About Volunteering

PROGRAM GUIDE DISTRIBUTION
- Mainly pre-festival, November to January
- Distribute PuSh Festival program guides, posters and brochures to various locations throughout the Lower Mainland.
- A valid Driver’s License and your own vehicle is preferred, though distribution of smaller materials can be done on a bike with paniers.

CLUB PUSH
Club PuSh, on Wednesday to Sunday nights during the festival, presents an array of artists in a lively and loud club setting. Please note, you must be 19yrs or over to volunteer at Club PuSh.

Club PuSh Ticket / Merchandise Sellers
- Sell beverage tickets, handle cash, ask for ID
- Assist Club Producer with any additional tasks
- Count opening merchandise inventory at beginning of shift
- Count closing merchandise inventory at end of shift
- On Friday and Saturday nights, Ticket/Merchandise Sellers will also sell beer and wine.

Club PuSh Bussers
- Clear and wipe tables, keep space free of empty glasses and garbage
- Keep the overall look of Club PuSh clean and sleek
- Keep bartenders’ fridges stocked with cold beverages and concession snacks
- Clear empties out of the bar, take out garbage, recycling and mop any spills as needed
- Close down Club
- Wipe & clear tables, stack chairs, turn off heaters, lights, etc

Club PuSh Ushers

- Take tickets and hand out programs
- Manage audience flow, keep cue organized and keep track of capacity for each show
- Assist Club Producer with any additional tasks

Club PuSh Security
- Ensure no one takes alcohol outside
- Keep outside area clean
- Work with the Club Producer to assist in managing and preventing any possible situations that may arise due to intoxicated patrons
- Help patrons get cabs
- Help clear people out when the Club is closed

Club PuSh Box Office (late night shift)
- Sells tickets to Late Nights at Club PuSh
- Handle cash, check ID and track sales
- Must be comfortable dealing with the public

ARTIST TRANSPORTATION
- A cell phone, a valid Driver’s License and your own vehicle, and $2 million liability insurance is crucial!
- Drive artists between hotel and venues
- Pick up and drop off artists to/from airport and designated points

It is important for applicants for this position to have an excellent understanding of the geography of Vancouver including places to eat, sightsee, hang out, etc. This position also involves a lot of one-on-one time with the artists, so if you’re chatty, this is a great position for you! You will be reimbursed for mileage and necessary parking*

* Please note that we have free parking in the Commercial Holding area at YVR (Vancouver International Airport) so if you decide to use the regular paid lots to part at the airport you will not be compensated. Mileage tracking is valid from pickup to drop off point, not from volunteers’ homes

HOSPITALITY AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS
- Set-up and clean-up for receptions
- Able to carry and move boxes of supplies
- Prepare and serve food to artists and patrons
- Restock and/or rearrange food and drinks, make it look clean and tidy
- Transport food and beverages at venues
- Must be comfortable dealing with the public
- Driver's License is a plus
- Other duties as assigned by the Development Manager and Hospitality Coordinator

BOX OFFICE SUPPORT
- Provide support to box office staff at large capacity venues
- Manage will-call ticket pick-up lists
- Manage complimentary ticket pick-up lists
- Manage line-ups (queues)
- Coordinate opening and start times with front of house staff, based on pick-up queues
- Must be comfortable dealing with the public
Please note that volunteers will not be required to handle cash or credit card transactions.

FRONT OF HOUSE, TICKET TAKING + USHERING
- Greet attendees at the door
- Examine tickets or passes to verify authenticity, using specified criteria
- Follow instructions of Front of House Manager
- Direct attendees to restrooms, telephones and other facilities
- Support box office personnel as needed
- Must be comfortable dealing with the public

PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY
- Take photos/video at PuSh Festival events (ex. parties, receptions, opening nights, etc)
- Must have own camera and equipment, and be comfortable dealing with the public
- Copyright and rights to the images remains with photographer, photographer consents for PuSh to use their images (with crediting) for promotional purposes in relation to the PuSh Festival
Please note that photography usually does not happen of any performances or artist, unless prior consent is given.

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society agrees to:
- Protect Volunteer Personal Information in accordance with British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy and the Personal Information Protection Acts.
- Treat Volunteers respectfully.
- Provide adequate training and information prior to a volunteer’s first shift.
- Provide a complete schedule of volunteer requirements prior to the start of the Festival (consideration will be given to requests from volunteers to work specific shows/venues).
- Provide 1 (one) complimentary ticket to each show worked or 1 show voucher for each 4-hour shift that is completed. Show vouchers are redeemable for eligible shows during the Festival (subject to availability)
- Provide volunteers with suitable identification for the duration of duties.

The Volunteer agrees to:
- Submit, prior to advertised deadline, a completed Volunteer Registration Form.
- Treat the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society respectfully.
- Act as an ambassador for the Festival to the Public using the information provided by the Festival.
- Commit to a minimum of four 4-hour shifts over the course of the Festival (consideration will be given to requests from volunteers to work specific shows/venues).
- Display identification provided by the Festival for the duration of each active shift.

Please Note: A volunteer will normally be a person 14 years of age or older. Special consideration may be given to younger volunteers.

The Festival reserves the right to dismiss volunteers from duty without notice when volunteer’s behaviour is in direct contravention with any of the clauses above.

Volunteers have the right to remove themselves from duty, and lodge an official complaint with Festival management, when Festival staff, volunteers, or artists’ behaviour is in direct contravention with any of the clauses above.

Volunteers, by virtue of their contribution to the "PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society" are entitled to a membership to the Society in exchange for the work that they do. Please note on the volunteer application form if you would like to be counted as a member of the Society and receive benefits, including invitations to special PuSh events, yearly newsletters and early access to PuSh pass purchasing!

Volunteer Perks
- A PuSh Festival t-shirt
- An invitation to you and a friend to the Festival Wrap Party
- A volunteer name badge that will give you exclusive privileges to eligible shows or Club PuSh events (subject to availability)

Each volunteer who commits to a 4-hour shift will receive one free pre-booked admission to an eligible performance (subject to availability). Volunteers need to commit to at least 4 shifts. Unfortunately we cannot ensure entry into the PuSh Volunteer program if a volunteer is unable to commit to a minimum of four 4-hour shifts. All volunteers working Front of House shifts will have a pre-booked seat to see the show worked, therefore that show would be the complimentary show you’re entitled to.

For non Front of House volunteer shifts, you will receive a show voucher (one show voucher for every 4-hour shift worked) that can be redeemed for a booking to an eligible PuSh show during the Festival (subject to availability). Requests to redeem show vouchers must be received by email to the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@pushfestival.ca a minimum of 72 hours before the show date/time.