Photo: WENN.com
If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're one of the thousands of gutted music fans from around the UK (or another part of the world) who missed out on Glastonbury tickets this year.
The June 25-29 festival sold out in record time of 1 hour and 27 minutes, leading to an avalanche of fans venting their frustration online (and at ticket outlet SeeTickets) after their ticket quest ended in despair. This year, the festival will up its on-site staff from 37,500 to 63,000 however, meaning their are more opportunities than ever to get yourself through those gates and onto Worthy Farm this summer.
But, if you're still dreaming of making it to Glastonbury next year, all hope is not lost! Along with the small re-sale of returned tickets, there's a handful of ways you can be part of Glastonbury 2014, provided you're willing to roll up your sleaves and work on site. Here's a handful of options:
1. Oxfam Stewarding Team
Yours truly secured a spot with Oxfam this year and it was a amazing (and very-cost effective!) experience. In exchange for entry into the festival, you are required to do three shifts during the festival at key locations such as the entry gates and traffic points. And, on top of getting to don a funky orange fluro tabbard, you also get meal tokens and camping in a comfy private site. The cost of a Glastonbury ticket is required as a deposit, but this is refunded after the festival if your complete your shifts. Applications open early next year - go to www.oxfam.org.uk/stewards for more information.
2. Oasis Carnival Club
A similar deal to working with Oxfam, but this time, it's on the exterior of the event site. Three shifts at different times are required, and according to their website, tasks involve looking after peoples' property, manning road junctions and giving directions, checking passes and offering general advice and information to punters. More details at: www.oasiscarnival.co.uk/info/glastonbury.
3. Litter Pickers
Glastonbury has a reputation for being a very green festival, and as such, they recruit hundreds of volunteers to join their recycling team each year. Duties are relatively straightforward - you can pick up rubbish before, after and during the festival across the grounds, or you can work in the site's dedicated recycling centre. Past volunteers are given the first chance to apply, then new applications are taken after that. Drop a line to fiona@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk to register your interest.
4. Medical Volunteers
If you have medical, paramedic or first aid qualifications - Festival Medical Services could do with your help! Dedicated to helping punters who get in a spot of bother at the event, you could work either as a doctor, nurse, paramedic, pharmacist or first aid staff member, just to name a few roles. There's also the possibility of bragging to your mates about treating your favourite band member for their hangover after a wild night in Shangri-La. If you have a medical qualification of any sort and an up-to-date, cleared CRB check, visit: www1.festival-medical.com/cms/ to fill in an application form.
5. Market Stall Staff
Hundreds of market stalls operate all over the festival site, and there's even been stories of some food stalls hiring people on the day when they're flat off their feet. However, each stallholder has limited passes to the event and they often only recruit regular staffers which they already know. If you know any traders who are regulars at the festival, get in touch with them as soon as possible to express your interest.
More suggestions for employment/volunteering at Glastonbury can be found on the 'Jobs' page of the festival's official website.
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