See below for an overview of what to expect, from deciding you want to volunteer all the way through your arrival on the Farm!
STEP 1 - READ THE C’ROO FAQ
Be sure to read through all of the information available including the FAQ and C’roo descriptions prior to committing to Volunteer. Be sure to take note of the date that you will be required to be in Manchester!
STEP 2 - FILL OUT THE C’ROO APPLICATION
THE C'ROO APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE HERE AND WILL BE OPEN UNTIL ALL POSITIONS ARE FULL. Before applying be sure you’ve read through all of the available information here including the FAQ and C’roo Descriptions.
Applications for 2022 positions will be available first to those who volunteered with us in 2019, and those who had registered for 2021, - those volunteers will receive an email with more info about how to apply. If there are spaces remaining after this early application period, applications will open to the public on April 22nd - this includes anyone who volunteered in previous years but wasn't already confirmed for a spot in 2019 or 2021.
STEP 3 - RECEIVE YOUR C’ROO ASSIGNMENT
After registering, volunteers are assigned to a specific C’roo that they will work all of their shifts within - C’roos are teams within the C’roo program that each perform a different type of work within the festival. This helps us schedule volunteers according to their interests, and build consistency when scheduling!
As part of the application, you’ll be able to indicate which C’roos you are most interested in working on. While we can’t guarantee you’ll get your top choice, we will do our best to get you on a C’roo that fits your interests. You’ll be assigned to your specific C’roo within 1 week of confirming your application.
STEP 4 - CONFIRM YOUR APPLICATION + PROFILE INFORMATION
We do not require a deposit or an application fee. To ensure that everyone is still committed to their position you will be asked at various points leading up to the festival to confirm online that you have received information and are still committed to showing up for your shifts. (Note that Clean Vibes has different requirements regarding hourly commitments and deposits for their volunteers, due to the nature of the work they perform.)
STEP 5 - COMPLETE YOUR C’ROO TRAINING
All C’roo volunteers are required to take part in a simple (but mandatory) online training prior to arriving at the festival. You will receive a series of emails with important general info about volunteering + be required to read them thoroughly (or watch any included videos) and answer some basic questions about what you’ve learned. You will be trained in the specifics of your volunteer position on site, but it’s required that you complete the online training before your arrival.
STEP 6 - GET YOUR C’ROO SCHEDULE
Generally speaking, as a during-show volunteer you will be working one 6 hour shift per day between Thursday and Sunday. You’ll find out exactly where and when you’ll be working at least three weeks prior to when you are required to be on-site, which will allow you to know when you’re supposed to be working and give you an idea of what your free time at Bonnaroo will look like. What bands will you get to see? Which ones will you have to miss? All of that will be answered ahead of time so you can best plan your week out.
In the event that you’re not happy with your schedule, you will have the ability to swap shifts with other volunteers on your same C’roo leading up to the event - emails will be sent out when shift swapping is available. By giving you your schedule ahead of time, we hope that you’ll be able to resolve any conflicts before you get on site to check-in. If you can’t get anybody to pick up your undesired shifts, we can try our best to make a change based on where volunteers are needed but ultimately you will be expected to work that shift.
STEP 7 - CHECK IN AT BONNAROO!!
All Pre-Show and During-Show Volunteers check-in at an off-site location prior to arriving to site to set up camp. Information about times and where to check in will be sent to those C’roo members who have followed through with the whole application process and have been assigned to a C’roo!
Once you’ve received your credentials at check-in you will be directed over to the site to the volunteer camping area - only volunteers and festival staff are allowed to camp in these spots so if you want to come with friends, convince them to join the C’roo with you and make sure to plan to arrive at the same time! Once you are checked in and on site you will not be able to leave and come back in, so be sure to check, double check, and then check again that you have everything you need to make it through your time on-site.
STEP 8 - WORK YOUR SCHEDULED SHIFTS
You will check in for each of your shifts (15-20 minutes before you are scheduled to start) at either our C’roo HQ (near the campgrounds), or our C’roo Compound (in Centeroo).
Check-in locations will vary depending on which C’roo you are assigned to and where your shift is - be sure to check your schedule for the check-in location each time. You’ll be taken from your check-in location by a festival staff member to where you’re going to be working for the day, and picked up when your shift is done.
When your shift is done, you’ll be picked up by a festival staff member and taken back to check-out. You will receive your meal token for the day at this point too! Please be sure to check out at the end of every shift worked (as opposed to heading in to enjoy the festival right away), as checking you out is the only way we can be sure you completed your shift.
All C’roo members are expected to be on time, fed and hydrated, SOBER, and wearing appropriate clothing for their shift. Some notes on how to dress / what to bring to your shift:
- Always wear your C’roo t-shirt when you’re working and be sure to wear something else when you’re not.
- No open-toed shoes or sandals.
- Dress comfortably and appropriately for the type of work you’ll be doing - if you check in wearing inappropriate clothing or shoes you will be asked to change prior to starting work
- No open-toed shoes or sandals.
- Be sure to bring a water bottle and anything else you may need on shift (sunscreen, snacks, etc). Please note, we won’t have anywhere to store your belongings while on shift and some jobs may not allow you to have a backpack of any kind while you’re working, so keep that in mind when packing for the day.
STEP 9 - LIVE THE BONNAROOVIAN CODE & HAVE FUN!
STEP 10 - WASH, RINSE, REPEAT NEXT YEAR!