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 (One Festival Button)
• Free Admission to CFF Shows (One show voucher per shift)

How I Volunteer:

Sign up opportunities for volunteers coming soon!

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. 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 Stage Managers and artists. They assist with special seating requirements and other customer service needs. Before each show, VMs make a welcome/turn off your cellphones speech. Between shows VMs ensure the venue front of house is set and reset. VMs will also be accountable for unlocking and locking up their venue every day and for signing off on reports at the end of each show.
  
  VMs are highly encouraged to volunteer for a minimum of five shifts.
• Box Office Team sell 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 with computers, counting and handling cash, multitasking and working in a fast-paced environment.
• The Main Box Office Team sells advance ticket sales, merchandise and ticket packages. Main Box Officers should be comfortable with computers, counting and handling cash and multitasking.
• Fringe Centralities help at Fringe Central, the official location of hanging out, networking, ticketing, eating and drinking at CFF. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to: chair/table set up, sidewalk chalking, clean up, trash removal, taking food orders/food distribution, site monitoring, checking ID's, distributing wristbands and general "watchfulness" for safety. Centralites also help to direct patrons to the next location and answer general questions about the upcoming performances.
• Fringe Runners transport paperwork, updates, needed items and more between the venues. Bike a plus.
• Photographers help to document the Fringe by taking pictures of CFF events and happenings. Please send portfolio examples, website link, etc. to Anne at anne@chicagofringe.org.

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 VOLUNTEERs

• 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.
• Jacks Of All Trades report to the Volunteer Hub and fill in where needed – delivering programs or box office reports, helping with crowd control, covering a missed shift or giving the Venue/Stage Manager a break. Cellphone required. Car a plus.
• Setup/Take-Down Volunteers help setup all venues in advance of the festival and help to strike all venues after the Festival has closed. It is best that Setup/Tear-down Volunteers can lift heavy objects, are comfortable with power tools and are willing to get a little dirty. Understanding of theatrical builds and strikes a plus. Setup: Aug. 24-30. Tear-down: Sept. 10-11.
• Setup/Take-Down Drivers drive festival setup & take-down materials to their intended location so that setup/take-down crew does not have to stop working to do so. Cellphone and car required. Truck/large vehicle a plus. Setup: Aug. 24-30. Tear-down: Sept. 10-11.

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.