Duty Descriptions
We STRONGLY suggest that you select 6 hours of the same duty (doesn't have to be continuous), instead of a few hours of this and a few hours of that. Each duty has specific and different responsibilities that you will be trained in at Orientation.
Click here to go to the Sign-Up Sheet.
Thursday Only
Driving your own vehicle from Reno to Bowers hauling equipment
This is the day we pick up equipment from our storage unit in Sparks, and a couple rental companies in Reno. A Crew Leader will give you instructions on which place(s) you will go, and what you will be picking up. You should have a vehicle that can carry some cargo, a truck would be best, or maybe you have a cargo trailer? We have insurance that supplements your own policy for using your vehicle for this duty.
Friday Only
Festival Grounds Set Up Crew - 6 hour shift on Friday only
This is the time-honored Bowers Set Up Crew! You can get all your volunteer hours in with this assignment, and be able to enjoy the rest of the festival with no “jobs” to do. A Crew Leader will guide you through the day. There will be heavy lifting for those able to do so, but plenty of other lighter-duty jobs. Coffee and pastries provided at the beginning of your shift, and lunch will be provided as well.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Opening Crews on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday Opening starts at 2pm; Saturday starts at 8am and Sunday starts at 10am. Involves organizing materials, booting up the technology, tidying things up if the booth was left a mess the night before, and being ready for customers! Please read over the duties for the Check-In and Merch Crews as you will be handling all these duties during the first hour after the gates open. A Crew Leader will be available to help you.
Errand running
This is a perfect assignment for someone that lives in Carson City. A Crew Leader will communicate with you via cell phone, and you will pick up needed items in Carson City, or shuttle people to the campground, etc. We have insurance that supplements your own policy for using your vehicle for this duty.
Golf Carts
You will have a golf cart, and will drive it around the festival grounds, stocking the stage, the Kiosk, the HQ booth, etc. with supplies such as water, snacks, and other needed items. Part of your “route” will be responding to people that wave at you for a ride, and to give people rides to and from the parking lot and Headquarters tent.
Check-in
You will be working in the Headquarters tent with a view of the stage. You’ll need to have a smart phone with a camera on it, either Android or iphone. A Crew Leader will upload a guest check-in app to your phone (you’ll remove the app when you’re done). Most customers pre-pay for tickets and will have a QR code on their phone or a printed paper. You will scan their code to check them in. The Crew Leader will train you on this when you start your shift. You'll also have a backup paper copy of all the names of people that purchased advance tickets.
Some people will also be trained on how to accept payments via credit card, check or cash. This will involve using an ipad cash register, a credit card reader, and an app on your phone. We'll cover all this at Orientation.
Merch
You will be working in the Headquarters tent with a view of the stage. You will be assisting customers with looking at merch, restocking merch, folding t-shirts, making signs as needed, helping people with information and generally being a happy, customer-service expert! A Crew Leader will train you on how to use the ipad cash register and a credit card reader. Some of you will install an app on your phone that is used for "tap to pay". You will be working closely with the Check-In Crew, and may need to step in and help them if they get “swamped”. You will also be helping people with membership issues (looking up their member numbers or expiration dates, selling them memberships, etc)
Membership & Raffle Table
You will be working in the Headquarters tent with a view of the stage. You'll be selling raffle tickets as well as helping people with Membership issues (looking up their numbers if they don't know them, filling out Membership Cards, etc). You'll need to be trained on using the money technology (ipad cash register, credit card reader, tap-to-pay, etc.).
Petting Zoo
The Petting Zoo is a booth located in the Vendor area, adjacent to the picnic shelter. You will have a view of the stage. Duties involve setting up the booth with a collection of musical instruments, some folding chairs, a couple music stands, a table with information, etc. People stop by to learn about the instruments and are invited to pick them up and play them (only during the breaks between the stage acts). You should have some knowledge about the instruments (see list below) and how each one is played (or be able to fake it!). A Crew Leader will be available to assist/train you. During the stage shows, people can sit in the booth and talk, but not play. People are often curious and have lots of questions about the instruments.
Instruments in the Petting Zoo
Guitars
Banjos
Mandolin
Mountain Lap Dulcimer
Dobro
Fiddle
Closing Crews
The last shifts of each day at the HQ tent will have closing duties -- mostly just “tidying up” and preparing for the next day (the Sunday Tear Down Crew is a separate duty). There will be some paperwork, and some inventorying required. You’ll do a “sweep” of the whole grounds, including parking lot, and making note of anything that needs fixing or replacing or replenishing. You’ll also be serving customers as needed, selling merch, tickets, memberships, etc. So please review the job descriptions above regarding Check-in, Merch and Membership as you might be handling all those duties, if needed.
Sunday Tear Down Crew
This is just what it sounds like! Taking down tents, signs, banners. Winding up cords, carrying a lot of stuff to the curb, packing everything into cases, boxes, totes and vehicles. Final trash pick-up. Driving those vehicles to Washoe Lake campground. A Crew Leader will keep you busy! The good news is – the more people that sign up for this, the quicker it gets done!