Volunteering 2025

[Pinhead]

Btw - this year will be my 27th year of posting on eFests (since 1998).

 

So pleased it's still going strong. Still a great place for the true Glasto vibe and lead up anticipation for the festival. Hope I'm still posting in another 20 years (even if I'm too old to actually make it there).

[Aragorn]

Wow, think I've been on since 2002

[marathonsteve]

2 hours ago, Pinhead said:

Btw - this year will be my 27th year of posting on eFests (since 1998).

 

So pleased it's still going strong. Still a great place for the true Glasto vibe and lead up anticipation for the festival. Hope I'm still posting in another 20 years (even if I'm too old to actually make it there).

NEIL done good then

[philipsteak]

5 hours ago, stuie said:

 

The coffee is amongst the worst things I've ever had the pleasure of tasting!  Not even being a coffee snob, it's just rank!  I always take my own sachets... and personal spoon 🙂 

 

I am a coffee snob (take fresh beans and a hand grinder) but I wouldn't even class that stuff as coffee. It's a absolute filth. 

 

I do use the hot water though. If there's no queue it's usually quicker than boiling it in my van. 

Or what I'll often do if I remember is stick some in a flask on the way home at night then it's still pretty hot next morning so didn't take as long to boil

[SPW]

Give this talk of all the experience on here, as am volunteering this year instead of being a normal punter I would welcome any key survival tips.  Started going through my camping stuff today and thought I'd indulge in a couple of extra comforts given it's a long trek from the car (e.g. taking my camp bed which just about fits in my F&B tent and a cple of other camping bits). But a bit conscious of wheeling my wee trolley in and looking a bit of a noddy all kitted up, but equally figure 7 nts for an oldish git like me warrants at least a wee bit more comfort than 5 nts with no shifts.

Edited June 14, 2025 by SPW

[incident]

47 minutes ago, SPW said:

But a bit conscious of wheeling my wee trolley in and looking a bit of a noddy all kitted up

 

Yeah, don't worry about that. There'll always be someone who's brought everything they could possibly think of and then some more.

[SPW]

*given it's not a long trek from the car is what I meant to type!

[rottencrotch]

52 minutes ago, SPW said:

Give this talk of all the experience on here, as am volunteering this year instead of being a normal punter I would welcome any key survival tips.  Started going through my camping stuff today and thought I'd indulge in a couple of extra comforts given it's a long trek from the car (e.g. taking my camp bed which just about fits in my F&B tent and a cple of other camping bits). But a bit conscious of wheeling my wee trolley in and looking a bit of a noddy all kitted up, but equally figure 7 nts for an oldish git like me warrants at least a wee bit more comfort than 5 nts with no shifts.

I’ve been volunteering onsite since 2009 and every year I take more comforts! Our crew have some pretty elaborate set ups - I personally have a duvet/pillow/bedsheet plus decent camp bed. If you have your car fill it and do multiple trips, it’s truly one of the best benefits (alongside crew bars, early access etc). Have the best time! 

[Pinhead]

4 hours ago, Aragorn said:

Wow, think I've been on since 2002

My account says 2002, however that's cos it was reset to then after the site was rebuilt that year and we all had to re-register. The original, then official site, was quite different before. It had a hierarchical tree type arrangement for chat.

Edited June 14, 2025 by Pinhead

[SPW]

11 hours ago, rottencrotch said:

I’ve been volunteering onsite since 2009 and every year I take more comforts! Our crew have some pretty elaborate set ups - I personally have a duvet/pillow/bedsheet plus decent camp bed. If you have your car fill it and do multiple trips, it’s truly one of the best benefits (alongside crew bars, early access etc). Have the best time! 

Many thanks, my impatience and intrinsic laziness generally leads me to wanting to do one trip only but can fetch some more clobber when returning my barrow to the car and will heed this advice when packing next weekend (and not be too self conscious!).  

Edited June 15, 2025 by SPW

[kerplunk]

3 hours ago, SPW said:

Many thanks, my impatience and intrinsic laziness generally leads me to wanting to do one trip only but can fetch some more clobber when returning my barrow to the car and will heed this advice when packing next weekend (and not be too self conscious!).  

 

I was camped next to a huge bell tent with gazebos and tables etc in oxfield last year so I think you'll need to up your game considerably to stand out 😉

[Helsbels]

First time camping in the Oxfield this year. Started packing as got a busy week ahead. Should I be bringing a camping chair or not bothering?

[incident]

1 minute ago, Helsbels said:

First time camping in the Oxfield this year. Started packing as got a busy week ahead. Should I be bringing a camping chair or not bothering?

 

I'd probably say - if you're driving, and if you already have a camping chair, then absolutely bring it.

