The Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest
**Note: The volunteer opportunities below are for our private/specialized recruitment campaign. Some crews require volunteers to have additional experience or a special skill to be considered.**
We recommend you also apply to ONE (1) publicly recruited team while you’re waiting for your acceptance.
Let the weather be the only surprise this season! ☀️💨🌦
*New this year* Night Owls
Are you one of those people who enjoys long summer nights? If working from the comfort of a cutting-edge security console overnight sounds like something you’d be interested in, then you’re probably a Night Owl!
Click HERE for the opportunity’s full job description!
Lick HERE for additional accessibility information!
*New this year* Volunteer Site Crew
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a festival? Interested in getting involved with the success of preparing for one of the biggest festivals around? Then this is the team for you!
Volunteer site crew is now here, and we aid main site crew in the set up and tear down of the festival. We are tasked with numerous jobs to make everyone’s lives easier and get them done efficiently.
More information coming soon!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN SOON!
A-Team (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.
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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
Artist Memorabilia (18+) (formerly Poster Gallery and Artist Memorabilia)
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? Are you passionate about raising money for a good cause and supporting music in schools? Then the Artist Memorabilia team is for you!
More information coming soon!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN SOON!
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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
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 Box Office team, responsible for providing exceptional services to our patrons who wish to purchase their ticket, have issues with tickets or pick up prepaid tickets.
Box Office 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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN SOON!
Pageantry (18+)
Are you constantly praised for being efficient, punctual and willing to move all around the festival? If you are 18 years of age or older consider joining our team and help keep the festival running in tip-top shape by managing and delivering supplies to areas in need.
Click HERE for the opportunity’s full job description!
Additional accessibility information will be available soon!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN 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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
Signage (15-17) (18+)
Do you like telling people where to go and how to get there? Is your favourite 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 your 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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN 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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
Tablet Support Team (18+)
Are you savvy with finicky tablets and ready to jump in and support our Beverage Services and Customer Care teams with your skills? If so, join the Volunteer Tablet Support Team. With a cashless festival, we are looking for ground support to keep our teams functioning confidently!
Volunteers will help our Tablet Specialists set up, maintain, and take down point of sale and volunteer management tablets throughout the festival site, as well as troubleshoot basic connectivity issues.
Click HERE for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
APPLICATION WILL OPEN 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 for the opportunity’s full job description!
Click HERE for additional accessibility information!
**Please note that the accessibility information sheets for each opportunity above are updated yearly and are therefore subject to change**
The Volunteer Team Behind Bluesfest
- Keanna Louis-Charles (she/her) musician, educator, community advocate (Volunteer Services Manager)
- Hannah Steeds (she/her) (Volunteer Services Assistant)
- Jamine Ackert (Volunteer Services Assistant)
- Jeff Heaton (Volunteer Services IT Assistant)