volunteering at Reading

[JenWoollett]

Hey everyone!,

i was meant to be volunteering with a friend of mine at Reading this year, but they have had to drop out. Is anyone else volunteering this year?, i scared about doing it alone. Has anyone else volunteered at a festival alone before?

Thanks, Jen

[kaosmark2]

I'm not doing Reading this year, but I did it last year, alone, it was fine.

I can answer any specific questions you have, but not really sure I can give generic advice, beyond chat to the people you're camped around and on shift with.

[Yellow_Fellow]

You'll be a face of the establishment, so keep a smile on and be open minded with who you chat with and you'll have a great time.

[glasto-worker]

Hey everyone!,

i was meant to be volunteering with a friend of mine at Reading this year, but they have had to drop out. Is anyone else volunteering this year?, i scared about doing it alone. Has anyone else volunteered at a festival alone before?

Thanks, Jen

[JenWoollett]

I have been a Volunteer at Reading for the past 25 years with the WBC - you don't state what you will be doing but you will end up meeting lots of different people who are all in the same boat so you will not be alone.

its a unique event as its the only one you can walk out of and be walking in a vibrant Town - my Crew camp is near the local Waitrose Supermarket and its funny watching the reaction of regular shoppers .

So who will you be working for ?

[kaosmark2]

I've signed up with Hotbox Events, They have a long list of what jobs i could be doing. so i'll get the chose a more specific role closer to the time but just general stewarding of the event is more of the main role, directing people etc. There's a few people that have said they were volunteering alone on the Hotbox forum so i've added them on facebook. I guess i'm more worried about surviving my first festival ever and i havnt been camping for years, any tips on things to bring with me, clothes and food wise?. I'm there from early wednesday to late monday, so quite i few days to prepare for.

[glasto-worker]

I've signed up with Hotbox Events, They have a long list of what jobs i could be doing. so i'll get the chose a more specific role closer to the time but just general stewarding of the event is more of the main role, directing people etc. There's a few people that have said they were volunteering alone on the Hotbox forum so i've added them on facebook. I guess i'm more worried about surviving my first festival ever and i havnt been camping for years, any tips on things to bring with me, clothes and food wise?. I'm there from early wednesday to late monday, so quite i few days to prepare for.

[kaosmark2]

well if you are with Hotbox the odds are you will have access to Orange Crew catering

http://orangefestivalfood.co.uk/gallery/ so really that should keep you going + its easy to dive out as there is a load of fast food places and Supermarkets so your not restricted to the food in the arena.

I personally make up boiled egg sandwiches { as sometimes its a hassle to catch the minibus { we don't camp inside the festival itself } but I have a Fridge/Freezer where I work so don't have to worry about them going off. { + a Microwave and even Satellite TV - don't expect that in your crew camp }

At Reading it can be dead hot one day and very wet the next so what you take is depending on the latest weather forecast { and even then it may be wrong }

its likely you will be camping ' below yellow Camping ' { its all fenced off }

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reading-festival-site-map.pdf

but if you are working in the white camp your crew may be camping there as well

I am sure they will send all the details soon.

I know some of the Hotbox mob and they do enjoy it.

whatever you do - put that tent up in the back garden - better to learn at home first.

Just latch on to someone who has been doing it five or so years and you can pick their brains.

good luck

[glasto-worker]

for some reason Festival republic has ditched Orange and they are now using

http://www.gustocatering.co.uk/gallery.html for Latitude so likely they will be used for Reading.

shame really as I thought Orange catering was doing a good job.