Volunteer Info

There are new volutneer opportunities available. Please go to the “teams” page to see which you can join. Please register at www.shiftboard.com/sbiff

If you are a current volunteer, please read the following and visit www.shiftboard.com/sbiff to schedule your shifts.

WELCOME & THANK YOU!

Each year the Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings together a dedicated team of volunteers to help ensure the best film-going experience possible for our patrons, filmmakers, jurors and international visitors. As a non-profit organization we are grateful for the effort and considerable contributions made by our volunteers every year. We recognize the volunteers returning from years prior as well as welcome all the new faces for this year! We could not present the Festival without your hard work and absolute dedication.

As with last year, the Shiftboard website is the primary tool used for scheduling and communication. With this program you can decide what your schedule looks like. This program allows each volunteer to pick-up and drop shifts as well as simplifies communications between volunteers and team leaders. Shiftboard can be accessed through any computer with internet capabilities at www.shiftboard.com/sbiff.

EXPECTATIONS OF A VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are the face of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. As a host, we ask you to always be respectful and gracious. We ask that you become knowledgeable on the many aspects of the Festival such as: theatre locations, different types of passes, levels of priority, ticketing options, and the variety of programs being offered. This information can be found on our website (www.sbiff.org).

As a representative of the Film Festival you should refrain from distributing self promotional materials while on duty e.g. scripts, headshots, business cards, etc. Make yourself available to answer questions or direct patrons, and be conscious of allowing people their personal space. If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest, and make every reasonable attempt to find out, or direct them toward a knowledgeable source.

Scheduling 400-500 people to handle over 400 events in an eleven-day period takes a tremendous amount of planning and cooperation; we appreciate your willingness to help us make this year’s Festival the best yet, by honoring your shifts, showing up on time and staying until the job is done.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

NOTE: All volunteers are required to be 18 years or older. Volunteers who work parties or special events are required to be 21 or older.

ATTENDANCE:

During the Festival there is an influx of people to Santa Barbara. With increased traffic and tougher parking, please allow extra time for your arrival. Parking is the responsibility of each volunteer, and we encourage you to consider using alternatives to driving, when possible.

Please check your Shiftboard calendars for your scheduled shifts and arrive on time! Any “no-shows” or habitual tardiness could result in disqualification from the current and future Festivals and Festival events. If a scheduling conflict arises, please attempt to cover your shift with the help of a fellow volunteer.

If this is not possible, alert the Volunteer Coordinator at least 24 hours before the shift is scheduled to begin. You may contact them via Shiftboard, email, or the volunteer hotline.

Email: jackie@sbfilmfestival.org
Volunteer Hotline: (805)229-1357

Arrive at your designated shift wearing the provided 27th Annual SBIFF Volunteer Shirt and Official Name Tag. Check in with the Theatre Manager on site. They will provide instruction and any special information needed for your shift.

APPEARANCE:

Remember that you are a representative of both the Festival and Santa Barbara. Please dress appropriately. The 27th Annual SBIFF Volunteer Shirt and Official Name Tag will be provided to you at the Volunteer Headquarters. This shirt should be worn for all your volunteer shifts, along with clean slacks and shoes which are presentable and also comfortable. For colder weather, it is recommended that volunteers wear layers of clothing underneath their Volunteer Shirt. It is the volunteers’ responsibility to be properly dressed and prepared for the weather during their shift. So, check the forecast because it usually rains at least one day during the Festival.

While on duty, refrain from eating, smoking, chewing gum or drinking beverages other than bottled water. Also, please leave all cameras at home during your shifts. We understand the desire to have a photo taken with your favorite celebrity, but please refrain from this during your shifts.

SCHEDULING:

All volunteer scheduling will be handled through the Shiftboard webpage. Volunteers will be able to add shifts based on their own availability. The Shiftboard program also allows volunteers to view and print their schedules from any computer with internet access. A brief “Shiftboard Basics” guide is provided at the log-in page of shiftboard. Shifts will be made available to those who attend one of our mandatory general orientations.

BENEFITS:

Once signed up for shifts, each volunteer will receive and be able to keep their 27th Annual SBIFF Volunteer Shirts and will receive Mini-Paks to attend regular movie screenings, in alignment with the number of hours volunteered. Everyone will be invited to a volunteer-only screening of the 27th annual SBIFF Opening Night film on the evening before the Festival begins. Other benefits vary from year to year and will be announced through Shiftboard and at the general orientations.

VOLUNTEER TEAMS

Here is a list of the various “teams” you may sign up for via shiftboard. A team is more easily put where you will be volunteering during the festival. Please note that you may only sign up for 1-2 teams.

