BECOME A
VOLUNTEER

Overview

Berks Arts is deeply grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who share their time, energy, and talent for the Reading Blues Fest. The festival is one of the fastest-growing in the nation, thanks to the thousands of hours committed by our amazing Blues Fest Volunteer Family!

Volunteers are critical to the festival’s success. Our volunteers assist our patrons as ticket takers and ushers, merchandise sellers, and general supporters and friends. Volunteers also support our artists through stage production, hospitality, transportation, and other logistical and operational support.

Volunteer Registration for the 2024 Reading Blues Fest will take place in September, 2024. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Reading Blues Fest. We are always looking for great new members to join our Blues Fest family! Current/Active Berks Arts volunteers will receive registration links via email to submit shift availability.

NEW interested volunteers may start the process of becoming a Berks Arts volunteer by completing this New Volunteer Information Form (current/active volunteers do not need to complete this form).

General VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

  • All volunteers must be 18 years of age at the time of the event. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

  • All volunteers must register through the official site each year.

  • All volunteers, new and returning, must attend the Festival Prep Meeting in-person.

DEPARTMENTS AND ROLES

FRONT OF HOUSE

  • House Managers are selected based on their experience and leadership as Reading Blues Fest volunteers. House Managers are the first to arrive, last to leave, and are ultimately responsible for a smooth and pleasant experience for patrons and volunteers alike. There is always at least one House Captain on duty while Front of House Volunteers are actively assigned at a venue.

    Volunteers who are interested in the House Manager role should contact the Volunteer Coordinator for consideration; prerequisite experience as a Zone Captain is required to perform this role. House Managers are required to arrive 2 hours prior to concert start time.

  • Zone Captains are selected based on their experience and leadership as Reading Blues Fest volunteers. Depending on the venue size and layout, there are generally 1-5 Zone Captains assigned to each event. Zone Captains serve as ticket takers and ushers in a specific area (Zone) within the venue, while also providing leadership and support to the team of volunteers assigned to that specific Zone.

    Volunteers who are interested in the Zone Captain role should contact the Volunteer Coordinator for consideration; prerequisite experience as both a Ticket Taker and Usher is required to perform this role. Zone Captains are required to arrive 2 hours prior to concert start time.

  • Greeters are responsible for arriving prior to the Ticket Taker and Usher volunteers to assist with “check in” prior to job duties beginning. Greeters generally shift to a Ticket Taker or Usher role as soon as all volunteers are checked in for the shift. Volunteer Greeters are required to arrive 2 hours prior to concert start time.

  • Ticket Scannerrs are the friendly faces at the doors, responsible for checking and scanning patron tickets in a supportive and efficient manner as they enter a concert venue. Ticket Scanners are required to arrive 1.5 hours prior to concert start time.

  • Ushers are the friendly faces who escort patrons to their seats in a supportive and efficient manner. Ushers are required to arrive 1.5 hours prior to concert start time.

PRODUCTION

  • Stage Managers are selected based on their experience and leadership as Reading Blues Fest Volunteers. Stage Managers are responsible for the backstage production of each concert, supervising Stagehands and ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the curtain. Stage Managers are deeply involved in pre-festival communications with Artists, Agents, and Tour Managers, and the time commitment and level of responsibility for Stage Managers is significant.

    Volunteers who are interested in the Stage Manager role should contact the Production Manager for consideration; prerequisite experience as a Production Stagehand is required to perform this role. Stage Manager shifts generally last several hours, and sometimes all day long.

  • Stagehands provide support for the backstage production of each concert, assisting Stage Managers and ensuring that everything runs smoothly behind the curtain. The level of commitment and responsibility for Stagehands is significant.

    Volunteers who are interested in the Stagehand role should contact the Production Manager for consideration. Stagehand shifts generally last several hours, and sometimes all day long.

HOSPITALITY

  • Hospitality Volunteers are crucial to the Reading Blues Fest operation, ensuring that Artists, Crew, and other key personnel are well-fed and cared for. The Reading Blues Fest Hospitality Team takes excellent care of everyone under their care, providing a warm meal, a cool drink, or just a few minutes of quiet relaxation before a big performance.

    Volunteers who are interested in Hospitality should contact the Hospitality Coordinator for consideration. Hospitality Volunteers are individually selected by the Hospitality Coordinator due to the close interactions with Artists and Backstage access, requiring the utmost professionalism and highest standards at all times. Hospitality shifts generally last several hours, and sometimes all day long.

TRANSPORTATION

  • Transportation Volunteers are crucial to the Reading Blues Fest operation, ensuring that Artists and other key personnel are at the right location at the right time, transported safely and pleasantly. Whether this means airport pickups in Philadelphia or local shuttles from hotels to concert venues, the Transportation Team performs a significant behind-the-scenes effort, managing a complex and ever-changing set of itineraries while delivering the best in friendly transportation service.

    Volunteers who are interested in Transportation should contact the Transportation Coordinator for consideration. Transportation Volunteers are individually selected by the Transportation Coordinator due to the close interactions with Artists, and must have a clean driving record. Transportation shuttles/shifts may occur at all times of day or night, and generally last several hours at a time.

MARKETPLACE

  • Merchandise Volunteers are responsible for selling apparel and other merchandise items, including Artist merchandise, to fans at most concerts and venues throughout the 4-day festival. Merchandise Volunteers are individually selected by the Merchandise Coordinator, should be comfortable with modern retail technology (tablets, credit card processing, etc.), and should enjoy interacting with our patrons and making their purchase fun and enjoyable.

    Volunteers who are interested in merchandise should contact the Merchandise Coordinator for consideration. Merchandise shifts generally begin 1 hour prior to concert start time and run well beyond the end of the concert, until the last patrons have completed their purchases.

BOX OFFICE

  • Members of the Box Office Team are responsible for selling tickets and addressing any onsite ticketing questions through the Berks Arts ticketing system.

    Comfortability with technology and customer service in a fast-moving environment are important characteristics for this position. Our goal is to complete the transaction as quickly as possible so that fans may find their seats.

    Volunteers who are interested in joining the Box Office team should indicate this interest in the availability form.