Volunteering 2025

[Helsbels]

3 hours ago, philipsteak said:

 

Don't want to put you off but I would just say regarding the other festivals that shifts can impact more as the earliest you can start them is on the Thursday.

Tbh I dont think I'd mind at other festivals but good to know

[efcfanwirral]

12 hours ago, Helsbels said:

I must admit however that while I did really enjoy it, I would still prefer to have a ticket so I could go where I wanted when I wanted without having to think about being rested/sober enough for work and also due to the tiredness as I'm not spring chicken anymore.

Definitely considering doing more festivals with Oxfam next year 

I'm totally with you. I'll be making sure I do whatever it takes to get priority, which means having to do quite a lot next year, but will never stop trying for tickets too. Not yet anyway. 

[mandana]

I got back last night about 1am, after doing the post festival litter picking with Critical Waste... I am so so so, tired but this was easily one of the best things I have ever done in my life. What an experience and I really challenged myself in so many ways.

 

Went by myself, on public transport, and finally managed to get a lift back home late on Friday (partner was working fairly close to site). I had made a few contacts in my team on the CW facebook group and managed to find them on arrival.  Met so many wonderful crew and made some solid friendships along the way. 

 

I know it was only my first year, but can't really imagine doing this any other way now! 

I am going to boomtown in August and I really want to work! 

 

If you are part of the Critical Waste team - thank you so much - everyone pulled together - definitely not for the faint hearted!

 

I couldn't get this site to load very well when at the festival unfortunately, but going to catch up on the various threads. 

 

[broken monkey]

I did the post festival litter pick too, on team 3. Was a fantastic experience and I loved how quickly we turned those fields back to beautiful farmland from looking so awful just hours before. 
 

The teamwork and effort involved was so invigorating and was the perfect remedy to get rid of those post Glasto blues. 
 

Would go this route again in a heartbeat, although my partner might not be so happy to hear this as she had to stay at home and look after our 3 year old for 11days. 

[Jay Pee]

5 minutes ago, broken monkey said:

I did the post festival litter pick too, on team 3. Was a fantastic experience and I loved how quickly we turned those fields back to beautiful farmland from looking so awful just hours before. 
 

The teamwork and effort involved was so invigorating and was the perfect remedy to get rid of those post Glasto blues. 
 

Would go this route again in a heartbeat, although my partner might not be so happy to hear this as she had to stay at home and look after our 3 year old for 11days. 

Did we chat on the other channel about arrivals etc? Glad to see it all went well mate. How was the wrist banding on Wed morning? How was the overnight journey in the van?

 

So pleased to read of other people having a blast as crew.

 

See you in 2027

[broken monkey]

3 minutes ago, Jay Pee said:

Did we chat on the other channel about arrivals etc? Glad to see it all went well mate. How was the wrist banding on Wed morning? How was the overnight journey in the van?

 

So pleased to read of other people having a blast as crew.

 

See you in 2027

 

Yes, that was me. 
 

We ended up arriving on the Tuesday at 7:30pm so made it just before accreditation closed. Set up without issues in Brimley, plenty of space when we arrived. 
 

Funny story. We went to the opening ceremony dress rehearsals in the Pyramid field on Tuesday night. As we were late, was unsure of where to be and what our role was. Just walked onto the Pyramid stage and joined the Dreamweaver choir, not realising these were the pros until the conductor kicked the vocal warmups. The 3 of us quickly legged when our mistake dawned on us.
 

Can technically say we performed on the Pyramid stage now though. 😆
 

 

[Jay Pee]

4 minutes ago, broken monkey said:

 

Yes, that was me. 
 

We ended up arriving on the Tuesday at 7:30pm so made it just before accreditation closed. Set up without issues in Brimley, plenty of space when we arrived. 
 

Funny story. We went to the opening ceremony dress rehearsals in the Pyramid field on Tuesday night. As we were late, was unsure of where to be and what our role was. Just walked onto the Pyramid stage and joined the Dreamweaver choir, not realising these were the pros until the conductor kicked the vocal warmups. The 3 of us quickly legged when our mistake dawned on us.
 

Can technically say we performed on the Pyramid stage now though. 😆
 

 

Brilliant! 😊 

[amfy]

On 03/07/2025 at 06:25, philipsteak said:

 

Fair enough. I like that you threw yourself in to it but still know that it's not your preferred way in. 

The sober things isn't an issue for my, my two annual drinks didn't really impact! I do remember when I did still drink though. Yeah, it could impact on it 

Don't want to put you off but I would just say regarding the other festivals that shifts can impact more as the earliest you can start them is on the Thursday.

although I’d also say that at other festivals I have generally found the impact of the shifts to be less, as there is less walking generally (to & from shifts and during your festival time) & at most of them there is a greater chance (but no guarantee) of having a shift in amongst the action, maybe even within sight of a stage. 
 

