Volunteering at festivals

[Sachet88]

I've got my ticket for Glastonbury this year, but I'm interested in volunteering for other festivals. Has anyone any experience of doing this? And where the best places to go for doing this? I've been looking on Festaff but don't want to get screwed over! 

Sorry, it's not completely glasto related, though I know you're a helpful bunch

[Dukeicon]

Bit of a thread mostly about at Glasto experiences.

You can try oxfam
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/festivals

[glasto-worker]

56 minutes ago, Sachet88 said:

I've got my ticket for Glastonbury this year, but I'm interested in volunteering for other festivals. Has anyone any experience of doing this? And where the best places to go for doing this? I've been looking on Festaff but don't want to get screwed over! 

Sorry, it's not completely glasto related, though I know you're a helpful bunch

just a bit of experience - why would you think Festaff would screw you over ? - Overall they have a good reputation.

if I was starting out from scratch I would look at Oxfam and 
http://www.hotboxevents.com/

although it really depends on what events you are interested in and then working back.

The WBC works on a different way as a private individual cant apply direct - they have to go though a Group Organiser and I happen to be one.

its all down to planning - I am responsible for my Team and we plotted out this year one year ago -

this is the right time to look - 

be sure to read all the terms and conditions before passing over any money.

I know that may read a daft paragraph but there is posts where people have paid over a deposit without fully looking into what they will be expected to do.

[eFestivals]

47 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

just a bit of experience - why would you think Festaff would screw you over ? - Overall they have a good reputation.

just to add to this, I've not heard bad things about them either.

[incident]

Realistically most organisations should be fine to work for - the only ones I've heard negative reports on were Green Stewards, have heard a few complaints over the years about the way they treat people and about deposits not being returned.

The terms and conditions do vary quite significantly even between different companies working the same event - how much deposit they'll ask for, whether they'll keep some of it as an Admin fee, whether they provide free/subsidised meals/transport, how early/late you need to be on site, so it's worth looking at all the options carefully. Also the roles can vary quite a bit - using Glastonbury as an example, anyone working for CTM is going to be outside the fence, whereas some roles are right in the middle of site.

Personally my only concern about Festaff would be that I find their Terms & Conditions a bit harsher than say Oxfam - they keep some of the deposit as an Admin fee, and I think they don't feed you - but it's all stuff that's documented up front, it's not like there's any deception going on.

[pie_and_a_pint]

6 hours ago, incident said:

Personally my only concern about Festaff would be that I find their Terms & Conditions a bit harsher than say Oxfam - they keep some of the deposit as an Admin fee, and I think they don't feed you - but it's all stuff that's documented up front, it's not like there's any deception going on.

Festaff also take an ORIGINAL passport or drivers licence as collateral when you're working. I'm not sure I'd entrust those original documents to anyone (aside from, for some people younger than me, the inconvenience of not having ID to buy booze during the event). They don't provide food, and they don't allow you to leave the site during the festival.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

1 hour ago, pie_and_a_pint said:

Festaff also take an ORIGINAL passport or drivers licence as collateral when you're working.

You just need to know a decent cheap counterfeiter's and your home and dry on the absconding front. I did actually start communication with one site that spammed on here about getting you a false passport. They wouldn't give me a price so knew they were bullshitters from the outset.

In connection with the above, I once saw a documentary by a journalist who had created from scratch a new ID including a valid passport. It was fascinating to watch him getting more and more layers of respectability with every move he made. The end shot of the video was of him talking to camera in an airplane that he'd just boarded with his new passport, but with a different name than his true own name.

[glasto-worker]

Trying to use a Counterfeit passport or drivers licence even if its in your own name can end you in big trouble with the Law.

if you fully read 

https://www.festaff.co.uk/volunteer-info/volunteer-notice

You must provide a CURRENT passport or a FULL British driving licence (photo section) as your form of ID. We will accept a provisional British driving licence or other agreed photo ID with a £100 cash deposit payable via Paypal (which will be returned to you at the end of the festival).

Student/ID cards, citizen cards, overseas driving licences, birth certificates or photocopies of any documentation are not acceptable.

