WBC typical shifts

[Glasto2019worker]

Hi

I did not manage to get a ticket in the resale however managed to secure a ticket for the festival through WBC. Having read a lot on here I couldn't see what a shift pattern looks like.

I know I will miss acts but it is my first glastonbury regardless. I am going down on tuesday AM  but just wondered how many shifts will I be working and anyone who has done it recently know what a typical shift pattern might be like.

Does anyone also know are tickets posted in advance? I am making my own way down there.

Regardless am looking forward to the festival, is there a staff party on the Tuesday? I am going on my own although few mates got tickets.

Edited June 2, 2019 by Glasto2019worker
Missed sentence

[sedra]

Calling @glasto-worker ! He will be able to answer your queries. 

[Mark E. Spliff]

This year, for the first time, WBC will announce your shifts and which bar you're on in the week before the festival, so you'll probably find out some time around 20th June.  They should have your email address, so presumably that's how they're going to tell us.  It's difficult to say what a typical shift is because it's been a bit variable over the years, and also varies according to which bar you're on - some bars stay open later than others.  The basic details are that you'll be working 6 hours per day, Thursday to Sunday, with a few teams also working Wednesday.  The shifts will be weighted towards late, and the following isn't untypical - 1 early (11am - 5pm) 2 late (6pm - midnight) 1 mid (2pm - 8pm.)

As for getting in - if you've been issued with a car pass (supposedly being issued any day now) you drive to 'Orange Gate' (shown on a map on the back of the car pass) and the stewards will direct you to the staff parking, where you'll park up and walk to Pedestrian Gate D - which can be up to a 15 minute hike depending on where you get parked.  Last year, they also posted me a ticket, but in previous years you had to phone up a number when you arrived at Ped Gate D and someone would come out with your wristband - which often involved a very long wait.  You'll then all walk through Gate D to our campsite (not far) set your tent up and queue up in the staffing tent to sign a few bits of paper and get your meal vouchers and ID card etc.

If you're arriving by taxi, or whatever, you'll probably have to walk from Orange gate to Pedestrian Gate D, which is a fair old hike.

No staff party as such on Tuesday.  Our campsite bar will open later on in the day, and there are a few bars open on the site (including the WBC's 'Bread and Roses' bar, which is a bit of a focal point on Tuesday) but I prefer to get out and about and explore the site before the public arrive.   On Tuesday, you'll be able to get into most of the crew bars, of which there are many, and I've managed to get into loads of backstage areas, which requires a bit of blagging.

Edited June 2, 2019 by Mark E. Spliff

[Glasto2019worker]

1 hour ago, Mark E. Spliff said:

This year, for the first time, WBC will announce your shifts and which bar you're on in the week before the festival, so you'll probably find out some time around 20th June.  They should have your email address, so presumably that's how they're going to tell us.  It's difficult to say what a typical shift is because it's been a bit variable over the years, and also varies according to which bar you're on - some bars stay open later than others.  The basic details are that you'll be working 6 hours per day, Thursday to Sunday, with a few teams also working Wednesday.  The shifts will be weighted towards late, and the following isn't untypical - 1 early (11am - 5pm) 2 late (6pm - midnight) 1 mid (2pm - 8pm.)

As for getting in - if you've been issued with a car pass (supposedly being issued any day now) you drive to 'Orange Gate' (shown on a map on the back of the car pass) and the stewards will direct you to the staff parking, where you'll park up and walk to Pedestrian Gate D - which can be up to a 15 minute hike depending on where you get parked.  Last year, they also posted me a ticket, but in previous years you had to phone up a number when you arrived at Ped Gate D and someone would come out with your wristband - which often involved a very long wait.  You'll then all walk through Gate D to our campsite (not far) set your tent up and queue up in the staffing tent to sign a few bits of paper and get your meal vouchers and ID card etc.

If you're arriving by taxi, or whatever, you'll probably have to walk from Orange gate to Pedestrian Gate D, which is a fair old hike.

