Crew Descriptions

Admin
Do you know your way around a calculator? Do you have extensive cash handling experience? If you said yes to both of these questions, consider our Admin crew. The key responsibilities of this crew include preparing floats and deposits. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check.

Apprentice
The Apprentice program offers an opportunity for people ages 13 to 17 to become familiar with the festival through placement with a variety of crews. This is the crew where many of our long-time volunteers got their start! Almost all graduates from the Apprentice program continue to volunteer for the festival. Enthusiasm and flexibility are requirements to join this growing crew. While we try our best to find a spot for all applicants, we cannot guarantee placement due to the popularity of this crew.

Audience Services
Audience Services crew plays an important role at the festival – they are the first volunteers that festival-goers see when they arrive and often the last ones they see when they leave. This crew is responsible for selling program books, providing daytime storage service for patrons, distributing and collecting audience surveys, and answering audience questions. We are looking for people with strong customer services skills and a friendly demeanour.

Backstage Hospitality
Backstage hospitality is a crew that provides basic hospitality needs for performers and volunteers in the backstage area. This crew also acts as a ‘backstage info booth’ for performers. We look for people with a friendly attitude who can help our backstage guests feel welcome.

Backstage Lockup
The folks on this crew are responsible for providing secure storage of performers’ instruments and personal items backstage. They also assist the transportation crew with loading of instruments and gear. This area is a fast-paced environment with a high level of responsibility. We look for people with strong customer service skills, physical strength and endurance to move equipment, and those who can handle items with care.

Backstage Massage
This is a sub-crew of Backstage Hospitality, who provides – you guessed it – massages to our backstage guests, primarily our performers. The crew is comprised of Registered Massage Therapists only, and requires a high level of respect and professionalism.

Backstage Traffic
Backstage Traffic is one of three crews that direct vehicles. They are responsible for all vehicles coming into and going out of the backstage area including performer buses, delivery trucks & golf carts. Volunteers need to be assertive, able to stand for four hours at a time and have great customer service skills.

Bike Ride to Site
This crew supports the newly created bike ride to the festival, which happens on Wednesday of the festival. The ride goes from Winnipeg to Birds Hill Provincial Park. We are looking for fit cyclists who have endurance for long rides, can support our participating riders, and who have bike repair skills. Basic First Aid is also an asset.

Cargo
The Cargo crew works out of the festival hotel (currently the Fairmont Downtown). They transport instruments and stage equipment to and from the site with cargo vehicles and staff the lockup area at the festival hotel. Volunteers on this crew should be organized, attentive to detail and have the physical strength and endurance to move equipment. A valid driver’s license is required.

Changes
This crew is charged with finding the pulse of our volunteer ranks. Whether it’s asking for opinions on recent festival changes, or seeing how someone’s shift is going, these folks want to know what our volunteers think! Volunteers on this crew have generally been volunteering with the festival for a while, and have excellent listening skills.

Concert Series Hospitality
This is a year-round crew that provide hospitality services to the artists we bring in for our year-round concert series.  Knowledge of local venues and food handling or catering experience are required.  This is a small crew with little turnover.

Composting
Do you have a passion for composting? The Composting crew is responsible for coordinating compost services in the backstage area and at the food vendor area in the front of house. We look for volunteers with a ‘green attitude’ who don’t mind getting a little dirty and have the physical endurance to work this crew. This can be a very rewarding volunteer experience! A valid driver’s license is an asset, but not required.

Corner Store
The Corner Store is our retail outlet on site that sells souvenirs and sundries. The volunteers on this crew set up and staff the operation for the entire festival weekend. If you are detail-oriented, have strong customer services skills and cash handling experience, this may be the crew for you.

Daytime Stages
The Daytime Stage crew is responsible for setting up equipment, running the stage, and striking down all sound equipment on each of the Daytime Stages. The commitment made by these volunteers tends to be slightly above average in terms of time. We‘re looking for team-players who have a basic knowledge of stage and sound equipment and the physical strength to work this crew.

