NXNE 2008 DATES: JUNE 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 2008
This year it all takes place from June 12th through and including June 15th (Thursday to Sunday) at numerous live music venues in Toronto’s downtown core.
The volunteer teams are broken into two main sections ¬ Conference and Festival. The pre-conference staff are already up and running but should there be a need at all (if any) for short term volunteer assistance, the specific Coordinators will notify you – should you have indicated this as an area of interest on your profile form. Please read through the following information to become familiar with our volunteer process. We also have a limited number of volunteer positions in our Film portion of the festival.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
This is your opportunity to hear the best of the best in live music and to hear some of the most experienced people in the industry discussing a wide range of current/under the radar and leading edge topics. Not only will these doors be open to you but so will the opportunity of meeting a wide variety of new and interesting music related individuals. Volunteering with NXNE will not only broaden your knowledge and opportunities but will also look great on a resume. If curious, just ask some of our returning volunteers to share their stories with you.
Please do not be intimidated by any of the job descriptions, if you feel strongly about working a particular position for the NXNE 2008 Conference OR Festival, please feel free to talk to us about it and we will be happy to give you more direction.
Below are a few perks we can make available to our invaluable volunteers:
• 12hours......Staff T-shirt
• 20+..............T-shirt and Wristband
• 30+..............T-shirt, Badge and Goody Bag
• 40+............. Everything and an extra wristband for significant other.
SCHEDULING - CONFERENCE
The conference side of NXNE takes place Thursday June 12th thru Sunday June 15th. Conference Volunteers will be working mainly daytime hours although there are a limited number of evening shifts available for those not available during daytime hours. Hours range approximately from 9am thru to 11pm. As well, certain tasks such as bag stuffing, set-up and tear-down, load in and out must be completed the day before the conference begins. This day is June 11th, 2008.
Conference Volunteer Job Descriptions
Registration:
• Must be friendly, outgoing, discreet, organized, and able to work well with others.
• Able to take direction from Team Leaders during busy hours, yet also take initiative during less hectic periods.
• Must always treat delegates in a courteous and professional manner.
• Registration opens Thursday, June 12th at 12noon (subject to change) and closes at 10pm.
• Re-opens Friday June, 13th at 10am and closes at 9pm (subject to change).
• Re-opens Saturday, June 14th at 10am and closes 4pm (subject to change).
• Must be able to interact and work well with peers.
General Store:
• Able to take direction from Team Leader and Asst. Team Leader.
• Must be able to interact well with their peers during operating hours of the merchandise booth.
• Must be pleasant, outgoing and helpful to customers whether they are just looking or purchasing merchandise.
• Previous cash experience is beneficial but not required.
Float Team:
• Must be comfortable, capable and flexible in multi-tasking on an ongoing basis, both in hectic and slow periods
• Must be accurate and proficient if asked to and/or when handling a variety of responsibilities at any given time.
• Must be able to multi-task.
• Able to take on new tasks and instructions from any given Team Leader when floating from one area to another.
• Must be able to interact and work well with peers.
• Ability to adapt to new priorities at a minute’s notice and with comfort and ease.
Conference Rooms:
• Requires leadership & time management skills.
• Able to answer questions & direct delegates.
• Handle any situation, which may arise with the utmost professionalism & discretion
• Friendly, accessibility & personable skills are ideal for this position.
• Able to assist and work well as a team member when either re-defining a room set up and or change over for a new panel discussion.
Load-In & Load-Out:
• Must be available from 12:00 noon (subject to change) to approximately 11:00 p.m. Wednesday to assist in the transfer of Conference Headquarters to the 3-day "on-site" location.
• Must be available for approximately 4 hours (late afternoon) on Saturday, for the transfer of the "on-site" Headquarters back to its original location.
• Must not be adverse to manual (yet fun) labour, and enjoy being a team player.
• Will also assist with Bag Stuffing set up.
Bag Stuffing & Conference Signage:
• Assist in placing all signage and banners at Conference 3-day Headquarter location: Holiday Inn on King.
• Must be able to work within a flexible schedule, and be available for both set-up & tear-down.
• Agile & comfortable working "hands-on". A good sense of humour will aid any volunteer in dealing with the tasks at hand.
• This is not a full time volunteer position so please be prepared to be placed elsewhere if looking for optimum hours
SCHEDULING - FESTIVAL
The festival runs all three nights (June 12th -14th). As a Festival volunteer you will be an integral part in assuring the festival’s reputation for accuracy and precision remains intact. You will be working from the early evening into the wee hours of the morning, side-by-side with the artists of today and tomorrow. This is a fantastic experience where you will have the opportunity not only to advance your skills, but to hear great music and meet new friends!
The following is a description of the various positions that are available to you. Since the descriptions are quite general, we strongly recommend you attend all pre-Festival meetings, giving everyone an opportunity to learn more about each position and ask any questions he/she may have.
Please Note: After receiving your volunteer application, you will be contacted shortly thereafter to discuss your areas of interests in NXNE 2008.
Festival Volunteer Job Descriptions
Stage Manager:
• A commitment of all 3 nights of NXNE (without exception) from 5:30 p.m. until approx. 3:00 a.m.
• Available for 3 pre-Festival orientation and training sessions.
• Attend 3 Pre-Production meetings during the month of May at NXNE headquarters to obtain venue, band and other vital Festival information.
• Establish contact with all bands showcasing at your venue at least 3 to 4 weeks prior to the Festival.
