Bar work at Reading

[ubermark]

Merry Christmas you guys!

I've been to Reading for the last 4 years but this year I'm starting to feel that unless I can get in for free I probably won't attend, due to being a broke student.

The first idea that sprung to mind would be to volunteer. My mates volunteered as litter pickers last year, they had a wicked time and saw plenty of bands, but I find the idea of staying at least another 2 days after the festival has finished seriously unappealing.

I've got a bit of experience working behind a bar so thought I'd try and put it to good use this year. If anyone with previous experience (or anyone who knows the answer to any of these questions)can help me out that would be awesome!

Firstly, how do you go about signing up to work as bar staff? Are there certain agencies/websites/businesses you have to go through, and if so, who?

Is a large amount of experience required? I've got 4 months experience which hopefully would be enough

How flexible are the shifts, and for what kind of time would you be expected to work? E.g in the event my favourite band clashed with a shift would I be allowed to swap with someone else etc

Is the work paid or voluntary? (I'm prepared for either but just interested to know)

And finally, if you have done it before would you recommend it?

I recognise that there's quite a lot of questions but all help is most appreciated! At the moment I'm just trying to build up a picture of what bar work is like there. I'd really hate to miss Reading this year, so it would be really great if I'd be able to get this kind of work as I don't see myself going otherwise.

Cheers guys!

Ubermark

P.S. Sorry if about a thousand threads exist on this subject already, I tried using the search function and eventually just gave up.

[Vacant0]

Know nothing about bar work at Reading so this isn't a useful reply in that regard but volunteering as a campsite assistant sounds like a good gig, heard only positive things about it, so I think that you should give that some consideration. Theres a thread somewhere on here from last year about being a CAT and some details on this site; http://www.hotboxevents.com/about/reading/

[Paul ™]

Workers Beer Company run the bars, with teams of volunteers manning the bars.

You would need to be able to know someone who runs a team to try get a place

http://www.workersbeer.co.uk/volunteer-with-us.aspx

[joe1990 fresh account]

Merry Christmas you guys!

I've been to Reading for the last 4 years but this year I'm starting to feel that unless I can get in for free I probably won't attend, due to being a broke student.

The first idea that sprung to mind would be to volunteer. My mates volunteered as litter pickers last year, they had a wicked time and saw plenty of bands, but I find the idea of staying at least another 2 days after the festival has finished seriously unappealing.

I've got a bit of experience working behind a bar so thought I'd try and put it to good use this year. If anyone with previous experience (or anyone who knows the answer to any of these questions)can help me out that would be awesome!

Firstly, how do you go about signing up to work as bar staff? Are there certain agencies/websites/businesses you have to go through, and if so, who?

Is a large amount of experience required? I've got 4 months experience which hopefully would be enough

How flexible are the shifts, and for what kind of time would you be expected to work? E.g in the event my favourite band clashed with a shift would I be allowed to swap with someone else etc

Is the work paid or voluntary? (I'm prepared for either but just interested to know)

And finally, if you have done it before would you recommend it?

I recognise that there's quite a lot of questions but all help is most appreciated! At the moment I'm just trying to build up a picture of what bar work is like there. I'd really hate to miss Reading this year, so it would be really great if I'd be able to get this kind of work as I don't see myself going otherwise.

Cheers guys!

Ubermark

P.S. Sorry if about a thousand threads exist on this subject already, I tried using the search function and eventually just gave up.

[Mariner]

I dont know but what I do know is that there was a cute chick with short hair working behind the bar in 2010 with short hair. I nearly chatted her up in my drunken state but talked myself out of it.