Why I Should Volunteer?

Besides the opportunity to shape the fringe community, interact with local, national and international artists and develop new skills, we do offer a few tokens of our appreciation:

• A CFF T-shirt
• Free Admission to the Festival (with a Festival Button)
• Free Admission to CFF Shows (One show per shift)

How I Volunteer:

If you are interested in volunteering with CFF, fill out THIS FORM.

Join the Chicago Fringe Volunteer Group on Facebook!

If you have any questions, please email volunteers@chicagofringe.org.

Ways I Can Help:

If you love art and theatre and are looking for new and exciting ways to get involved in the Chicago Arts community, you have come to the right place! If you consider yourself a dedicated, responsible, flexible, and organized person with strong communication skills, we'd love your help!

CFF utilizes volunteers with a wide array of skill sets and work experiences. You have a place on our team! Some of your job possibilities include:

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER JOBS:

• Venue Managers lead the front-of-house team (box office team). VMs ensure that shows remain on schedule by managing crowds—helping audiences move through the ticket buying, ticket taking and seating process - and coordinating with Venue Technicians and Artists. VMs assist with special seating requirements and other customer service needs. Before each show, they make a welcome/turn off your cell phones speech. Between shows, VMs make sure the venue front of house is set and reset, reconcile cash boxes and have artists sign off on their ticket sales for each performance. VMs will also be accountable for unlocking and locking up their venue every day.
• Box Office Team sells tickets and buttons, distributes will call tickets and reconciles the box office and attendance counts after each show. Members of the Box Office Team should be comfortable counting and handling cash, multitasking and working in a fast-paced environment. Computer-based sales are available at the Main Box Office. Training in the ticketing system will be included in the Volunteer Training Session.
• Fringe Centralities help with setup and tear down, clean up, safety and monitoring the Fringe Central grounds. (Fringe Central is the main hang out area for performers, patrons and volunteers between and after shows.) The Centralites also help with food and beverage, wristband distribution, sidewalk chalking, some publicity and any other necessities to make Fringe Central run smoothly.
• Fringer Runner pick up paperwork from the Main Box Office and drop it off at each of the venues every hour. There is a half hour window to make the deposits, so no lollygagers please. Car or bike a plus.
• Jack of All Trades are just what the name implies. They fill in where needed—making deliveries between Fringe Central and the venues; helping with crowd control; covering a missed shift; etc. Cell phone required. Car or bike a plus.
• Bouncers work security at the Fringe Central door. They act as the main gatekeeper for allowing access to FC and checking IDs for alcohol wristbands. Security experience strongly preferred.
• Bartenders handle all bar sales at Fringe Central. Bartending training and certification strongly preferred.

HOST AN ARTIST:

• If you have a spare bedroom, futon or couch and enjoy company, consider hosting an out-of-town artist! It’s easy and fun. It will also provide great opportunities to meet other community-minded theatre people.

TECHNICAL VOLUNTEER JOBS:

• TECHNICAL VOLUNTEERS help to get all the venues cleaned up and ready to go for the festival. Technical Volunteers may be asked to help with anything from hanging and focusing lights to fashioning stages out of flats and platforms to sweeping and mopping dressing rooms or clearing storage areas.
• VENUE STAGE MANAGERS are assigned to a venue for the duration of the festival. They run tech rehearsals and performances. They also act as board operators on sound, projection and lighting equipment, working closely with the group to make sure setup and tear down happens in the allotted time frame. It is best that VSMs are in some way familiar with sound, projection and lighting equipment/operation. Most festival equipment is basic and not all venues are equipped with a projector. There are typically two VSMs assigned to the venue. VSMs work closely with Venue Manager.

YEAR ROUND VOLUNTEER JOBS

• SPECIAL EVENTS VOLUNTEERS help set-up and run a variety of events, like Fringe Binge and the Lottery, throughout the year.
• PHOTOGRAPHERS help to document the Fringe by taking pictures of CFF events and happenings. Please send a portfolio examples, website, etc. to Anne at anne@chicagofringe.org.

Please note: All festival volunteers will be required to attend a Volunteer Training Session.

So, if you haven't already, fill out THIS FORM to join our CFF Volunteer Community. We can't wait!