• Ability to effectively manage and lead a venue crew (varying from 3 to 5 people) in a friendly, efficient and professional manner. (With lots of fun too!)
• Background should include managerial experience, familiarity with live music production & great organizational skills.
Assistant Stage Manager:
• A commitment for all 3 nights (without exception) from 5:30 p.m. until approx. 3:00 a.m.
• Available for 3 pre-Festival orientation and training sessions.
• Responsibilities include assisting the Stage Manager with Pre-Festival and Festival duties.
• Essentially the Stage Manager’s right hand, ready to accept a leadership role if called upon.
Stage Hand:
• A commitment for all 3 nights (without exception) from 5:30 p.m. until approx. 3:00 a.m.
• Available for 2 pre-Festival meet & greet, training and orientation meetings.
• Responsibilities include assisting the Stage Manager and/or Asst. Stage Manager.
• Help bands load-in, set-up and tear down stage gear, maintaining seamless performance transitions throughout evening(s).
• Knowledge of live gear beneficial, but not essential.
Cashier:
• A commitment for all 3 nights (without exception) from 6:00 p.m. until approx. 2:00 a.m.
• Available for 2 to 3 pre-Festival training and orientation meetings.
• Responsibilities include all cash sales at venue, successfully maintaining cash float throughout evening and counting out at night's end
• Previous cash experience is preferred.
Door Person:
• A commitment for all 3 nights (without exception) from 8:00 p.m. until approx. 2:00 a.m.
• Available for 2 pre-Festival orientation meetings.
• Responsibilities include verifying patron for proper passes and wristbands; directing paying patrons to the cashier and ensuring venue does not exceed capacity ratios outlined by NXNE.
• This is NOT a BOUNCER POSITION, and you are not expected to get physical with any patron.
Float Team:
• A commitment of all three nights from 6pm until 3am.
• Available for 2 pre-Festival orientation meetings.
• Assist Festival crew management by providing extra support where needed.
• Must be able to deal with multiple tasks and conflicting priorities with ease, as we may re-locate you several times during the course of an evening.
• Great opportunity for a first year volunteer who wants to get a sense of several different areas of the festival.
Load In/Out:
• Available for advance pre-production assignments throughout the first half of the Festival week assisting the Production Manager with backline (audio gear) set up at venues.
• Also available in the wee hours of the morning, after programming ends on Saturday night, to assist with packing up and picking up backline (audio gear) from venues.
Transportation Team:
• Available during festival week to assist Festival Crew Management team with airport pickups. (Bands, panel hosts, festival guests, etc.)
• MUST have a calm, professional demeanor and must not be easily starstruck.
• MUST have a valid class G driver’s license.
• Must be comfortable driving large passenger vans.
• Reliable and responsible, as you will be driving the festival’s rental vans.
Indie Music Market:
• Available for three shifts (either AM or PM) during festival weekend, working at our outdoor stage/marketplace at Yonge & Dundas Square.
• Must take direction well and be able to adapt to changing responsibilities throughout the day.
• Must enjoy dealing with the public.
Signage & Banner:
• Advancing Festival Signage & Banner at all participating venues and special events throughout the weeks leading up to NXNE.
• Able to work with minimal supervision within a team environment.
• Having access to a transportation vehicle would be an asset, but not necessary.
• **PLEASE NOTE** Signage & Banner is not a volunteer position in itself, but an add-on to any other position, for those who want to help us out a little extra.
Film Festival Volunteer Job Descriptions
• Positions will begin Thursday evening, with afternoon and evening shifts running through to Sunday.
• Available for 2 pre-Festival orientation meetings.
Hospitality Ushers:
• Similar to the music festival, responsibilities include verifying patrons for proper passes and wristbands; directing paying patrons to the cashier and ensuring venue does not exceed capacity ratios outlined by NXNE.
• Good communication skills, including talking to patrons about the films and answering questions.
• The ability to work with minimal supervision within a team environment.
• This is NOT a BOUNCER POSITION, and you are not expected to get physical with any patron.
Usher Supervisor:
• Ability to effectively manage and lead a venue crew (varying from 3 to 5 people) in a friendly, efficient and professional manner. (With lots of fun too!)
• Background should include managerial experience, familiarity with independent film & great organizational, communication and people skills.
• The ability to work with minimal supervision within a team environment.
• Positions will begin Thursday evening, with afternoon and evening shifts running through to Sunday.
• Available for 2 pre-Festival orientation meetings.
NXNE CODE OF CONDUCT
NXNE expects volunteers to be professional in their appearance, demeanor and dependability.
You represent NXNE, Toronto and the Canadian music community. We are counting on you to provide a high standard of Volunteer professionalism. Should you fall short of the high standards being set, you will be relieved of all volunteer rights and privileges.
We will use this information to contact you and schedule you, and to use your skills as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Please feel free to include a resume or C.V. with your application form.
Thank you for expressing interest in NXNE 2008.
And Remember... It's For The Music.
Lindsey Williams
Conference Volunteer Manager
lindseyw@nxne.com
Rebecca Gallant
Festival Crew Manager
rebeccag@nxne.com
Wendi Hayden
Film Volunteer Coordinator/ Manager
wendi@nxne.com
Claire Williams
Asst. Conference Vol. Manager
nxneclaire@hotmail.com
Sarah Wooldridge / Mike Levine
Asst. Festival Crew Managers
volunteer@nxne.com
General Inquiries should be directed to: volunteer@nxne.com