The Zimbabwean Music Festival is made possible through the charitable stewardship and contributions of time of many generous volunteers. Listed here are tasks that festival attendees can sign up for during online registration, in advance of the festival. Plan ahead and make your volunteer time a valuable part of your festival experience!
Caution!
How to Read Times
Start and end times are shown using the 24-hour clock. 12:00 is noon. Times between 12:00 and 24:00 are p.m. 24:00 is midnight. Times greater than 24:00 are after midnight (the next day, technically). 25:00 is our shorthand for 1:00 am the next day.
Task Groups
Tasks are organized into seven task groups:
Festival Setup
Workshop Instrument Setup
Move instruments (mostly marimbas) from vehicles to classrooms. Must be physically able to manage large and bulky instruments. Supervised by the Lead Instrument Wrangler. Check in at the volunteer table in the registration area.
Stage Setup
Assist Concert Production load in and set up equipment for concert venues, day and evening stages. Report to Concert Production Lead in Registration area.
Marketplace Setup & Storage
Assist with moving rolling carts from marketplace to locked storage for later use. Report to Marketplace Coordinator near Zimfest Booth in Marketplace.
Signage Setup
Help Staff post signs around campus to help attendees navigate efficiently. Must be physically able to walk around campus. Reports to the Volunteer Coordinator in registration area.
Decorations: Evening Concert and Marketplace
Set up decorations and banners at evening concert hall and marketplace stage on Thursday. Reports to the Festival Coordinator in registration area.
General Festival Setup
Help with jobs previously not assigned in preparation for the start of the festival on Thursday. Report to Volunteer Coordinator in registration area.
Registration
Festival Check-in
Welcome folks as they arrive at the registration desk! Issue pre-registration packets (if no changes or questions) and pass them through to the Volunteer Desk (to pick up the Festival Guide and verify their volunteer task/time). Must be friendly, organized and have good people skills. Report to the Registration Lead at registration desk. Note: Most shifts begin with 15 minutes of training.
Computer Assist
Assist attendees register for workshops. Must be friendly, organized and have good people skills. Report to the Registration Lead at registration desk. Note: Most shifts begin with 15 minutes of training.
Volunteer Table
Come help Staff with 'issues' as they arise during peak period. Report to Volunteer Coordinator in registration area.
Workshops
Workshop Support
Work with the Workshop Coordinator to move small instruments (mostly mbiras, drums and additional equipment) between classrooms as needed for teaching. Reports to the Workshop Coordinator in the registration area.
Workshop Eval Assistant
Evening shifts: Collect completed evaluations each day after last session, and compile at Registration Desk as instructed. Must be able to walk around campus. Tasks are very time specific, immediately after workshops while buildings are still unlocked. Shifts are short! Please consider enrolling in all 3 evening shifts! Report to the Volunteer Coordinator in registration area.
Marketplace
Marketplace Daily Setup / Takedown
Help set up or take down the Marketplace as directed by Marketplace Coordinator. Includes helping to get materials to and from storage, as needed. Report to Marketplace Coordinator at Zimfest Booth in the Marketplace.
Marketplace Zimfest Booth
Sell Zimfest t-shirts and posters at the Zimfest Booth. An accounting sheet must be kept detailing all sales and money received. Money will be kept secured at all times. Reports to the Zimfest Booth Manager in Marketplace.
Afternoon Stage
Afternoon Stagehand
Assist afternoon stage manager, as needed with setup and breakdown tasks, including moving instruments (mostly marimbas) to and from afternoon stage. Moving can be to and from vehicles or classrooms — others doing this will be performers. Report to Afternoon Stage Manager at the stage in the Marketplace.
Afternoon Green Tent Staff
Support the musicians performing at the afternoon stage by putting ice and water in the cooler(s) provided. Also assists with stage setup and instrument moving between sets, as needed. Report to the Afternoon Stage Manager, found at stage in Marketplace.
Evening Stage
Evening Stagehand
Move instruments (mostly marimbas) to the back of the stage before the evening concert. Also move instruments between sets during the evening concert, and move instruments back to vehicles, classrooms or backstage after the concert is over. Reports to the Concert Production Manager. Check in at backstage door to the right of the stage inside concert hall (& Thursday concert at outdoor stage).
Evening Green Room Assistant
Assists the Green Room Coordinator with Green Room security and keeping a clean & tidy room during and after evening concert. Coordinator or volunteer must be in Green Room at all times to monitor door and ensure only authorized folks have access. Assists with stocking of food and beverages into the room; and keeping it clean and tidy. After the concert, takes leftover food and beverages to the Mbira Gathering. Reports to the Green Room Coordinator in the Green Room at time of shift.
Evening Concert Door and Ticket Sales
Collect all tickets from people going into the evening concerts, and sell tickets to those who do not have them. An accounting sheet must be kept showing all tickets sold. Money will be kept in the cash box and secured at all times. Report to the House Manager, found at the front door on the evening concert hall.
Festival Takedown
Workshop Instrument Takedown
Move instruments (mostly marimbas) from classrooms into vehicles on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Must be physically able to manage large and bulky instruments. Supervised by the Lead Instrument Wrangler. Check in at the volunteer table in the registration area for instructions.
Marketplace Takedown
Assist Marketplace Coordinator recover all WOU tables and chairs used in The Grove and Werner Hall and restock them onto carts (previously stored in Room 140). Report to Maarketplace Coordinator at Zimfest Booth.
Marketplace Decoration Takedown
Take down the decorative banners from the Marketplace on Sunday afternoon. Reports to the Marketplace Coordinator at Zimfest Booth.
Evening Concert Decoration Takedown
Take down the decorations in the evening concert hall at the end of the Sunday night concert. A great shift for those who dance till the very end. Reports to the Festival Coordinator, found in the concert hall at the end of the show.
General Festival Cleanup & Signage Takedown
Help with cleanup or dismantling after the festival ends on Monday morning including removing directional signage and posters from around campus. Reports to the Volunteer Coordinator. Check in at the volunteer table in the registration area.
