Be a Maker of Magic
SideBurn comes together as a temporary city once a year in Ontario, and much any other city, it takes a lot of talented and passionate individuals to make sure it runs safely, efficiently, and to everyone’s benefit.
How do I volunteer?
When you buy your ticket, you’ll be prompted to log into our volunteer system and choose at least one period and area of SideBurn where you can join and contribute. Consider taking on more than one shift!
What kind of volunteer roles are there?
Keep reading to get a sense of the various departments that form our city and see if any of our roles might pique your interest! If you have questions about the roles or want to be more involved, reach out to the listed email for the department.
Why should I volunteer?
We are a completely volunteer run experience; those working greeting you at the gate to monitoring the event for safety are all helping shape your Regional Burn by bringing their engaged, helpful selves to their role. Our ability to run this event depends on volunteers showing up. You are SideBurn’s lifeblood and through your efforts you get to truly embody the Burning Man principles of Communal Effort and Participation.
Are there more ways I can contribute?
There are! You can apply for an Art Grant or submit a Theme Camp to help make the event come to life. You can also create your own self-funded art or experience and add it to the What, Where, When Guide so that other SideBurners can find it during the event.
Flow
Do you like arriving and leaving in an orderly fashion? Our team is one of the first you meet and they see you off during exodus. We manage parking, the entry gate, radios and your smooth entry and exit from the event.
flow@sideburn.ca
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Join our Greeters team and help welcome our citizens to our event! The Greeters provide a fun-filled experience & provide information to create an accepting environment for our participants to begin their time here. Shifts: Greeters work 2-hour and 4-hour shifts during gate hours (10am-12am).
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Parking volunteers help participants get their vehicles, their gear, and themselves to be where they need to be at the event. We strive to maintain a quick, clean, and organized flow of traffic in and out of the event. All cars are required to park in the designated parking lot, and vehicle placement is at the discretion of our parking team, with priority going to organization over personal access. Shifts: Parking volunteers work 4-hour shifts from 8am-12am.
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As first contact to participants entering the event, you’ll collect and process tickets, verify I.D.s, attach wristbands, and be warmly inquisitive. If you love to meet new people and help create a safe and welcoming atmosphere, this task is for you. Shifts: gate volunteer shifts are 4-hours from 8am-12am.
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The Exodus team works in coordination with Parking and Gate to help participants with getting their vehicles, their gear, and themselves safely out of the event post Effigy Burn, Post Temple Burn, and at event closing on Monday. We strive to maintain a quick, clean, and organized flow of traffic out of the campgrounds. Vehicle placement out from the Exodus station is coordinated with Parking and Gate to manage traffic flow. Shifts: exodus shifts are 3-hours and available post-Effigy burn (9pm-12am Saturday), post-Temple burn (9pm-12am Sunday), and Monday (8AM-5PM).
Fire Arts Safety Team (FAST)
It’s not SideBurn without some fire! The Fire Art Safety Team (FAST) is a team of experienced fire artists, fire safety volunteers, and trained professionals who are here to help participants use fire safely in their art, fire performances, controlled burns, and flame effects. The FAST team is recognizable by their red FIRE SAFETY shirts.
You’ll find us on site before and during the event to ensure the safe use, operation and execution of all things fire at our events. We are based out of the Community Safety Headquarters.
Several of our roles involve special training, such as Fire Safety Training, which will need to be added to your volunteer account before you can sign up for these shifts.
fast@sideburn.ca
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Cool folks don’t look at explosions! This is also true of Perimeter Volunteers, since during Effigy and Temple burns, Perimeter Volunteers hold the safety perimeter and watch for people crossing the lines before and during the burn, until the Perimeter Lead establishes it is safe to drop it. You’ll be just inside the perimeter facing out. Shift length: 4 hours, 7pm-11pm (or until burn Perimeter drops) on Effigy and Temple burn nights only.
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While the Effigy or Temple burns occur, sudden wind changes can carry burning materials through the air, potentially damaging areas they land in if left unattended. It’s the Ember Chaser’s job to make sure embers are monitored, stomped on, or sprayed out promptly. Bigger issues get escalated to the Fast Officer of the Day. This role requires you to be sober during your shift and be able to move quickly while waring a 50lb water fire extinguisher. Shift length: 2.5 hours – 8:30pm-11pm (or until perimeter drops) on Effigy and Temple burn nights only.
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These are our primary FAST leads on-call to enforce policies of open fire and fire spinning and inspecting flame effects. This role requires being on-radio and sober for your shift, and the attendance of a daily safety meeting every day at noon. Shift length: 12 hours, 12AM-12PM and 12PM to 12AM. Officer of the Day serves a 24-hour shift. Requires FAST Training.
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Serving as a Lead and second-in-command on burn nights, this role is designed to help the Officer of the Day run the Effigy and Temple burns in accordance with planned protocols. Shift length: 5 hours, 6PM-11PM (or until burn Perimeter drops). Requires FAST Training.
