In our last installment of "Behind The Scenes," we introduced you to the role of a competition producers and we mentioned that they usually have a team behind them. Quite often, that team includes wonderful souls otherwise known as volunteers.

Volunteers come from all walks of life — as part of the host group, parents, or friends of competitors or others who just love vocal music so much they are willing to give up a Friday or Saturday night to further the cause.

What roles do they play in the competition?

They Are An Extension Of The Producer

There’s only so much one person can do on the day and even the most superhuman of producers can only be in one place at a time. Volunteers man everywhere the producer can’t and are often the first faces you’ll see when you arrive. They greet you at the door, take your tickets, hand out programs, and usher you to your seats. And since they are on the front lines, they often answer a lot of questions or seek out answers you need that they don’t have.

They Keep The Judges In Line

In most vocal competitions, the judges themselves don’t add up the final scores. While the judges focus on giving feedback and assigning scores for each category, another set of volunteers takes care of the math. These math-loving volunteers tabulate scores and also keep track of time, if there is a limit for the competition.

They Provide Comfort And Sanity

A competition day is — often so busy that it can be hard for organizers to find time to eat, or even sit down. For every producer a welcome site is a volunteer who delivers lunch, hands you a bottle of water, grabs something from your overfull hands, or is just there with a friendly hug at the right moment.

Competitions truly take a village and they are supported by volunteers. If you’ve ever wanted to participate in music, volunteering is a great way to get backstage and front-row access to the action. Most volunteers walk away with a much better understanding of how big events like this come together, as well as forge friendships with other people that share their love of vocal music.

To volunteer, reach out to the organization of your choice or check the social media groups for calls for help. We can guarantee you'll will be welcomed with open arms.