Who's doing it? Who's done it? What do you think?

This'll be my third year volunteering and I enjoy it. I like signing up for shifts with bands that I want to see because then I get to work with them and watch them.

Plus I kind of think the Fest wouldn't go off so well without quality volunteers like the ones I've worked side-by-side with.

What do you think?


peace/alison

I was thinking about it but I don't think I will. Maybe next year...this year I just want to enjoying roaming around the different venues.

I've been thinking about it . . . it seems like a good way to meet cool folk and whatnot. But I dunno, I also enjoy having nothing concerning me but seeing awesome bands and making it back in the van by ten AM Monday morning.

I did it during Fest V when you got sweet wristbands that let you skip the line at all the venues back then. It was cool to be involved. But you also run the risk of missing out. A risk I'm no longer willing to take since I don't live in Gainesville any more. I like the time to spend with my friends I don't get to see that often since moving. I think you should try it at least once though.

Actually, they really hook you up from what I've heard.
On my crew, we worked all three days and only got to roam when the venue didn't have a show.
We worked with a different set of volunteers every day.
I think two shifts a day. We worked three days straight.
It would be really cool to pick one night (like say last year's last half of Friday night show...Naked Raygun/Youth Brigade/Radon) and be the stage tech. Load in, load out, hang out on stage...pretty fucking rad.
Plus, a free Fest pass? Hell Yeah.

You should all volunteer...really.
That's the beauty of this thing...the community.
If it means that much to you...help make it happen.

Plus there's the whole free-admission type thing, as I understand it, which is nice.

The great thing about the shifts are they're only like three hours of the entire weekend. It's so worth it if you ask me. I dunno. Maybe for your first Fest it's worth it to be free to roam all weekend long. I did that the first time. Then I realized that if I planned carefully and monitored the schedule, I'd be able to pick the perfect show/shift to work and I wouldn't miss much, if anything.

Mackenzie's got it right ... if it's important to you -- which it is me -- help make it happen.

not rain on your parade, but I'm pretty sure you have to attend Volunteer Training sometime before The Fest, so you'd have to be in gainesville for one of the training sessions.

When details go up, I'll think about it, but I might rather just pay admission and not have to worry about my shift conflicting with seeing bands. I volunteered for a film festival a few years ago, and it was really awesome. I imagine this would be somewhat similar, in a few ways.

You do have to attend one or two meetings pre-Fest in Gainesville. One of which is to sign up for your shift. It's not unmanageable and it's not really a training session, perse.

You definitely get to meet cool people and work closely with cool and appreciative bands. I do the stage hand job and it's well worth it. Like I said, best thing is to keep your eyes on the schedule when it comes out and plan accordingly, go to the first volunteer meeting they have so you can sign up for the shift you want. One thing though, they let return volunteers get the pick of the shifts.

Best part about it for me is that I know I'm helping to make it happen and happen more smoothly. It's a cool feeling to be involved.

peace/alison

we gotta have footage of this somewhere!

Oh yeah? I don't know if I want to see it or not. hahaha.

Last year I worked at the Atlantic. This year I'm considering signing up for the Venue because of how big that place is. It fascinates me. Where did you guys film?

So, if there's a meeting in G-ville where you pick your hours and all that, does that mean out-of-toweners can't volunteer? I'm befuddled.

I mean, I guess in a way it disadvantages out-of-town-ers. Where are you from?