Wasteland Weekend could not happen without the help of dedicated, hard-working volunteers. Join our growing volunteer community and help the event grow bigger and better each year. Our volunteers are the backbone of the event and we welcome their input on all aspects of the event. Volunteers get the benefit of free admission, and most positions will receive an exclusive, elusive, Wasteland Weekend 2012 Staff T-shirt. Some of the best staff gigs get filled quickly, so browse this list and see how you can contribute. Shift choices will be offered at a later date.
3 steps to apply for a volunteer position:
1. Read our Volunteer Letter to understand the rules and qualifications.
2. Choose a position from the list below.
3. Fill out the online submission form at the very bottom of this page.
(Scroll down for detailed job descriptions)
A. POSITIONS WHICH REQUIRE YOU TO WORK THE EVENT AND WORK IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP:
1. Vendor Coordinator (TAKEN)
2. Entertainment Director (ALWAYS LOOKING)
3. Assistant Entertainment Director (ALWAYS LOOKING)
4. Band Coordinator (ALWAYS LOOKING)
5. DJ Coordinator (TAKEN)
6. Game & Contest Coordinator (TAKEN)
7. Assistant Game & Contest Coordinator (TAKEN)
8. Film Festival Coordinator (TAKEN)
9. Guest Relations Director (TAKEN)
B. POSITIONS WHICH ONLY REQUIRE YOU TO WORK IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT (YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND THE EVENT, BUT YOU WILL GET FREE ADMISSION ONCE IT IS EARNED):
1. Set Construction Crew (ALWAYS LOOKING)
2. Prop Makers (ALWAYS LOOKING)
3. Advertising/Public Relations Coordinator (TAKEN)
4. Sponsor Coordinator (TAKEN)
5. Web Developers (ALWAYS LOOKING)
6. Pick up/Delivery Drivers (Wasteland Transportation Network) (ALWAYS LOOKING)
7. Temporary Storage Providers (Wasteland Transportation Network) (ALWAYS LOOKING)
8. Photo & Video Archivist (TAKEN)
9. Graphic Designer (ALWAYS LOOKING)
C. POSITIONS WHICH REQUIRE EVENT ATTENDANCE (WITH LITTLE TO NO SIGNIFICANT TIME BEFORE THE WEEK OF THE EVENT).
1. Command Center Supervisor
2. Gofers/Assistants
3. Volunteer Rations Managers
4. Runner
5. Build Manager
6. Build Crew
7. Clean-up Crew
8. Check-In Station Manager
9. Check-In Station Attendant
10. Boundary Manager
11. Boundary Crew
12. Parking Attendants
13. Stage Manager
14. Assistant Stage Manager
15. Sound Technicians
16. Lighting Technicians
17. Video Projection Manager
18. Video Projection Technicians
19. Generator Manager
20. Generator Volunteers
21. Atomic Cafe Manager
22. Atomic Cafe Servers
23. Mushroom Cloud Lounge Servers (THIS POSITION IS ON HOLD FOR 2012)
24. Gift Shop Sales Clerk
25. Event Ambassadors
26. Beauty Parlor Make-up Artist & Hair Stylist
27. EMT/Paramedic
28. Security Volunteers
29. Pyrotechnician
POSITION JOB DESCRIPTIONS
A. POSITIONS WHICH REQUIRE YOU TO WORK THE EVENT AND WORK IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP:
1. Vendor Coordinator
Receive and review submissions. Follow a simple protocol/schedule for e-mailing pre-written informational and acceptance documents to vendors. Follow-up with vendors and answer their questions. Guide vendors into their correct spots at the event. Must have excellent written communication skills and excellent customer service, must be organized and must be able to consistently and reliably respond to vendors’ e-mails within 24 hours. All vendor submissions will be evaluated by the event director.
2. Entertainment Director
Recruit and book all performers for the event. Work with fellow senior staff on the overall vision for the event’s entertainment. (This is a senior staff position.) Live event planning/coordination or other applicable entertainment industry experience required.
3. Assistant Entertainment Director
Assist Entertainment Director with booking of performers and the entertainment schedule, or as needed. Must be focused and reliable. Live event planning/coordination or other applicable entertainment industry experience preferred.
4. Band Coordinator
Follow up with bands and confirm booking, as well as equipment/stage expectations and needs.
5. DJ Coordinator
Follow up with DJs and confirm booking, as well as equipment/stage expectations and needs.
6. Game & Contest Coordinator
Plan, create, set-up, and host games and contests. Coordinate prizes.
7. Assistant Game & Contest Coordinator
Plan and host games and contests. Coordinate prizes.
