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Has anyone done this? It popped up on my facebook feed and seems like a good way of going to a couple of festivals this summer and meeting new people. Is it as rosy as it seems? Would you do it again?
Yeah, I've done it loads - Glastonbury three or four times and similar at Leeds.
I'd recommend it unreservedly. It's hard work - you'll be on your feet for eight hours, probably manning a ticket gate, normally with three shifts on rotation over the festival (So one 10pm-6am, one 6am-2pm etc.)
But in return you get to go for free, get a nicer secure field to camp in, with showers, a bit of free food (terrible at Leeds, amazing at Glastonbury, and a ton of cool other volunteers to make friends with.
You need to approach it with the view that any bands you get to watch are a bonus really, as you'll probably get disappointed if there's one artist on the line-up you simply must see (you can swap shifts, but it's not easy). Also although you're only doing three shifts, you might find yourself quite tired when you're not working anyway.
Because I did it so often, I actually got to do some quite cool stuff beyond checking tickets. One year I was working backstage at Glastonbury doing some wristbanding for VIPs and got to ride on a golf cart with Michael Eavis. I also supervised the 'signing tent' at Leeds quite a few times so got to briefly meet a few bands, the coolest probably being MGMT.
Last time I did Leeds I was organising emergency services access through about eight different gates into the main arena. On reflection, that was quite a stressful way to spend a week off... 😀
Volunteered years ago at one in Aviemore. Free entrance for not much work and got to see Crowded House at others play.
Walking distance to my parents house too which was handy!
K
Thank you Finbar, that's great info.
Bit of a mixed bag. All mine have been paid jobs. Helped a mate a Glasto, which was great. Creamfields was just loads of hard work. Oxfam would probably be ok, esp if you’re volunteering, so expectations will be low!. For paid work, Flair Event Staffing are pretty good.