Event Info

Pickathon 2017 Volunteer Program

Thank you for being one of the nearly 1,500 folks who come together each year to make Pickathon happen! It is because of your efforts and dedication that we are able to be the unique, magical, and sustainable festival that we are. Seriously, THANK YOU!

Volunteer opportunities range from helping with site set-up to serving beer to helping make sure the festival stays clean and green.

In exchange and appreciation for all your efforts, all volunteers will receive a weekend wristband to the festival AND a 40% off coupon to Danner Boots online or in any retail store! (Thanks, Danner!)

The link to the application, waiver, and refundable ticket (when available) are at the bottom of this page. Before you apply, be sure the read the full descriptions for your preferred crews!


Work Requirement 
 
Volunteers work on average between 12-16 hours in exchange for a weekend wristband. All applicants MUST be willing to work during the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the festival, though it is possible that a volunteer could be schedule only for pre or post fest shifts depending on their assigned crew. If there are specific times during and of those days where it would be impossible for you to work due to commitments outside of the festival, please discuss that with your crew chief after you are assigned to a crew.

Shift length varies depending on which crew you are selected to and whether your shifts are during the festival or before/after. In general, folks who are schedule to work before or after the festival are required to work more hours in exchange for having an uninterrupted Pickathon weekend.

Accommodation 

All weekend wristbands include a walk-in, general admission, tent camping site. Weekend Parking passes can be purchased at on the pickathon.com. All car camping and RV camping passes are sold out.


Arrival Date 

The majority of all volunteers will be able to enter Pendarvis Farm when the gates open to the public on Friday, August 4th. 
If your volunteer shift requires that you be on-site Thursday or early Friday you will be granted early Thursday entry. You will be notified if this applies to you.

If your shift does not qualify for early Thursday entry but you still want to come on Thursday, you can purchase Thursday tickets on pickathon.com. 

 

Shift Descriptions

Please read the following shift description for every crew you are interested in. A number of crews require that volunteers have specific work experience or certifications in order to work with them, so it is very important to make sure you are a good fit for your preferred crews before you apply. Additionally, some crew chiefs will ask you to provide specific information if you are applying to their crew in the "additional skills" box on the application.

Each crew shift description tells you what information you should provide in order to apply to that crew, so please read the descriptions carefully, and make sure you include the correct information for each crew you apply to (you can choose up to 3).
(Pro Tip: copy down what information is required for each of your three preferred crews before moving on with the application.)

PLEASE ALSO USE THE ADDITIONAL SKILLS BOX TO NOTE ANYONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH, AND ANY DATES PRE OR POST FESTIVAL YOU ARE AVAILABLE.


Brew Crew: Brew Crew volunteers are responsible for all aspects of keeping Pickathon’s multiple bars running smoothly throughout the weekend. Jobs include checking ID’s, selling drinks, pouring, and alcohol monitoring, as well as some set-up and teardown of bars before and after the festival weekend. ALL BREW CREW VOLUNTEERS MUST BE 21 OR OVER. Many Brew Crew positions require OLCC certification (though some positions are available for those who are not certified) so please be sure to check off “OR State Alcohol Certification” on your application if you are certified.

WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF MANY OLCC CERTIFIED and NON-OLCC VOLUNTEERS FOR EVENING AND LATE NIGHT SHIFTS!

Film Crew: Film Crew volunteers help produce the festival's live broadcast and YouTube videos. Duties, required time slots, and preferred experience vary widely depending on role. In general, volunteers are assigned the same time slot for all 3 days of the festival, with the exception of Setup/Teardown shifts. Film Crew Setup/Teardown shifts run prior to and following the festival weekend- July 29-August 3 and Monday, August 7. Volunteer opportunities exist in one of four areas: 
Camera Operators - Handheld, remote-controlled, and tripod cameras.
General Support - Includes Production/Volunteer coordinators, Runners, Setup/Teardown.
Technical Support - AV techs, Equipment techs, Production assistants, and Stage assistants.

FILM CREW STILL NEEDS LOTS OF HELPING HANDS! FOLKS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. MANY POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS WHO DONT HAVE FILM EXPERIENCE BUT ARE ENTHUASTIAC ABOUT LEARNING!


Gate Monitor Crew: Gate Monitor volunteers will work closely with certified security staff throughout the festival to ensure that entry gates to the festival grounds and the different stages are secure. Jobs include checking wristbands at entry gates and beer gardens, selective bag checks for alcohol, and being the eyes and ears on the ground for certified security staff. While most shifts will be during the festival, some volunteers will be asked to work immediately before or after the festival.

WE NEED PLENTY OF GATE MONITORS! IF YOU CHOOSE THIS CREW YOU WILL BE ACCEPTED TO IT ASAP!


Parking Crew: Parking Crew volunteers set up parking lots, manage traffic and control admission to multiple different parking lots based on credentials. Most volunteers will assist with directing festival goers into the correct spot in the correct lot, and managing the flow of track in and out of the weekend lot as folks come and go.

LOTS OF SHIFTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR PARKING!




Setup/Teardown Crew and Pickupathon: Set Up/Teardown and Pickupathon volunteers help create the magical atmosphere that is Pickathon before the festival and ensure that Pendarvis Farm is returned to it's original state afterward. Volunteers need to be comfortable with sustained physical activity as jobs are primarily labor intensive and require hard work. Tasks include raking cut grass, moving hay bales, clearing trails, finessing camp spots, spreading mulch, hanging miles of LED lights, and of course taking everything down and cleaning up post-festival. There are also many specialized positions including painting, carpentry, machine operation, and landscaping, so if you have experience with any of these skills please let us know in the “additional skills” box on the application.  This crew is scheduled BEFORE and AFTER the festival, with shifts starting July 17th and ending August 16th. There are NO during-festival shifts on this crew. Pickupathon volunteers are scheduled for two post-festival shifts with a focus on microtrash cleanup. Pickupathon volunteers may be asked to assist other crews during cleanup as needed.


Sky Crew: Sky Crew volunteers assist the Guildworks team as they set up the suspended sails that create shade and beauty at the festival. Volunteers need to be comfortable with sustained physical activity and have familiarity working with basic tools. Jobs include sorting ropes, tying knots, assembling box trusses, and offering general on-the-ground assistance to staff members who are working on rigs. Experience with rope work, knots, and fabric a big plus. This crew is scheduled BEFORE and AFTER the festival, with shifts starting July 14th and ending August 15th. There are NO during-festival shifts on this crew.

 

Get all the facts in the FAQ.