METRO 4 TEAM

The Metro 4 is located at 618 State St. and handles the majority of the screenings for the Film Festival and is high-traffic venue. Duties would include crowd management, ticket taking, selling merchandise and various other theater duties. With 4 screens, the Metro is the only multi-screen venue the Festival uses and because of this volunteers would need to be flexible and capable of handling multitasking and potentially mildly stressful situation.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

LOBERO TEAM

This Team is for the Lobero Theatre at 33 East Canon Perdido. Duties include regular theater work such as ticket taking, ushering, crowd control, and various other theater duties.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

MUSEUM TEAM

This team is for the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Mary Craig Auditorium located at 1130 State Street. Please note the auditorium is only accessible through the rear entrance. The theater is a smaller venue inside the Museum of Art and allows for a more intimate setting. Duties include ushering, ticket checking, line management, and other duties as assigned. Volunteers need to be able to work in a low key environment with moments of busyness as well as some downtime.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

ARLINGTON TEAM

This team is for the Arlington Theatre located at 1317 State St. The Arlington Theatre is the location of our tributes and screenings but this team will specifically work during regular film screenings NOT TRIBUTES. Duties include regular theater work of ushering, line management, ticket checking, etc., but on a larger scale as the Arlington seats 2000.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

INFORMATION VOLUNTEER TEAM

Information Volunteers serve as the liaison between the Festival and Festival goers. This position is vital to running a smooth program and disseminating information about how passes work, ticketing, locations, the Q system and other general information. Customer service experience is highly desirable as is an outgoing nature, approachability, and proactive attitude toward getting and giving information. This team has the ability of picking shifts at all of the film venues.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

TRIBUTE TEAM

This team is for all red carpet events. Tribute Team duties include line management, crowd control, and taking tickets. Volunteers must be able to keep a level head in potentially stressful situations and able to handle large crowds. Volunteers will also need to be strong and firm, yet polite with everyone. REMINDER: Volunteers are not allowed to take pictures of or actively engage celebrities. Customer service experience is highly desirable.

PRE-PRODUCTION TEAM

Pre-Production volunteers assist with the set-up and tear-down of special events, red carpet events, and other Film Festival events. Duties include moving barricades, setting-up stanchions, heavy lifting, etc. Volunteers must be in good physical condition, able to lift up to 40lbs.

SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM

ALL SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEERS MUST BE OVER 21. Special Event Volunteers must be willing to work late hours (sometimes as late as 2:00am) in a fast paced environment. Experience serving, bartending, hosting, or other service industry related work is highly desirable.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

HOSPITALITY TEAM

Hospitality Volunteers assist the Hospitality Liaison to oversee the Hospitality Center. Meet and greet Filmmakers and Platinum Pass Holders as they arrive. Must be able to communicate information to guests and assist them with their needs. Oversee cleanliness in the center, refresh beverage and food station as needed. Assist support staff in opening and closing of Hospitality center. The typical hours are between 8am and 6pm in the Festival Headquarters at the Hotel Santa Barbara. Customer service experience is highly desirable. Please note that this is a small team so it fills up fast.

PRESS OFFICE TEAM

This team is for assisting the Press team. Job Duties will include working in the press office located in the Hotel Santa Barbara, dealing with press and filmmakers. Please note that this is a small team so it fills up fast.

TICKETING TEAM

A trained team of volunteers to assist the festival’s ticketing needs at the will call kiosk during the festival. Jobs will consist of distributing will call tickets, selling additional tickets, and relaying information to customers. Please note that this is a small team so it fills up fast.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

APPLEBOX TEAM

This team is for the AppleBox childrens’ events of the Festival. AppleBox brings the art of film for FREE to a younger generation. Duties include all of that of a regular theater (line monitor, crowd control, ushering, etc.) but the audience is primarily families. Please note that this is a small team so it fills up fast.

FIELD TRIP TEAM

Field Trip to the Movies is an event held for local schools; students travel from all over the county to watch an educational film and participate in a science lesson taught by a guest instructor. Duties include regular theater work (ticket checking, line management, ushering, etc.) but would involve working with school age children. Field Trip to the Movies is normally held on one of the Fridays from with multiple shifts running from 8:00am through 2:00pm. Experience working with large groups of children is helpful.

Please note this team requires attendance to an additional training meeting.

VOLUNTEER DUTIES:

When you arrive to your shift and check in with the Venue Manager, you will be assigned a position. Here is a list of job duties and descriptions for the film venues. The specialized teams such as Pre-Production and Special Events will vary and you will be trained for those when you arrive for your shift.

Ticket Taker/MiniPak Puncher

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Counter

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Balloters

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Merchandise

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Stage Hand

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Usher

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Information Volunteers

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Q Handler

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