The importance of volunteers and general community support for your theatre can’t be understated – but sometimes it can be tough to get people involved in your theatre if they aren’t on your payroll or your actor/tech crew.
Despite the difficulty, volunteers can be critical to the success of your theatre. Volunteers can:
There are a few simple ways to recruit and retain volunteers for your theatre throughout your season. On The Stage offers some tips.
The first step in taking on volunteers is understanding how to use them. The last thing you want is to recruit volunteers and then have zero use for them. You’ve not only wasted your own time and energy, but the volunteers’ as well.
So, what you’ll need to do before volunteers come to your theatre is identify gaps in your programming and how volunteers can help. There are so many ways a volunteer can assist your theatre, whether it’s a school program, community theatre, or professional non-equity theatre. These include:
Perfecting your volunteer recruitment message is the key to getting your community on your side when supporting your theatre. In short, your volunteerism request should entice those interested in the arts and anyone looking to make a difference in their community.
Your volunteer request should:
Social media is perhaps the most powerful tool in your arsenal for recruiting volunteers. You may not be able to speak to hundreds of people in a day – but you can reach hundreds on your social media platforms, truly broadening your reach.
Don’t be afraid to post your call for volunteers on all your social media channels, from Facebook and Instagram to TikTok, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Remember that your content on each platform should differ slightly depending on the channel!
The smartest way to get more volunteers is to advertise anywhere and everywhere that your volunteers may be present. This includes social media, of course, but also:
Indeed, multi-channel marketing efforts are your best bet when recruiting.
There could be a large pocket of volunteers who want to get involved with your theatre but don’t have a way to secure childcare so they can do so.
For that reason, welcome kids to your volunteer efforts if appropriate. (So like, not during set building or something else slightly dangerous!) Not only are you showcasing just how great theatre education can be for children, but you’re also widely broadening your scope of volunteers.
The donors within your theatre already believe in your cause – so why not ask them to volunteer? The best word-of-mouth advertising will come from people who work closely with you and buy tickets to the work you create.
Pro tip: Use your donor database to identify engaged supporters and inform them about your volunteer opportunities.
Signing up to volunteer with your theatre should be as easy as possible, so remove every barrier you can.
A great first set ensures your theatre’s website is as streamlined, simple, and intuitive as possible. Ensure your landing page has a clear banner allowing volunteers to sign up using a single-step system. The last thing you want is for excited volunteers to lose the wind in their sails due to a complicated sign-up process.
So you’ve got a bunch of excited volunteers, but how do you ensure they stay excited? Well…
There’s nothing quite like a simple yet meaningful ‘thank you.’ Make sure you’re thanking your volunteers – not only in person, face-to-face, but also on social media and in any marketing materials you may be putting out.
In short, acknowledging the contributions of your hardworking volunteers can ignite – or reignite – their passions.
Finding and retaining loyal volunteers will reap numerous benefits for your theatre. For those who have already been loyal to you, make sure they see the rewards. These can include:
In short, ensure you reward loyalty. This will not only retain volunteers but also draw in new participants.
Volunteers are far more likely to stay if their voices are heard. After volunteer opportunities, consider sending out surveys to gauge overall reactions to your event and how you can make it better in the future. Make sure you make it clear that feedback is thoughtfully considered and enacted.
Just like you need to be prepared for your volunteers, your volunteers must also be prepared to best serve your cause. That said, consider hosting a volunteer orientation to equip your new team members with all the information they need to succeed. You never want to make volunteers feel like they’re wasting their own time and yours.
You can also set up video-based or streaming volunteer orientations or email your new volunteer’s training materials to save time and resources. The main takeaway is that you want your volunteers to feel ready to help your cause.
Whether managing 5 volunteers or 500, having streamlined front-of-house management software can make all the difference.
Luckily, On The Stage (OTS) makes front-of-house management easy. Empower your FOH and box office team members with an all-in-one solution – because establishing box office best practices is essential for your organization’s success. On The Stage (OTS) makes your front-of-house experience memorable for all the right reasons. With our software, you can:
Prepare your front-of-housers and volunteers with the best. Book a personalized demo today to get started.