Safety
The Safety teams are a critical part of the SideBurn operations and ensuring a safe event for all participants. Departments range from Rangers, First Aid, Sanctuary, and the Headquarters operations. You will find individuals from these teams on-site and most active Thursday to Monday, with tents located centrally as well as wandering the event.
These roles require special training; we run an annual Ranger training as well as require First Aid for several roles. If you have this training, or want to join a training, please email us. Once your training is validated by the department, it will be added to your volunteer account so you can sign up for shifts.
communitysafety@sideburn.ca
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Rangers keep an eye out for safety at the event; committed to aiding members of the community and facilitating a good time. Rangers are not enforcers or a security force, in fact this role is great for those with decent people skills. You will be roaming the event in teams, participating actively in the event, with added responsibility for a time, and a radio. Ranger’s must have a straight head and be willing to listen to people. They are identified by their khaki shirts.
All Rangers must take annual training prior to their first shift. SideBurn Ranger training will be held in Ontario prior to the event; dates will be publicized. Black Rock Ranger training is an accepted substitute, with a review of our manual. Shift length: Ranger shifts vary from 4-6 hours on average, with some critical roles acting in 12 and 24 hour shifts.
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The best Burner events are the ones where everyone gets out intact and without injury. If you want to feel like a superhero with gauze & a band-aid, we invite you to join our Exciting SideBurn First Aid Team to help keep everyone safe and secure. The first aid team is identified by their blue FIRST AID shirts.
Our roles require First Aid Certification. SideBurn will be arranging training opportunities, please contact the department for more information. Shift length: First Aid shifts are usually 4 hours, with some critical roles acting in 12-hour shifts.
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Sanctuary volunteers help manage the vibes at SideBurn by guiding and assisting participants that are having a difficult moment or experience at the event. Grounded with a calming space that is located out of the way of the rest of the event, attendees can find some respite space from whatever has their back up. New to 2023, we will have some Sanctuary leads wandering the event and are recognizable by their glowing armbands.
If you are interested in connecting with people at a deeper level, being a source of support, and are a beacon of patience, you may be a great Sanctuary candidate. We do ask that our Sanctuary volunteers are sober while on shift, and do require trainings related to active listening, consent, mindfulness, and a specific Ranger training. Training will be held prior to and at the event. Shifts: 4-6 hours, with some critical roles acting in 12-hour shifts.
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Do you like being in the middle of it? This team will be responsible for the setup, strike, and operation of the event’s safety headquarters, home to Rangers, First Aid, Fire Safety, Radio, Polar Vortex and Sanctuary. Volunteers take questions from walk-up participants, and are generally helpful people offering great directions. You will also be checking radios in and out at shift changes, filling generators, and supporting the overall operations of these teams. Shifts: 4-hour shifts.
Department of Public Works
Building an event requires significant infrastructure and great teams to get it all set up. The Department of Public works, or DPW, are the stewards of the event grounds. Our duties include transporting infrastructure to and from storage, setting up and tearing down infrastructure, signage, lighting, barriers, boundaries, organization, participant and theme camp support, effigy crew support, LNT, and many other tasks that help keep the event running smoothly. We’re looking for hard workers of various skill sets. Whether you’re a master carpenter or an amateur, we can use you. Do you like to paint? Work with power tools? Get your hands dirty? DPW is the place to be.
DPW are the first on site and the last to leave. With the major focus being on setup and tear down, we are required to work pre and/or post event. During the event, DPW assists with organizational support such as: traffic control, deliveries, refuelling generators, repairing structures, and general support to participants and theme camps (upon request). Motivation, quick thinking, and good problem-solving skills are a must, as many situations arise without warning. Want to get a firsthand experience on how much hard work goes into SideBurn? Interested in the intricate details of on-site event production? DPW wants YOU!
dpw@sideburn.ca
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Do you want to help lay the literal foundation from which SideBurn springs? The DPW early arrival crew might be right for you! You’ll help unload our transport truck, set up infrastructure, lighting, and flag off our city layout. You’ll also be working with the lighting, transport, and sign crew to ensure all infrastructure, lighting and signage is up and secured prior to the event. Shifts: Early arrival shifts mean coming to the event for pre-build on Tuesday and/or Wednesday.
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As part of the transportation team, you’ll be helping load/unload the infrastructure truck and both ends of the event, as well as maintain a log of what equipment was dropped off where and when. Our drivers are required to have a valid Class G licence and should be comfortable driving a 16’ box truck is required. Shifts: Must be able to arrive before the event and stay after.
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A city needs signs! Signs for roads, camp locations, facilities, and anything else that needs to be marked. We’re looking for individuals who can inventory, create, and repair event signage, as well as ensure its secured in a visible location for people to see. Shifts: Signage teams are most active pre-event (Tuesday to Thursday) and post-event (Monday).
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To ensure that SideBurn will continue to be hosted on the beautiful site we have for years to come, we need your help! Sign up for the LNT crew and enjoy the privilege of spending a bit more time in the wilderness with us, and the satisfaction of leaving the land in pristine and moopless condition. Shifts: LNT begins Monday morning as the event wraps up, and includes such tasks as scouring for MOOP, documenting what’s left behind, and focusing on large cleanups (such as effigy ash).
