I got bar work

[MrHew]

Wahoo! Just had it confirmed that I've got bar work so I'm going to Glasters! 

I've been hiding from these boards cos I've been too sad to look. Think I'll be posting a lot more now  x

[morph100]

Congrats, hope you get some favourable shifts!

[joeltg]

Well done MrHew, I too am working the festival this year and just had my shifts confirmed. Excitement is rising now!

[glasto-worker]

8 hours ago, MrHew said:

Wahoo! Just had it confirmed that I've got bar work so I'm going to Glasters! 

I've been hiding from these boards cos I've been too sad to look. Think I'll be posting a lot more now  x

who are you working for ?

[MrHew]

18 hours ago, glasto-worker said:

who are you working for ?

I got it through the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign.

[glasto-worker]

2 hours ago, MrHew said:

I got it through the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign.

I know them well - in fact one of their Team leaders moved over to my Team about 7 years ago - they have been doing it for donkey years although they tend to switch volunteers often - so do you know how many places Your Organiser was able to get ?

[MrHew]

On 21/04/2016 at 7:59 PM, glasto-worker said:

I know them well - in fact one of their Team leaders moved over to my Team about 7 years ago - they have been doing it for donkey years although they tend to switch volunteers often - so do you know how many places Your Organiser was able to get ?

At this stage, I know nothing more than that I'm going. I'll get to know the rest in time. I'll let you know when I know. 

I'm looking forward to it. I've stewarded before but never done bar work there so it'll be interesting seeing it from a different side.

[glasto-worker]

2 hours ago, MrHew said:

At this stage, I know nothing more than that I'm going. I'll get to know the rest in time. I'll let you know when I know. 

I'm looking forward to it. I've stewarded before but never done bar work there so it'll be interesting seeing it from a different side.

Normally each Team will be allocated the same bar all weekend 

Each Bar has its own opening time/closing times and some may not be open on the Wednesday.

Shifts are allocated in advance and they will try to balance them out

They know exactly when they require more staff so there will be more Teams working later on.

Each Team will work six hours although if its a Overlap team they may only need to do four hours - that is also balanced out so if you are in a bar that uses a Overlap team then it will be a different Team who get it each night.

so there is a lot of luck involved.

once allocated to a certain bar you will then be able to check on the sheet as to what your shifts are each day.

Each Team has its own Team Leader and you follow what they say - they will allocate who does what - most will be serving but some may end up working on the MDU - the machine that pours out 12 pints at a time - they tend to pick experienced people for that as its more tricky than it looks - easy enough to operate but its knowing when to jack up the speed and when to slow down.

Its important that you keep well away from the MDU lanes as the Operator will have his back to the lane and they will assume that there is no one walking along - as there should be no one walking down that lane although I have lost count how many times I have pulled up people who try to break the rules and I have seen many people ending up crashing into the 12 pint tray and getting all 12 pints over them.

People may think they are there just to give them a quick exit to the toilet but ' they have to stick to the Server lane and exit that way '

In a large bar there could be 15 to 20 MDU's and they can only operate if people keep well away from them.

Keep your Team Leader informed if you dive out to the toilet - the WBC does do spot checks and each Team Leader should know where their Team is - it does not look good if half are missing and he/she does not have a clue where they are.  

Serving is easy enough ' but don't lose your Customer ' - they can be ten deep so when you get a order ' tell them not to move ' - if you don't you will walk back with the order and you may not be able to find them - at the start pick someone wearing a daft hat as that way you will spot them - once you see the sea of faces you will know what I am about - don't call out ' who is next ? ' as they will all claim to be next and its a waste of time trying to work it out - just rattle though them but watching out for anyone trying to barge in - they will try but when you point to them and say ' and you will be served Last ' they will soon get the message.       

The Team Leader will work out breaks for everyone but its important that you return on time as he will not let others away until your back.

