How to get more volunteers on night shifts
Radiant PublicSeen by 99We are very happy with the large amount of volunteers that stepped up to help for the recent Nest. At the same time, it has proven difficult to find people for Rangers, Welfare, and Gate during night time; basically any shifts between midnight and 8 AM, particularly during the weekend. That said, I am well aware that this is difficult at other burns as well.
I would like to hear ideas from the community on how we can improve this.
I really love a night-time sober shift sometime between thurs and sunday because it helps pace my partying, a reason to be sober (burn sober). This year I had a quiet saturday, enjoyed the burn, but didn't want to ramp it up to go and party, was delighted to have a reason to go to bed at midnight and got up to come on ranger shift at 4, caught the tail-end of some lovely partying to observe, and had a great wholesome sunday.
I'm not saying that it's enjoyable for everyone, but I'm not unique in enjoying being involved but sober. It does take planning ahead with sleep and substance intake (obvs drinking for hours before your shift starts does not make you sober) - and everyone will handle it in different ways, and it is a skill that I think I was mentored into by starting coming to nowhere with a partner who was an experienced, and very shift-taking dutiful (as well as contributing to build, take down and sometimes art) burner.
I do think sharing stories of volunteering time being a highlight of burns, something which makes people a part of the community, is really valuable for increasing community participation in all aspects of the event. Including graveyard shifts.
Could shifts be made shorter? or shared by two people who would not mind doing a couple of hours? Four hours shifts might be too long for some people who would happily do two.
Anyone that runs or is a part of a theme camp, should do a vol shift. Most of Mojo did gate, LNT, welfare and ranger shifts. I think it should be a condition of membership, so to fill the blank spaces.