event work what to expect

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fogant

Full Registered User
this summer will be the first summer doing event work dont have a clue what to expect or to bring i do no that some places pay for you to get to the event some dont but on the face of it all if anyone has done it or dose it every summer some advise on what to bring i'd appreciate it
 
Clothes for all seasons. Night shift in summer gets very cold, sunny days can get very hot. Bring suncream, sun glasses, basic first aid kit including stuff for minor ailments such as sore throats, headaches, diarrhoea etc. Decent tent and sleeping bag, not cheapy "festival deals" type but not the top range either. Good boots and gators, wellies. You'll need a roll mat or camp bed, air beds are not good as they get very cold although Highlander do a Backpacker airbed which is good. Daysack that holds all you need for a 12 hour shift.

Find out if you're getting fed and if so how much its costing. But even if you are getting food its best to take some snacks of your own.

Please bear in mind that you are working at the event, you're not there to see it. You might be nowhere near the action in a thoroughly boring position.

http://www.closeprotectionworld.com/door-supervision-forum/14385-working-festivals.html
This is a thread from a few yrars back that should have some helpful hints.
 
long shitty shifts, wet and uncomfortable nights.... crap pay and no sleep at all!

that's event work in a nutshell!!

however make sure to bring:

wet wipes
earplugs
pillow
water carrier (camelbak)
plenty of easy too cook high caloric food (and always have breakfast no matter what its like or if your hungry or not)

ohh and you'll most likely have a drink in the evening with the lads you work with.. so don't over do it! i speak from experience here and a 16hour shift is awful with a hang over!!

apart from that expect absolute hell! but if its your thing and you like it (i do) then you'll possibly have the best summer you've ever had!
 
Long hours, low pay, poor management and dealing with the great un-washed! BUT, its a great experience and you will meet some good contacts for future work (likewise there will be a fair share of choppers who think they are super duper police men or something)

Echo LW's points above.

Above all, be flexible, and enjoy.
 
axelfer said:
long shitty shifts, wet and uncomfortable nights.... crap pay and no sleep at all!

that's event work in a nutshell!!

however make sure to bring:

wet wipes
earplugs
pillow
water carrier (camelbak)
plenty of easy too cook high caloric food (and always have breakfast no matter what its like or if your hungry or not)

ohh and you'll most likely have a drink in the evening with the lads you work with.. so don't over do it! i speak from experience here and a 16hour shift is awful with a hang over!!

apart from that expect absolute hell! but if its your thing and you like it (i do) then you'll possibly have the best summer you've ever had!
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Pillow!!! Sod that, roll up your fleece. You're going to have a fair bit to carry so think carefully about everything you take. Its getting that fine balance between comfort and carrying lots of stuff.
 
ohh pillow is a necessity for me!! can't beat homely comforts when sleeping in a field... think they may call it glam-ping.

and a little tip on buying tents! try and get ex display tents they normally do a cheeky 30% discount on them, just bought a £140 tent for £70 yesterday by having a little flirt with the sales advisor! ;)
 
for daft little bits and pieces like your old tin mug for tea and a plate and matches that strike in any weather go to a 99p store they have a tonne of crap in these days for camping, and wilkinsons too cheap and cheerful but once you spend your money on a good teny and sleeping bag its nice to get the silly bits cheap and replaceable, and if you are doing it next year soon as kids go back to school in september hit the camping stores etc and buy it half price.... wilkinsons even sell your camping stoves for about £20, was in yesterday buying seeds for garden and their camping section is quite extensive now and cheap too
 
Be kind to your feet mate. Good boots well run in, quality socks, blister plasters etc. The other things I can think of are a good sense of humor and bad sense of smell.

Scott
 
99p store in the north, that s a discount pound shop for all you rich southerners.
Good advice on all the posts. Done a couple of festivals as a volunteer first aider which was great as we next to stages all the time.
Phil
 
All very good advice, especially not being there to watch the show/acts.
I've seen guys dancing with the crowds, singing along to the band. Brains not in gear, eyes in the wrong place.
The crowds will try to get you to dance, laugh along, drink or just be one of them but you aren't.
You are there to watch over them and the venue, to save themselves and the others from their excesses and to be professional.
You can be nice and friendly but you can't be one of them because when or if the time comes to snap into security mode they take it badly and your authority has gone. Also, if anything did happen and you'd been 'enjoying' yourself, partying on down or whatever it is the young people say these days,who gets the blame and probably the bill? You and the company you used to work for....
Enjoy yourself within the limitations of your role which is one of great responsibility.
 
Phil576 said:
99p store in the north, that s a discount pound shop for all you rich southerners.
Good advice on all the posts. Done a couple of festivals as a volunteer first aider which was great as we next to stages all the time.
Phil
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here in the arse end of london we have.....a 89p store! and just round the corner a 79p store!
 
Oddjob said:
Lasts years tents, that you picked up at the end of the event when they were abandoned.
Loads of them usually.

Double skin.
Coleman Instant 4 Tourer Pop Up 4 Person Tent : Tooled-Up.com

Saw this and thought it not a bad idea to pack everything away and pop it back in the car.
Bring it out at the end of each day.
1 minute erection (quicker with viagra)
can't be bad.
Click to expand...

looking at that link OJ that looks like a good investment for the price cheers mate

cheers ed
 
fogant said:
this summer will be the first summer doing event work dont have a clue what to expect or to bring i do no that some places pay for you to get to the event some dont but on the face of it all if anyone has done it or dose it every summer some advise on what to bring i'd appreciate it
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hey forgant all the best mate nice to see you pushing yourself forward site work now event work good to see all the best mate

also mate update your profile you now have work exp keep it going
cheers ed
 
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But what ever you do refuse to work in the pit unless you are pit trained, two years ago at the big chill I was running a response team and lo and behold the pit team lost the stage, we ran to help. Result one guy with broken arm one with busted knee and i was crushed under the crowd, luckily one of my guys saw me go under and dragged me out> If you are careful you should have a good festival, however you may end up working with a bunch of complete tossers who talk the talk but are utterly useless in a crisis. Watch learn listen

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