At Beautiful Days there are some great shifts near stages but also a lot of fire towers. At Latitude we had a mixture of shifts but were near stages for all of them. At Boomtown there are a few gate shifts which are well out of the way, but loads that are right in amongst it, & there are lots of ‘roaming’ shifts which give you plenty of chance to interact with different people and check out stages here and there. I’ve had some fantastic shifts there that I have enjoyed as much as my downtime.

[philipsteak]

6 minutes ago, amfy said:

although I’d also say that at other festivals I have generally found the impact of the shifts to be less, as there is less walking generally (to & from shifts and during your festival time) & at most of them there is a greater chance (but no guarantee) of having a shift in amongst the action, maybe even within sight of a stage. 
 

At Beautiful Days there are some great shifts near stages but also a lot of fire towers. At Latitude we had a mixture of shifts but were near stages for all of them. At Boomtown there are a few gate shifts which are well out of the way, but loads that are right in amongst it, & there are lots of ‘roaming’ shifts which give you plenty of chance to interact with different people and check out stages here and there. I’ve had some fantastic shifts there that I have enjoyed as much as my downtime.

 

Both good points, although I seem to have a great knack for not getting arena/venue shifts.

Think it's about 2.5 shifts over all the non Glastonbury ones I've done. 

Honestly, it's a gift.

 

And saying about the impact, I'm fine both at Glasto and others usually at dealing with it. But I was on shift at Womad a couple of years ago with someone who had basically seen pretty much nothing cos the shifts, especially the night shift, just hit her so hard. And it's not like it's the biggest or busiest of festivals

[Helsbels]

57 minutes ago, amfy said:

although I’d also say that at other festivals I have generally found the impact of the shifts to be less, as there is less walking generally (to & from shifts and during your festival time) & at most of them there is a greater chance (but no guarantee) of having a shift in amongst the action, maybe even within sight of a stage. 
 

At Beautiful Days there are some great shifts near stages but also a lot of fire towers. At Latitude we had a mixture of shifts but were near stages for all of them. At Boomtown there are a few gate shifts which are well out of the way, but loads that are right in amongst it, & there are lots of ‘roaming’ shifts which give you plenty of chance to interact with different people and check out stages here and there. I’ve had some fantastic shifts there that I have enjoyed as much as my downtime.

Great to know...thank you!

[Helsbels]

Loved doing Oxfam this year, Oxfield, for a good cause etc (and may well continue with them next year) however Festaff has a lot more festivals up North. Bearded Theory, Kendal Calling, Beat-Herder etc which may work better for me next year. Any feedback on working for them? Also any ideas how many festivals you need to do to get Glasto 27 with them?

[tarw]

56 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

 

Both good points, although I seem to have a great knack for not getting arena/venue shifts.

Think it's about 2.5 shifts over all the non Glastonbury ones I've done. 

Honestly, it's a gift.

 

And saying about the impact, I'm fine both at Glasto and others usually at dealing with it. But I was on shift at Womad a couple of years ago with someone who had basically seen pretty much nothing cos the shifts, especially the night shift, just hit her so hard. And it's not like it's the biggest or busiest of festivals

I know that they’re not volunteers but spare a thought for the security. They do 12 on and 12 off. The one that was with us on our overnight shift on Sunday was nearly a broken woman. 
Working midnight to midday by the time she got back to her tent it was an oven. She hadn’t seen anything because by the time the music started she was shattered. 

[philipsteak]

9 minutes ago, tarw said:

I know that they’re not volunteers but spare a thought for the security. They do 12 on and 12 off. The one that was with us on our overnight shift on Sunday was nearly a broken woman. 
Working midnight to midday by the time she got back to her tent it was an oven. She hadn’t seen anything because by the time the music started she was shattered. 

 

Oh I know. 

Often more than 12 hours too. They are always getting asked to do overtime

Although 90% of security I've ever worked with have zero interest in going in to the festival. 

One lad working security with me this year went for a night out in Bath rather than go on to the festival!

Edited July 6, 2025 by philipsteak

[Helsbels]

Security guy on my Friday shift was really pissed off. Said he was heading home rather than sticking it out as they kept changing things on him

[Stave]

On 01/07/2025 at 09:30, philipsteak said:

I've had that before where a couple of my stewards told Oxfam they couldn't complete their final shift on the Sunday and they then had to leave site.

It was last minute though so no time to update the shift sheets. 

