About Volunteer Opportunities During Festival Week

Accessibility Ambassadors: Volunteers in this role ensure the comfort and safety of youth and adult audience members who may have special accessibility challenges.

Audience Survey Ambassadors: Volunteers in this role report to the T-Shirt/Info Table to collect supplies (blank survey cards, clipboards, pens). During the half hour prior to the start of evening performances, and during intermission(s), volunteers walk through the crowd to invite audience members to complete a survey. If audience members include their contact info (name/address/phone), they become eligible for the periodic free drawings which are held during the week. Put completed surveys in the container on the T-Shirt/Info Table just prior to the start of the second act since this is usually the time the free drawing is held. Return blank survey cards, clipboards and pens to the T-Shirt/Info Table. In past years, we have offered tickets to Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Ripton Community Coffee House, SolarFest, and Valley Stage Music Festival as an incentive to audience members to complete a survey card.

Eco Rep: Volunteers in this role will help us keep the Green clean by directing audience members to deposit trash, recycling and composting into appropriate containers.

Event Captain/Emcee: The volunteer in this role should be the first to arrive and the last to leave at the particular performance. He or she will welcome performers to the Festival site and introduce them to the Sound Team, Hospitality Hosts, and Merchandise Sales Volunteers. The Event Captain will acknowledge performance sponsors and make relevant announcements from the stage at the beginning of the performance, during intermission (evening shows), and at the end of the performance.

Festival T-Shirt Sales/Information Table Staff: Volunteers in this role arrange and sell T-shirts; keep accurate records; serve as general resource person at table; provide area info and directions; provide info to audience members who wish to become involved as volunteers for future Festivals; reconcile sales and leave a starting “bank” for the next day (this is only done once a day in the evening). Return items to the designated storage area and give sales income to the Treasurer or Event Captain for deposit. At noontime performances, raffle tickets will also be sold at this table.

General Staff: Volunteers in this role check in with the Event Captain. Help carry tables and supplies from the designated storage area to the tent (and return them at end of evening). Distribute and collect trash and recycling containers. Check restrooms and restock toilet paper when necessary. Set up, straighten, and/or take down chairs. Restock Festival programs. Distribute programs to Festival goers as they arrive. These volunteers may also help pass the hat during intermissions. Promote sales of T-shirts and raffle tickets.

Green-Up/Clean-Up/Chair Re-set Following "Brown Bag" Performances: Volunteers in this role help us keep the Festival site clean by donning plastic gloves to pick up trash and recycling after each noontime performance. Volunteers may also assist in setting up chairs if they have been stacked to make space available under the tent for audience members to sit on the ground.

Hospitality Volunteers (Hosts, Bakers and Runners): Hospitality Hosts greet performer(s); provide tour of the “Green Room” indicating restroom and hospitality areas; follow hospitality guidelines which will differ for each performer (according to contract). Prepare and serve food and clean up afterwards. Ensure that performer has adequate beverage(s) on stage (especially water). Provide clean towels and launder used towels. Maintain cleanliness of the kitchen. Hospitality Bakers prepare baked goods (primarily desserts) during Festival week. These baked items become part of the meals served to performers. Hospitality Runners walk or drive to area restaurants to pick up donated meals.

Pass-the-Hat Ambassadors: During designated performance breaks, volunteers in this role walk through the audience carrying donation buckets. They invite audience members to support the Festival with contributions of any amount. Pass-the-Hat Ambassadors thank audience members for their support, provide on-the-spot answers to a variety of questions, and encourage audience members to get involved as volunteers for future Festivals. All Pass-the-Hat volunteers must be in appropriate Festival “uniform” (Festival t-shirt and/or name tag lanyard) to be easily identifiable to the audience in this important role. Member of the Pass-the-Hat “team” should assemble by the tent 5-10 minutes prior to break time to get territory assignment. Once done, all buckets should be turned in to the T-Shirt/Info Table or Treasurer.

Performer Merchandise Sales Staff: Some performers may need the services of one or more Festival volunteers to help with (or completely handle) sales of their products (CDs, t-shirts, caps, stickers, etc.). Each performer will provide his/her instructions and cash box or credit card processing equipment. If the performer does not provide a starting “bank” the Festival has one as a back-up. Verify inventory. Arrange and sell merchandise, keeping accurate records; reconcile sales and leave a starting “bank” for the next day. Review sales with performer and return supplies to the church basement.

Pizza Raffle Ambassadors: Volunteers in this role report to the T-Shirt/Info Table to collect raffle supplies (clipboards, pens, and raffle tickets). During the half hour prior to the start of “Brown Bag” performances, volunteers invite audience members to sign up for this free raffle. Put completed raffle tickets in the plastic container on the T-Shirt/Info Table.

Raffle Ticket Sales Ambassador: Volunteers in this role report to the T-Shirt/Info Table to collect raffle sales supplies (raffle sign, clipboards, pens, raffle tickets, and change). During the half hour prior to the start of evening performances, and during intermission(s), volunteers walk through the crowd to invite audience members to support the Festival with the purchase of one or more raffle tickets. Once performance begins, volunteers have a more low-key approach to sales so as not to be distracting from the performance. Sold tickets, money, change, pens, clipboards, and unsold tickets should be returned to the T-Shirt/Info Table at the conclusion of the shift. Put ticket stub(s) containing name and contact info in the appropriate plastic container on the T-Shirt/Info Table.

Security Volunteers: “If you SEE something, SAY something”™ is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement authorities. If audience members see something suspicious taking place, we are encouraging them to report that behavior or activity to a Festival volunteer or to local law enforcement (Middlebury Police Dept. | 802-388-3191) or, in the case of an emergency, call 911. As a Security Volunteer, please be on the alert for any bags, backpacks or containers unattended. Do regular “tours” of the Festival site. Note: You may be asked to carry a walkie-talkie for emergency purposes.

Sound Equipment Helpers: Volunteers in this role report to Sound Engineers. Volunteers carry equipment from storage trailer to the stage and assist with initial set up for “Brown Bag” and with more extensive set up for evening performers. They also help return sound equipment to the storage trailer at the end of the evening.

Application Process

Email midfog[at]gmail[doc]com to let us know you'd like to volunteer for this year's Festival.