SXSW offers a variety of crews to choose from! Whether you’re a lover of music, a film junkie, or interested in the latest technology, there is a crew for you! Volunteers can select one crew to create a schedule and secure their opportunity to attend SXSW or SXSW EDU!

Check out the descriptions below and see what crew might be a good fit for you. Crews are separated by their volunteer type to help with navigating the sign up process when volunteer registration opens in January.

More information can be found on the Volunteer Types and Badges page.

Operates: March 3-15, 2025
Age: 18+, unless participating with a SXSW approved high school program
Available Badges: SXSW EDU Volunteer Badge* or/and Volunteer Interactive, Film & TV, Music, or Platinum Badge

Accessibility Crew

Inclusivity is key when you join the Accessibility Crew. Volunteers at the Accessibility Desks in the Austin Convention Center will provide a variety of information to people with disabilities. This crew also assists with deploying closed captioning equipment, ADA registration, and occasionally monitors Sensory Rooms. An understanding of the Americans With Disability Act (ADA) is important when choosing this crew.

Ambassadors Crew

SXSW welcomes participants from around the globe! Ambassadors provide an array of information to attendees. Volunteers may find themselves helping at an Info Desk or checking credentials throughout the Austin Convention Center. If you enjoy seeing the action around the conference, showing your Texas hospitality, and being helpful…you might just love the Ambassadors Crew!

Banners Crew

This crew has a reputation for really hanging around and using zip ties like a boss! The Banners Crew can be found toting and hanging banners throughout programming venues. This crew is best if you have good stamina, balance, and the ability to carry 30+ lbs.

Catering Support Crew

Calling all foodies!! First, let's address the elephant in the Food Lot: No Hair Nets Required!... This crew does not scoop food onto plates! Although this crew is going to give you the perks that’ll keep all the Volunteers and staff full! Volunteers will help manage the staff and volunteer catering area, interact with vendors, help with maintaining the cleanliness of the space, distribute drinks and pre-packed go-bags to fellow Volunteers and Staff (if requested), and keep the area a fun place for those who visit.
This crew greets all the wonderful people (like you!) that makes SXSW rock. Some heavy lifting may be involved.

Conference Line Guides Crew

If you’re looking for a "straightforward crew,” look no further. Volunteers will navigate the conference footprint in teams and assist with organizing lines at official venues and events. Customer service is an integral part of this crew, and a willingness to communicate using your outdoor voice with attendees. This role will allow you to become very familiar with our conference venues as you monitor and manage attendee access throughout the conference. This crew has been operating since the first SXSW and is quite popular. It runs from EDU to the end of SXSW, so you’ll have plenty of shift opportunities here! You’ll want to be sure you don’t miss your place in line by waiting to sign up! This crew requires the ability to stand for long periods of time and daily walking.

Conference Tech Crew

Looking for a gig that’ll put you in the room with some of the most interesting and influential speakers at SXSW? Join “ConTech” to be part of an integral part of the SXSW Conference as you assist with the technical set up of sessions, including connecting laptops to projectors, helping presenters get Mic’d Up, checking microphone audio levels, and general troubleshooting. A smile and a polite greeting are a big part of this crew as you assist presenters put on an amazing session for everyone! AV and technical experience is welcome, but not required.

Please Note: This crew has a mandatory Orientation Session to get an overview of the AV Equipment and meet your Crew Managers. Please attend only one: Sunday March 2nd @ 2pm (Mandatory for EDU Volunteers | SXSW Volunteers can attend) or Thursday March 6th @ 6pm (SXSW Volunteers)

Event Support Crew

The name says it all! Volunteers will assist with various SXSW produced events throughout SXSW EDU and SXSW. Volunteers may find themselves helping with basic set up or breakdown, checking credentials, wayfinding, or line management.

Event Transportation Crew

Volunteers will pick up and deliver people and things using multiple modes of transportation. You never know who or what might hop in for a lift! Most transportation runs use vans or golf carts, and occasionally travel on foot. Volunteers must be 21+ with a clean driving record to drive. Some 18+, non-driving positions are available.

Exhibitions Crew

Want to be one of the first to see all the cool exhibits at SXSW and SXSW EDU? Volunteers on the Exhibitions Crew will help direct exhibitors during the load in/out process of the many exhibitions. Additional tasks include checking credentials at entrances, helping to connect exhibitors with SXSW staff, and assisting with signing up attendees for any SXSW produced exhibits.

Film & TV Venue Crew

A true favorite of film and tv fanatics, volunteers on this crew help support the SXSW Film & TV Festival. Volunteers will admit attendees into film theaters, assist with line management, usher attendees to seats, and help clear the theater. Catch a glimpse of your favorite actors and actresses while being a part of this globally recognized festival!

Registration Crew

Everyone needs a badge or wristband to attend SXSW and SXSW EDU, which means this is a prime place to see all the new and familiar faces attending, performing, or participating during the event! Volunteers will confirm and distribute credentials to attendees and assist with distributing and replenishing event bags. Customer service is key, and so is volunteering with the Registration Crew!

