Info | Communicationz Committee

Philadelphia Folk Festival Communicationz Committee (PFFCO)

We are an all-volunteer group that provides technical and communication services for the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

What We Do

• Internet service (fiber, wire, wireless) to the festival grounds
• Phone service for 80+ extensions, both POTS and VoIP
• Infrastructure for copper and internet-connected endpoints
• Computer support for 37 festival committees
• Graphic arts, signage, and print/design services
• Operator services for call routing and caller support
• Network administration for 5-7 virtual LANs
• FM walkie-talkie provisioning, deployment, and maintenance
• Festivision: closed-circuit concert video distribution for behind-the-scenes locations
• Miscellaneous "Schenanagans"

Timeline and Activities

Pre-Festival (July 4th weekend to Prefest)

Volunteers set up equipment, optionally, work a couple Saturdays (4-6 hours, starting 9-11 AM), with optional Sunday shifts. Activities include equipment setup, socializing, and meals. Prefest week is intensive, requiring all hands on deck to troubleshoot and ensure systems work.

During Festival

Informal On-call support to maintain services, hang out, and party. If issues arise, they are fixed promptly, with non-critical problems deferred to Monday post-fest. Volunteers enjoy concerts and relax when systems are stable, often watching concerts via Festivision in trailers with coctails and beer. (Which is real sweet when it rains).

Keepin it real, we rarely miss a concert we want to see. Our work happens before and after Fest itself. So it's kinda optional. That having been said, it's always a party in the blue trailer! Swing by and say hello!

Post-Festival

Mandatory equipment breakdown on Sunday evening and Monday, with optional weekend cleanup completed by September 1.

Volunteer Expectations

• Show up consistently, especially for Prefest
• Pay festival fees (volunteer, camping, parking), with admin fees covering camping and food (more info: https://folkfest.org/volunteers/)
• Help with post-fest breakdown (encouraged but optional)
• Be proactive, learn new skills, and avoid drama
• No fixed schedules; volunteers use Slack and monitor for crew needs. It's a pretty relaxed gig.

Joining

Contact Rob at rjmalerman@gmail.com for questions or interest.

Curious if you are going to fit in? Come hang with us on setup weekends! Join our FB Group (HMU and I'll invite you).