Daytime Stage MCs
Reading introductions and delivering festival related info and general messaging from the stage is the primary function of this small crew.  Generally, we look for public speaking and/or radio experience to fill these positions.

Education
If you have a passion for learning about music, then this is the crew for you! This crew is broken down into two groups – one that runs the Folk Retreat before the festival, and one that runs the Folk School at the festival. Volunteering with the Folk Retreat involves setting up and tearing down of the venue, assisting the instructors, and providing hospitality to all participants. Folk School volunteers set up and tear down equipment at the Folk School Tent, get each performer set up, and MC the workshops. Volunteers in both groups need to be personable problem-solvers. Folks who can do live sound are needed in each group. Also, Folk Retreat volunteers need to be available for the Saturday to Tuesday prior to the festival.

Environment
The Environment Crew promotes environmental awareness and ensures the festival site remains clean. Duties include de-littering the site, making sure there is enough toilet paper in the biffies, re-stocking hand-sanitizer and collecting garbage from the yellow bins. If you have the ‘green’ in you, consider joining this dedicated group of volunteers!

Family Area
The volunteers in our Family Area present and facilitate entertainment, games and hands-on activities for festival participants. It is the job of this crew to ensure that everyone in the Family Area has a safe and enjoyable time. We are looking for folks with patience, creativity and lots of energy to work in this area. Please note that joining this crew requires a Child Abuse Registry Check and a Criminal Records Check.

Festival Campground Box Office
The Festival Campground is home to almost 6,000 people during the weekend of the festival. The Box Office crew provides box office services and solves related problems in the campground. We look for people with customer service skills, honesty and cash handling experience. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check.

Festival Campground Enviro
This crew spreads the word to “leave only your footsteps” in the Festival Campground. Duties include servicing the toilets, collecting recyclables, distributing garbage bags and providing green awareness. The success of this program is dependent upon getting campers to buy into the program. Be prepared to walk, get a little dirty and have a great time on this fun crew! Comfortable shoes and a hat are recommended. This crew also requires a few volunteers with valid driver’s licenses to transport recyclables to the backstage area.

Festival Campground First Aid
Using professional education and skills, volunteers on this crew will assist in the administration of first aid to our campers by assessing and treating patients within a specific scope of practice. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Child Abuse Registry Check and Criminal Records Check. You will also be required to attend all mandatory, pre-event training sessions covering topics relating to Standard First Aid and CPR. Previous First Aid and CPR qualifications are an asset.

Festival Campground Raffle
Have you seen folks walking through the Campground wearing absurdly colourful hats, waving their arms, yelling “Campground Raffle Tickets”? This is our Campground Raffle Crew! Aside from selling raffle tickets and collecting money, these crew members must have a commitment to fundraising for the festival. An outgoing personality and cash handling experience are assets for joining this crew. If you’re friendly, somewhat persuasive, like talking to campers, and don’t mind being on your feet (or wearing a colourful hat), consider joining this energetic new crew.

Festival Campground Safety
This is one of the largest crews with over 200 volunteers. The main role of this crew is to act as ambassadors for the 6,000 campers who stay in the Festival Campground. We are looking for people who have a great interpersonal skills and a level-headed frame of mind. These volunteers create awareness of potential camping hazards and help promote a positive, safe campground culture, as well as enforcing campground rules and culture when needed. Volunteers must be 18 or over in order to volunteer on this crew. Conflict resolution training or skills is an asset. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check. Attending a mandatory training session is required to become a member of this crew.

Festival Campground Shower
Interested in helping to keep our campers clean?  Become a member of our Festival Campground Shower crew.

Festival Campground Traffic
The shepherds of Festival Campground, the volunteers on this crew ensure that vehicles enter and exit the campground safely. They are the first faces our campers see when arriving and the last to see when our campers leave. We are looking for people who can be assertive and friendly (eg. “Yo, dude! You can’t park like that!”). These volunteers must have the ability to stand for four hours at a time.

