Leyrulion

I mean you can do the same as people do now with real wristbands tbh. Just more people would be caught out by it and it'd be harder to sneak multiple in on the same trader tickets etc. You can get round it by scanning out on a mate's wristband, give the person outside that wristband, they get back in on it. Your wristband obviously won't scan but as you're legit you just go to the ticket office and plead your case because you weren't "scanned out properly". Would only work maybe once though.

Stops all the wristband, pass out, ticket schemes. On the gates now you always have people who've "lost the pass out" or the photo is probably not them (but it's hard to tell). EPOs (which off site staff use) you scan a QR code and if it's not legit or someone's already in it makes a big error sound and says on the scanner "DO NOT LET THIS PERSON INTO THE FESTIVAL".

They actively want the local villagers to use it, because in their view it keeps people on side. Also, I'm theory, it's only an extra 4 people per ticket. About 4k or so if everyone maxed it out.

Similar for me, got chatting to security at gate C. They absolutely love it, gives them something to do. There's also undercover security inside that the gate staff radio through descriptions to.

This year was the first when I've seen signs say "Silver Hayes very busy, seek other options" usually that's Shangri-la.

That's true, this year was a little different to previous years and I remember places being a lot less likely to come up. They had an official "resale" of sorts and then only 1 or 2 times when places became available after that. I know people with page monitors that were struggling whereas before I'd have assumed they would get in. There was even someone who said they got their place cancelled by Oxfam for "tricking the system" (we never found out if that was true). If they continue tightening it up this year then it could be more of an issue.

From whenever bars are open, the form has gone up before Christmas usually.

Oxfam I think is a great opportunity, but for a first time volunteer it's not a particularly reliable route in because it is so competitive. Places go in literally 2 or 3 minutes. So also register and apply for water aid and Shelter.

I wonder if it's some people relocated from dairy ground to pylon having a issue (which isn't that far tbh).

When you arrive there are campsite caravans with stewards with big maps that show you what's full and what isn't. They'll direct you. They're usually a little conservative, got told Oxlyers was 95% full in 22 at 11am and went in and found enough space for probably 5 or 6 4 man tents.

The fence line was expanded this year and a massive amount of new crew camping space created, pylon ground isn't customer camping anymore. So I thought more camping was going inside the fence. They have to make trade offs obviously but I know it all kicked off in 22 with local groups being nowhere nearby their areas. I thought with the pylon changes and back of arcadia being production now they'd solved a lot of the issues.

Worth reading this guardian blog on water aid experience in 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jun/26/fetch-mop-code-brown-diary-glastonbury-toilet-cleaner Put me off somewhat. It's not the work exactly it's the thought of being around that smell for 6 hours.

The lifts don't make much of a difference anyway (IMO), they leave 30 mins before shift starts from the Oxfam campsite. So if you're based near stick lynch with a 1:45pm shift start by the time you get to Oxfam field for the 1:15 bus you'd probably be better off just going straight there (from most places on site) swinging by Oxlyers lock ups for your tabard.

Oh how wrong to make threats like that 🙄, sorry you had to experience it. Guy sounds like a bit of a tool tbh.

There is always space you'll just be out somewhere like Bailey's or South park. Honestly I do think everyone over thinks camping spaces, there's plenty and none of them are actually that far from anything.

Oh same happened to us, but we didn't really see the point of staying around for some official to formally stand us down. The conversation literally went "what are they going to do evict us? It's Elton!" The stewards all ran off at about 8:40 and we followed behind them, bit of a stewards revolt if I'm honest. I still feel bad for the team leader, but saw him at wilderness and he was fine.

It's fairly easy tbh. First person in picks a spot, spread your stuff out about to save some space for the other tents. Coordinate via text or phone call, tell them the field and meet them at a landmark in that field and walk them to where you're based. Saving space is the tricky bit, easier in some fields than others. Rule of thumb is it's going to be almost impossible after about midday in Oxlyers, Paine's etc for anything bigger than a 3man. The more large tents you have the earlier you need to get there for busy spots.

If people ask specifically I try to do what I can (I realise I'm probably actually a terrible supervisor for doing this!) If you were the supervisor I guess you got off shift at 9? I guess if you went back to the tent or wanted down time after the shift that would mean you missed the headliner.

Much appreciated! Confirms what I suspected about it being a bit of a closed shop for stewards in those areas. Not helpful for here as a route in, but if you live round the SW can't hurt to ask around the various local charities. Presumably it's all charities around Bristol/bath/shepton mallet corridor?

Yeah I guess if you've got a 10pm finish and are over at stick lynch you're not getting to he headliner that's true. I feel like if I was desperate to see an act I'd ask the supervisor if I could leave a little earlier, take the break at 9:30 to try to rush over, if I was the supervisor I'd have let you go at like 9:15! Remembered that there was a girl this year who when I turned up to a gate as team leader, apologised profusely and said she had to stay another 3 hours because she was late to the previous shift (over slept). Waited until after all the stewards on shift with her had gone (she was on her own) and then just let her go. No point her staying when we were already over staffed and she'd signed out.

Having done an 11:45-8am Monday shift at Shambala I am a really big fan of the Glastonbury 9/10pm-5/6am overnights. Just feels a bit better as you can get some proper sleep. Midnight to 8am feels like it ruins 2 days.

Would you not just pay for the tickets and sell them on. "Male, 30s brown hair" etc

I was working that shift. Having people leave saying Artic monkeys were a bit sh*t was quite nice. Thought I was hallucinating at 3am in the circus field but they did just have a light display in there.

One advantage is the enforced bed times because you've got to be up early. Didn't like having to tear myself away after the end of foo fighters for an 8 hour overnight shift but you still have a great time. Having to take it easy on a couple of days isn't so bad.

I would say if you were committed enough then you would definitely be able to find a place. It's a little tricky at the start as so many options tend to be word of mouth (particularly SE corner stewarding and green fields). But theres at least 19 organisations on that spreadsheet, you'd be able to get in somewhere (and if not this year then definitely next year).