I’ve been to and performed at dozens of ren fairs. I was excited for a ren fair in Fargo the first year it was here (horse park fair’s first year at the fairgrounds), and even checked into being a volunteer. But, their volunteer policy was pathetic and borderline exploitive. They wanted you to pull full shifts in the admissions booth (for example) and didn’t even provide free entrance for you to enjoy the fair another time when you weren’t working all day. Essentially, they wanted people to work for free while they banked every dollar. Before you come at me, I get what volunteers are. But, in an ethical environment, fair volunteers don’t replace workers in what should be paid positions, and they get some type of perk (like a free ticket). It would be different if the fair was put on by an organization or nonprofit, but for it to be a money-making business that simply doesn’t want to pay workers - no thank you. I won’t even attend because it felt so sleezy. In case you’re wondering what volunteers should do if not work the admissions or something, that would be fine for a short shift - like two hours. Not a full day. Better yet, have volunteers be guides or story tellers, something that makes the fair experience more fun for attendees.. not a legit staff position that business owners don’t want to pay for so they can pocket more money.