Festival Campground Wagon Share
This crew is on hand to help campers get their gear from their vehicles into the Festival Campground by loaning out wagons. This crew is particularly busy during the first couple of days the campground is open. Stamina and good walking shoes are recommended.

Festival Gate
The Festival Gate crew is responsible for checking for valid wrist tickets or access passes and searching belongings for restricted items before admitting patrons on site. These volunteers should have customer service skills, problem solving abilities, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. This is a great crew for sociable folks who can handle the hustle-and-bustle of rush times and be good ambassadors to the festival.

Festival Music Store
Members of the Festival Music Store crews sell artist product and related merchandise and provide financial support to the store. We are looking for people with cash handling experience and/or an accounting background or financial experience as well as those with customer service skills. Volunteers applying to provide financial support to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check.

Folk Exchange
The Folk Exchange is a new performance venue located at 211 Bannatyne Ave in Winnipeg. Some of the activities that happen at the Folk Exchange include concerts, music-instructional workshops, craft sales and CD signings. This crew provides support for events scheduled at the Folk Exchange. We need folks with customer service skills and those who are able to work independently. Because the work done as part of this crew is during the year, the requirement to earn a festival pass is 50 hours.

Green Room
The Green Room is a reserved place for performers playing the Main Stage to relax prior to their performance. It is important that volunteers in this area have strong customer service skills, are hospitality oriented and able to solve problems. This area caters to our performers and therefore requires people to be respectful and professional while still having strong customer service skills. Fluency in languages other than English is an asset.

Green Room Access
Are you comfortable saying no?   Our Green Room Access crew controls entry to the Green Room.  The Green Room is a reserved place for performers playing the Main Stage to relax prior to their performance.  Strong customer service skills, assertiveness and good judgment are required.  This is a very small crew with little turnover.

Guest for a Day
This crew runs the new Guests for a Day program. This program brings non-profit groups to the site on complimentary tickets, and provides guided tours, meals and transportation to our guests. Outreach volunteers need considerable knowledge of the festival, good leadership skills, and a desire to give something back to the community. Duties include giving a festival orientation to a group of people prior to the festival, and hosting that group for a day at the festival (not all day, but off and on.)

Hand-Made Village
The Handmade Village is a shopping area of the festival featuring the some of the best crafters from across Canada. These volunteers assist with artisan set up and tear down, provide storage facility and hospitality for artisans, and solve problems related to the area. They also check in with the vendors periodically to make sure everything is running smoothly. Volunteers should have skills in the area of customer service and problem solving, as well as the strength to carry product.

Hotel Hospitality
The Hotel Hospitality crew works out of the festival hotel, assisting performers and guests with registration, distributing performer information packages and relaying messages. These volunteers work independently and therefore need to be able to solve problems. They should have a good general knowledge and experience with the festival. Fluency in languages other than English is an asset.

La Cuisine
This large crew is given the task of planning, preparing, and serving backstage meals for the performers, guests and volunteers. That’s 3,500 people per meal! Food handling experience is not required but is considered an asset. Attention to detail and accuracy, as well as the ability to stand for four hours are requirements. Closed-toed shoes and a hat are also needed to do this work. This crew has a reputation for providing a fun and rewarding experience. Come and help feed the masses!

Main Gate Box Office
The Main Gate Box Office crew provides box office services and solves related problems (like, “I lost my tickets! What do I do?”). We look for honest people with customer service skills and cash handling experience. Volunteers on this crew should also be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment (during peak line up times) and work calmly under pressure. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check.

Main Gate Traffic
Directing 15,000 people in cars is an immense task. Our Main Gate Traffic crew takes great pride in being able to direct vehicles in and out of the main parking lot with professionalism and competency. They also assist pedestrians who are crossing Festival Drive returning to the Festival Campground. Volunteers interested in volunteering for the Main Gate Traffic crew should be assertive, have the ability to stand or walk for four hours and have a good general knowledge of the festival.

