Volunteers

[captain reido]

Do they ever go AWOL? I'm sure (in a drunken intoxicated state) that in 2010 I was chatting to a lad who had volunteered to work but at the first opportunity he just sacked it off and did what ever he wanted and basically got in to the festival for free. If it's that easy then I bet loads do it, but it's also a bit shitty leaving the genuine volunteers to pick up your share of the work.

[Pink_Tequila]

Lost deposit and blacklisted. Why bother anyway, I have worked at a lot of glastonburys and had a great time in a lot of different capacities. My best times have been as a volunteer. To sack it off is really pretty out of order and not as easy as it may first seem. You will have to get your gear and car out of crew area without being stopped for a start, other volunteers will want to dob you in and security, certainly local to your crew area will see it as a challenge to catch you, and I know there is a four minute record for the fastest catch after a photo was circulated.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Pink_Tequila

[Josie's Cat]

I am sure it happens - was just reading the conditions for volunteering with Shelter and it is a £300 deposit so if you just sacked them off it would cost you a hundred quid over the regular festival price p!us obviously blacklisted for future festivals.

But I guess for some folk it is worth it!

[whisty]

It sucks, Oxfam appear to have lost Womad due to lack of volunteers last year. You have to at least consider the reputation of the organisation you're working for together with the impact on your co workers.

[jeffie]

I managed a CND Lockup back in the mists.

CND only asked for the same deposit as the cost of a ticket at that point.

3 students turned up for the first day, think it was the Tuesday when we were doing the set up, got their tickets/wristbands.

Never saw them again.

I was bloody livid. We ended up with me and my mate doing a double shift to cover, which meant we were knackered as well.

[captain reido]

It must have happened or still happen loads, I didn't consider the reputation of the charity or organisation you're working for but I suppose it can be quite damaging if they are left short staffed and unable to meet demand. I suppose its super hard knowing the ones who have an ulterior motive.

[glasto-worker]

There is many factors but the last thing Volunteer Groups need is a Houdini.

In fact WBC { Workers Beer Company } Volunteers don't pay a deposit although the recruitment process is far different to say Oxfam or Shelter as there has to be a link to the Organiser and none of my Team has ever vanished in 25 years.

As Pink_Tequila mentioned its not as easy as it first appears and certainly anyone trying to walk out with their camping gear will be stopped straight away and they will be kicked out on the street but of course there is ways arround this just by banging up a cheap tent and then just leaving it there and camping with friends in the general camping area.

WBC Volunteers have to show their passport and present proof of their address although most will be personally knowing by their Organiser so unless they want to change their address and employer { as many are recruited though work } its less hassle just to do the work.

More common is people who are lazy and they get sent to my bar for retraining - two days of that and they are begging to get back to a normal bar.

Its a good deal Volunteers get and the facilities are as good as all the Glamping sites that pop up all over the place + they end up with two meals and two drinks vouchers per day + a cheap bar so anyone who wanted to run away from that is a right idiot.

One year a person in a different Team vanished at some point and no one could find him but amazingly the guy reappeared on the Monday and tried to catch the crew coach back - now that is what you call bloody cheeky and he was told to piss off.

[pothead pixie]

I've been volunteering at the Irish festivals since 2011, here is one of my reviews for the Electric Picnic festival in 2011 http://niallmcquaid.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/working-for-your-festival-ticket/

I enjoyed it and opted to do the night shift first to get it over with, that meant sacrificing the DJ Shadow gig that night, but I was working near the Little Big Tent that had Boys Noize and Shit Robot playing, so not so bad. To earn your wristband you have to work 24 hours split into either 3 8 hour shifts or 4 6 hour ones. Its quite gruelling when it busies up but you get used to it, I done the back shift the next one which meant I got to see the music at night and then the day shift the following day so finished at 2pm. Once you have done the weekend you can work the pre-festival week as a advanced volunteer so that your free for the weekend. Well worth it, go for it.

Edited March 8, 2014 by pothead pixie

[DJL]

It does happen sadly. I've seen people get caught and it was met by wild cheers all round.

[captain reido]

I also remember a guy who was high as a kite at the baggy mondays set, he was supposed to be working but he was just joining in with the crowd and ended up getting dragged away by someone else in a similar uniform.

[tillyandthewall]

Can confirm that the entrance to the Oxfam crew camp at last year's Latitude had 'missing persons' posters at their gate.

[Paul ™]

Can confirm that the entrance to the Oxfam crew camp at last year's Latitude had 'missing persons' posters at their gate.

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

We had one at Leeds in a very small setup. We worked in pairs meaning the supervisor had to fill in their shift and also do their own work too.

I have just had confirmation of my bar work place this morning for Glastonbury (yay) but would feel obliged to complete my shifts and stay in a fit enough state to do the work needed. They are after all giving me the opportunity to be there and 24 hours (3x8hr shifts) when you are there for a full week doesn't seem too bad. I'm looking forward to it, really enjoyed working Leeds.

[glasto-worker]

We had one at Leeds in a very small setup. We worked in pairs meaning the supervisor had to fill in their shift and also do their own work too.

I have just had confirmation of my bar work place this morning for Glastonbury (yay) but would feel obliged to complete my shifts and stay in a fit enough state to do the work needed. They are after all giving me the opportunity to be there and 24 hours (3x8hr shifts) when you are there for a full week doesn't seem too bad. I'm looking forward to it, really enjoyed working Leeds.

[stardustjunkie]

I've got a ticket to Glastonbury and can't imagine working it, but this year I've applied to work at Bestival and Wireless (they are close enough to home and ideal for me). I fully intend on completing any work I'm asked to do, and because I'm not paying attention to the line ups, nor am I a big drinker, I wont be tempted to go AWOL, not that I would anyway. I would be really pissed off if I did get a position and other people didn't turn up, jeopardising any chance I had of exploring the festival in my own time because I have to cover for them.

I think you should only apply to work if you're prepared to work. It's not fair on the company, the festival or your fellow volunteers if you have no intention of supporting them all.

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

g_w - Yes it is Shelter. A friend regularly works Stonebridge Bar and helped sort us out. Another reason I couldn't contemplate 'doing one' as it would then reflect badly on him.

Thanks for the map of the bars because I think we get asked where we would prefer to work and they will accommodate you if possible. I could only think of 3 bars that Avalon ran (Cockmill/Park/Stonebridge), didn't realize they did some of the others and I didn't know 3 of them existed at all.

[glasto-worker]

g_w - Yes it is Shelter. A friend regularly works Stonebridge Bar and helped sort us out. Another reason I couldn't contemplate 'doing one' as it would then reflect badly on him.

Thanks for the map of the bars because I think we get asked where we would prefer to work and they will accommodate you if possible. I could only think of 3 bars that Avalon ran (Cockmill/Park/Stonebridge), didn't realize they did some of the others and I didn't know 3 of them existed at all.