8. Film Festival Coordinator
Find films. Coordinate the screening of films and Q&As.
9. Guest Relations Director
Supervise and direct Event Ambassadors at the event. Assist in writing a guide to help Event Ambassadors answer questions and provide information or services to attendees.
B. POSITIONS WHICH ONLY REQUIRE YOU TO WORK IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT (YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND THE EVENT, BUT YOU WILL GET FREE ADMISSION ONCE IT IS EARNED):
1. Set Construction Crew
Travel to Hesperia, California to help fabricate and finish structures. Welding skills a plus, but not necessary. Work may include heavy lifting, drilling, painting, bolting and welding, as well as help with preparing BBQ (grilled) food. Work weekends will be scheduled, but there is the possibility of also working around your availability.
2. Prop Makers
Engineer and fabricate various props and set pieces under the direction of the production designer, such as a moving oil pump jack, archery target dummies, and more.
3. Advertising/Public Relations Coordinator
Contact blogs and media outlets. Research online advertising options and marketing tactics. Assist in planning promotional events, if possible. You do not need to be local.
4. Sponsor Coordinator
Send out sponsorship packages. Contact potential sponsors. Help negotiate partnerships with sponsors. You do not need to be local.
5. Web Developers
Modify WordPress template to make the website more user-friendly and better highlight videos, photos and news. Fix homepage slideshow (currently disabled). Create and manage galleries. Improve website with simple layout changes and user-friendly features. You do not need to be local.
6. Pick up/Delivery Drivers (Wasteland Transportation Network)
Pick up items (from donors or sellers) in your general area, as requested by event director. Mileage will go towards your volunteer status, or will be compensated per a standard, predetermined amount. The greatest need will be in the Southern California region, but we will gladly take submissions from vehicle owners in Northern California, the Las Vegas area, and Arizona.
7. Temporary Storage Providers (Wasteland Transportation Network)
Store various items (of potentially all types and sizes) for later transport to the event site or another facility. Both outdoor and indoor storage needed. The greatest need will be in the Southern California region, but we will gladly take submissions from Northern California, the Las Vegas area, and Arizona.
8. Photo & Video Archivist
The archivist will be in charge of collecting, storing, and sorting through all of the photo and video that comes in before and after each event (this is NOT a photographer position). They will stay in touch with photographers in order to make sure Wasteland Weekend staff have the best possible images to use for event promotion, and they will help to choose photos for use on flyers, online image galleries, etc.. The archivist will also help us choose images for sending to blogs and other publications, both online and print (with photographers’ permission). Some basic computer skills may be required, such as the ability to resize images, send large files over the internet, etc. Some Photoshop skills a plus, but not necessary. Ideally, we would like to find someone who can fulfill this position on an ongoing basis and not just for one event year. You do not need to be local.
9. Graphic Designer
Create various attention-grabbing marketing materials incorporating preselected photos. This will include a few web banners, a postcard flyer design, business card design, poster designs, and logo designs. Ideally, we would like to find someone who can fulfill this position on an ongoing basis and not just for one event year. You do not need to be local.
C. POSITIONS WHICH REQUIRE EVENT ATTENDANCE (WITH LITTLE TO NO SIGNIFICANT TIME BEFORE THE WEEK OF THE EVENT).
1. Command Center Supervisor
Remain in Command Center RV at virtually all times as event point-of-contact and dispatcher. Check in volunteers. Distribute & check out supplies and equipment. Manage public announcement system and text announcements. Maintain contact info and waivers for everyone on site. Utilize computer, internet and printer as needed. Must be responsible, have excellent written and oral communication skills, and be able to multi-task. This is an office-type job with a lot of responsibility and will require you to learn how the event operates in a relatively short amount of time. Must be able to serve from Thursday morning to Saturday night, at a minimum.
2. Gofers/Assistants
Stay with a senior staff member at all times during your shift. Run errands. May include occasional heavy lifting, carrying and working with your hands. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift. (This position may be a great way to learn all the ins and outs of Wasteland Weekend to prepare for filling one of the senior staff positions at a future event. If this “intern” aspect is what you are looking for, please leave a comment when you fill out the form below.)
3. Volunteer Rations Manager
Walk between volunteer stations to distribute water, drinks and snacks to volunteers. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
4. Runners
Own a dependable vehicle with moderate carrying capacity (must be able to carry bags of ice, crates of water bottles, fuel cans, etc). You will be on stand-by to make runs into town. You will be a designated driver – you must not drink alcohol or otherwise become unfit for driving. Must be available and sober from Thursday morning to Saturday night.
