Latitude 2012

[The Mean Bean]

Another Mancunian with transport queries here, could anybody tell me roughly how long it will take to drive from Manchester to Latitude? I was going to ask if it'd be easier to get there public transport but that looks to be quite a massive ball-ache.

[robith]

Wow, not even on the front page.

Got all my travel sorted.

Day breakdowns are starting to come up. Looks like it'll be Perfume Genius closing it out for me

[TomMack]

Hey.

Has anyone ever done volunteering with Hotbox events for Latitude? I just want to get an idea of what it would be like, you know, with the people and the shifts etc. And i was wondering if anyone else was going for it? (the Hotbox forums are dead.)

Oh plus it's my first volunteering experience for a festival ever, plus it's my first festival on my own ever.

...

Thanks (:

[paulomas]

Hey.

Has anyone ever done volunteering with Hotbox events for Latitude? I just want to get an idea of what it would be like, you know, with the people and the shifts etc. And i was wondering if anyone else was going for it? (the Hotbox forums are dead.)

Oh plus it's my first volunteering experience for a festival ever, plus it's my first festival on my own ever.

...

Thanks (:

hey - not sure about hotbox but i did latitude in 2010 with oxfam and it was fun! i remember the hotbox camp was near the oxfam one; you get your own seperate campsite behind the scenes with hot showers and catering with relatively cheap food. i did it with 3 mates though and we all had the same shifts so i'm not sure what it would be like on your own, but latitude is really nice i'm sure you'll make some friends over the weekend.

[glasto-worker]

Hey.

Has anyone ever done volunteering with Hotbox events for Latitude? I just want to get an idea of what it would be like, you know, with the people and the shifts etc. And i was wondering if anyone else was going for it? (the Hotbox forums are dead.)

Oh plus it's my first volunteering experience for a festival ever, plus it's my first festival on my own ever.

...

Thanks (:

I am a volunteer with the WBC and our crew campsite is very close to Hotbox

and provided it has not moved it will be in the second field on the right in the image below.

last year they were sharing the same crew area with security and you can see it on the right of this image http://www.wbc-team....e-2011-127.html I think the red boxes were showers

the only thing that most crews don't have is a proper crew bar { one benefit to being with the WBC }

catering is good http://www.wbc-team....age-2009-6.html

as far as I know Hotbox was planning for 465 Festival staff and volunteers so there will be loads of people to meet.

this will be my 23rd year as a volunteer so its well worth it being one.

[TomMack]

Hey wow thanks for the info. and advice, it seem's like i'm in for a good time wahoo!

When you say WBC which company do you mean?

[glasto-worker]

Hey wow thanks for the info. and advice, it seem's like i'm in for a good time wahoo!

When you say WBC which company do you mean?

WBC is The Workers Beer Company - all the public bars at latitude will be run by the WBC.

The Crew area is a large camp site that may or may not be divided up to each other as it depends if it requires extra security - The WBC Crew area always has extra Security due to the amount of stock held in the area and that Security is employed direct by the WBC so they make extra patrols so you cant wander in to the WBC area but most of the crew area you will be able to move about.If you are camping in the general crew area you will find your crew pass will bypass the normal entry point that ticket holders have to use hence why this track appears so quiet http://www.wbc-team....ge-2009-10.html

this is the main crew track that leads down to the bridge that takes you over tothe arena - To the left is the Guest area { VIP Camping although its not called that } and to the right is the ticket holders who are also heading down to the arena.

It means that you can make quick entry or exit to the arena as you don't have to queue up for bag searches { which happens to ticket holders }

You can see the bridge area is very busy http://www.wbc-team....ge-2010-59.html so you can imagine when your trying to leave why it makes sense to split up the exits paths.

Unlike Glastonbury where you need a helicopter to get from A to B Latitude is all within easy walking distance although its a fair old tramp up to Green and Orange Gate { but as I don't work on gates its not a trip I need to make }

I don't have a clue how good Hotbox does their briefing but if it was my first time at Latitude I would latch on to a experience volunteer and get them to show me the site .

just been sent the 2012 version of the map

http://www.wbc-team.co.uk/Latitude-Map-2012.jpg

what the plan does not show is the trees as there is lots and lots of trees so for example if you are standing in the blue camping area its dead easy to get lost if you stray off the paths so stick to a route you know - I recall the first year when crews were not certain about where everything was and they were wandering off in all sorts of strange directions and a hour later I would spot them heading in the opposite direction.Once you have been around the site and

you keep that map in your pocket you will soon work out how to move from one area to the other.

