Who puts the wristbands on the famous?

[Ayrshire Chris]

Always wondered who has the privilege to wristband the artists and the bands. Is there an elite specially selected squad of Oxfam volunteers who’ve been vetted and granted this great honour? Imagine  the selfies you could get😊

Edited June 2, 2023 by Ayrshire Chris

[Skip997]

I'm guessing it'll be done on their bus or helicopter etc and not have anything to do with Oxfam volunteers

[Mark E. Spliff]

The main headliners will have whatever arrangements they want, with their skivvies sorting out stuff like that.  But in the main, artists will arrive at the area where they're playing where there'll be an 'accreditation' cabin where them and their entourage will get given their allocation of wristbands. It's all very low key, as the accreditation and artist liaison guys often haven't got a clue who the artists are - so friendly and efficient, but no rock star treatment.

(For the one area I've worked at, the accreditation cabin was inside the fence, so presumably they either have wristbands posted to them in advance, or they have some sort of paperwork which will get them through the gate to the cabin.)

Edited June 2, 2023 by Mark E. Spliff

[Pinhead]

Yes I remember having to tell some lower key artists coming in the normal gates that their area manager will wristband them in the area they're playing in or working in.

[Skip997]

13 minutes ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

 Imagine  the selfies you could get😊

Would you get a selfie if you met one of artists or band members?

I've met a few in backstage bars and had conversations with them, just like you would with a mate in a pub.

Asking for a selfie would have felt weird.

The thought never entered my head.

[Pinhead]

I never bother tbh since it kind of feels cliche to me and prob to them so just bank the memory.

[rubenz]

Does big Mike E need a wristband I wonder or do the denim shorts and beard provide proof of access to all areas?

[Mark E. Spliff]

It's common for artists to spend their off-stage time in their dressing room on their phone/laptop, so you leave them to it. But others are bored out of their skulls and are glad of a bit of company.  If you're doing artist liaison, you could easily get a tonne of photos with the various artists, but you're usually busy sorting out transport problems or fending off people trying to get extra booze out of the rider store.  Souvenirs aren't a problem anyway - you usually end up with their phone numbers (they have to give a contact number so the stage can get hold of them), their set lists and half of their possessions which they usually leave behind at the end.

[Yeo-vile idiot]

5 minutes ago, rubenz said:

Does big Mike E need a wristband I wonder or do the denim shorts and beard provide proof of access to all areas?

There is a story about him being stopped going through vehicle gate( I think)  up near his house a few year back 

[Avalon_Fields]

So, would be interested on how it all works. I presume the performer's agent/manager have to give names for the entire entourage, the band, the friends and family, etc. So does even Elton get told you can only have a certain number of people?

Prompted to ask, as I work a small festival. It was chaos one year as Inspiral Carpets were given 20 passes but they'd refused to provide names. So we started giving out wristbands to those who claimed to be girlfriends, wives, family, the band, etc. Of course it got completely out of control as we reached the 20 limit when 'real' wives and girlfriends appeared.

[Mark E. Spliff]

14 minutes ago, Avalon_Fields said:

So, would be interested on how it all works. I presume the performer's agent/manager have to give names for the entire entourage, the band, the friends and family, etc. So does even Elton get told you can only have a certain number of people?

Prompted to ask, as I work a small festival. It was chaos one year as Inspiral Carpets were given 20 passes but they'd refused to provide names. So we started giving out wristbands to those who claimed to be girlfriends, wives, family, the band, etc. Of course it got completely out of control as we reached the 20 limit when 'real' wives and girlfriends appeared.

I've never done accreditation, but the friend who got my artist liaison job does it for one of the main areas at Glastonbury. He's had exactly the same thing happen to him, ie the artists showed up demanding their wrist bands when their allocation had already been taken by their 'entourage.' So definitely some areas of Glastonbury have weak accreditation procedures, e.g. names aren't required, or no requirement for ID to prove people are that named person.  But it will be different for each area - it's up to them how they manage the artists' wristbands they've been given.

[gazzared]

1 hour ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

Always wondered who has the privilege to wristband the artists and the bands. Is there an elite specially selected squad of Oxfam volunteers who’ve been vetted and granted this great honour? Imagine  the selfies you could get😊

I scanned out Steve Davis, Idris Elba and Emilia Clarke on a Saturday night shift at worthy view....I only recognised Steve ..it was only when the youngens who I was working with told me who the others were 🤣 I just got lucky that I had the out scanner at the time

[balti-pie]

I was working the SE corner vehicle gate in 2019, with a side gate to an artists and staff camping bit with loads of caravans, and an accreditation unit etc - I scanned a few people of varying fames; Bez, Keith Allen, Denise Van Outen, Lizzo (I only realised it was her on the Monday after the festival, had no idea who she was beforehand but she was lovely) and perhaps most importantly to me, Gojira - who were all wearing black jeans and jackets on the world’s hottest day, and still managed to look cool somehow 🤣 

[Cooter]

1 hour ago, rubenz said:

Does big Mike E need a wristband I wonder or do the denim shorts and beard provide proof of access to all areas?