Main Stage
The Main Stage crew is responsible for setting up and striking down all sound equipment for the Main Stage performances and sound checks. The commitment made by these volunteers tends to be slightly above average in terms of time. We‘re looking for team-players who have an intermediate knowledge of stage and sound equipment and the physical strength to work this crew.

Media
The Media crew arranges requested interviews between accredited media and performers, staff, and artisans during the festival weekend. Experience in dealing with the media and info technology is a definite asset. We also like volunteers on this crew to have a good general knowledge of the festival and the ability to solve problems.

Newcomer Crew
Integrating new Canadians into our volunteer ranks is important to us.  We have initiated a training program that provides some festival-specific language training and an overview of how the festival operates prior to getting out to site.   Once this training is complete, crew members join other crews to fulfill their obligations.

Party
Do you know how to throw a really good party? We’re looking for hosts-with-the-most to join this crew! Volunteers of the Party crew are responsible for coordinating parties for performers, guests and volunteers at the festival hotel, and the volunteer party on site at the end of the festival. Food handling experience and customer service skills are assets.

Photography
Our Photography Crew volunteers are all professionals with professional photographic skills and a good general knowledge of the festival. It is their job to capture memorable moments during the festival weekend. If you are interested in joining this crew, please give our office a call. A recent portfolio is required. This is a small crew with little turnover.

Plates
The Plates crew facilitates the use, return and washing of re-usable plates. The driving force behind the plates program is simple: re-use, recycle and reduce waste! This program contributes to the eco-friendly nature of our event and can be an extremely fulfilling festival experience. Cash handling experience, the ability to lift a bucket of plates, and customer services skills are assets. This crew also requires a few volunteers with valid driver’s licenses to transport the plates to the washing facility.

Posters
Poster volunteers put up posters to promote the festival, as well as our year-round concerts and events. The volunteers who work on the Posters crew have completed their hours before the festival starts. For this reason, it is a very popular crew.

Production
Members of the Production crew will assist the Production Department by accepting deliveries and returns at the site before and after the event, logging requests and questions, assembling crew boxes with supplies, as well as setting up, organizing and cleaning up the Production Office and surrounding area. Ideally, these volunteers are available for pre-festival and post-festival shifts.

Quiet Campground Box Office
The Quiet Campground is home to about 1,000 people during the weekend of the festival. The Box Office crew provides box office services and solves related problems. We look for people with customer service skills, honesty and cash handling experience. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check.

Quiet Campground Safety
This crew takes care of the safety and well being of our quiet campers. We’re looking for folks who can be positive festival ambassadors while enforcing our Quiet Campground regulations. Volunteers should be outgoing, able to solve problems, and be on their feet for a four-hour shift.

Raffle
You may have seen some folks walking the Festival site wearing absurdly colourful hats, waving their arms, yelling “Raffle Tickets!” this is our Raffle Crew! Aside from selling raffle tickets and collecting money, these crew members must have a commitment to fundraising for the festival. We look for people with an outgoing personality and cash handling experience when recruiting for this crew. If you’re friendly, somewhat persuasive, and don’t mind being on your feet (or wearing a colourful hat), consider joining this great crew.

Recycling
If you have a passion for recycling, this may be the opportunity for you. Our Recycling crew is responsible for collecting all recyclable materials on site. This is a great opportunity to make a difference on the Festival site. We look for people that can work independently and can walk for four hours at a time.

Schleppers
Our Schlepper crew is responsible for transporting instruments, supplies and passengers on the site with golf carts and small vehicles. A valid driver’s license is mandatory. In addition, we look for people with customer service skills, organizational ability, physical strength and endurance, and problem solving skills. There is little turnover with this crew and they do not generally accept first year volunteers.

Signage
The volunteers on our Signage crew are responsible for the placement and tear down of all festival signs and banners. This work takes place pre- and post-festival. Knowledge of the festival site, physical fitness and a valid driver’s license are assets for joining this small crew.

Site First Aid
This highly skilled crew is made up of nurses and doctors who take care of our first aid needs on the festival site. This is a professional crew that works as a team.

