Volunteer Information Page

 
Members walking by the food truck to receive snack.

If you’re reading this you may be interested in volunteering or have already signed up to volunteer with Bluecoats! First of all, thank you! It takes a lot of hard work to care for hundreds of performers and staff as we tour the country each summer — volunteers help us complete necessary tasks to keep tour running as smoothly as possible.

This information page should answer any of the basic questions you have about time volunteering with us. If you read through this page and did not find what you were looking for, please feel free to contact the tour operations staff at volunteer@bluecoats.com. Someone will be more than happy to answer any questions you have!

What Can I Do?

If you’re volunteering with us during Spring Training we have the following roles:

  • Swing Volunteer

    • Help with snack prep/serving and other assorted tasks as needed

  • Sewing/Costuming Volunteer

    • Help with costume fitting and alterations and snack prep/serving as needed

If you’re volunteering with us during Tour we have the following roles:

  • Touring Foodservice Volunteer

    • Traveling overnight with us to assist with food prep and service on the Bluecoats food truck

  • Day Foodservice Volunteer

    • Assistance with food prep and serving for the day on Bluecoats food truck

  • Swing volunteer 

    • Help with driving errands, medical team transport assistance, production help, and/or food prep/serving

  • Merch Box Truck Driver

    • Drive the Merchandise Box Truck overnight from site to site

  • Audio Box Truck Driver

    • Drive the Audio Equipment Box Truck overnight from site to site

  • Merch RV Driver

    • Drive the Merch RV overnight from site to site

  • 15-Passenger Van Driver

    • Drive a 15-passenger van overnight from site to site

How Do I Sign Up?

Signing up is an easy process:

  1. Read the Volunteer Information Page to learn more about volunteering and determine which role(s) you’re best suited for.

  2. Fill out the Bluecoats 2024 Volunteer Interest Form with some basic information about yourself, your desired role, and which dates you’d like to be with us for.

After you fill out the Bluecoats 2024 Volunteer Interest Form, a Bluecoats team member will reach out via email to confirm your sign-up and give further instructions!

Quad drummer sitting in front of his drum.

Dos and Don’ts

DO

  • Wear a shirt and shoes at all times while at housing sites

  • Shower during rehearsal blocks

  • Allow members to eat first during mealtimes on tour

  • Be as punctual as you can

  • Treat all members, staff, other volunteers, and people you meet with respect

  • Bring up concerns with tour operations staff as they arise

DON’T

  • Go into any of the designated member areas unless permitted for a particular reason

  • Smoke on school property

  • Bring alcohol to or consume alcohol on school property

  • Partake in consumption of any drugs

  • Shower during meal or EPL time when the members are showering

  • Interfere with rehearsal in any way

FAQS

  • If you will be staying overnight with us you should pack the following:

    • Bedding

      • A tour operations staff member will specify based on position and circumstances

    • Comfortable clothes for hot weather

    • A sweater in case it is rainy or the AC is high

    • Comfortable shoes for being on your feet

    • Toiletries for the duration of your stay

    • Any medication you need for the duration of your stay

      • If you have medication that requires refrigeration or any other storage specifications please contact a tour operations staff member so they can arrange that for you in advance

  • Nope! You can drop in for a day or stay with us for weeks. The amount of time you give us is entirely up to you.

  • SafeSport is a series of training modules that teaches best practices for maintaining a safe and healthy learning and working environment at the corps. Completion of this program is mandated for all corps by Drum Corps International to ensure all staff and performers understand appropriate conduct. We ask that volunteers who will be staying with us overnight complete some version of SafeSport so they are educated and on the same page as everyone else in the corps regarding appropriate conduct. The amount of SafeSport training you must complete depends on the duration of your stay with us. A tour operations staff member will give you more information and guide you through the process after signing up.

  • Whether you volunteer because you know someone involved, care about the activity, or just want to do something nice is fine by us.

  • You can join us wherever you feel comfortable joining us whether it is close to home or across the country.

  • Of course! There are plenty of ways to give to Bluecoats. Whether it’s volunteering, making a one-time gift, becoming a sustaining monthly donor, or another way—we’re grateful for your support of our mission. Learn more about other ways to give at bluecoats.com/give.

  • We provide a shuttle! Just please check with us before booking travel to get time/parameters for any given day and location.

  • You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer with Bluecoats during the day. You must be at least 21 years old to volunteer and travel with Bluecoats during the summer tour.

    Volunteer drivers must be at least 26 years old, and pass a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check.

  • If you are taking care of us we will take care of you. Volunteers are free to stay with us and share in meals.

  • Some states allow you to earn a high school credits towards graduation by completing a certain amount of volunteer hours. It may also be a possibility at the college you attend. If you are interested in pursuing a credit by volunteering with us please check in with your guidance counselor/academic adviser, reach out to volunteers@bluecoats.com with exact requirements for the credit, and we will see if we can make that happen for you.

  • If you are with us for a minimum of one full day, you can get a pass from us to gain entrance to shows. Please note you may be able to get into the show but seats are not guaranteed. We recommend purchasing a ticket for finals.

  • Life does not always go as planned. If a personal emergency happens in your life and you must leave please email volunteer@bluecoats.com so we can arrange transportation for you ASAP.

  • Send us an email at volunteer@bluecoats.com and we’ll be happy to answer it!