Sessions Crew

If your customer service skills are on point and you like supporting some of the hottest speakers from around the globe, check out the Sessions Crew. Volunteers interact with speakers and attendees to ensure conference spaces run smoothly and on schedule. Volunteers will check badges, assist speakers and attendees, and provide support for sessions, lounges and green rooms. Some shifts will provide support with set up and breakdown, audience interactions, assistance with judging during competitions, as well as line management for various conference events. There is never a dull moment when you’re volunteering with Sessions!

Tech Setup

SXSW and SXSW EDU are all about using technology. Volunteers will assist with the setup and teardown of technical equipment in multiple venues across the SXSW footprint before, during, and after the conference. This crew also helps to maintain, inventory, deploy, and collect hardware used throughout the events. Being a techie is welcome, but certainly not required. May require some physical activities such as walking, lifting, bending, and kneeling. Onsite training will be provided by crew managers.

Operates: March 10 – 15, 2025
Age: 18+, unless indicated otherwise in the crew description
Available Badges: Volunteer Music or Platinum Badge

Artist Parking Operations

Artist Parking Operations Volunteers can be found throughout the SXSW Music Festival footprint, greeting showcasing artists, directing them to park their vehicles in designated artist parking areas, and distributing "Artist Packets" with parking maps, parking passes, and general music festival information. Volunteers will monitor and ensure the designated SXSW artist parking areas are not used by unpermitted vehicles and will help keep the roads accessible to emergency vehicles by ensuring the loading and unloading zones remain clear.

Day Stage

Experience a range of music while assisting with the load in and out of showcasing artists and other support roles for both the International and Radio Day stages, located near the Austin Convention Center. Some heavy lifting may be required.

Music Stage Crew

Hear the next big act, see amazing performances, and feel the energy that is the SXSW Music Festival. Volunteers may assist in a variety of roles, including helping artists with their gear, supporting SXSW Stage Managers and staff, and maintaining awareness for potential safety and operational issues in the venue. Volunteers will be assigned to a zone of 5-7 venues, which may provide a venue change throughout the festival and a chance to experience multiple venues and music genres. If this strikes the right note with you, this is the crew for you.

Festival Line Guides Crew

Get in line with the Festival Line Guides Crew! Volunteers will navigate the festival footprint in teams and assist with organizing lines at official music and comedy venues and events. Are you a people person who likes to keep things in order? This is the crew for you! This role will allow you to become very familiar with our conference venues as you monitor and manage attendee access throughout the festival. This is one of the longest-running crews at SXSW and is integral to the festival's success! You’ll want to be sure you don’t miss your place in line by waiting to sign up! This crew requires the ability to stand for long periods of time and daily walking.

Comedy Crew

This crew is no laughing matter…or is it? Volunteers will admit attendees into comedy venues, assist with line management, usher attendees to seats, and help clear the venue after performances during the SXSW Comedy Festival. Before SXSW, this crew will help their friends “usher” in SXSW EDU films.

Some heavy lifting may be required (up to 50lbs), as well as the possibility of standing for long periods of time. Volunteers must be 21+. This crew will have an in-person venue walkthrough in addition to a training meeting.

Operates: November – March
Age: 21+, unless indicated otherwise in the crew description
Available Badges: SXSW EDU Badge + SXSW Platinum Badge
Please fill out this application form if you are interested in one of these leadership positions. A minimum of one year of experience as a volunteer, ideally on the crew you’re applying for, is a prerequisite for this role.

Crew Manager

Crew managers are volunteer leaders who dedicate a lot of time to ensuring volunteers have a great experience. They collaborate and plan with SXSW staff for several months prior to the event and wrap up shortly after SXSW concludes. Duties include assisting with recruiting, scheduling, training, and managing a volunteer crew. Crew managers carry a special level of recognition among the volunteer crews and are role models to the volunteers they lead.

This role involves a series of meetings to prepare for the event, so pre-event availability is required. 21+ and local volunteers are preferred due to pre-event time requirements.

Assistant Stage Manager

SXSW Assistant Stage Managers are volunteers with a desire to lead, while supporting SXSW Music Festival showcasing artists. Assistant Stage Managers volunteer before and throughout the SXSW Music Festival to ensure artists have everything they need for a successful showcase. During the Music Festival they are supporting showcase operations for a stage and its volunteer stage crew, making sure that bands load in, start and stop their sets on time, and managing any issues that may arise.

This role involves a series of training sessions, so pre-event availability is required. Some heavy lifting may be required (up to 50lbs), as well as the possibility of standing for long periods of time. 21+ and local volunteers are preferred due to pre-event time requirements.

Theater Manager

Theater Managers act as liaisons between SXSW staff, production, theaters, filmmakers, publicists, alumni, and attendees at SXSW Film & TV Festival venues. Theater Managers oversee Film & TV Volunteers and help ensure films are screened as scheduled.

This is a great role for anyone looking to learn more about theater or festival operations. Theater Managers must commit to pre-event availability for a series of trainings.
21+ and local volunteers are preferred due to pre-event time requirements.