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Job Description

The following are the short descriptions of the areas for which we require volunteers for this year’s Festival. Please choose two that most appeal to you when you register.

 

June – September

Pre-festival volunteer activities include:

Administration
Administration volunteers assist in the WordFest office. Opportunities exist for volunteers with all levels of clerical skills. Duties may include: answering phones, computer data entry, updating marketing lists by phone and computer, photocopying and cutting handbills, assembling artist and volunteer information kits. In the 2-3 weeks immediately prior to the Festival volunteers are needed every day to help with reception duties and taking ticket orders.

Community Booths
Volunteers help to spread the word about WordFest at information booths at various festivals and community events such as Lilac Festival and Sun & Salsa. This is a chance to share your enthusiasm for WordFest with others.

Distribution Team
Posters, flyers, postcards and Festival schedules are strategically distributed to coffee shops, bookstores and any other places our audience might be looking for them. Access to a vehicle is an asset but not mandatory.

Special Events
Ushers and set up crew are needed for these events.

 

Six days in October (October 11-16, 2011)

During the six days of WordFest, approximately 200 volunteers are integral to every aspect of the Festival. This is your opportunity to be in on the ground floor of a world class literary event. Volunteers are placed on a crew headed by a coordinator. For information concerning coordinator opportunities for 2011, contact Angela McIntyre, the WordFest Volunteer Manager at volunteers@wordfest.com.

Following are brief descriptions of the Festival Volunteer Teams:

Administration
Volunteers are needed each day in the Festival offices to answer phone and help with ticket sales.

Audience Care

  • Front of House crew: help audience members find their theatre and seats for events and generally look after their comfort and well-being. In charge of crowd control in the lobby between events and during book signings.
  • Le Festival des mots: si vous parlez français ou que vous souhaitez améliorer vos connaissances en français, inscrivez-vous pour être ouvreur ou accueillir les auteurs francophones pour les évènements du Festival des mots.

Si vous souhaitez vous investir dans les autres activités du WordFest en tant que volontaire et souhaitez recevoir ces informations en français, contactez Janet Halls ou Alizé Grignon : bookrapport@wordfest.com ou desmots@wordfest.com

  • Survey Crew: guide audience members through a brief online survey after events. The survey is a critical tool for programming and marketing future festivals.
  • Raffle Ticket Sellers: sell tickets for this annual WordFest fundraiser while also creating a friendly atmosphere during events.
  • Book Sellers: set up and help sell books with the official bookseller before and after events. Retail sales experience is an asset.
  • Book Rapport crew: meet buses for school groups and help students and teachers to have and enjoyable experience at the Festival.

Artist Care

  • Transportation crew: drive a fleet of Festival vans for airport pick-ups and drop offs, escorting artists to events outside the downtown core and Banff on the weekend – Transport crew must be over 25 years of age(for insurance purposes), have a valid class 5 license with a clean driving record (class 4 or higher needed for the 15 passenger van to Banff) and the ability to interact with artists in a friendly, yet respectful and professional manner.
  • Production crew: assist backstage at events helping with set up and tear down at the Vertigo Theatre Centre. Some heavy lifting may be required for this position.
  • Writer Liaison team: assists with artist check in at the Artist Hospitality suite at the Palliser Hotel and escorts artists and hosts to various venues throughout the Festival. Familiarity with WordFest and the downtown core area is an asset. As with Transportation, an ability to interact with artists in a friendly professional manner is also necessary.

Volunteer Care

  • Volunteer Hospitality crew: is responsible for volunteer check-in and ensuring that the volunteer green room at Vertigo Theatre Centre is stocked with snacks and beverages. A hospitality driver assists with food pick-up and delivery during the week.
  • Floater Crew: are assigned to a team as necessary each day to cover unexpected situations as they arise. On some days these crew may be assigned to several different teams in one day. This crew is composed of a combination of experienced volunteers and new recruits. It is a great way for WordFest veterans to mentor new volunteers.

Banff
Volunteers for Banff WordFest events are coordinated through The Banff Centre. If you wish to volunteer for events in Banff, please contact the Calgary WordFest Volunteer Manager. Your information will be given to the Banff Centre Volunteer Manager who will contact you in September. Most Banff volunteers live in the Bow Valley. Calgary residents are welcome to help out, but must supply their own transportation and accommodation.

 

February – June

During these months WordFest operates with a skeleton staff who work year round on Festival preparation. The primary volunteer activity during this time is the:

Volunteer Reader program
WordFest receives numerous manuscripts and new works from writers and publishers for consideration for each year’s Festival. Volunteer readers sign out these new books from the WordFest library, preview them at home, then submit a short review with recommendations. This feedback is invaluable to WordFest’s Director and artistic staff for selection of the Festival lineup.

The volunteer reader program is now finished for 2011.

To register as a volunteer reader for 2011 please contact the WordFest office in November 2011.