City Department
SideBurn’s City Department is responsible for the layout, and ultimately the experience of the entire event. The City Department is comprised of teams covering: Sound, Placement, On-Site Placement, and Theme Camps.
The City Department works diligently leading up to, and throughout, the event. Their role is to ensure that our temporary city is laid out in a logical, impressive, and accessible way; that sound rules are understood and enforced; that everyone knows where to set up camp; and that Theme Camps have what they need to function properly.
If you have any questions or want to get involved, email us.
city@sideburn.ca
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Do you have a passion for music and sound? We want to ensure that we can keep the music going all weekend long, and we need volunteers to make this happen. Join the sound team as we check in with the various sound stages and monitor decibel readers to make sure we’re keeping our social capital with the landowners, the town, and the local residents. Shifts: 4- and 8-hour shifts, as well as 12-hour shifts for critical roles. We are looking for some leads in this area. Please contact the City Department if you are interested!
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As SideBurn’s city planners, the Placement team makes their best effort to ensure optimal placement, location, and orientation of each camp and art piece. The space provided by this weathered dream team is as good as it’s going to get, and it’s up to you to make the most of it! (Because, well, we live in Canada and the weather and ground conditions are about as predictable as a 20-sided die.)
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As SideBurn’s city planners, the Placement team makes their best effort to ensure optimal placement, location, and orientation of each camp and art piece. The space provided by this weathered dream team is as good as it’s going to get, and it’s up to you to make the most of it! (Because, well, we live in Canada and the weather and ground conditions are about as predictable as a 20-sided die.) Shifts: This department has needs pre-event, as well as during early arrival on Tuesday and/or Wednesday.
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The Theme Camp team supports the interactive core of SideBurn, who bring their gifts to the Haya, in the form of music, art cars, workshops, costume booths, yoga sessions, plounges, and many, many, many other shenanigans. This team reviews Theme Camp submissions for alignment with SideBurn policies, works with camps to ensure their planned and executed camps are successful, and coordinates among several other departments to facilitate the entry and support of theme camps. This is largely a pre-event commitment. The on-site placement team supports these efforts during the event.
Art
The art team offers both pre-event and on-site volunteering opportunities. Prior to the event, the Art team launches calls for applications, leads the review of art grant submissions, works with selected art teams, and manages the logistics of getting beautiful art to SideBurn. Once on site, the artery is your go-to spot for information on our grant projects, art tours, and how to get involved. The artery also provides crucial on-site services such as artist check-in and setup assistance, safety checks, and documentation.
art@sideburn.ca
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Volunteer at the Artery and help our artists and theme camps to successfully register, set-up, and coordinate their projects. The Artery has a crucial role in managing all the art that enters and exits the land and is the go-to spot for information on our grant projects, art tours, and information on how to get involved. Artery volunteers will be quick thinkers with big smiles, and mild organizational skills. Shifts: Some artery work takes place pre-event, requiring early arrival. During the event artery shifts are 4 to 8 hours from 8am to 12am.
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This role takes place entirely before the event begins. The Art Grand Coordinator is responsible for start-up tasks and management of the art grant program, including coordinating with artists to ensure needs are met and expectations are clear. This individual is also responsible for the organization and administration of data related to grants. Please contact us if you want to assist with the art grant team.
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This work takes place in February and March. Volunteers will be assigned a certain number of art applications after the closing date to read through and judge based on a shared and pre-developed system. Together we will decide as a committee which of the art grants will receive funding as well as which team will get to create the Temple and Effigy. Please contact us if this opportunity interests you.
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Coordinating the transportation and logistics for Art Grant projects requires pre-event and early arrival event activities. Both Toronto and Montreal teams are required. Shifts: pre-event, early arrival only.
Volunteer Department
The volunteer department works with all of you to ensure shifts are filled, and that volunteers have all the support they need to fulfill their roles happily and efficiently. We also manage the free ice provided at SideBurn at the Polar Vortex station at Headquarters.
volunteer@sideburn.ca
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We are looking for a lead to take on the procurement of our 2023 ice supplies which we provide free to event attendees. This event requires a pre-event time commitment.
Info Department
The Communications and Info department are responsible for our out-going communications, newsletters, social media, and design. These are pre-event and year round roles. We are always looking for helpful people in these areas, and currently have a particular interest in someone with French translation skills. Canada is bilingual, and our aim is to have our communications delivered in English and French. If you have experience translating documents, let us know, as we would love to take you onboard.
You can find the Flamer most often on our facebook group page or signing up for the SideBurn newsletter.
info@sideburn.ca
Technology & Ticketing
While we create SideBurn to unplug from regular life, our technology team supports the tools and infrastructure needed to issue tickets, sign up volunteers, and allow the entire team to communicate efficiently. If you have any questions or would like to chat, please reach out.
We have a particular need at this time for someone who is good at old school PHP! If you love PHP and want to help out, please get in touch!