a crowd, connect with strangers, and orchestrate the entire experience.
If you’re someone who thrives on social interaction, flow management, and handling multiple moving pieces, the Wrangler position might be exactly where you excel. The impact is immediate and visible.
Understanding that these different roles exist means more judges can find where they actually fit and contribute in a way that energizes them.
With that discovery, I became much more interested in doing L2P in the future, specifically if I could focus on Wrangling.
The Call to Action
The judge community needs people willing to be the bridge between curiosity and commitment. Growing the game requires more than just teaching mechanics—it requires ambassadors who can make that critical first connection.
Maybe you’re that connector we need. There’s only one way to find out.
Next time you see a convention opportunity or an L2P event that needs staff, don’t automatically assume it’s not for you. Ask about the Wrangler position. Tell them you want to focus on outreach and flow management. Show them you understand that L2P is bigger than just one-on-one demos.
The community, and the dozens of new players who will walk into our game because you welcomed them, will be better for it.
Featured photo and photos in article taken by Eric Lee.
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