Policies

Perks

Shift Times

Volunteer Roles Descriptions

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Oceans Calling 2024! Volunteering for the Oceans Calling Music Festival gives you the chance to help represent Surfrider and reduce the festival's impact on our beach and ocean by helping with sustainability efforts on-site. Read this overview to learn more about the volunteer policies, perks, and the different roles volunteers play at the Festival. A celebration of music, food, and fun, the festival takes place on the iconic Ocean City boardwalk from September 27-29, 2024. 

Please select by ROLE below, and once on the volunteer portal, you will be able to choose the time slots (by day and time) within that role. You are welcome to choose more than one time slot, and more than one role at a different day/time. Be sure to enter your T-shirt size also! Even though it's listed as optional, we would like to gauge an approximate number of volunteer shirt sizes needed. Please be sure to not sign up for multiple roles during the same volunteer shifts. 

Please use the email you have registered with Golden in order to confirm your selected time(s).*

More detailed descriptions of the roles are below the buttons. Please read everything carefully, including the policies before choosing your role. 

Read full role description here

Read full role description here

Read full role description here

Read full role description here

Read full role description here

*If you have issues accessing your Golden opportunities when you click the links above, it is likely because:

• You have not claimed your Golden account. You will need a Golden volunteer account. You can create this free account using your personal email address: https://portal.goldenvolunteer.com/account/login?redirect=/
• When entering your info after selecting your role and time, be sure to use your full first and last name as it appears on your Golden profile. If they don't match, you will see an error after signing the waiver.
• The opportunities are set as "private" meaning only logged-in volunteers in a preset group will be able to sign up. The group is made up of folks who have volunteered within the 2024 year and folks who are members.
• If you cannot see the opportunities and you are signed into your volunteer Golden account using your personal email address, you may not be in our preset group and so will not be able to sign up to volunteer at this time. If we have additional slots available, we will open positions for everyone to be able to access.

Policies

1. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, per LiveNation volunteer policies. 
2. Volunteer roles include no monetary compensation.
3. Volunteers must provide their own transportation to the event. Parking is not provided. We encourage taking public transport, carpooling, or going by foot or bicycle.
4. Water is provided, but you must bring your own empty reusable water bottle and refill it from the free hydration stations at the Festival; there is no bottled water at this event.
5. We do not provide food. It is recommended you eat before and/or after your shift.
6. Failure to perform duties as expected/required may result in dismissal from the OC Festival grounds and the Volunteer Program. It will also affect future placement in the program.
7. A volunteer must complete the Festival volunteer assignment in a satisfactory manner (i.e. reporting on time for all shifts, staying the entire shift, wearing assigned volunteer identification during shifts, and respecting other volunteers, staff, performers, and patrons of the festival).
8. Use of alcohol and/or controlled substances before or while on duty is strictly prohibited. Violators will be subject to immediate dismissal from the OC Festival grounds and the Volunteer Program.
9. Missing (or not completing) an assigned shift or shifts will jeopardize participation as a volunteer in the future. Note: Every volunteer will be given a chance to back out of their assignment prior to the event.
10. All volunteers understand that they are representatives of the Surfrider Foundation and must abide by all rules and regulations outlined by the host venue while supporting Surfrider.
11. Volunteers are only permitted to sign up for themselves. You cannot register your friends, family members, or anyone else on their behalf. Each registered volunteer must have a Golden account tied to (at minimum) their full name and email address.
12. Event is rain or shine. If you have committed to volunteering, you will still be expected to show up for your selected shift. No-shows will be flagged and banned from volunteering in the future.

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Perks

The biggest perk is free entry into the festival each day you have a shift! Before and after your volunteer shift, you are free to enjoy the event. If your shift begins in the afternoon or evening, you can check-in early to receive your credentials and enjoy the Festival. You MUST return to the *MAIN* Rock & Recycle tent at your designated call time, or you will be counted as a no-show, dismissed from the OC Festival grounds, and banned from volunteering in the future. 

You’ll get a limited edition volunteer t-­shirt which you must wear while you’re on your shift ONLY. Once your shift is over, you will need to take off the shirt, but you may keep it as a memento of your contribution to the Festival. Please check your Golden profile has your t-shirt size already populated!

Last, but not least, you’ll be part of a team that’s putting on a one-of-a-kind event. It’s a fun way to meet people with shared interests and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you were not only a big part of making the festival happen, but also making it a clean and green one!

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2024 Shift Times

There are NINE shift times available this year;

All volunteer positions focus on patron services and are 'front-of-house' roles. Some teams are 'mobile' and some are under tents. We do not have backstage, VIP, medical, or production positions for volunteers.

Applicants are welcome to sign up for more than one shift, on one or both days.

We will have an online training meeting to review important info about the Festival within the weeks leading up to Sept. 27. Invites and links will be sent out to all confirmed volunteers for these trainings, and it is highly recommended you attend this training. 

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Volunteer Roles

Rock & Recycle (R&R) Booths

This team helps ensure that festival patrons are aware of efforts to recycle & reuse, and encourages OC fans to participate in the Rock & Recycle program. 

You’ll have a base in one of two Rock & Recycle tents, handing out special bags for patrons to fill with designated recyclables. Patrons who return sufficiently filled bags will earn a free collectible t-shirt. 

R&R volunteers take filled bags, tie them off, and place them in a designated area next to the booth, so light lifting is required. Volunteers will also help distribute t-shirts, as well as help spread news about the Rock & Recycle program. 

Volunteers at the booths may also be asked to hand our Reverb cup prizes. Attendees will show you a notification on their phone as to which prize they won and you will hand out prizes provided by the Reverb team. 

R&R Roamers

Roamers will be used for mobile Rock & Recycle. Working in teams of two, you’ll carry a lollipop sign with the Rock & Recycle logo, so that patrons can easily find you. These mobile volunteers will always have a bag handy to accept recyclables or hand out to interested patrons for them to fill. Your primary objective is to promote the program in the crowds. Mobile teams will also keep an eye out on the grounds to help identify areas that need attention (overflowing recycle bins, for example).

Water Refill Stations

This team will be in two tented water stations inside the Festival grounds, and will serve patrons free, filtered, cool water from special spigots. These stations are a huge step in helping green the festival. Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of bottles saved via the refill stations. Patrons love the water stations, especially on a hot beach day, and are enthusiastic and grateful in thanking volunteers. Most of the water stations are near stages too, so you’ll hear music throughout your shift!

*Note: patrons need to provide their own bottles; there are none available at either hydration stations.

Photo Activation Attendant

Photo activations are usually set up directly on the beach. This position involves keeping the lines organized for photography at the main installation and can include taking photos for Festival patrons. You will also keep an eye on the activations, making sure patrons are respecting the pieces and are not defacing, playing with, or changing them. Although this role does not have cover from the elements, it's a very fun and interactive position!

Floaters

Don't know which position you want to fill? Or want to try a number of different roles? Then this is the role for you! You will be filling in wherever you are needed, from promoting the R&R initiative or helping keep orderly lines organized, to working on the beach or under a tent, or walking around the entire festival with a lollipop sign.

*Note: this is more of an individual role, and so it is unlikely that groups or families will be stationed together. 

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