PBSF 2024 VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEER ROLES

Welcome Crew: Stationed at venue entries and exits, they greet and welcome festival goers and help direct them. They also keep track of entry/exit numbers to help meet our licensing regulations. (Standing and sitting. No physical work.)

Clean Up Crew: Working in designated rubbish rooms directing patrons to use the correct waste bins. Some venues also require active cleaning of tables and eating areas and keeping the general venue tidy. At some venues, there is an additional requirement of keeping the toilets clean and stocked with toilet paper. (Standing. Some light physical work.) - Dana Graves, Coordinator: Please see her for signup.

Bar Crew: These volunteers serve alcohol in the designated venues. You will be required to ask for ID if someone looks under 25. Stocking office with water supply. (Some light physical work.)

Bar Set up /Pack Down: Volunteers in this area help set up and pack down the bar areas prior to the festival and on Sunday evening after the event has ended. (Standing. Includes heavy lifting and physical work.)

Merchandise: This involves the setup and sale of festival and artist merchandise (CDs, records, and T-shirts). Shifts are available before, during, and after the festival. (Standing and sitting. Some light physical work.)

Festival Set up /Take Down: This includes (but is not limited to) setting up and taking down of the office, tents set up for merch sales, and hanging and taking down of banners at the festival venues. Shifts are prior to the festival and on Monday morning after the event has ended. (Standing. Includes heavy lifting and physical work.)

Ticketed Events: These volunteers are involved in ticket sales and require some cash-handling experience. They need to have a good idea of the festival venues to support the festival goers. (Standing and sitting. No physical work.)

Office Asst: Assist in handling check-ins of writers, give goodie bags, and assignment of rooms as needed. Sometimes they need runners for things like helping a songwriter get where they are going, running an errand, or giving them a few minutes break so they can have lunch. They have long days. That will be coordinated with Dallas.

MC and Stage Management: These volunteers introduce the acts and keep backstage areas secure, ensuring only people with Festival ID tags or Performers wristbands have access in and out. They ensure only identified people are removing instruments and equipment from the site. (Standing and sitting. No physical work.)

Photographers: Take photos and shoot video at your assigned stage. The more videos we have, the more we can promote. If you are a professional photographer and can donate your time, we love and appreciate you!!

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION GUIDELINES

BE PREPARED:

1. Know where you are going ahead of time. Give yourself plenty of time.

2. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled performance to allow adequate time for introductions to sound person and to personnel at the Venue, songwriters, etc. Reassure them that you are there to assist with any problems they might have. IF YOU ARE WORKING A LISTENING ROOM, STRESS TO THE STAGES AND PATRONS; THIS WILL BE A LISTENING NIGHT!!!!

All stages require a songwriter introduction: 1) Greet Audience, 2) Thank the Venue, 3) Thank Sponsors, and 4) Welcome Songwriters/ Know who’s taking the stage and who’s coming on next: study the booklet. Talking points and a list of sponsors will be provided.

IMPORTANT: “USE MICROPHONE For Announcements.” You will be provided a list.

Be sure to thank our Sponsors:

4. The PBSF will be responsible for door cover fees at our “listening rooms” (tickets).

When leaving after the performance, please clean up your area; leave it as you found it, and THANK THE STAGE for their participation and help.

5. Note: The venue site personnel usually handles the Songwriter’s pay. Refer any questions to Reneda. Volunteers are not responsible for pay unless further advised.

STAGE HOST (additonal info)

At the Venue:

• Introduce yourself to the audio support person and the songwriters – make sure all is going well, and they know you are the Songwriter Performance Support person. Usually, everything goes off without a hitch, but it is your role to help out as needed and know how to contact other key PBSF staff if there is a true emergency.

• Have Festival Guides or other promotional materials available near the entrance of the Venue for people attending the event.

• Kick off the set- you do need to be comfortable getting up in front of a crowd and speaking into the microphone.

• Welcome the attending crowd.

• Thank the Venue for supporting the Songwriters Festival

• Introduce the Songwriters

• Sit back and enjoy the show!

• Wrap up the set.

• Thank the songwriters.

• If there is another act to follow – let the crowd know who it is and how soon they will be starting.

Volunteers are needed, not just during the festival. Pre-festival runners and Event runners.

• Be available for the time frames you have signed up for

• Keep a cell phone with you and keep an ear/eye out for calls.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION IN MAKING THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL A SUCCESS!

We are looking for smiling faces who can go with the flow in an ever-changing environment and take on any assignment—no matter the size! If this sounds like you, we would love to have you as a volunteer for the 2024 PBSF songwriters festival. Volunteers work to support the festival fans, staff, sponsors, and artists to ensure everyone at the event has an exciting, fun, memorable, and safe experience. You could be doing anything from helping set up the festival site to keeping a watchful eye on various entry points, helping out with event merchandise, or even simply putting on a smile and greeting everyone as they come and go throughout the event.