#pennfest volunteering events festivals experience

[laurenrobinsonlme-blog]

Pennfest...4/6

July 21st/22nd - Penn

The time had come around for the 4th festival of the summer, one this time which I would be half working and then get to enjoy the rest of the festival. After seeing the lineup whilst doing research for an assignment, it was a festival that I wanted to go too and one of my classmates Phoebe told me that I could volunteer for a 4-hour shift and then get into the festival for free, an offer I couldn't resist! I volunteered along with my bestie Sammy.

We arrived at the site at around 11 am on both days, ready in time for the gates to open, but as usual on a festival things were running slightly late and so the gates opened a little later than planned. We were briefed and given our tops and wristbands and then set off to sell wristbands for £1 for the charity Child Bereavement, who help families going through a struggle with a child. After around an hour, we were swapped onto scanning tickets and wristbands. This was fun as we got to see everyone entering the festival, however, this was not very well organised and we were told a variety of things. Although when we came back on Saturday, the organisation was slightly better in that they had set up a table for the posh loo wristbands so we didn't have to do them ourselves. Also on Saturday, we were moved across to the VIP ticket side, which was slightly different as Sammy was scanning tickets and I was helping with the wristbands. Depending on the type of wristband they had, they got a lanyard, flower necklace and VIP wristband. 

After our 4-hour shifts were over, we were excused and allowed to go and enjoy the festival. As the weather wasn't the nicest, we mainly stayed inside the old school warehouse tent and the lockdown stage, which is what attracted me to the event in the first place. I was told whilst at Wireless that once you've worked a festival, going to a festival as a punter is never the same and they were sure right! There were so many little things that I kept seeing that I would do differently or that didn’t look 100% safe, which I picked up on really quickly due to the health and safety intern! However, it didn't take the fun out of the festival and I really enjoyed myself! Even though the rain really came down and my brand new white converse weren't so white anymore...

I would really recommend to anyone looking to gain event or festival experience to do volunteering roles and it gives you a small insight into the event, not as much as the intern but through doing a variety of events you soon piece things together. It’s also a great way for anyone looking to get into a festival who maybe can’t afford the ticket price or only want to enjoy one act and don't have to pay the full price. 

Next stop... Creamfields 2017!