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Volunteer FAQ's

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Q: Are volunteers still needed for this year’s festival?

A: Yes! We are always in need of volunteers for the festival. We don’t ever put a cap on the number of volunteers needed as we always seem to be needing more. And as our festival grows each passing year, so does the number of volunteers needed.

Q: How old do I have to be to volunteer?

A: We prefer volunteers to be 21 and over. However, we are happy to have you as a volunteer if you are not 21. We do have a few guidelines though. If you are over 18 but under 21, no problem. All we ask is that you do not sign up to volunteer for any of the parties as every party we host is 21 and over. We will be checking on this prior to the festival, so please be honest. If we are concerned come the night of the party, we will check ID.

Q: What if you are under 18 but still interested in volunteering?

A: We understand the desire to get your feet wet or earn some community service hours. The best case scenario is having a mom or dad or other [over 18] family member volunteer with you. If that’s not a possibility, we would love to have you volunteer for our youth program/event held every year.

Q: What if you are under 18 but still interested in volunteering?

A: We understand the desire to get your feet wet or earn some community service hours. The best case scenario is having a mom or dad or other [over 18] family member volunteer with you. If that’s not a possibility, we would love to have you volunteer for our youth program/event held every year.

Q: What does a volunteer actually do?

A: Volunteers are an incredibly crucial part to the success of our film festival. Volunteers are the face of the festival and will often be the first (and possibly only) person to interact with our patrons. You are important! During the day, volunteers are needed to direct patrons to where they need to go in our info booth, take tickets at the door, usher lines into the theaters, pass out ballots for every movie, sell tickets in our ticket booth and sell NBFF merchandise. In the evening, volunteers assist at our after-parties. Every night of the festival, we host a party to celebrate the day and network with awesome people in the industry. Volunteers provide wristbands to guests, check identification, clean up as the party is happening to keep a professional and inviting environment. Volunteers are also needed before and after the party to set up and tear down equipment.

Q: Sounds fun, how do I sign up?

A: Go to http://shiftboard.com/newportbeachfilmfest and click on New Registration. Fill out the questionnaire and wait for an email with login information.

If you signed up on Shiftboard to volunteer for the 2013 Film Festival, you do not need to sign up again. All your information will still be in our system and there is no need to start from scratch. You can login to your profile and make any changes you’d like though! If your email or phone number has changed or you just want to expand your areas of interest, you can do that right on your Shiftboard account.

Q: Is it mandatory to attend a volunteer orientation meeting?

A: Yes, these meetings are your home for all the information you could possibly need to prepare yourself for volunteering for the festival. We give you an overview of the festival, where we are in need of volunteers, and answer any and all questions you may have. This is also where you will sign up for shifts, a very important task in being a volunteer! The meetings last about an hour and a half and are held in Newport Beach, usually in the City Council Chambers (but not always!).

Q: How do I know when and where the meetings are being held?

A: If you have signed up for Shiftboard, you will receive an email with all the information you need to RSVP and attend an orientation meeting. Dates, times, and location(s) will all be provided. All you need to do is pick the most convenient meeting date for your schedule and shoot us an email RSVPing. Please keep in mind that RSVPing allows us to adequately prepare for each meeting and we really appreciate you taking the time to let us know we’ll be seeing your beautiful face!

Q: I am a returning volunteer. Do I still have to attend a meeting?

A: Yes! Remember, this meeting isn’t just about the festival in general; it is about this year’s festival: where events are being held, which venues we are using, and what we will need this year as opposed to previous years. It is where we can inform you of any and all changes from prior years. And most importantly, you still need to sign up for shifts. Good news! If you are returning volunteer, you will be rewarded with a meeting held for you specifically. You will receive first pick of shift times, dates, and locations. You may even be able to snag the ever-so-coveted Opening Night shift!

Q: Do I have to sign up for Shiftboard before attending the orientation meeting? I am still on the fence about being a volunteer for the Newport Beach Film Festival.

A: No, you are definitely not required to sign up first. We understand that you may want to hear about the festival before committing. But keep a couple things in mind before you decide to wait… Shiftboard is how we get ahold of your email address and get you the information about the meeting. Without that, you won’t know when to attend to make that decision. Also, signing up for shiftboard does not commit you to participating. You can attend, decide its not for you, and that’s that. All we ask is that you send us an email letting us know you won’t be volunteering and we’ll remove your profile! Easy peasy.

Q: Do I have to buy the t-shirt?

A: Yes! This is very important. T-shirts cost $5 and they are available for purchase at the orientation meetings. We accept cash and checks for the t-shirts but will not have a credit card machine on site. Unfortunately you cannot volunteer for the festival without a t-shirt signifying you are a volunteer. We do change the color of the shirt every year so wearing a t-shirt from past years is not an option. We apologize in advance if this is an inconvenience.

Q: What is the minimum number of hours required as a volunteer?

A: We ask volunteers to sign up and show up for a minimum of 3 shifts or 12 hours. Not all shifts are the same number of hours depending on the nature of the event and we do allow a small amount of flexibility with this. Of course you are more than welcome to go above and beyond the call of duty and participate in more than 3 shifts or 12 hours. (In 2012, one volunteer provided 64 hours of volunteer work!)

Q: So, what are the perks of volunteering for the Newport Beach Film Festival?

A: Of course we love to reward our volunteers for their participation in the festival and all the hard work they put into making our festival great. In the past year we have decided to revamp our perks system and this is a work in progress for the time being. There will definitely still be movie-viewing perks involved. And we will continue to host a volunteer party to celebrate the success of another great festival.

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