The last time I bumped into him was a couple of years ago and yes he did have a couple of wristbands on.

[k8yphillips]

Not wristbanding as such… but we were stewards for Oxfam last year  on the main vehicle gate where all the artists come in and out…! Scanned a fair few going out.

Edited June 2, 2023 by k8yphillips

[Neil]

1 hour ago, Avalon_Fields said:

So does even Elton get told you can only have a certain number of people?

yes.

[fat_man_joe]

I don't have the answer. But I worked on the backstage gate to the acoustic tent in like 2011 or something and I did have to check the wristbands of everyone who came through, including Mr Eavis once!

It was quite laid back – jeeps would roll through and everyone would vaguely show their wrist. If you wanted to sneak in hidden in a car you could do so very easily. (Obviously you'd need entrance to the site first.)

[dotdash79]

Wristbands of the rich and the famous
They're always complainin'
Always complainin'
If bandin is such a problem
Well they got mansions
Think we should rob them

[philipsteak]

I worked the vehicle gate the artists largely come through in 2009 (VG5?). As Mark says above the headliners and other big names didn't really deal with the likes of us, they were essentially met outside and escorted through. Although the guy with the clicker would jump on the bus to count numbers. Unless they were REALLY big names in which case he'd be told how many to click.                                                                                                                                                           

All the rest got told to go to their stage/area where they'd get accreditation

[rosieangel]

When I did wristbanding the first year I went (2013) my friend and I were randomly picked to go to one of the neighbouring farms where lots of VIPs stay on winnebagos - not the acts themselves but various celebs and bigwigs. For our 6 hour shift on the thursday only about 2 or 3 people arrived and the owner just gave us drinks of pimmms whilst we waited - was pretty sweet, though i was sad not to wristband (EPO bands, nothing more special than that) anyone i recognised!

[nateymac]

I’m attending this year as the guest of one of the major Pyramid stage artists and I have no idea about the arrangements so any advice would be appreciated! Is there a special camping area for artists’ guests and does it have showers??

[amfy]

Oxfam briefings do tell the story of Michael Eavis not being allowed through and also that he was very impressed with the diligence of the stewards. He liked that his face didn’t get him in because it gave him confidence that no one was getting by with a ‘Don’t you know who I am?’

I’ve never seen anyone famous on my gates at Glastonbury (LOADS at Latitude) but I have a younger friend who was gutted that his shift clashed with Sleaford Mods. On shift he strolled up to scan wristbands on a dark windowed car rolling through, and as the windows wound down - who should it be but Sleaford Mods! He said he was a bit stunned and just said ‘You’re The Sleaford Mods!’ Then pulled himself together a bit and told them he was gutted to be working while they were on and wished them a good set. Absolutely made his festival.

[Johnnyseven]

On 6/2/2023 at 6:16 PM, Ayrshire Chris said:

Always wondered who has the privilege to wristband the artists and the bands. Is there an elite specially selected squad of Oxfam volunteers who’ve been vetted and granted this great honour? Imagine  the selfies you could get😊

Festaff do wristbanding not Oxfam.

[CaledonianGonzo]

On 6/10/2023 at 10:38 AM, nateymac said:

I’m attending this year as the guest of one of the major Pyramid stage artists 

Bernie Taupin?

[March Hare]

On 6/10/2023 at 10:52 AM, amfy said:

Oxfam briefings do tell the story of Michael Eavis not being allowed through and also that he was very impressed with the diligence of the stewards. He liked that his face didn’t get him in because it gave him confidence that no one was getting by with a ‘Don’t you know who I am?’

I’ve never seen anyone famous on my gates at Glastonbury (LOADS at Latitude) but I have a younger friend who was gutted that his shift clashed with Sleaford Mods. On shift he strolled up to scan wristbands on a dark windowed car rolling through, and as the windows wound down - who should it be but Sleaford Mods! He said he was a bit stunned and just said ‘You’re The Sleaford Mods!’ Then pulled himself together a bit and told them he was gutted to be working while they were on and wished them a good set. Absolutely made his festival.

My mate and I stopped him at VG7 because you have to scan everyone in and out.  He was a gent, got scanned like everyone else.  No fuss, happy it was happening. Made small talk and off he went (pic below).