“Thank you, Detroit!”
It’s a common sign-off for any band playing in Detroit. It’s gratitude to the audience for coming through and buying a ticket. On a special night, maybe it’s even a verbal hug for the city itself.
However, you’ll rarely hear a band thank the crew behind the scenes, many of whom are locally based. The lighting techs. The folks in the sound booth. Most backstage talent never get a standing ovation for their efforts, even though they’re often the most critical piece in making the whole cultural machine run on time.
Next time you’re out on the town, take a moment to thank the folks on the front line — the bartenders who pour your drinks, the security guards who protect you and keep things moving. Asking “is everyone being nice to you tonight?” always sparks a conversation and shows gratitude.
Sure, those folks may take home a check or tips for their time, but what about the volunteers who interact with us behind the curtain to bring Detroit’s cultural gems to life?
What about an ode to the ushers? Some love for the docents? A kind smile for those who spend their day working the information booth?
They offer the gift of free labor (and knowledge) to museums and theaters, but time isn’t free. Volunteer hours add up to big bucks across the country.
In Michigan, an hour of volunteer labor is worth $33.74. That’s according to Independent Sector, a national membership organization that advocates for nonprofits and philanthropies. The organization evaluated the value of volunteer time by calculating the cost, based on average earnings, for private sector workers to fulfill a similar role.
Take the nearly 600-strong volunteer corps at the Detroit Institute of Arts, for example. On average, they provide more than 60,000 hours of volunteer labor a year. That’s more than $2 million in labor to help keep the museum running.
The vast majority of volunteers help you find where to go. Or direct you to your seat. Or give you the best possible experience at one of the greatest museums on the planet.
And that’s just one glimpse of our cultural ecosystem. Think about how many volunteers populate a multitude of institutions across our state. The numbers become staggering. And if they weren’t providing a service for free, you’d likely incur the cost in some way.
Don’t you think Michigan volunteers deserve a standing ovation?
Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of In the Groove on 101.9 WDET Detroit Public Radio (weekdays from noon to 3 p.m.).
This story originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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