In most crew areas they will have phone charging points - be sure you stick a label with your name and post code on it as sometimes people will unplug a phone to use the power point - in our crew camp there will be at least two iPhones will be handed in and God knows how many cameras so it helps if they are marked.As the catering area is shared it makes sense marking your phone with Hotbox so if you do leave a phone at least it will get back to your crew area or even better buy a pouch so you don't leave your phone on a table.

I am not sure if Hotbox puts on coaches but did spot a lot of messages about lift sharing which you may find useful.

http://www.hotboxeve...p?TOPIC_ID=1081

You should soon pick it up - if in doubt ask someone in charge as they should know the answer - a common mistake is to ask someone ' who appears to know what they are saying ' but in reality may not know all that much themselves .

I overheard a conversation going to Latitude last year on the coach and this guy was talking complete bollocks - he gave the impression he had been with the WBC donkey years but I did not recognise him at all and I know all the old timers -{ which is no surprise as I am the longest serving volunteer on the WBC books } turns out when I questioned him he had never been to Latitude before and had only joined the WBC that year - I cant explain why he was trying to give a false impression all I know is that if I had not pulled him up he would have passed on incorrect information.

Edited May 31, 2012 by glasto-worker

[TomMack]

I don't think there is any way i can thank you more unless i see you over at the festival, then i'd buy you a beer. (Although i assume you get your fair share anyway with the company you work for!).

Actually on that forum you can see me asking for a lift! Haha i'll be heading down with Marilyn and she seems much more experienced than me. Maybe after a while i'll get to know the WBC a little more (i recognised the logo from a shirt i obtained at Leeds 2 years ago).

Thanks again for all the information, i'll try my best to remember to let you know how i got on after the festival is over. Who are you looking forward to seeing the most? Or do you just go for kicks haha

[glasto-worker]

I don't think there is any way i can thank you more unless i see you over at the festival, then i'd buy you a beer. (Although i assume you get your fair share anyway with the company you work for!).

I think the last act I saw at Latitude was Patti Smith in 2006 { film clip below }

[media=]

although in 2010 I tried to see Rodrigo y Gabriela but because of a emergency I had to stay on duty.

I have sent you a pm with my number so you can call me at the event as I will be tucked away within the WBC Campsite so will not be working in the normal bars.

brian

[Sam Adamson]

Be a Green Messenger at Latitude festival

http://www.facebook.com/events/146264965506691/

[robith]

Apparat, Walls and The Field for late night on the Sunday

OH MY YES PLEASE

[glasto-worker]

Just heard that this year at Latitude it will be Magners Cider that will be on sale at all the main bars - will not know any bar prices until I arrive onsite.

[robith]

Just heard that this year at Latitude it will be Magners Cider that will be on sale at all the main bars - will not know any bar prices until I arrive onsite.

As a n00b, what were the prices last year?

And it's great to see you posting here worker - love your posts on the glasto board

[glasto-worker]

As a n00b, what were the prices last year?

And it's great to see you posting here worker - love your posts on the glasto board

the prices in 2011 were £4 for lager and £4.20 for cider - I think it was £3.80 for Hektors Pure and it may have been £4 for Hektors Scarecrow { I was not working in a normal bar but that sounds about right }

I don't drink Real Ale but I know its very popular.

Above is the prices for the main bars - the smaller bars { in the Woods } don't have room for draft pumping and cooling equipment so the bars sell 500ml bottles.

I don't have the bar map yet so its not clear as to if there is going to be the large cider bar close to the arena bridge as reports claim it has moved - cant work it out myself as I know it was very popular - anyway it will all come out in the wash.

latitude is a very laid back event so you should enjoy it - fingers crossed the weather stays ok - there has only been one muddy year but I know they are working on some improvments this year.

[robith]

the prices in 2011 were £4 for lager and £4.20 for cider - I think it was £3.80 for Hektors Pure and it may have been £4 for Hektors Scarecrow { I was not working in a normal bar but that sounds about right }

I don't drink Real Ale but I know its very popular.

Above is the prices for the main bars - the smaller bars { in the Woods } don't have room for draft pumping and cooling equipment so the bars sell 500ml bottles.

I don't have the bar map yet so its not clear as to if there is going to be the large cider bar close to the arena bridge as reports claim it has moved - cant work it out myself as I know it was very popular - anyway it will all come out in the wash.

latitude is a very laid back event so you should enjoy it - fingers crossed the weather stays ok - there has only been one muddy year but I know they are working on some improvments this year.

Thanks a million!

Working on my own guesses of inflation, I'll take a pop at £4.40 a pint for cider

[glasto-worker]

Thanks a million!

Working on my own guesses of inflation, I'll take a pop at £4.40 a pint for cider

I should have kept a list over the years but I never did as I don't look at it as real money.

There has been a few off odd years where the prices ended in a 5 so you never know - all the large bars will be using scan guns { a right pain for experienced servers as it is more time consuming than using mental arithmetic } so in practice this scan be set for any amount.

I am sure Customers assume its just someone sitting in a room and thinking up a price and then doubling it but in reality a Committee will factor in many variables before setting a price.

As fixed costs rise so much I have seen years where there was good demand at every event but when the accounts were made up at the end of a year the WBC reported a trading loss although they always make certain that the volunteer groups do get their pay out so it was not a complete loss but its still disappointing because all it takes is a few very wet events and all of a sudden they will lose a fortune so they need to make a profit some years to cover them for the loses.

[tj86]

Alright guys I am down in England working and just found out Latitude is held a stones throw away been meaning to catch this festival but it was just to far away coming from Scotland.

Would have been going with my Friends but as I am down here my self and dont want to miss the likes of elbow and weller for a start.

My question is,

is Latitude a festival I could go myself and still have a good time?

Considering the weekend or if al else fails just one of the two days.

Cheers

The lonesome Scot!

[glasto-worker]

Alright guys I am down in England working and just found out Latitude is held a stones throw away been meaning to catch this festival but it was just to far away coming from Scotland.

Would have been going with my Friends but as I am down here my self and dont want to miss the likes of elbow and weller for a start.

My question is,

is Latitude a festival I could go myself and still have a good time?

Considering the weekend or if al else fails just one of the two days.

Cheers

The lonesome Scot!

well you may be surprised to learn that you will hear more Scots accents than you were expecting as one of the Security Companies comes from Scotland.

if I was you I would go after a weekend ticket.

I have worked there every year it has been held and it is a very friendly event

.

check out the new 360 view of latitude - click on the 360 for closer shots.

http://media.livenation.co.uk/latitude/2012/360/map_holder.html

[robith]

Ticket arriv ed this morning!

[leeesa]

Ticket arriv ed this morning!

have you been before? it's our first in the absence of glastonbury, when's the best time to arrive?

[strangetown]

First time this year as well in the absence of Glasto-the line up looks interestingly diverse musically and otherwise.

arriving on Thursday late afternoon. looking forward to seeing a few old faves (dexys, simple minds etc) and there appears to be a good mix on the bill and thanks to Glasto Worker who i recognise from other forums i have a pretty good idea of what to expect/look forward to! Hope you have a good time!

[leeesa]

yeah we did't think we'd need to be leaving at 5am on the wednesday, but still want to get as much of it in as poss. this seems to be the popular choice this year for us glasto regulars, very simular in feel, a green festival and varried.

[ricbrown101]

Is there anyone travelling down from the North West on the Wednesday? Working with Hotbox, so need to be there by 4 on the Wed, but public transport is an absolute nightmare! Any help would be much appreciated

[glasto-worker]

The first bar will open 5pm on Thursday 12th July. { no details on which bar this is }

During the rest of the festival the main bars will operate between 11am and 3.00am although some of the smaller ones may not stick to those times.

At the smaller bars { the in the woods area } the operating times should be displayed on a board.

This year there appears to be nine public bars and for some strange reason there does not appear to be a village bar next to yellow camping which is very strange as that used to be very popular.

[leeesa]

have you any suggestions as to where to camp? i trust yellow camp the wildest?