DO I NEED TO BUY A FESTIVAL TICKET TO VOLUNTEER? WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY BOUGHT TICKETS?
You don’t need to buy a ticket in order to volunteer! Working your required shifts earns you your festival volunteer ‘ticket’ - C’roo volunteer credentials are provided to access the Festival for your volunteer shifts and will allow you to enjoy the show when you are not working.
We cannot refund you for purchased tickets if you’ve already purchased them and then decide you want to volunteer.
I ALREADY BOUGHT A TICKET BUT I’D LIKE TO HELP OUT FOR A FEW HOURS, CAN I DO THAT?
Sorry, but no. We need all of our volunteers to commit to working the full 18 hours required.
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO VOLUNTEER?
The minimum age requirement for to volunteer with the C’roo is 18 years old
WHAT IF I’M NOT FROM THE UNITED STATES, CAN I STILL VOLUNTEER?
Yes! You’ll want to check with your country’s specific laws on travel to the US but we’d love to have you.
IF I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT I’LL BE CHOSEN?
Volunteer positions with The C’roo are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are a limited number of spots available (subject to how many shifts we need to fill), so applications will only be available until those spots are full. That being said, unless you’ve volunteered in the past and done something wrong, you can pretty much guarantee that your application will be accepted as long as there are still spots open. We will check in with you multiple times down the road, so be sure to confirm you are still volunteering each time it is asked of you.
CAN I WORK WITH MY FRIENDS?
We give confirmed volunteers a chance to indicate if they have friends they want to volunteer with before we begin scheduling.We will do everything we can to assign you with your friends however it may not be completely possible all of the time. The more flexible you all are with when you want to work and what C’roo you are assigned to, the easier it will be to get the same shifts on the same C’roo. It also helps if you all fill out your application at the same time because some C’roos will fill faster than others and we may not have enough room for all of you if one person got in before everyone else.
CAN I CAMP WITH MY FRIENDS?
Only volunteers (C’roo and Clean Vibes) are allowed to camp in the volunteer camping areas. So, convince your friends to volunteer too and you can camp together all week! Volunteers are assigned campsites in the order that they arrive to site, so if you have a group of friends that you’re volunteering with, try to arrive at the same time if you want to camp together.
If you have friends staying in the GA camping areas, you will be able to move your tent and camp with them once the Tollbooths are open to the public and your friends are set up. You cannot move your car though (you’ll have to move everything on foot) and your stuff has to fit within your friends’ assigned campsite. You will also still have to walk back to volunteer camping to check in for each of your shifts.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO BE ON SITE?
It depends on which C’roo you sign up for. Pre-show volunteers must arrive to check in on Sunday, June 12 by 4 PM. During-show volunteers may begin arriving as early as Sunday, June 12, and no later Wednesday, June 15 at 6:00 PM.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO BE ON SITE SO EARLY?
Because we want to make sure you get checked in and set up and working before we open the doors to the general public.
WHAT PERKS ARE INCLUDED FOR VOLUNTEERS?
All members of the C’roo are permitted access to Bonnaroo and may enjoy the Festival whenever they’re not working. Volunteers also receive a t-shirt to wear on shift (and to keep after), free showers in the volunteer camping area, and a free meal token which can be redeemed at any of the vendors in Centeroo for every shift that you work.
CAN I DO BOTH FESTIVAL C’ROO AND CLEAN VIBES?
No! You must choose one or the other. Keep in mind that once you apply for one, you can’t transfer your application. Please note that Clean Vibes operates separately from The C’roo and has their own requirements regarding hourly commitments and deposits. For more information on Clean Vibes, head here.
AS A C’ROO MEMBER, DO I HAVE TO PURCHASE A CAR CAMPING PASS OR A DAY PARKING PASS?
No! Pre-Show and During-Show C’roo members who drive a car to the site will be given a parking pass when they arrive to our onsite check-in. Carpooling is encouraged, especially if you want to share a campsite with your friends!
DO VOLUNTEERS GET TO SEE THE SHOWS?
Of course - when you’re not on shift you’re free to see as much music as you’d like! As a member of the C’roo you are welcome to do whatever you choose with your free time as long as you show up on time and ready to work for your scheduled shifts. Being a volunteer does mean that you may have to sacrifice some of your viewing time to do the job that you signed up for, you will the ability to offer shifts up for trade if any of your work times are during an act you really want to see.
DO WE REALLY NOT HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT OR APPLICATION FEE?
Nope! You will be asked several times after applying to confirm your participation to make sure that we know you’re still coming. Anyone who breaks a rule, misses a shift, or acts in a way unbecoming of a Bonnaroo C’roo member will lose their shifts, their access to the festival, and their ability to volunteer in the future. *Please note that Clean Vibes now operates separately from The C’roo and has their own requirements regarding hourly commitments and deposits. Please head here for information on Clean Vibes.
I AM A REGISTERED NURSE OR TRAINED EMT, CAN I VOLUNTEER TO WORK IN THE MEDICAL TENTS?
While a medical background is ALWAYS appreciated on site, the C’roo does not outfit the medical tents with any volunteers.
I HAVE A TECHNICAL AND/OR PRODUCTION BACKGROUND; CAN I VOLUNTEER WITH THE BONNAROO TECH CREWS?
The C’roo does not staff any of the technical staff with volunteers.
I’M NOT SURE I CAN HANDLE PHYSICAL LABOR, DOES THAT DISQUALIFY ME FROM JOINING THE C’ROO?
Absolutely not! The C’roo is open to anyone and everyone. Just be sure to read the C’roo descriptions when they become available and choose a C’roo that you can physically handle. Some of our C’roos do require heavy lifting but it will be noted in the description. If you get on site and don’t think you can handle a specific job, speak up and we’ll find something else for you to do.
I’M A COLLEGE STUDENT INTERESTED IN THE EVENT/ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO I HAVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BONNAROO AND HOW IT WORKS?
First and foremost, volunteering at Bonnaroo gives you a great opportunity to learn the behind the scenes action at a major festival. You’ll be working directly with the staff and no matter what you’re doing, you never know who it is that you’re interacting with and what they could do for your career. The important thing is to always be on top of your game and act in a professional, personable, and fun way no matter what the job is.
If you’re eligible for college credit and interested in involvement on-site beyond the typical volunteer position, consider applying for our of our festival externships! Externships are short-term on-site internships offered at Bonnaroo in various departments on-site. These positions are a great fit for students who are more interested in a career in the festival world than they are in attending the show + offer an immersive learning experience in some of the key departments that it takes to make this festival happen. For more information about this program, email externs@bonnaroo.com.
We also have opportunities available to volunteers in college through the Well Dunn program. The mission of Well Dunn is to support the ambitions of inspired young professionals by providing mentorships, scholarships, internships, and job placement assistance to volunteers in the entertainment industry that show exceptional talent and drive as the leaders of tomorrow. For more info check out welldunn.org