It wasn't a problem. They weren't missed, they'd been a massive pain in the arse the previous shift, moaning for pretty much the whole 8 hours. I'm not the most naturally gregarious outgoing person but I really make an effort to keep my stewards happy and motivated, especially in a night shift, but Christ they made it tough

Think we (me and the missus) were with you when this happened if it was the 2022 Fest on the Stickellball Gate...?

Yeah, they moaned like hell during the overnighter, even though on the first shift they seemed OK.

In fact, we saw them at the OxBox on the Sunday before our last shift started, deflated / broken and they said it was one of the worst experiences they had ever encountered.... obviously not for them....

I trust you are well mate 👍 

[mandana]

44 minutes ago, Helsbels said:

Security guy on my Friday shift was really pissed off. Said he was heading home rather than sticking it out as they kept changing things on him

that really sounds tough in addition to the long hours 

[efcfanwirral]

46 minutes ago, Helsbels said:

Security guy on my Friday shift was really pissed off. Said he was heading home rather than sticking it out as they kept changing things on him

Had this two years in a row now. Though this year's security were way better than last 

[philipsteak]

1 hour ago, Stave said:

Think we (me and the missus) were with you when this happened if it was the 2022 Fest on the Stickellball Gate...?

Yeah, they moaned like hell during the overnighter, even though on the first shift they seemed OK.

In fact, we saw them at the OxBox on the Sunday before our last shift started, deflated / broken and they said it was one of the worst experiences they had ever encountered.... obviously not for them....

I trust you are well mate 👍 

 

That's right, yes, I remember you now and i remember it was you guys who told me they weren't coming as it was really last minute and they were still on my shift sheet.

 

I'm fantastic thanks for asking. Missed the festival last year due to factors and good God did I miss it. But made it back this year for an all timer, possibly my favourite ever and I'm still riding the high of it. Never managed to sustain the Glastonbury high for this long after. Usually the M6 or at least first shift back knocks it out of me but not this year.

How about you guys?

[Stave]

22 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

 

That's right, yes, I remember you now and i remember it was you guys who told me they weren't coming as it was really last minute and they were still on my shift sheet.

 

I'm fantastic thanks for asking. Missed the festival last year due to factors and good God did I miss it. But made it back this year for an all timer, possibly my favourite ever and I'm still riding the high of it. Never managed to sustain the Glastonbury high for this long after. Usually the M6 or at least first shift back knocks it out of me but not this year.

How about you guys?

Glad you enjoyed it and are in a better position, health wise....

We're all good thanks, not volunteered since 2022 - been lucky with the ticket gods for the last 3.....

[philipsteak]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/155dRkTsez/

 

Dunno if it's been posted in here already but I did enjoy this. 

I do really like being a part of it

[Talcroft]

On 02/07/2025 at 22:03, Helsbels said:

 

I must admit however that while I did really enjoy it, I would still prefer to have a ticket so I could go where I wanted when I wanted 

 

Wholeheartedly agree. My fourth time on bars and while it's worth it just to get in, this year we were on a quiet bar and I just felt like I was missing so much. 

2027 will be ten years since my last one as a punter though, so I don't hold out much hope. 

 

 

[Johnnyseven]

5 hours ago, Talcroft said:

 

Wholeheartedly agree. My fourth time on bars and while it's worth it just to get in, this year we were on a quiet bar and I just felt like I was missing so much. 

2027 will be ten years since my last one as a punter though, so I don't hold out much hope. 

 

 

 

Which bar were you on? I didn't mind the work, would always favour a ticket over working, but time went by so much faster when busy so I want to avoid quieter bars if I work for Avalon again.

[Talcroft]

31 minutes ago, Johnnyseven said:

 

Which bar were you on? I didn't mind the work, would always favour a ticket over working, but time went by so much faster when busy so I want to avoid quieter bars if I work for Avalon again.

Glebe, in Theatre & Circus. It's a double edged sword - latest finish was 1am, so more opportunity to party. But realistically it's still 3x8 hours so you miss just as much and when it's quiet it's torture. Thinking of asking for Taphouse or Brewery Bar next time. 

[Johnnyseven]

1 minute ago, Talcroft said:

Glebe, in Theatre & Circus. It's a double edged sword - latest finish was 1am, so more opportunity to party. But realistically it's still 3x8 hours so you miss just as much and when it's quiet it's torture. Thinking of asking for Taphouse or Brewery Bar next time. 

 

Glade Brew Bar was ok. All cans (apart from spirit and mixer, softs and the dreaded frozen margs). Weds dragged as quiet but Fri and Sat shifts went by quickly in comparison.

[Talcroft]

@Johnnyseven I think my mate Liam does Glade every year... Although he might be Dome rather than Brew Bar. Where is the Brew Bar? There's so many bars round there! Solstice is workers' beer company and then there's like an in-house Glade bar as well - I took a photo of their t-shirts.