The Austin City Limits music festival is one of Austin’s biggest events that happens on two separate weekends every October. This large-scale event typically draws in about 450,000 people each year from around the world, and offers over 100 musical performances from a variety of artists across nine different stages along with food, drinks, a market, and much more for everyone to enjoy.
During the first weekend of ACL, I had the unique opportunity to experience this festival from a different perspective—volunteering behind the scenes in the media and press lounge. I volunteered through the Austin Parks Foundations and submitted my application around early September to be considered. This program offered various roles for those who want to get volunteer experience at a festival—some of these roles included being at the hydration station, greeting festival go-ers, and working the hospitality booth with the media team.
A typical day in the life of my experience volunteering depended on when I started my shift. On the first day of ACL, my shift started at 5:30, but being a volunteer had its perks as I was able to enjoy the festival before starting my shift! I was able to see Dasha, a new upcoming country singer, and one of my favorite nostalgic artists, Norah Jones.
After enjoying the festival, it was time for me to check in at the volunteer headquarters and head over to the media tent, where the team had several responsibilities to keep things nice and neat. With the media team, my role involved keeping all things smooth and organized in the lounge in order for all the behind the scenes magic to happen. Volunteers also keep the space cleaned and tidy to ensure a welcoming environment for the different photographers, journalists, and content creators.
The next day, my shift was in the early afternoon, so I was able to enjoy the festival after working my shift! All duties at the media tent were usually kept the same for us, but it was especially rewarding because we were able to help the media feel like they were at home. After my shift ended, I saw a variety of artists. Some sets I specifically enjoyed watching were wave to earth, a Korean band, Reneé Rapp and Benson Boone, popular pop artists, and of course the headliner, Dua Lipa!
On the last day of ACL, my shift was in the early morning. We started our tasks before the festival grounds opened to the public and similarly to the day before, we were able to enjoy the rest of the festival once we were off! Because I had an earlier start to my day, I wanted to try the variety of food vendors there, in order to get the full music festival experience.
After getting a bite to eat, I headed to the main stage where one of my favorite artists was performing hours later. While waiting for her to come on, I was able to see two different bands—one was a rock band named Flipturn, and a pop band called Cannons. I was so happy to be able to see these bands because I love listening to music I’ve never heard before, and surprisingly, enjoyed both of these band’s sets! Of course, after their sets were over I was most excited for the artist I was waiting to see all weekend, Chappell Roan. This newer artist has taken the world by storm with her music. Many claim she is bringing pop music back! There’s no question as to why people call her the pop princess of this generation. Overall, I absolutely loved watching her set and enjoyed hearing my favorite songs live, especially with the stage presence she brought to the main ACL stage. There’s no doubt that her performance was my favorite!
One of the greatest things about volunteering at ACL is that you get to experience the inner workings of the event, interact with festival staff, and meet volunteers who share a love of music and community, along with of course getting to enjoy the festival and see the artists we all know and love. The new friendships you create and the teamwork that is built makes the whole experience more rewarding. Plus, the connections you make might just lead to long lasting friendships or even potential new job opportunities in event management or music production!
Volunteering at ACL wasn’t just a chance to be close to the action, it was a behind-the-scenes adventure that gave me a new appreciation for the countless factors that make an event like this run smoothly. Ultimately, if you’re a music lover looking for a unique way to engage with your favorite festival, or someone who’s passionate about community service and looking for a way to give back in a fun setting, volunteering at a music festival is the perfect opportunity! It’s a way to merge your love of music with a sense of purpose, all while gaining new skills, making connections, and experiencing the festival from a whole new perspective.