5. Build Manager
Oversee the erection of major set pieces. Is good at delegating and directing volunteers. Must be able to arrive days before the event and work until the job is done.
6. Build Crew
Assembles and erects major set pieces (stage, gates, various counters, shelters and structures). Must be able to arrive days before the event and work hard until the job is done.
7. Clean-up Crew
Clean-up is always an underestimated and forgotten aspect of any event. Clean-up work consists of picking up trash, disassembling, lifting, carrying, organizing, packing, loading, and then unloading, organizing and storage of set pieces, props, costumes and equipment. Clean-up crew members must purchase tickets and then be refunded afterwards, once it has been established that you have satisfactorily performed your duties. We feel we can only require you to stay until sunset on Monday night following the event, but please note: clean-up activities will likely persist until the following Wednesday of the event. Senior staff will very much appreciate it if you can stay until the clean-up is completely finished.
8. Boundary Manager
Oversee the erection of perimeter fencing and signage using a site map and pre-laid marker flags. Is good at delegating and directing volunteers. Must be able to arrive days before the event and work until the job is done.
9. Boundary Crew
Set-up of perimeter fencing and signage. Work consists of using post drivers, sledgehammers and staplers, as well as working with rope, boundary tape and safety fencing. Must be able to arrive days before the event and work until the job is done.
10. Check-In Station Manager
Oversees the operations of the check-in station (main gate). Transports completed waivers to Command Center for filing.
11. Check-In Station Attendants
Greets and checks all individuals into event. Checks IDs and cross-checks with attendee lists. Distributes waivers and verifies for legible and correct submission of information. Applies wristbands. Explains layout of event site. Refers attendees to parking attendants. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
12. Parking Attendants
Directs incoming vehicles to the appropriate camping/parking area. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
13. Stage Manager
Oversees all stage, sound, power, and lighting issues relating to bands, DJs and performers during the entire event. Communicates efficiently with senior staff in regards to performances and the timing of intro music, as well as playing Wasteland Radio over the sound system. Understands how precisely-cued music and visuals can enhance the drama and ambiance of the event.
14. Assistant Stage Manager
Assists Stage Manager. See above.
15. Sound Technicians
Oversees and maintains wiring, mixers and speakers.
16. Lighting Technicians
Sets up and operates lighting.
17. Video Projection Manager
Sets up and operates projectors and video players.
18. Video Projection Technicians
Operates projectors and video players.
19. Generator Manager
Oversees power grid and supervises generator volunteers. Assists in troubleshooting generators. On stand-by during the entire event.
20. Generator Volunteers
Refuel generators on a regular schedule. Start or shut-off generators as directed. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
21. Atomic Cafe Manager
Oversee the operations of the bar and supervise the servers. Ensure the bar is secured at the end of your shift. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift (shifts will be 6pm to 2am nightly).
22. Atomic Cafe Servers
Mix donated beverages at our free community bar. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift (shifts will be 6pm to 2am nightly).
23. Mushroom Cloud Lounge Servers
Maintain our custom-made post-apocalyptic hookahs. Work consists of lighting coals, packing bowls, and occasional cleaning and maintenance of hookahs and the smoking area. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
24. Gift Shop Sales Clerk
Supervise the Wasteland Weekend Gift Shop and manage sales of t-shirts, costume and prop pieces, souvenirs, and hookah rentals. Theft-prevention and financial accountability are crucial. We would prefer to find one trustworthy individual (or a pair) to handle the shop for the duration of the event.
25. Event Ambassadors
Walk the entire event site in pairs or as a group (especially the general camping area) offering hospitality, information, and answers to questions, under the direction of the Guest Relations Director. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
26. Beauty Parlor Make-up Artist & Hair Stylist
Staff our Beauty Parlor shack where you apply dirt, dust and make-up to our staff and attendees, as well as offer haircuts and hairstyling. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
27. EMT/Paramedic
Provide medical care and assistance under the direction of the Medical Services Director. Facilitate transfer to local medical facilities when appropriate.
28. Security Volunteers
Perform non-confrontational duties including checking for wristbands. Observe and report as needed under the supervision of the Security Director. May require walking. Must serve at least one 8-hour shift.
29. Pyrotechnician
We are looking for a pyrotechnician with a CURRENT LICENSE. This person would file paperwork with the CA City fire department (we would pay all fees of course) and inspect our few propane or other flame devices for the event and supervise their use. They would not be required to build any devices. We already have several made, we just need them to sign off on their safety (or let us know what would need to be changed for them to be satisfied). They would not be responsible for any mechanical fire devices brought by non-staff members, as those are not allowed. Again, we are only interested in someone with a current California pyrotechnician license.
