VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
A | FILM VENUE TEAM
USHER
Responsible for getting people seated so we start on time. If reserved seating is used for certain movies, must make sure seat markers are not taken or moved. Guide people to their seats, provide directions for water, rest rooms. Help cleanup, take out trash. At direction of Venue Manager, can release seats before movie starts.
LINE MANAGEMENT
Line up film goers according to priority of their passes/tickets outside venues prior to showings. Communicate what’s happening inside the theatre to those in line in terms of when doors open, any potential delays, etc. Patience, a sense of humor and good communication skills are required for this position.
TICKETING
Stand at entrance to the lobby and ensure that pass holders and ticket holders are admitted according to their priority when doors open. After all pass holders have been admitted and a count of open seats taken, the Ticket Taker will sell Standby Tickets (cash only). Ticket Taker will be responsible for filling out attendance form for each movie and reconciling cash to Venue Manager. Remaining calm when all around appear to be in chaos is essential. Multi-tasking skills invaluable.
COUNTER
Standing next to Ticket Taker, uses a clicker to count the number of pass holders admitted and Standby Tickets sold. Might not sound like much, but this task is actually critical to BIBFF efforts to secure grants for the following year as we are always asked to document our attendance figures. It’s much tougher than it sounds to keep an accurate count in the swell of the crowd. Attention to detail and ability to see the big picture value of this task helpful in this position.
BALLOT COLLECTOR
Stand at entrance to auditorium and hand a ballot to each person prior to the movie. Collect them afterwards from audience. Be prepared to hand out extra blank ballots as people leave because someone always looses them during the film. Count totals of each number and record on the ballot count sheet at the end of each screening and hand over to your Venue manager. Remember, most of the directors showing at BIBFF live and die on the audience results. Winning an audience award is a major marketing tool. Focus, attention to detail essential here.
B | BOX OFFICE
Trained team of volunteers needed to assist the festival’s ticketing needs at the box office during the festival, and relaying information to festival-goers. Maintain a secure environment. Cash handling experience, attention to detail, and a helpful, customer service attitude are essential. Responsible for selling items BIBFF has decided to make available to festival-goers. Keep merchandise table/display neat and attractive, restocking items as needed. Maintain a secure environment. Prior retail sales experience a plus. Will sweep film venues twice daily to pick up cash and ballots.
C | HOSPITALITY TEAM
Support our Hospitality Venue Managers in providing a welcoming space for festival goers. You will be expected to do whatever is needed to make that happen. Sometimes it will be as simple as greeting people, at others it may be more labor intensive such as moving boxes of glassware, emptying garbage, locking things up in the evening, making sure the venue is “customer-ready” for the following day.
D | VOLUNTEER HQ TEAM
These volunteers work with the Volunteer Director to ensure smooth coordination of all of the volunteers. Typical tasks include getting venue shift schedules and sign-in sheets to Venue Managers, calling volunteers to remind them of upcoming shifts and answering questions from other volunteers. Doubles as food station for volunteers close to the venue.
E| SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM
Help the Special Events manager with events that take place throughout the festival. Check-in guests; assist with set up and clean up; hand out party favors, drink tickets, guard entrances, bartend, etc. Hospitality industry experience a real plus.
F | FESTIVAL FEEDBACK TEAM
Volunteers conduct surveys of attendees while in line, and at other locations during the Festival. They will be needed 20 minutes prior to screening. If you enjoy interacting with new people, this might just be the spot for you.
G | SET-UP/TEAR DOWN CREW
Teams needed for various events throughout the festival to move materials from one site to another, pick up beverages and distribute to festival venues. Can you lift 25 pounds?
Have a truck, too? You’re our person!
H | PRE-FESTIVAL TEAM
Credentials – Assemble passes; distribute via one external location pre -festival on 2-3 days.
Gift bags – Assemble gift bags for VIPs, etc.
Supply Bin Inventory/Restocking – conduct inventory against list of needed supplies; prepare list of what supplies are needed; and restock bins, which will be delivered to each venue at start of festival.
Office Support: Provide off-site phone coverage and general office assistance in the week leading up to Festival. Must be able to communicate a smile over the phone line. (This task is still being defined.)
*** As festival plans are still evolving, some of the descriptions above may change.