No staff party as such on Tuesday.  Our campsite bar will open later on in the day, and there are a few bars open on the site (including the WBC's 'Bread and Roses' bar, which is a bit of a focal point on Tuesday) but I prefer to get out and about and explore the site before the public arrive.   On Tuesday, you'll be able to get into most of the crew bars, of which there are many, and I've managed to get into loads of backstage areas, which requires a bit of blagging.

This is the information which is great to hear. As a first timer I did not want to bombard the team leader with loads of questions etc.

 

The shifts do not sound too bad if they are like that still plenty of time to enjoy the festival! 

 

With regards to transport I am getting a coach from brighton ran by the BigLemon (https://thebiglemon.com/glastonbury/) my eta is 2pm I believe and they are able to drop me at the gate and will have to go from there.

Now just to start buying the essentials safe to say I am looking forward to it and have read a lot of positive things about being a volunteer rather than a punter.

[glasto-worker]

1 hour ago, Glasto2019worker said:

Hi

I did not manage to get a ticket in the resale however managed to secure a ticket for the festival through WBC. Having read a lot on here I couldn't see what a shift pattern looks like.

I know I will miss acts but it is my first glastonbury regardless. I am going down on tuesday AM  but just wondered how many shifts will I be working and anyone who has done it recently know what a typical shift pattern might be like.

Does anyone also know are tickets posted in advance? I am making my own way down there.

Regardless am looking forward to the festival, is there a staff party on the Tuesday? I am going on my own although few mates got tickets.

 

1 hour ago, sedra said:

Calling @glasto-worker ! He will be able to answer your queries. 

@Mark E. Spliff has covered most of it but it all depends how they plan to do it.

This is the first year where they claim they will be sending out shifts in advance but as its new I suspect that it may not go as planned ' for everyone '

its roughly 6 hour shifts but depending which bar you are in it could be longer than that and there may or may not be a day off.

it is so variable that its pointless worrying about it now.You will either find out by e-mail or when you get onsite.

If you don't have a parking pass - ' and you have let the WBC know ' just follow the instructions as to how to enter - there may or may not be a Portakabin but ' this moves about each year ' - it will be in the instructions.

As I work in the crew bar the two busy nights are Tuesday and Sunday - Tuesday it will be open until 3am but Sunday we try to keep it running till morning - depending how we feel.

Please note ' the image shows where the WBC camp was in 2017 ' - the info they send may update you about this { There has been 6 separate camps since I started in 1988 }

Best plan is to find out when your Group Organiser or Team leader is due to arrive ' and arrive after them ' - that way you have contact with someone already in the camp as they may be able to get things done quicker than you could get them done yourself.

trust me its a right pain in the arse getting into Glastonbury so you need to follow the instructions - if they don't send any contact Eilin Casey [email protected] do mention your WBC Group name.
 

[Glasto2019worker]

45 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

 

@Mark E. Spliff has covered most of it but it all depends how they plan to do it.

This is the first year where they claim they will be sending out shifts in advance but as its new I suspect that it may not go as planned ' for everyone '

its roughly 6 hour shifts but depending which bar you are in it could be longer than that and there may or may not be a day off.

it is so variable that its pointless worrying about it now.You will either find out by e-mail or when you get onsite.

If you don't have a parking pass - ' and you have let the WBC know ' just follow the instructions as to how to enter - there may or may not be a Portakabin but ' this moves about each year ' - it will be in the instructions.

As I work in the crew bar the two busy nights are Tuesday and Sunday - Tuesday it will be open until 3am but Sunday we try to keep it running till morning - depending how we feel.

Please note ' the image shows where the WBC camp was in 2017 ' - the info they send may update you about this { There has been 6 separate camps since I started in 1988 }

Best plan is to find out when your Group Organiser or Team leader is due to arrive ' and arrive after them ' - that way you have contact with someone already in the camp as they may be able to get things done quicker than you could get them done yourself.

trust me its a right pain in the arse getting into Glastonbury so you need to follow the instructions - if they don't send any contact Eilin Casey [email protected] do mention your WBC Group name.
 

This was all very insightful and very helpful. I know the wbc faq's said red gate gate so will arrange with the biglemon to get that done. 

Fingers crossed for shifts a week before so can work out a schedule but either way really excited to go and look forward to the whole experience.