Site Office
Do you know a lot about the Winnipeg Folk Festival? Are you friendly? Have the ability to stay calm under pressure? Then we need you on the Site Office crew! The volunteers that work as part of the Site Office crew are volunteers who are able to solve problems and must have a good general knowledge of and experience with the festival. The office is a communication and information centre for production staff and a communications base for emergency procedures. A laid back attitude, good interpersonal skills and a flexible schedule are all important attributes of a Site Office volunteer.

Site Safety
This is another of our large crews with over 200 volunteers. The crew patrols the festival site, maintains crowd security and enforces policies set by the Winnipeg Folk Festival. You are an ambassador for the festival so think PR in everything you do! Smile and chat with the folks that you meet, whether it’s patrons, performers or other volunteers. The volunteers interested in working on this crew must be able to remain calm under pressure and deal with tense situations. They also need to be able to walk for four hours. Conflict resolution training or skills is an asset. Volunteers applying to this crew may need a Criminal Records Check.  Mandatory training is required.

Survey
Do you feel comfortable engaging strangers in conversation and taking notes? We’re looking for outgoing, friendly folks to fill out our festival survey with members of our audience. 

Tavern
If you have experience with cash and have earned an “It’s Good Business” certificate, give our Tavern a try. This is one of the most fast-paced environments on the festival site. The crew handles all alcohol sales on site, providing nectar of the gods in our three festival taverns (front-of-house, backstage and satellite). If you are friendly, responsible and can pour well, you’d be a great addition to this crew. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and may be subject to a Criminal Records Check.

Technical Services
Are you able to repair instruments and stage equipment? Do you have basic knowledge of stage and sound equipment? Great, let us know who you are! We need people to fill our newly expanded Technical Services crew.

Transportation
Our Transportation crew assists performers and guests at the airport and transport passengers between the airport, hotel and site. They are also responsible for scheduling and supervising bus transportation throughout the weekend. These volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and the physical strength and endurance to move equipment.

Video Screens
If you have experience shooting live video, this might be the crew for you. The Video Screens crew films the footage that is shown on the main stage screens each night. This is a crew with very specific skills, and has little turnover.

VIP Tour
This is a crew of long-time festival volunteers who put on our annual VIP reception. Not only are they hosts with the most, but with their extensive festival experience they also serve as excellent tour guides. This crew is generally not open to new volunteers.

Volunteer Tent
This fun new crew provides services to volunteers on site including program distribution, scheduling fill-in’s for no shows, general information, lost badges, office supplies, express meal vouchers. A good general knowledge of and experience at the Festival is imperative.

Wheely Green
There’s a lot of gear required for a 5-day camping excursion.  These folks help to schlep gear from the parking lot into the campground.  If you are fit, can ride a bicycle and are interested in helping our fellow campers, give this crew a try.

Winnipeg Office
This newly expanded crew now operates year round to support the work of the festival office, with the pace quickening right before the festival! The work includes answering phones, photocopying, cleaning, sorting, stapling and any number of other miscellaneous jobs that come up throughout the year. If you have basic administrative experience, are capable of multi-tasking, are customer-service oriented, and can work under pressure, this may be the opportunity for you.

Winter Wassail
If you are interested in becoming involved in the festival’s biggest fundraiser, this may be the crew for you. This is a fundraising project and requires a commitment to fundraising for the Winnipeg Folk Festival. This committee helps to sell tickets, collect auction prizes and promote this annual event. Volunteers on this committee should be willing and able to use personal/business connections to sell tickets and acquire silent auction prizes.

Young Artists Program
This crew supports our educational program for visual artists. Taking place at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and eventually moving out to the festival site, volunteers need to be available for the entire week leading into the festival (Monday to Friday). 

Young Performers Program
Interested in working with one of our most popular educational programs? The Young Performers Program runs over two full days during the festival – in the city on Thursday, and out at the festival on Friday.

Do you need more information? Contact the festival office at by phone (204) 231-0096 or by email at volunteer@winnipegfolkfestival.ca.