If you do not wish to leave your ID with us then instead a £200 cash deposit will be required (which is payable via Paypal and will be returned to you at the end of the festival), but we still need to verify your ID on arrival at the festival.

-------

https://www.festaff.co.uk/volunteer-info/volunteer-requirements

does cover 

Leaving the festival site

We ask that you stay on site for the duration of the event. With this in mind, please make sure to bring everything you need with you as supermarket trips can be problematic for everyone, not least of all because traffic can be heavy.

For security reasons volunteers should not leave the festival site with a volunteer wristband without seeking our approval.

--------

While the WBC does not use a deposit system { A group would have to pay a fine for someone who did not complete their shifts } - I fully agree with a deposit system - a few years ago at Latitude the crew Catering Company had some daft idea where they would recruit volunteers just with a £20 charge { it may have been called admin fee or whatever } - I spotted them advertising on FB and knew what was coming up - lots of jokers applied with no intention of working and they were last seen just after they had been issued a crew wristband -

this had serious implication to the Catering Company who were unable to keep the place fully open to cover feeding all the workers - this must have cost them a fortune as I know the WBC demanded a refund and got it - yes for sure it was the fault of the Crew Catering Company but they were new and naive.I knew there was going to be problems so I covered my back and brought sandwiches with me which I kept in the fridge truck. 

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

18 hours ago, glasto-worker said:

Trying to use a Counterfeit passport or drivers licence even if its in your own name can end you in big trouble with the Law.

That's true if you are up to high level banditry, but probably not so true if your only intent was to gain entry to a music festival. Not that I'm advocating it in anyway - my post above was meant to be a little facetious.

[glasto-worker]

5 hours ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

That's true if you are up to high level banditry, but probably not so true if your only intent was to gain entry to a music festival. Not that I'm advocating it in anyway - my post above was meant to be a little facetious.

its very possible that someone may read your post and think ' that's a good idea - I will get myself a copy ' - not appreciating  that the Law does not have a sense of humour.

once you try to use one - events can spiral out of control so its not a wise move.

these are serious offences

IDENTITY DOCUMENTS ACT 2010

This legislation contains a number of offences relating to the possession and use of false identity documents.

For the purposes of this legislation, the definition of “identity document” includes (but is not limited to) a passport (whether a UK passport or a passport issued by the authorities of another country) and a drivinglicence. A full list of what items fall within the definition of “identity document” is found in the extracts of the
Identity Documents Act 2010 in Annex A.

Two offences under the Identity Documents Act 2010 are relevant.

A person commits an offence if he or she has in their possession an identity document which is false, and which they know or believe to be false, with the intention of using it to establish personal information about him or her or to induce another to ascertain personal information about him or her. A person guilty of this offence is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or a fine (or both). A person commits an offence to have, without reasonable excuse, in his or her possession a false identity document or an identity document which relates to another person. A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine (or both).

FRAUD ACT 2006

The Fraud Act 2006 may apply to the use of false ID (of any type). Section 6(1) makes it an offence for a person to have in his possession or under his control any article for use in the course of or in connection with any fraud.

This Act defines three types of fraud, and includes fraud by false representation. A person commits a fraud by false representation if “…he dishonestly makes a false representation and intends, by making the representation, to make a gain for himself…”. Therefore, the use of false ID by a person aged under 18 to obtain alcohol may be an offence under section 6 of this Act.
A person found guilty of this offence is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine (or both).

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/98108/false-id-guidance.pdf

[Sachet88]

That's great thanks for your help guys! I'm not saying Fest staff would screw me over so to speak,  just wondering the best places to volunteer through. I want to have a great experience!

[glasto-worker]

4 hours ago, Sachet88 said:

That's great thanks for your help guys! I'm not saying Fest staff would screw me over so to speak,  just wondering the best places to volunteer through. I want to have a great experience!

I am sure that many people will claim they have a better deal or better facilities but at the end of the day.

Will being a volunteer cost you money ?

We get free travel { from major cities } and the crew coach will drop us inches from the crew camp { see image - photo taken from within the crew area at Latitude and two of the crew coaches - now you cant get closer than that }

I saw loads of volunteers { not with the WBC } having to march across the road to the staff car park to pick up their coaches - with lots of camping gear ' distance matters '

+ lots of the coaches were only going to the local train station so there is a extra expense there.

