FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHO IS BARNSTORM?

  • Barnstorm is an Event Production and Management company committed to building community through live events. Our people focus on the creation of actively beneficial experiences through Guest Services, ADA Accessibility, Community Outreach, and Sustainability programs. We scale up or down to suit any project providing resources to promote Sports, Music, and other Creative Arts that have the power to improve quality of life, foster well-being, and inspire positive change to enliven the cultural ecology of a society beyond the festival.

    Read more about Barnstorm here.

  • Connecting People Through Live Events to Build A Stronger Community

  • We are building a network of event professionals that share our goals and vision for a better event. The impact we have is fueled by the people behind the programs and initiatives that we put in place. The Barnstorm network is ultimately about supporting those people, event workers.

  • We list event work opportunities on our website through various partnerships with event promoters, vendors, and community organizations. Our network, powered by NextCrew, then fills those opportunities.

    During the planning phase of an event Barnstorm Event Producers work as part of the overall Event Production Team to maximize resources and benefits offered to an event worker including a competitive wage and perks where available including but not limited to: crew catering, uniforms, and flexibility with scheduling.

    Our team of Event Producers and Managers then work to provide the necessary tools and information to hired event crew, staff, and/or community partner volunteers. Training Materials are housed on the barnstorm.co website under each listed event’s password protected Guest Services Online Resource, consolidating our recruitment, application, onboarding, scheduling, and training all into one place, the barnstorm.co website.

    Barnstorm is a startup member of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. Our goal is to grow with the best interests of the event worker in mind.

  • We’d love to have you! Get registered in our database linked here. Once you’ve registered follow the below instructions to sign up to work an event.

HOW TO WORK WITH US: CREW

  • Our upcoming events are outlined here. See the next question(s) on how to get registered into our system and the process to apply.

  • Begin by registering in Next Crew. NextCrew is a staff database for registering, applying, profile updates & confirming work schedules. Provide as much information as you can, including your resume and applicable work experience. Also, ensure your legal name, as it appears on your license, is correct in your NextCrew profile.

    Once your NextCrew profile is approved, you will get an email confirmation. You will then begin to receive invitations to apply to specific events 30-60 days before the event start date.

    Follow those invitations to apply by marking “Interested” on jobs.

  • We review all applicants and availabilities in the weeks leading up to the event. We will review both your NextCrew profile and your stated availability prior to making any offers.

    Communicating your availability for a shift does not guarantee you a job or that you will be assigned to work those shifts.

    We strongly advise you to contact the work@thebarnstorm.co or the event-specific inbox promptly upon receiving invites, especially if you're from out of state. Additionally, keep in mind that having greater availability for an event, along with a well-detailed resume in your NextCrew profile, enhances your approval chances. Submitting your application early is also beneficial, as our slots tend to fill up quickly.

  • Once you are selected for your shifts you will receive a communication from NextCrew that you have been selected to work your event. You will be asked to confirm the shifts you were approved for. This step is time critical as it allows you to move to the next step of payroll.

    At this step, double check & ensure your legal name, as it appears on your license, is correct in your NextCrew profile.

    If you cannot work anymore, please email work@thebarnstorm.co asap so we can move on to other applicants.

  • Once you have confirmed your shifts in Next Crew you are hired. Please be on the lookout for payroll paperwork from Collective Payroll and an email for training times and dates. More information available under “Payroll Onboarding.”

  • If you are not selected for the shifts that you have applied for means you are not currently hired for that event at this given time. Please still keep an eye out in your app as your status may change as the event approaches. You will likely receive an email that you are on the waitlist.

    Please understand that you MUST complete your payroll paperwork to work.

  • Contact the work@thebarnstorm.co

  • No positions with travel and housing included are available to staff. All applicants apply based on their availability to be local to an event or can secure their own housing and transportation for the event.

HOW TO WORK WITH US: MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION

  • Production and Management roles are limited and openings are generally communicated by word of mouth with most high level positions filled through our network by referrals and recommendations. Performing at a high level in a crew position, working multiple events where you can network with existing Production and Management staff is the most common way that we’ve seen people advance. An interested team member's ability to be local to an event and their involvement in the local community is also given high consideration when assessing candidates.

  • As always, we strive to hire a local workforce no matter what the role. With that being said, Production and Management positions are generally afforded more benefits to go along with additional responsibilities and a larger time commitment. Travel and Housing is often offered to Production, as well as some management positions with Sr. Management as well as specialized roles such as Gate Managers and ADA Coordinators often given priority when availability is limited. Each event is different but we do work to get as much travel and housing included in an offer as possible for Production and Management who need it.

