Volunteers help make sure shows go on at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

If you’ve ever attended an event at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall (PVCH), you’ve probably been greeted by at least one of the volunteers who help staff the events.
They wear black T-shirts with the logo emblazoned on the front, a name tag hanging around their neck and a smile of welcome. They scan your tickets, help you find your seat, direct you to the concessions and restrooms, and answer a lot of your questions.
Tony Iaquinto is the day of show front of house manager and volunteer coordinator.
“We are currently at 16 volunteers for PVCH events,” he said. “That is a suitable number right now.”
There are more than 230 volunteers in the pool. Even so, sometimes he has trouble filling all the slots for a particular show, Iaquinto said, because “there are times when many volunteers are busy or we have an event at the [St. Augustine] Amphitheatre on the same date with many of the volunteers working both events.”
On the first of each month, volunteers access the online signup site to select the shows they wish to work as well as the position they want.
Popular shows often fill up within seconds, but generally speaking volunteers have lots of choices for any given month. Besides the concert hall, volunteers can also help at The Amp in St. Augustine, the Sing Out Loud Festival and other special events. To remain active, a volunteer must work a minimum of five events in a calendar year, and one of those must be at The Amp. Iaquinto said volunteers are encouraged to work at least 10 shows in a calendar year.
Philip Markou is in his second year volunteering, and is a familiar face at the PVCH.
“I admit that I initially had selfish reasons for volunteering – I like live music and I wanted to see the shows for free,” Markou said. “It didn’t take long to figure out that I had a responsibility to serve the folks that were coming to the shows. I still get to enjoy the music, but I love the interaction with the concert-goers best.”
Getting to see a lot of great concerts at no charge is definitely one of the most popular perks for volunteers. Volunteer positions include scanning tickets, ushering, greeting, and monitoring the doors, curtains and outside deck. Markou said his favorite positions are ticket scanning and rear door because “it gives me direct contact with many, if not all, of the patrons that night.”
New volunteers are always welcome. Those interested can fill out an application online at www.pvconcerthall.com. Iaquinto said orientations are held regularly.
“Usually about every four to six weeks depending on the amount of new applications there are,” he said.
The orientation is held at a meeting space at The Amp. Each volunteer receives a handbook covering such things as dress code, parking, position descriptions and crowd management. Once volunteers clear the background check, they will be asked to shadow a regular volunteer at a concert. At that point, they are provided the necessary T-shirts, name tags attached to a lanyard and small flashlights. Closed-toe footwear is required at all venues. Ponte Vedra volunteers must also wear black or khaki pants or skirts, but jeans are okay at The Amp.
Perhaps the biggest drawback for some volunteers is the amount of standing they do during an event.
“The only thing that I would have future volunteers be aware of is the constant standing," Iaquinto said. "If they are unable to perform those duties then maybe this particular volunteering is not for them.”
Markou said that for him, standing is no problem at all.
“It’s only four hours,” he said.
Iaquinto added that if someone wanted to volunteer, but had a physical challenge, they would still be welcome.
“I would not discourage a handicap volunteer, say wheelchair bound etc., from volunteering,” Iaquinto said. “We could always find a suitable position for that person.”
Iaquinto explained that he not only receives comments about how helpful volunteers are, but that some patrons are so impressed they ask how they themselves can become volunteers.
“I can go on talking about the volunteers, talking of their commitment to seeing that our great venues remain as such but I really do not have to,” Iaquinto said. “Their work, loyalty and commitment to helping our patrons speaks for itself. I am in awe of them.”