Festival Advice

Never been to a festival before? Here are some useful tips that you might not have thought about!

Mobile phones & charging
Leave your posh phones at home, you do not want to lose an iPhone that cost you a lot of money when you can take a cheap mobile phone, a cheap camera and save the worry.

Festaff will provide somewhere to plug in phone chargers for staff. Please be aware that you must stay with your phone whilst it is on charge as it will be a communal area. Festaff accepts no responsibility for any lost/stolen/damaged mobile phones.

A battery pack booster for your phone could save you if you run out of juice; you can pick one up online or from your local phone shop for around £10 these days.

If you can’t get a signal on your mobile phone, try switching off 3G and only using 2G. This uses up less data, makes signal easier to find and can also save you battery.
Clothing
Make sure you take just enough clothes. Don’t overdo it or you’ll have extra weight to carry, underdo it and you risk running out.
Take plenty of socks, extra if you need. Dry socks can make your day if it rains.
No matter how muddy you get, make sure to save one full clean set of clothes for when you head home. It’s amazing how much better you feel on the Monday after a big weekend just by having a fresh change before you set off (plus you get less funny looks at the train station when you take away the mud factor!).
Just because it is summer does not mean that it will be warm at night, make sure you have some warm clothing.
A lightweight waterproof jacket & trousers will make you immune to the elements, a poncho is a cheaper alternative if you don’t have, but not as effective and you can end up just as wet due to the sweat they create.

Good walking shoes will make the rugged terrain easy. Take wellies as backup and you won’t need any other footwear. Sandals and flip-flops are no good, closed-toed shoes only, for your safety as much as for happy feet.

Fancy dress is great for when you're not on duty and most festivals encourage you to get as creative as you can, but please remember to dress appropriately for your shift. Onesies and tutus etc are no good and your supervisors will ask you to change.
Food
When deciding what food to take, please only remember to take what you need, taking too much will only mean more trips to the car. Please don’t be wasteful as there is already enough leftover at the end of the events as it is!
We understand that a lot of people are trying to save money when volunteering at festivals, but if you can afford to buy food – do! There are some fantastic local offerings at these events and great food can be found. It is also worth saying that you don’t want to miss that act you wanted to see, just because you had to walk back to campsite to make something to eat!

Please refer to each events individual website for details about barbecues and cooking appliances that are allowed or forbidden on each site. These differ from festival to festival, and we are governed by their rules on site.

Campsites
Choose your camping plot wisely, not too close to or down hill from the toilets, not in a ditch where rainwater can collect, not on rough ground – pick the best spot you can and it could save you lots of hassle later.

Take a folding chair with you, it can be a lifesaver after a long day when you want to relax back at the campsite – especially if there’s been a little rain.

Nowadays people find it more and more necessary to create little shantytowns out of their campsites with gazebos, ropes, windbreaks & the like. Don’t do this. It makes it difficult for people to navigate the campsite at night and can take up lots of unnecessary space. Flags and gazebos are not allowed under most festival rules & guidelines anyway.
Health and hygiene
Take a small kit containing things like aspirin, plasters, anti bacterial wipes and keep it with you. Neglecting to take these things could upset your weekend and ruin your fun.
IMPORTANT: If you or someone you know is unwell or needs medical attention whilst at the event, speak to your supervisor or see your nearest security steward for help from the on site medical team ASAP.

Don’t skimp on your sun cream! Too much exposure to the sun can get to the best of us. Make sure you use plenty and avoid getting burnt or worse! Wearing a sunhat is also a good idea.

As staff you get free access to showers on site, make use of these and you’ll enjoy your weekend more. It has almost become trendy these days to rock the ‘festival weathered’ look, this may be so but a good shower will make you feel great! Make sure you check what times they’re open once you arrive.
Sleeping
It’s not something to be ashamed of if you just want a decent nights sleep at a music festival, especially if you have a shift to go to in the morning! Getting yourself a pair of earplugs and an eye mask could help you get the sleep you need to work hard and play hard.

Money
Only take the money you need with you, don’t carry large sums of money on you. Mnay events are now cash free. Most festivals have cash machines at them now, if not, nearby at least. You may have to pay a small charge to use them but if you lose your wallet with £20 in it you’ll be a lot less disappointed than you would be if you had lost £200!

The above extends to all valuables. Just don’t bring them. Jewellery, posh phones/cameras etc – if it cost you lots in the first place, it’ll cost you lots to replace.

Take a zip up money belt / bum-bag with you, it will keep anything you don’t want to lose safely strapped round your waist.

Water
Drink plenty of it! A festival is a party and people go there to do just that, but it is important to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water at all times.

When you are packing, pack a collapsible water bag or large empty water bottle. You can fill this up at the festival and save yourself the trouble of carrying something else that would be very heavy. The campsites have drinking water taps for you to fill up from.

Tents
Test out your tent before you make your way. Make sure you know how to put it up, and that it is complete with pegs, poles, canvas etc. You don’t want to be the one looking silly!

Don’t put a padlock on your tent thinking that it will deter any opportunistic thieves in the area, it screams “I have valuables in my tent”. Just leave anything of value at home.

Take a roll of duct tape and some cable ties with you. If you get a leaky tent or need a quick fix, these two items can usually provide a quick fix – especially if someone takes an accidental tumble onto one of your tent poles.

Orientation
As staff you will be given a site walk around so you get your bearings and can pass this information on to others. Take note of this information and make sure you use landmarks – remember, at night it can all look very different! Make sure you don’t get lost.

Post festival blues
Beat the post festival blues by checking out all the highlights when you get home, see the festival website and you’ll be sure to find footage of all your favourite acts from the weekend there for you to relive. Record or Sky+ the TV coverage before you go and you’ve got it ready when you get home. The best way to beat the post festival blues… is by applying to more! You’ve got the bug, get onto the website and apply for as many as you like!