O.K., let's say you're cheap (or on a really tight budget, that's totally understandable too) so you're not buying tickets to this year's Hideout block party ... but you still want to see fabulous bands like Andrew Bird, Bloc Party, The Frames, Mucca Pazza, Art Brut, Dan Deacon (who you really MUST see live), and a bunch of other cool acts yet to be announced. You can still get in by volunteering!
Volunteers do everything from working the doors, to selling beer tickets, to serving beer, to setting up in the morning, to cleaning everything up throughout the day and into the night. We've done this a couple times in year's past and have always had a blast. It's not exactly glamorous work, but you do get to meet a lot of cool people and catch a bunch of great bands.
So what do you get in return for your hard work? If you sign up to volunteer 3 - 4 hours, you get free admission the day you volunteer, and you get 3 free beer tickets at the end of your shift. If you're looking for even more perks, you can register to volunteer as a team leader working a 7 hour shift on Friday or a 6 hour shift on Saturday. Team leaders get free admission to both days of the block party, and get to hang in the Hospitality Tent after their shift. That tent is stocked with an endless flow of free beer and, if we recall correctly, they sometimes have a little light food in there too. Plus there's a private bathroom in the tent (which is a super bonus when those lines begin to stretch later in the day). Bonus!
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Pat Lee at pat_lee (at) comcast (dot) net ... oh yeah, and keep in mind there's nothing stopping you from volunteering AND buying tickets, since all the profits go to benefit local charities anyway!
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I shot him/her an email. Sounds cool. Thanks Tankboy!
all the proceeds go to benefit local charities anyway!
The Hideout website says "all profits" go to the charities. You say "all proceeds."
Which is it? Gross profit? Net income? Net sales?
Are the artists/sound people/etc.. donating their labor?
Pretty sure that artists and expenses are being paid, and that therefore, it's all profits.
At least, I'm pretty sure that's how it's been handled every other year.
Pretty sure that artists and expenses are being paid, and that therefore, it's all profits.
Ok, so then it seems weird to ask people to "volunteer" to work at an event that is put on by a private company and is not really a true charity.
What happens if you are injured as a "volunteer"? I doubt you would be entitled to workman's comp! This sounds like a sneaky way to get around basic employment rights/liabilities.
Stay away!
I have amended the post to appease the accountants out there. I apologize for any confusion.
Also, #3, please. All the profits are going to charities, and utilizing volunteers instead of paid staff only insures that there are more profits to direct towards those charities.
Yeah, it's the same setup as every other basic street festival...
I've done it the past two years and always had a great time, knowing I'm helping out both the charities and my favorite venue.
If I get a paper cut from a beer ticket, I think I'll survive.
guest #2
utilizing volunteers instead of paid staff only insures that there are more profits to direct towards those charities.
Its great to see charities get money--I would just encourage people to become familiar with the rights [or lack thereof] and risks associated with "volunteering."
If an accident happens while you are volunteering for a private company, the liability issues are tricky.
It might be prudent to ask the business about their volunteer liability insurance so you know what to expect in the event of an unforseen incident.
#2/4/7, that's a fair point, and one interested parties should ask of the volunteer coordinator.
I'm with guest #2. Unless they ask me to juggle lit sticks of dynamite between sets for the crowd's amusement, I think I'll make it through the day.
Free admission? It's illegal to charge admission if the street fair is actually held on the, er, street, and I believe this is.
Now, the Hideout's one of the very, very few block parties whose money actually does go to genuine charities (note that most street fairs mention the neighborhood chamber of commerce and nothing else), and it's the only one I ever pay for.
But claiming that volunteers get "free admission" is a scam, and I'm disappointed the Hideout would perpetrate it.
Believe me- no one at the Hideout is raking in dough. It's a break even labor of love. Thank the god of your choice for the Hideout....
guest 10: i'm no expert on the block party, but last year (when i went) they said the city lends them that land, which is not a street, but normally a refueling station for buses and police cars. am i wrong? how does that affect things?
Guest #2: I seem to remember last year several artists mentioning that they were doing the show free of charge. Even with volunteers and free entertainment though, there are still expenses (like the beer).