 

Probably not worth making a special purchase and/or if you're having the pack light. There should be chairs in and around the marquee anyway if you need a sit down.

[balti-pie]

Chairs are great if you have a porch on your tent; somewhere to keep your rainwear, take off/put on hiking boots, somewhere to sit and have a cup of tea, it’s a useful thing. If I didn’t have a porch I’d probs not bother though, cos I don’t take it onsite with me 

[Helsbels]

28 minutes ago, incident said:

 

I'd probably say - if you're driving, and if you already have a camping chair, then absolutely bring it.

 

Probably not worth making a special purchase and/or if you're having the pack light. There should be chairs in and around the marquee anyway if you need a sit down.

Thanks, think I'll leave it.  Im coming solo by train/coach with my pop up fresh and black so will leave the chair at home I reckon

[cp89]

I officially have a place on the recycling crew!

 

Can't believe it, less than a week ago I was resigned to not going this year and this time next week I'll be on site!

[Pinhead]

Is the earlies selection process truly random or do they gravitate towards experienced returning stewards to some extent?

[balti-pie]

5 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

Is the earlies selection process truly random or do they gravitate towards experienced returning stewards to some extent?

it definitely seems random. I got it on my second year of volunteering, I’ve heard of some people not getting them for ten years of applying, and I’ve heard of some people getting it on their first go as well. I’d have thought there’s some benefit to getting first timers there when it’s quieter and more stable, without 150k ticket holders all over the shop - but then I like the more experienced volunteers getting the festival days off too! It’s good, getting earlies, but it’s a really long time in a tent. Make sure your bed/sleeping setup is as good as you can get it, with proper pillows and double mattresses etc. you’ll be needing the comfort! 

[Someoni]

27 minutes ago, cp89 said:

I officially have a place on the recycling crew!

 

Can't believe it, less than a week ago I was resigned to not going this year and this time next week I'll be on site!

I adore reading these posts of the super late success stories

[Pinhead]

47 minutes ago, balti-pie said:

it definitely seems random. I got it on my second year of volunteering, I’ve heard of some people not getting them for ten years of applying, and I’ve heard of some people getting it on their first go as well. I’d have thought there’s some benefit to getting first timers there when it’s quieter and more stable, without 150k ticket holders all over the shop - but then I like the more experienced volunteers getting the festival days off too! It’s good, getting earlies, but it’s a really long time in a tent. Make sure your bed/sleeping setup is as good as you can get it, with proper pillows and double mattresses etc. you’ll be needing the comfort! 

Heh, yeah 9 days in a tent at Glasto will be a record for me! I would have thought early shifts a bit tougher if anything though as you're dealing with more complex situations involving crew, stand up infrastructure build teams, misc other staff all with their own ideas of what they've been able to do for years without some steward making it difficult for them on a vehicle gate etc.

[philipsteak]

58 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

Is the earlies selection process truly random or do they gravitate towards experienced returning stewards to some extent?

 

I think it's fairly random with caveats. 

I reckon it helps being solo or a couple. 

And whilst experienced long termers do get them i do think sometimes it can count against you. We've basically given up on ever getting them (and have been unofficially told it's pretty unlikely) as we are a group of 6 with tonnes of experience. We are all either a Team Leader or supervisor

 

[philipsteak]

7 minutes ago, Pinhead said:

Heh, yeah 9 days in a tent at Glasto will be a record for me! I would have thought early shifts a bit tougher if anything though as you're dealing with more complex situations involving crew, stand up infrastructure build teams, misc other staff all with their own ideas of what they've been able to do for years without some steward making it difficult for them on a vehicle gate etc.

 

It could be, or it could be 3 night shifts on a closed gate. Which is possibly tougher

[Pinhead]

I have only ever, in 20 years of working for Oxfam, been given them. And that was last year at Bearded, which actually only meant 1 shift before opening (the other 2 after customers arrive). This is a first then for all intents and all the more surprising at Glasto, which I confess I haven't stewarded since 2011.

[Pinhead]

11 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

 

It could be, or it could be 3 night shifts on a closed gate. Which is possibly tougher

Not too bothered by the solitude. Aggressive crew are another matter. At Boomtown one year I was doing the main gate into the Downtown in the AM after it had finished and the take down crew got so f**ked off with the rule about driving round to get to the main stage that they literally rammed us out of the way with their truck...

[stuie]

1 hour ago, philipsteak said:

It could be, or it could be 3 night shifts on a closed gate. Which is possibly tougher

 

That sounds terrible... I don't think I'd survive that.  It's all about the people for me, helping and chatting to happy randoms is what makes the shifts whiz by.