Most times they will let you know when the shift ends - the Tent Manager { who is on charge } will expect each Team to arrive a bit early - once he/she is happy the next Team is ready he will tell the 
Team Leader he can stand his Team down - so if you are starting at 17.00 show up at 16.45 as they have to count you in.

for each shift you will be allocated two drink vouchers ' save them for the Public Bar ' as the Crew Bar prices are cheaper so it does not make sense using them in there

each voucher will list one or two bars where they can be used.

I already know that my Team will be working in the Crew Bar - each night we will display when its open { normally 17.00 to 03.00 but on the Sunday it will remain open far later }

The Bar will be open all day but only for free soft drinks  

in case you don't know - there is a WBC Party on Tuesday night where Michael and Emily Eavis are the Guests so it will be a busy night. 

This is the Campsite we use - its next to 'VG4' { Gate D } - there is a crew road to the Old Railway track

[MrHew]

That's fantastic! Thank you 

[verrymerry]

Font of much knowledge there @Glastoworker

[chrishowe9]

Is there any chance I can get bar work? 

Chris 

[glasto-worker]

14 minutes ago, chrishowe9 said:

Is there any chance I can get bar work? 

Chris 

Not with the WBC as all the bids were sorted out months ago and the WBC will only allocate places to ' Registered Team Members '

there is lots of experienced WBC volunteers who did not get a place this year at Glastonbury.

Shelter/Avalon places have also gone but I do know they use a waiting list - 

http://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/events/volunteer_at_glastonbury

There is some other bar operators but they tend to have longer shifts and they are expected to work each day so its certainly not as good a deal as Shelter was offering.

If you leave Glastonbury out then there is work still available for certain events - it al depends on which events your interested in.

The key date for  Glastonbury work is late January early February.

[the beadle]

On 20 April 2016 at 2:40 PM, MrHew said:

Wahoo! Just had it confirmed that I've got bar work so I'm going to Glasters! 

I've been hiding from these boards cos I've been too sad to look. Think I'll be posting a lot more now  x

Nice one, there's nowt better than working at Glastonbury plenty of space to camp, private loos, some free food and you'll more than likely be near the centre of the festival, just don't invite your non-working mates back to your tent and hope your shifts aren't too long.

[leylo]

Hi I'm working with the WBC. But it's through the local gov I got my place as my wife works with em. Will we b able to work there together and the same shifts as her. And also do I have to use there transport, can I not drive down myself?? 

[glasto-worker]

2 hours ago, leylo said:

Hi I'm working with the WBC. But it's through the local gov I got my place as my wife works with em. Will we b able to work there together and the same shifts as her. And also do I have to use there transport, can I not drive down myself?? 

There will be many Teams so assuming your in the same Team then you will be working at the same time although ' if its a large Team ' then the Group Organiser may split them up 

each Team is run by one Team Leader and five volunteers - highly unlikely due to the cut backs this year but if its a split Team then all you have to do is speak to the Group  Organiser.

using your own transport is more tricky and unless you live in a very remote spot then its highly unlikely that the WBC will grant a staff parking pass.

You could try to claim you had a medical Problem but trust me the WBC will be after proof.

The WBC lays on coaches from all over the place including Scotland - they are only issued so many Crew Parking passes 

By the way even the senior WBC Council members of the WBC all travel by Coach.

There is a very good reason for this - GFL has to process people as they arrive and they double check their records using a Laptop - once verification has been made they issue a GFL Crew wrist band - easy enough to do when you have 50 on a coach - when people arrive by private car this slows the whole thing down.

Providing the crew camp stays where it is { it moves every so often } then the Coach will be allowed to get very near the Crew Camp - in 2015 there was a 90 foot walk from the coach to the camp so far closer than you could ever reach if you had a Parking pass. in 2014 there was a traffic jam onsite so the Coach was unable to reach that spot so we all had to walk about 100 yards { in Glastonbury terms a very short walk.}

leaving the site on the Monday takes place from 6am and most years the crew Coaches can leave quickly - far quicker than you could ever leave from the Crew Parking field as the Coaches have priority.

I am able to get a Crew Parking pass but we just travel on the coach as its far less of a hassle than making our own way there.

Edited May 5, 2016 by glasto-worker