23rd Annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival February 15-17, 2008 Sheraton Hotel Framingham, Framingham, MA

Volunteering at Joe Val 2008

The continued success of the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival is entirely dependent on the army of volunteers we need each year to sell tickets, answer questions, check for wristbands, help bands, and countless other jobs. We need your help!

Reimbursement and Age Policy

Basically, if you do six or more hours of volunteer work at the festival we will issue you a rebate of $80 toward the cost of your weekend ticket.. You must complete your volunteer work to receive the rebate. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Volunteer Application

At the bottom of this page is a link to an application page where you can 1) provide your contact information, 2) indicate your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for volunteer tasks and 3) indicate when you are willing and available to volunteer. Shifts and tasks are generally assigned based on need and past experience, but the earlier you fill out an applicatoin the more likely you are to receive your first, second, or third choices. Note that all assignments, duties and hours are subject to last minute change per the demands of the festival.

Volunteer Task Descriptions

Below are descriptions of the most common volunteer tasks. Please review these descriptions before you complete the on-line application form.

BBU Sales Table
Working with the sales table manager, sell BBU merchandise, Raffle Tickets, BBU memberships and tickets to future BBU events as well as answer questions and assist festival attendees. The main requirements for this job are good people skills and the ability to handle money and make change. The table is located in the back of the concert hall within sight of the main stage. While you get to watch the show while you work, this can be a very busy assignment. The BBU table is always staffed with 2 – 5 volunteers, so you can expect to have helpers with you at all times.

Festival Ticket Sales
Works under the guidance of the BBU treasurer and sells tickets to festival attendees, as well as checks and verifies names of people who bought their tickets on-line. Ticket Sales volunteers also dispense and attach wristbands to paid guests, and answer general questions. Skill at handling money and making change a big plus. The Ticket Sales table is located outside the ballroom in the hallway.

Showroom Door Monitor
Stands at the entrance to the hotel ballroom (concert site) and verifies that all people attempting to enter the hotel ballroom have the proper wristband and that the wristband is displayed in the proper manner. Keeps the area around the door clear and quiet during performances. A good job since you can watch the show while you work, but you need to be someone who can be polite but firm when someone tries to enter without showing a wristband.

Green Room Door Monitor
The main duty of the Door Monitor is to help insure that the Green Room is a quiet and secure retreat for our artists and VIP guests. Many people want to get into the Green Room to schmooze with artists and guests – you must be willing to politely but firmly say NO to those who don’t meet the criteria for admittance. Instructions and procedures will be posted on the wall outside the Green Room for your reference. Should questions or disputes arise around Green Room access, the BBU Green Room Manager will resolve the issue for you.

Workshop Monitor
Working with a team of other volunteers, make sure that the artists arrive on time for their presentations, and help the artist if required. Keep the rooms clean and the chairs organized. Make sure the noise in the corridor is kept to a minimum. Check for proper wristbands. This is a good opportunity to interact with the artists and to sit in on some of the finest workshops available.

Information Desk
This volunteer sits at the information desk which is located in the hallway outside the ballroom. The focus here is to answer questions about the festival, the BBU, and/or the hotel in general. You will be supplied with ample printed reference materials as well as access to BBU staff for questions requiring escalation.

BBU Hot Line
Similar to working at the Information Desk except that you will be taking questions and giving information via our telephone hot line.

Floater
The Floater is a volunteer who is able to substitute for a volunteer that is unable to work their assigned shift. The floater reports to the volunteer coordinator's desk ten minutes before each shift change. Once all the other volunteers are present at their assignments and the floater is not needed, the floater is released and is given credit for a completed shift.

Friday Morning and Afternoon Setup
With the exception of posting signage within the hotel, this position requires some lifting and the ability to use hand tools and possibly ladders. You will be working with either the sound crew, stage crew or lighting crew to get things ready for the festival.

Sunday Night Breakdown
As soon as the showroom is cleared after the last act on Sunday you will assist either the sound crew, stage crew or lighting crew to dismantle their equipment. You may be asked to make a sweep of the hotel to remove all our signage posted during the course of the weekend. This effort generally is completed by 8PM. It is crucial that we clear the hall as quickly as possible to meet our contractual commitments to the hotel. Your help here is truly appreciated.

Volunteer Task Times

Most shifts are two hours long, but not every task is required every shift. Here are the general times for most tasks (note that these can also change at the last-minute):

BBU Sales Table
Fri 6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sat 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm,6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sun 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm

Festival Ticket Sales
Fri & Sat 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm,6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sun 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm, 2pm-4pm

Show Room Door Monitor, Green Room Door Monitor, Floater
Fri 6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sat 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm,6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sun 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm

Information Desk, BBU Hotline
Fri 9am-Noon,Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm,6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sat 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm,4pm-6pm,6pm-8pm,8pm-10pm,10pm-closing.
Sun 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm

Workshop Monitor
Sat & Sun 10am-Noon, Noon-2pm,2pm-4pm, 4pm-5pm

Friday Morning and Afternoon Setup
Fri 9am-Noon, Noon-4pm

Sunday Night Takedown
Sun 5pm-8pm

If you have any questions about volunteering you can contact the Festival Volunteer Coordinator Jim McDonough at jimmcd@beld.net. Thanks in advance for volunteering!

Click here for the Joe Val Festival Volunteer Application