All the organisational team are fantastic people. Not just in terms of pulling off the festival, but also amazing to work alongside.
Volunteer at the Hootie
Surround yourself with some of the most exciting new and emerging talent from across the UK and Europe in a festival that honours Jim Marshall – founder of Marshall Amps and the ‘Father of Loud’.
Can you lend us your experience or try out new skills, gain experience, make great friends, get an exclusive Hootie T-shirt while you enjoy being part of London’s Largest Free 1-day Music Festival?
The Hanwell Hootie is run by volunteers and is a not-for-profit event. There are plenty of ways to get involved and we have lots of teams that work over the weekend to help make a great Hootie.
We create such an incredible vibe that many volunteers return year-after-year as our festival grows in popularity.
Without our volunteers this festival would not be possible. If you would like to be a part of our amazing team for 2027, please Apply Now.
The Hootie definitely helped me with getting this job so I am more than happy to help support the future volunteers.
Volunteer Roles
Pre Festival Crew
Role Description – Pre-Festival General Crew
The General Crew will provide support in the lead up to the festival. Those with experience of heavy lifting and working at heights are especially welcome. Crew members will also work alongside other teams to help them get the banners, bunting and decorations to the right height. You should also know your own limitations, take responsibility for yourself and adhere to our health & safety and safeguarding policies.
Dates for this role will be Friday afternoon/evening (8th) and Saturday morning (9th)
*Contractors will erect the main staging area and the marquees required for the festival.
Responsibilities
- DIY type tasks for the venues mentioned above (own tool kit handy)
- Put up banners and bunting outside venues prior to the festival.
- Help jazz up the venues.
- Install signage around the festival sites.
Music Stage MCs
Role Description – Music Stage MCs / Stage Manager
Do you have LIMITLESS energy and a desire to engage with a crowd while warming them up for their next act?
Can you introduce the ARTISTS on stage with gusto and humour?
Can you encourage a warm FESTIVAL WELCOME to bands you’ve researched?
If the answer is YES to all of the above, then this may well be the ROLE for you!
Responsibilities
- Attend the Security Briefing at Volunteers Briefing evening
- Be knowledgeable of the Artists appearing in your venue – both their music and their bio
- Work with the Sound Engineer if stage equipment needs modifying for a particular Artist and reset as necessary
- Promote fun and crowd participation in the unlikely event of a technical mishap
- Keep the music programme running to schedule
- Work with the Artist Liaison runner who will greet all artists on arrival
- Meet the Artists by the stage as they are introduced to you.
- Encourage your audience to Donate by Text to the Hootie – let’s keep this amazing festival going!
- Be familiar with the other Hootie volunteers within your venue and the roles they play
- Be aware of the emergency procedures in your Venue and the role that you may have to play
- Take instructions from H&S, Security and Venue Managers in the unlikely event of an emergency
Meals will be provided for those that work more than 4hrs.
Sound Engineers
Role Description – Venue Sound Engineers
The sound engineers are facilitated by our local Knight Sound and Light. If you are a qualified Sound Engineer or a Student with some experience looking to shadow please get in contact asap.
You must attend the Security Briefing at our Volunteers Briefing evening.
**This role requires a brief telephone interview with Knight Sound and Light**
Meals will be provided for those that work more than 4hrs.
Hootie Greeter
Role Description – Hootie Greeter
This is a fun job involving meeting and greeting festival goers as they arrive at the festival site or pub. This role would suit a confident outgoing person with a ready smile.
Responsibilities
- Meet and greet festival goers
- Hand out festival programmes
- When musicians arrive at venues without a dedicated Artist Liaison (mainly pubs), take them into the venue and introduce them to the Sound Engineers / MC
- Seek the appropriate assistance from security and other team members should problems arise
- Be familiar with the venue’s Emergency Procedures
Artist Liaison Runners
Role Description – Artist Liaison Runners
This role is suitable for an outgoing, confident person who is comfortable liaising with band members and their ‘reasonable’ requests
Responsibilities
- Check that Artists have arrived 45 mins before their performance. If not, call them to ensure they’re on their way and will arrive in time. If that’s unlikely, speak to the Artist Liaison Lead in General Manager’s Team and they will replace them with a different band.
- Station yourself at the entrance to meet the Artists and take them to the Green Room.
- Introduce them to MC.
- Assist them with reasonable requests.
Meals will be provided for volunteers that work more than 4hrs.
Health & Safety Assistant
Role Description – Health & Safety Assistant
Why not join the Hootie Safety Team and gain some valuable experience working alongside health & safety professionals. Hanwell Hootie is fortunate to have a resident Health & Safety Adviser who is very experienced in Event Management. You will be provided with certified training prior to the event. Such training will give you an understanding of event risk assessments, emergency planning and safety inspections.
Health & Safety is an integral part of EVERY event so why not take this opportunity to learn what’s involved and how to dynamically assess live events.
Responsibilities
The Safety Team are on site during set-up and breakdown so you can assist in the following ways:
- Attend Security Briefing at the Volunteers Briefing evening
- Ensure your team has a walkie talkie on the day from security company
- Banksman duties at Viaduct Meadow (Friday & Saturday)
- Safety Inspections of Hootie managed venues prior to kick off on event day
- Learn and assist the Noise Control Assistant on event day
- Be proactive in dealing with hazards that may arise during the event
Meals will be provided for those that work more than 4hrs.
Festival Marshal
Role Description – Festival Marshal
This role will be in the venues managed by the Hootie Team, supporting the Venue Managers with whatever tasks are required to ensure a safe and smooth running festival. You will be welcoming and friendly to festival-goers while addressing problems with a smile and diplomacy. You will get to feel the vibe of the festival in full swing while enjoying the music on the main stage. This role would suit a confident outgoing person.
Responsibilities
- Attend Security Briefing at the Volunteers Briefing evening
- Meet and greet festival goers and provide them with information and directions.
- Assist the Venue Managers in any way they require.
- Be familiar with the bands that perform in your assigned venue.
- Identify areas of concern and address them directly or refer to your Venue Managers.
- Be aware of the roles that other volunteers perform within your area.
- Seek the appropriate assistance from Security or other team members should problems arise.
- Be familiar with venue’s Emergency procedures.
You will be required to work a minimum of a two hour shift. Meals will be provided for those that work more than 4hrs.
Hootie Greeter
Role Description – Hootie Greeter
This is a fun job involving meeting and greeting festival goers as they arrive before they enter the festival site. This role would suit a confident outgoing person with a ready smile.
Responsibilities
- Meet and greet festival goers
- Hand out festival programmes
- When musicians arrive at venues without a dedicated Artist Liaison (mainly pubs), take them into the venue and introduce them to the Sound Engineers / MC
- Seek the appropriate assistance from security and other team members should problems arise
- Be familiar with the venue’s Emergency Procedures
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