Paul Loeffler has been volunteering for the National Folk Festival in East Lansing for the past two years and said the perks can’t be beat.
Loeffler and his wife, Linda, Williamston residents, have volunteered as loggers for the festival, archiving the music and information about the musicians and their songs.
Loeffler said volunteers get a “nifty” T-shirt, preferred parking, water and snacks, the chance to meet the band members and an invitation to the volunteer meal and bash at the end of the festival.
“It’s a steal for a volunteer to put in a four-hour shift for what they get out of it,” he said. “And you get to be part of something that is a big deal.”
And students and residents interested in volunteering are in luck, because East Lansing is looking for more than 70 volunteers for the 63rd National Folk Festival, which will be held Aug. 10-12.
A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Martin Luther Chapel at MSU, 444 Abbott Road, for those interested in volunteering.
Laura Potter, a volunteer coordinator for the festival, said there are all sorts of jobs open for volunteers.
She said the main job is the “bucket brigade,” where teams go through the festival site with decorated buckets and collect donated money from the public. There are also jobs available in the children’s area and green room, among others.
“We have people of all ages volunteering, from teenagers and kids with their parents to senior citizens,” she said. “The whole entire weekend is so much fun and they get to go behind the scenes.”
Scott Bauries, an East Lansing resident, has volunteered for the past two years. He said he enjoys the music and the interaction with the artists.
“You get to interact with the musicians, artists and fans,” he said. “You get to see a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff you wouldn’t get to see as just a spectator.”
Bauries also said there is a lot of diversity at the event, which draws about 100,000 people.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “For a city like East Lansing where we have so much activity, you can’t ask for a better event.”
Those unable to attend the meeting can call 319-6929 to volunteer.
