Bravo! Vail Guild

The Bravo! Vail Guild is a dedicated group of volunteers that make every Bravo! Vail Music Festival experience special, safe, and spectacular. It's purpose is to support the Festival and its efforts in year-round music education. The Bravo! Vail Guild is as old as the festival itself, established in 1987 and is crucial to Bravo! Vail’s efforts in making its concert experiences memorable. As a Bravo! Vail Guild member you will be the face of the organization helping make the guest experience great. 

Guild members attend Bravo! Vail Music Festival concerts as ambassadors to the organization, greeting concertgoers, helping scan patrons into venues, ushering, distributing programs, preparing the venue seating by lightly cleaning surfaces, stanchion assignment, merchandise sales, assisting patrons in seating and answering general venue questions (restrooms, concessions, program length, etc.). Note: usher assignments must stay at assigned aisle when the concert begins. For a list of full assignments/requirements, please see GRFA duties below.  

While volunteering, Guild members have the opportunity to experience Bravo Vails! concerts in person free of charge for their volunteer services.Additional complimentary tickets are also sometimes provided for events. Hearing the incredible live performances and working with the Bravo! Vail staff along with fellow music lovers enhances an already special experience.

Guild membership requires annual dues of $35 payable to Bravo! Vail Music Festival. The organization was founded as a Guild and the fees pay for Guild expenses. The remainder supports Music Education in the valley

If you would like to join the Bravo! Vail Guild you may contact the Audience Services Manager, Tiona Whilby at twhilby@bravovail.org or the Guild’s general inquiry email at Guild@bravovail.org. A form will be provided to you at the time of your inquiry.

Guild members are also expected to fulfill their volunteer commitments to the best of their ability.

We understand that emergencies happen and may arise from time to time. If you have a last-minute emergency, please contact a volunteer coordinator.

Bravo! Vail’s unofficial uniform look helps us remain accessible to our volunteers and remain identifiable in the crowd. This attire consists of:  

• Tops: A simple white top (not beige, tan, off-white, etc.). Gentlemen’s shirts should have a collar.  
• Bottoms: Simple black slacks or a skirt, ladies may wear capris. No shorts for gentlemen please. 
• Footwear: Black or white shoes. Your role may consist of walking. Closed toe shoes are recommended.  
• Hats: Board approved hat. Bravo! Vail will permit the use of a simple white cowboy hat or Bravo! Vail straw hat. Ballcaps are not permitted.  
• Nametag: Bravo! Vail will provide each volunteer with a nametag on their first day. Please return your nametag to the day’s coordinator after your last volunteer day to be re-used for the next volunteer.  

The Bravo! Vail Guild is managed by the organization’s Human Resources and Volunteer Coordinator, Tiona Whilby. Volunteer leads are Marion and Don Laughlin & Carol and Don Brannigan.

All guild members are expected to volunteer at least once in a festival season and attend all of their assigned volunteer dates.  

We understand that emergencies happen and may arise from time to time. If you have a last-minute emergency, please contact a volunteer coordinator at 970-390-6833 (Marion) or (908) 1149-392 (Carol). Please add these numbers to your contacts in your phone.  

A Guild member must be at least 21 years of age. 

Bravo! Vail Music Festival hosts its largest concert events at the historic Gerald R Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado as well as smaller venues throughout the valley. A venue seating map is available digitally here. Please familiarize yourself with the venue, exits, restrooms, concessions, seating sections, Borgen Plaza, and emergency services.  

Bravo! Vail’s unofficial uniform encourages a unified and approachable look among its volunteers to enhance visibility and identification in the crowd.  This attire consists of:  

• Tops: A simple white top (not beige, tan, off-white, etc.). Gentlemen’s shirts should have a collar.  
• Bottoms: Simple black slacks or a skirt, ladies may wear capris. No shorts for gentlemen please. 
• Footwear: Black or white shoes. Your role may consist of walking. Closed toe shoes are recommended.  
• Hats: Board approved hat. Bravo! Vail will permit the use of a simple white cowboy hat or Bravo! Vail straw hat. Ballcaps are not permitted.  
• Nametag: Bravo! Vail will provide each volunteer with a nametag on their first day. Please return your nametag to the day’s coordinator after your last volunteer day to be re-used next season.  

Seat Wiping  

• Each evening. Volunteers participate in wiping down seats at the GRFA. Towels will be provided, and we ask that everyone help with this task to complete the job more efficiently
• Starting from the top row and working down toward the stage, volunteers should ensure thorough seat wiping Move to the row below the next volunteer to avoid missing any rows 

Ushers 

• Ushers check tickets for seat location and escort the guests to their seats  
• Hold latecomers at the back of the aisles and seat them at the appropriate times, keeping aisles clear  
• Reseat guests after intermission 
• Maintain a minimum of one usher per aisle once the gates open 
• If you are volunteering on an aisle, do not sit in reserved seats under the “roof” area

Tickets/Programs: 

• Scan tickets efficiently as guests enter 
• Distribute programs to guests  
• At the GRFA, one back gate ticket-scanner may move to the front gate at 5:30PM 
• Scanners should be trained prior to volunteering (work with Audience Services Manager to get this scheduled) 
• Inform guests that an APP with concert notes is available, accessible through a QR code 

Greeters 

• Greeters will need to be proactive, offering smiles and welcoming guests 
• Ensure Guests have their tickets ready for scanning 
• Answering general FAQs 

Stanchion Duties  

• Open and close stanchions at appropriate times 
• Greet and direct guests to appropriate locations (correct aisle, ticket office, etc.). 
• At the GRFA, volunteers participate in this role

During the Performance: 

• Ushers and other volunteers sit on the black chairs provided
• Volunteers not working on an aisle can find seats behind Section 3 or where space is available
• Do not sit in reserved seats under the “roof” area 
• Silence cell phones and turn off alerts
• If leaving the seat during the music, reentry through the stanchions is not allowed until the next official break

After the Concert: 

• Say goodbye to guests
• Collect programs
• Look for items left behind
• Lost and found is located in the ticket office

By working together on seat wiping, maintaining order during performances, and assisting with post-concert activities, volunteers contribute to creating a positive and enjoyable experience for Bravo! Vail patrons at the GRFA. Thank you for your dedication and cooperation. 

Become a guild member today! 

Email BravoGuild@BravoVail.org to express your interest and ask any questions you may have!