The Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest
(and CityFolk)
Have a special skill? Private recruitment has begun!
We are as excited as you to start welcoming new volunteers for this year’s festival!
**Note: This is private/specialized recruitment; Public/General registration is not currently open for 2024.
Let the weather be the only surprise this season! ☀️💨🌦 Please carefully read each job description that fits your skillset to see the job expectations and requirements. Click the corresponding linked Google Form to submit your application, acceptance is not guaranteed.
A-TEAM (15-17)(18+)
Are you someone who loves to make sure everyone has the same exceptional festival experience, regardless of disability or limitation? If so, consider joining our specialized A-Team and provide support to any volunteer or patron who needs a little extra assistance navigating our festival grounds.
Ottawa Bluesfest’s A-Team is a team of volunteers who supports the festival’s accessibility policies by helping out volunteers and patrons with accessibility issues around and across our festival grounds.
***NEW THIS YEAR!*** We’re expanding the A-Team to have volunteers dedicated to helping other volunteers. Are you an experienced support person? Do you enjoy working 1 on 1 with other people? A-Team buddies will pair up with volunteers to help support them throughout their shifts; the more a-team volunteers we have, the more volunteers we can support on-site. More information to come!
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
Additional accessibility information coming soon!
Backstage Accreditation (18+)
Do you love working behind the scenes? If so, consider working with the Backstage Accreditation team where you’ll get to be a part of the backstage excitement.
Backstage Accreditation is responsible for verifying proper accreditation at backstage access
points. Volunteers in this area are expected to demonstrate exceptional professionalism, maturity and commitment.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
For additional accessibility information click HERE
Backstage Hospitality (18+)
Passionate about creating a comfortable environment and making sure things run smoothly? If so, join this team of professional individuals that serve backstage members and create the PERFECT good vibe hangout area.
Backstage Hospitality is responsible for addressing artists’ requests and is located behind or near each stage. Volunteers in this area are expected to demonstrate exceptional professionalism, maturity and commitment, working cohesively to create a relaxing, fun, safe and secure performer experience, as set out by the Backstage Hospitality Manager.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
For additional accessibility information click HERE
Box Office (15-17) (18+)
Are you someone that is able to keep cool as a cucumber and organized amidst chaos? If so, join
the Customer Care team, responsible for providing exceptional services to our patrons who wish to
purchase their ticket, have issues with tickets or pick up prepaid tickets.
Customer Care volunteers provide frontline customer service to our patrons wishing to purchase
a ticket, upgrade their tickets or pick up pre-paid tickets. If you want to be part of the excitement and ensure our patrons and guests get off to a great start, then this crew is for you!
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
Additional accessibility information coming soon!
photo team (18+)
Do you have a keen eye for photography? Our Photo Team is responsible for annually documenting the Ottawa Bluesfest volunteer story and capturing epic festival moments, fantastic fans, and—most importantly—our great volunteers!
The volunteer Photo Team is responsible for annually documenting the Ottawa Bluesfest volunteer story. Covering the entire festival grounds and all volunteer areas, members of this team will use their eagle-eyes to scope out people and activities that will find their place in the festival’s digital archives.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
For additional accessibility information click HERE
poster gallery (18+)
Are you someone who appreciates and/or collects limited edition memorabilia? Are you excited to engage patrons in bidding wars for once in a lifetime experiences? If so, consider joining our Poster Gallery team in displaying and selling autographed memorabilia and collectable posters that support the Ottawa Bluesfest Charities, Blues in the Schools and Be in the Band! This team also conducts Silent Auctions for our Best Seats in the House fundraising initiative—a chance for our patrons to sit stage-side during an artist’s performance!
The Poster Gallery displays and sells autographed and non-autographed festival commemorative posters and memorabilia. Proceeds from the sale of posters support Ottawa Bluesfest’s charities, Blues in the Schools and Be in the Band.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
For additional accessibility information click HERE
signage (15-17) (18+)
Do you like telling people where to go and how to get there? Is your favorite movie a Mel Gibson thriller involving aliens and strategically-placed glasses of water? If so, all signs are pointing to you feeling right at home on our Signage team!
The Signage team is a small but important group of volunteers that do mostly pre- and post-festival work installing and removing signage throughout the festival grounds.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description.
Click HERE to apply!
Additional accessibility information coming soon!
Stage Crew (15-17)(18+)
Are you interested in seeing the behind the scenes of a festival stage and how a show really
works? Then come on over to Stage Crew!
Stage Crew is a team of volunteers who support the effective movement and placement of stage
equipment on several festival stages as well as assisting artists unload, load, and set up their
gear.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
Additional accessibility information coming soon!
SWAT TEAM (18+)
Have you volunteered with Bluesfest in the past? Are you over 18 and a flexible, dedicated team-player ready for any challenge or special assignment? Join our specialized team of S.W.A.T. energizers (Support, Welcome, Appreciation & Training) as they provide reinforcement to Volunteer Services and the various demands of the festival such as staff support, crowd control, appreciation and more!
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description
Click HERE to apply!
Additional accessibility information coming soon!
Volunteer Check-In (15-17) (18+)
Do you love being the first face someone sees, greeting and inviting your thing? If so, join our team in welcoming all the volunteers daily and being the first smile they see at the festival while hooking them up with everything they need!
The Volunteer Check-In, located in Volunteer Village, is the pre-shift check-in area for all
volunteers. Volunteers must check in before the start of each shift in order to receive their food voucher and daily accreditation that grants them access to the festival. T-shirts are issued to volunteers on their first shift and must be brought to each subsequent shift.
Click HERE to read this Opportunity’s full job description.
Click HERE to apply!
For additional accessibility information click HERE
***All “accessibility information sheets” will always be subject to change***
Contact
- volunteers@ottawabluesfest.ca
- Keanna Louis-Charles (she/her) musician, educator, community advocate (Volunteer Services Manager)
- Hannah Steeds (she/her) (Volunteer Services Assistant)
- Jamine Ackert (Volunteer Services Assistant)
- Holmer B., Debby D., Christina C. (Volunteer Advisory Team)
The Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest
- Supported by the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre