Working at festivals

[So]

Hi there. I'm thinking id like to try working at festivals but no idea where to begin or what jobs to go for. I.e stewarding, bar work, catering? Also, how long are you away from 'home' whilst working and where do you stay? Do you need transport to get to events and is there a meeting place you drive from or do you meet at the festival? And how long is the festival season? Any advice would be great! Thanks for any help!  

[whisty]

You're asking lots of questions with an infinite amount of answers depending on who you work for and where. Maybe start by searching for threads in some of the forums, the Glastonbury thread has lots of work related questions/answers. Good luck

[kaosmark2]

Stewarding is really easy to get into. Catering generally requires contacts or a license. You're generally expected to have experience to get a bar staff job, but if you do it's not that difficult.

You're generally at the festival for 1-3 days longer than they have music on, and at most festivals you stay in a staff camping area where you bring your own tent for.

Several festivals will offer a limited shuttle bus service for staff from the nearest train station, but mostly you're expected to get there on your own. Lots of festivals have a lift share scheme for their staff.

The festival season is as long as you want it to be, but most are between mid June to early September. Unless you get involved with a company on a paid basis where you'd go with them to festivals they're working (which is unlikely), you should expect to apply to festivals fairly individually.

There's more regarding specific festivals, stewarding/bar companies, etc. but hopefully that's some helpful answers to your questions.

I advise asking in threads/forums related to the festivals you want to work at though for more detailed and appropriate advice for each.

[Paul ™]

Stewarding on the whole is a volunteer basis, where you pay a deposit for your ticket, and then do the stated amount of shifts to cover the cost of that over the weekend, and then get the deposit back after the festival/season depending who you work for.

Bar staff is a mix of volunteer and paid work, similar to above if volunteering or if paid then you dont usually pay a deposit.

Volunteers tend to do less hours over the weekend, sometimes can be 3 x 6 hour shifts, but varies depending on company.

Paid staff tend to do longer hours, such as caterers, bar staff etc.

There are also companies that do the programme selling, where you get a basic wage for the weekend, then get a small commision depending on amount sold. 

There are also crews that look for litter pickers, this is usually volunteer basis over the festival, and then can offer paid work after the event to help clear up.

You would normally arrive a day before the customers for accreditation, briefings etc and then usually leave on the Monday afternoon once the punters have all gone.

Most festivals you will stay in staff/crew camping, you take your own tent and camping gear, some events you will get food vouchers for depending on who you work for, and there are usually toilets/showers provided for staff use.

Transport isn't usually provided, apart from local pick ups by some companies from nearest train station etc, lift-share is the way forward and most companies will have a website/facebook page to help arrange this.

As others have said, this all really depends on what festivals you want to do, post in the relevant forum and you should get some advise.

Some companies to perhaps look at -

Stewarding
Oxfam
DC Site Services
Green Stewards
Festaff
 

Bar Work
Workers Beer (EBC)
Avalon
Flair Events
Peppermint Bars

Caterers
Central Catering Services (CCS)
D&G Catering
Supreme Group

Litter Picking
DC Site Services
Ryans Cleaning
Nu-Kleen

Merch
Firebrand

 

Check out here for more info

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/info/jobs.shtml

Edited February 4, 2016 by Paul ™

[kaosmark2]

3 minutes ago, Paul ™ said:

Green Stewards

Paul's given a lot of good advice here, but Green Stewards are utter c**ts and I strongly advise against working for them. I had to threaten court action to get my deposit back from them.

[So]

Thanks all, really helpful info!