Volunteering at the Festival

More than 200 outstanding volunteers help make the TD Toronto Jazz Festival one of the best jazz festivals in the world.

Volunteers assist in a wide variety of areas including merchandise sales, box office, ground transportation, hospitality, headquarters operation, programme/promo distribution, site clean-up/co-ordination and front of house duties.

We require volunteers to commit to a minimum of 3 shifts totaling approximately 12-15 hours. In return you will receive a free festival volunteer T-shirt, an invitation to the Festival Volunteer Party and an opportunity to meet other music fans.

To sign up

First check out the job descriptions below.

Then follow this link and fill out the form: TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2012 Volunteer Form

For further information please email volunteers@tojazz.com

Job Descriptions

We rely on you to do a minimum of 3 shifts.

Volunteer Headquarters

1. Assisting daily operations, artist liaison, answering phones, updating schedules, and volunteer coordination.
2. To ensure that all volunteers are checked in for shifts, distribute t-shirts and produce accreditation passes for volunteers if necessary.

Transportation (do not drink and drive—must be 21 yrs of age or older)

1. Ensuring prompt and safe pick-up and transportation of artists, HQ personnel and goods to, and from, airport, hotel, venues, bus/train stations, etc.
2. Taking care of vehicle, cellular phones and all equipment.
3. When required, assisting international artists with the immigration procedure at the airport.
4. Be on time for shifts and pick-ups and be prepared to remain on stand-by if necessary.
5. Obtaining receipts for moneys issued for parking, immigration etc.
6. When required, assisting musicians or Merchandise Coordinator with loading and storing of equipment, programmes, or merchandise at hotel and venues.

Info Booth

1. Answering any questions from patrons courteously and helping to promote the festival.
2. Keeping area tidy.
3. Directing patrons to the various stages, Box Office, Merchandise kiosks, etc.
4. Collecting information from patrons interested in receiving further festival info.

Box Office

1. Selling tickets and answering questions about performances.
2. Responsible for cash float and tickets.
3. Must be organized and able to balance float.
4. Must have good public relations skills and enjoy dealing with the public.

Merchandise Sales

1. Selling festival merchandise at Nathan Philips Square and/or possibly some offsite venues.
2. Displaying and folding all products in a manner as set out by the Merchandise Coordinator (All displays should appear to be professional, neat, clean, and appealing to festival patrons).
3. Counting and verifying all inventories received at the beginning, during, and at the end of the shift (volunteers are expected to balance the inventory sales to the cash on hand).
4. Ensuring that sales information is properly recorded for each shift, as set by the Merchandise Coordinator.
5. Last shifts of the evenings require staying after 10:00pm most nights, until sales are done and everything is packed up.

Green Room

1. Ensuring refreshments are available, keeping area tidy.
2. Gopher for stage crew and assisting with hospitality
3. Helping to control admittance when restricted admittance is required.

Front of House

1. Greeting patrons, ripping tickets and stamping hands at ticketed concerts.
2. Watching over reserved seating areas.
3. Acting as an usher for patrons in need of assistance.
4. Ensuring that patrons do not take alcohol outside the venue.

Corporate Box Host

1. Greeting VIP customers and escorting them to their designated corporate boxes.
2. Working with festival staff who will be taking tickets and providing direction.
3. Ensuring that the boxes are clean and presentable, monitoring who enters and exits the box, assisting the corporate box guests with any questions that may arise.
4. Hand out flyers at the main entrance as the audience exits.