volunteer information
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Dawson City Music Festival. Without the 300-plus people who give their time and energy each year, the show quite simply would not go on. The information below is for potential volunteers interested in getting in on the action, having lots of fun, and helping us put on another great festival!
How do I become a volunteer?
If you’re already in Dawson City, stop by our office at 3rd & Harper and get the low-down from our Volunteer Coordinator (starting June 5th).
If you’re planning to be here later this summer, call 867-993-5584 or email us at volunteer@dcmf.com.
What is expected of me as a volunteer?
In order to receive a weekend pass, we ask that people work a minimum of 15 hours on the festival. You can receive a Friday or Sunday pass for a minimum of 5 hours work. Shift lengths vary from committee to committee.
We also ask that you stay on touch with your committee head in the period leading up to the festival, and that you show up on time and ready to work for your designated shifts.
As a volunteer you will be representing the festival and our community, so we ask that you be polite, professional and courteous at all times. And of course, have fun!
What will I do as a volunteer?
Some people like to do what they do in their normal lives, some like to completely change their personalities for one weekend a year. Either way, there are many different areas to volunteer in. Below is a sample of some of the many volunteer positions at the festival.
Accommodations — Finding, moving and making beds.
Beer Garden — Selling cold beverages to enthusiastic, thirsty patrons. Must be 19 years of age.
Minto Park Box Office — Distributing pre-paid weekend passes to festival goers.
Concession — Feeding the hungry crowds!
Door — Selling day passes at various festival venues around town.
Hospitality — Setting up and decorating the performers' hospitality lounge, serving meals, snacks and beverages.
Info Booth — Helping festival patrons find what they’re looking for, exchanging tickets for wristbands and selling day passes.
KidsFEST — Kids just wanna rock - and have their faces painted, make crafts, sing, dance and enjoy all kinds of fun games and activities.
Lock-Up — Keeping a safe watch on performers' instruments.
Merchandise — Selling festival souvenirs as well as performers’ CDs, t-shirts, and other merchandise. People with retail experience are especially welcome!
Security — The Red Shirt Brigade! Keeping the festival happy & safe for everyone.
Site Crew — Building things, moving things, and making things look good - then taking it all apart and storing it for next year.
Stage Crew — Helping with technical set-up and take down and the running of performance stages. Previous experience a definite asset.
Tent Crew — Putting up and taking down the mainstage tent and a variety of other smaller tents in Minto Park.
Transportation — Moving people, moving gear, moving stuff...
Are there perks involved with being a volunteer?
Yes! Along with the satisfaction of helping your community put on a great event, you’ll have the chance to work alongside old friends and make lots of news ones. Plus, free admission and discounted festival merchandise!
How old do I have to be?
We welcome volunteers of all ages, although some restrictions do apply and some jobs are only open to volunteers who are 19 years and older. Please contact the festival office for more information.
Can I volunteer if I don’t live in Dawson City?
While we do have some people who come to town just to volunteer, we try to fill as many spots as possible with people who live in the community, or who are spending the summer here. There are, however, always some spots we need filled during the weekend. Unfortunately, logistics dictate that we are unable to guarantee volunteer placements to people from outside the community.
Can I volunteer before/after the weekend?
Most of the volunteering is done at the actual festival itself. There are, however, a limited number of jobs that let you earn your time outside the weekend. We cannot guarantee any specific time spots though.
Do I get a free t-shirt?
Unfortunately, due to the huge costs of putting on a major event in such an isolated locale, we are unable to provide free t-shirts to our volunteers. However, as a way to recognize the work you do as a volunteer, we offer all our 15-hour volunteers the chance to get first pick of the litter on Friday afternoon, and to buy a coveted “Festival Crew” shirt at cost.
When’s the party?
Our festival takes its toll on a large part of our community. The volunteer party happens a couple of weeks later when everyone has had a chance to relax a bit and shake off some of the ya-yas that come with putting on such an event. It usually happens in mid-August and features plenty of good food, good drink, good music, and the ever-popular festival slide show.