  • No, you will be assigned to your role by our staffing lead(s) in NextCrew. Your schedule and position and offer details will be communicated to you via email by either your supervisor, or the event’s Production or Staffing lead(s).

  • It depends.

    Production roles, if not filled and managed by Barnstorm directly, are generally managed by and contracted (or subcontracted) through a vendor or community partner. For a list of preferred vendors and community partners that we often work with, click here (list of partners). If you are not yet affiliated with a vendor or do not have your own company, the Production Collective is an available route to Production personnel that we’ve committed to working with on at least 3 events in a calendar year.

    Management Positions, if not through Barnstorm, a vendor, or community partner, are most often hired on an event to event basis and paid through Collective Payroll.

ONBOARDING TO PAYROLL

  • Collective Payroll is your employer for payroll payments and for any workers compensation or unemployment questions or issues.

  • You are being paid as a W2 taxable employee and you must be able to provide the appropriate identifications to complete the I9 legal work document. ID’s include a non-expired passport, or you can provide 2 forms of ID including a non-expired driver license and a SS card or birth certificate. (Please see I9 form for additional accepted forms of ID)

    You must hold a valid United States social security number to be employed. You may not provide a business EIN in place of the social security number.

    You must be 18 years of age or older to be employed.

    If you are a current employee of Live Nation or C3 Presents, please let your manager know.

  • You will receive an invitation to set up an ADP Payroll account with Collective Payroll and must complete this before you receive payment. Look out for an email a few business days after being hired. Search for “Welcome to ADP” in your inbox and spam.

    The ADP Payroll account will allow you to do the following at any point in the year: Review or print paystubs and W2 tax forms, update your address information, update your direct deposit information.

  • For payroll related questions, please reach out to Collective Payroll. Email admin@collectivepayroll.com or text 615-398-1777.

  • As mentioned above, confirming your approved shifts means you are hired. But you MUST complete your payroll paperwork prior to arriving onsite or to any online trainings. We will turn you away and remove you from the schedule if you do not complete this.

  • You will be paid on a weekly basis with a pay week of Sunday through Saturday.

    Paychecks will be mailed or direct deposited by Friday of the week following the end of the pay period.

    For Example: Pay week 10/1/23 through 10/7/23 is paid on 10/13/23.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT

  • There will be an online training and an on-site training leading up to the event.

    The online training will be sent to you via google calendar and email. It will be recorded and posted to the guest services guide on thebarnsorm.co training page. You will get paid for this hour by attending the training and/or showing up for your first day of work.

    The on-site training is typically held the day before the event with a few exceptions. Please look out for email correspondence. You will only be paid for the hours onsite if you attend the training.

  • You will receive a uniform shirt for identification purposes during training or your initial on-site day. It's essential to dress appropriately for the weather conditions; consider wearing shorts for hot weather and adding warm or waterproof layers for cooler nights or inclement weather. Disposable ponchos can be obtained at Guest Services in case of rain. Dress professionally and maintain a positive appearance.

    Festival staff and volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes as a safety requirement; standard sneakers are acceptable. When visiting the festival site during load-in or load-out (e.g., for a venue tour or training), you'll enter an active construction site. For your safety, it's mandatory to wear high-visibility (Hi-Vis) attire during these times. You may want to invest in your Hi-Vis shirt or vest, but Guest Services does have a limited supply of Hi-Vis wear available for department personnel on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • As a festival staff or volunteer, it's important to be mindful of what you bring with you. Festival security has the final say on what items are allowed. It's best to bring only what you can carry and adhere to the Festival's list of permitted and prohibited items, including the Festival Bag Policy.

    For convenience, consider bringing your backup power source or using the festival's on-site locker and mobile charging service, provided by Entertainment Lockers (subject to availability).

    Protect yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen before arriving and find sunscreen available at Guest Services. Sunglasses and a hat are essential during the day.

    Support sustainability by bringing your own reusable water bottle (#BYOBottle). Staying hydrated is crucial, and the festival offers free water refill stations from Event Water Solutions throughout the park. Let's work together to make the festival more environmentally-friendly.

  • Guest Services Team Members are the face of the festival. Staff interact with fans in a variety of ways. Positions for most events are cross trained to support multiple functions throughout the event, including.

    Information Services and Directional Wayfinding

    Accessibility Center Services and Accessible Viewing Area Management

    Greeters, Crowd Flow and Line Management, Entry and Egress Support

    Baseball Activities (Speed Pitch and Batting Cages) and Player Appearances

    Promotion and Operation of Programs and Initiatives, including but not limited to Lost & Found, Family Services & Tag-A-Kid, SAFEFEST Harm Reduction, and Festival Sustainability

    There are exceptions at larger events where you are asked to apply for specific roles.

  • Meals are provided for shifts worked.