We get two meals per day - some are lucky if they have one voucher and some are very unlucky as they dont get any meals at all.

We get two free drinks per day and access to unlimited soft drinks { I have saved a fortune on that over the years } + there is a cheap bar { at least half price }

We have access to a 24 hour covered communal area - very handy when its wet.

We dont share our showers or flushing toilets with any other crew - many  volunteers have to share toilets and showers { so they tend to have a long queue }

if you stick with it then you can end up being able to pick your own shifts { although dont expect that to happen for a good few years } 

if you can get something close to that then you are laughing.

when I became a volunteer there was no Internet and it was all word of mouth - I went up and asked the WBC in 1986 at Glastonbury but they told me they did not accept people who were not in the TUC and it took me 3 Years to get them to accept me - I had no clue as to what facilities they had - at that time they were working at 20 or so events per year and I worked at them all - over that time I lost
count how many double shifts I had to do {due to staff shortage} - I just stuck with it.

I have had offers from other bar operators but I will be with the WBC until they retire me.

starting out there is nothing stopping you doing so many events with one volunteer group and a few others with a different volunteer group so you can compare things.

[incident]

5 hours ago, Sachet88 said:

That's great thanks for your help guys! I'm not saying Fest staff would screw me over so to speak,  just wondering the best places to volunteer through. I want to have a great experience!

I can vouch for Oxfam as being a professional organisation. I worked the last 2 years at Glastonbury for them, the 2 main reasons I won't this year are that I want more time for myself, and the Oxfam campsite at Glastonbury is too far away for my taste, especially relative to the parts of the festival I like most. But I wouldn't rule out doing it again, and am seriously considering doing Boomtown with them this year (probably at about 60% sure right now).

They tightened up the terms and conditions a little last year but (on paper at least, I've no personal experience of any others) are still ahead of the others that advertise publicly. But assuming no further changes this year:
- Deposit taken equivalent to the ticket price for the Festival, returned up to 6 weeks after the event (think it was about 3 or 4 weeks for Glastonbury last year, seemed quicker than I expected anyway).
- No admin fees etc, so you get the full deposit back. Though there is a fee if you cancel.
- The deposit can cover multiple festivals.
- They'll give you 3 free meals - at most events Oxfam have their own caterers and the quality is pretty high with the menus switched up from day to day.
- Training is provided in advance of the Festival, with multiple sessions at multiple locations around the country. You'd need to be trained once every 4 years.
- No free transport unfortunately - at the events where they do provide transport options, they've always seemed really expensive to me and not massively convenient. Better off arranging a lift share.

It sounds like the WBC and FMS have the best deal out there, but they're both a lot more difficult to get into.

As for the other groups that cover multiple different events and recruit publicly.. Festaff t+c vary from event to event, so it's worth reading their information carefully to ensure no surprises but overall their staff I've spoken to seemed happy enough. Green Stewards I'd personally avoid - I've had no personal experience or interaction with them but there's plenty of negative feedback out there if you search the forums. I worked alongside CTM staff at Glastonbury and they all seemed to enjoy it but again read exactly what you're signing up for as they have a mix of Volunteer and Paid roles - getting paid sounds nice but you end up with almost no time of your own.

[marathonsteve]

I have been with Wicked events for a few years and they have been good

[glasto-worker]

fully agree with incident - with regards the WBC its a none starter

in the 90's it was common for me to get 25 places at Glastonbury -  at other events it was common to get  20 places due to there being more Groups that would be a impossible figure now.

Many groups last year were not offered any places - I know WBC volunteers with ' 16 years experience ' { who have a very good record } just were not placed at anything.

its a scandal but they have far more volunteers than they need.

its mainly approved TUC and Trade Union Groups and most will have a waiting list and 'if you are not already a registered WBC volunteer' then its a near impossible task + the initial Group bids went in yesterday - under the process once those bids are in ' they cant be changed '

I was told by a very senior person in the WBC that only Groups who worked last year will get a place this year and they were not intending taking on any new Groups unless there was exceptional reasons.

its far easier to look elsewhere where you still stand a chance.