Volunteer Program

Every volunteer team is a piece of the puzzle that helps bring this whole make-believe post-apocalyptic world together!

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VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 ARE NOW OPEN

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE PROCEEDING TO SELECTING POSITIONS AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

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Wasteland Weekend could not happen without the help of dedicated, reliable, hard-working volunteers. Join our growing volunteer community and help the event grow bigger and better each year. Our volunteers are the backbone of the event and get the benefit of a fully-comped ticket, and most positions will receive an exclusive Wasteland Weekend volunteer dog tag. But for most of our volunteers who come back year after year, it’s about the camaraderie and the satisfaction of working behind the scenes at the biggest immersive post-apocalyptic show on Earth!

But the best part of volunteering is that in addition to helping the event run smoothly, you will absolutely have plenty of time to experience Wasteland! We make sure of it. That’s why you’re out there with us all in the first place!

Sound like your kind of gig? Then read on!

VOLUNTEER TICKETS

Fully Comped Ticket – 16 Hour Commitment (most positions)
Volunteers who contribute a total of 16 hours or more will receive a fully-comped ticket (most positions).
These hours will usually be broken into two shifts of 8 hours each. And when you work an eight hour shift, you will be given a break during your shift of at least 30 minutes so that you can go eat lunch/dinner/whatever. You will need to check with your team lead after you are confirmed to volunteer to find out exactly how your shift will be scheduled. THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS, and not all jobs will have a specific 16 hour commitment but that should be noted in the job description or information from your team lead.

YOU CANNOT STACK COMP TICKETS.
For example, if you perform at AND volunteer for the same event, you will only receive one comp ticket.

Do NOT buy a ticket if you expect to volunteer
We fully expect to get back to all applicants as to whether we will be able to use you this event cycle (or not). Everyone who applies will hear from us (either way), with enough time to purchase a ticket at the tier price you originally applied during. If for some reason you DID buy a ticket and then are confirmed to volunteer, yes, we will refund your purchase, but it’s much easier for us (and for you) if you simply wait for your volunteer confirmation. If for some reason we were to sell out all tickets before your volunteer app is processed, you WOULD be still allowed to buy a ticket, even if the event is sold out (provided you submitted your application while tickets were still on sale).

RULES

The success and smooth operation of the event depends on a committed and reliable volunteer army. We welcome your help, but please apply only if you are confident you can fulfill the role.

Please show up on time for your shift. You may not work while under the influence. Plan your fun accordingly. If you show up drunk or otherwise unprepared to work, you will be replaced and treated as a no-show. And while Wasteland is all about some kind of costume at all times, please dress in a way that fits the theme but, more importantly, allows you to do your job well. Your volunteer shift may not be the best time to strap on all your prop weapons and accessories (or that face mask that makes it difficult for people to understand you when you talk). On the flip side, wearing too little can be unsafe for certain tasks.

No-Shows will not be tolerated. Last minute cancellations and poor performance may result in you having to pay for your comped ticket, and can lead to exclusion from future volunteer opportunities.

FAQ

“I’ve filled out an app. What happens next?”

Great question! Here’s a rough timeline of what happens and when.

When you submit an application, you’ll be sent to a “Thank You” page, and you will immediately receive an automated email receipt.

–> IMPORTANT: If you hit the submit button and it sends you back to the top of the page, it means there is a missing or incorrect entry somewhere. It’s usually highlighted. Phone browsers sometimes have issues with the form, so if you run into this problem on your phone, try again on a computer. Your application won’t go anywhere until you get that Thank You page!

Phase 1: Application form is open, and apps are sent to team leads for review. If a position gets a large number of responses, we may announce that that listing is closed early.

Phase 2: Team leads finalize their selections. Applicants are rerouted to their next choice or a high-priority position if needed. Volunteers will receive emails confirming approval or rerouting, as needed.

Chosen volunteers MUST complete a confirmation step as indicated in the approval email before they will be fully confirmed and scheduled. Not completing this step will result in cancellation of volunteer approval, and you will be replaced.

Phase 3: Team leads and Volunteer Coordinator start scheduling volunteers. Approved volunteers will receive an email with more information. Volunteer comp passes will be issued at this point as well (via Eventbrite). If a confirmed volunteer needs a refund from a previously purchased ticket, they will have access to a form to start the process. ALL Wasteland attendees use a ticket from the Eventbrite ticketing system. If you’re someone with a comped admission, you will still use the eventbrite ticket that is sent to you (it will simply read “Special Entry” to indicate that it is a comped ticket).

Final phase: Final emails go out to all confirmed volunteers with position, schedule, and reporting location information. We make every attempt to get through these phases as fast as possible, but with hundreds of volunteers and a lot of moving parts to the planning, this phase may not happen until very close to the event.

At the Event: Once onsite and settled, volunteers are required to report to Command Center for volunteer check-in. Schedules, reporting location/contact, camp location, and contact info will be double-checked. Upon completion of check-in, the volunteer will be given this year’s special volunteer dog tag. This step is to make sure our volunteers are onsite and all set to fulfill their commitment.

–> IMPORTANT: Those who do not check-in at Command Center may be considered no-shows and will not receive a volunteer dog tag, and might not be allowed to volunteer in the future.

“What if this is my first time at Wasteland?”

Perfectly fine, and even encouraged. Volunteering is a great way to jump right in and get involved! First-timers will meet and work alongside our amazing community, while getting to know the layout and feel of the event very quickly.

“How do you pick which applicants get approved?”

Another great question. Ultimately the event’s success depends on the work of our volunteers at all levels. We will definitely have far fewer spots to fill than applicants, unfortunately , so we choose who seems the best fit for the position, to the best of our ability. But there are some other factors that help too.

We kept notes on how last year’s applicants performed. If you volunteered last year, and you received a good review from your team lead, then you will likely get priority placement this year.

Some positions (like Atomic Cafe and Body Shop) are extremely popular, so we tend to fill those roles with people having relevant experience or background in those areas.

Some positions require a special certification, like our Medical Team roles. Those positions will ONLY be filled by those with the relevant, valid certification/license. Any special requirements are noted in the position listing.

We don’t prioritize based on who filled out an app first, so it’s not crucial that you get yours done the day the new app is live. But a lot of positions are going to fill up fast, especially some of the more popular roles. So don’t wait til July to fill out an app if you don’t need to.