Acoustic Stewards
Welcome to the stewarding area of the acoustic website
!!!!! Everything below relates to Glastonbury 2010, so please take it with a pinch of salt until we update this page !!!!!
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I get my tickets?
This year we will be sending all the tickets out by registered post. Everyone will be sent a text the day the tickets going into the post box. We’re anticipating this will happen within the next fortnight (hopefully sooner, rather than later).
Along with your ticket – one member of each group (partner, set of friends etc) will receive a blue parking pass, which means you can drive a vehicle and park in the staff parking area, next to the festival site.
Please do let us know if your address has changed since March and if your travel arrangements have altered radically since you filled in the forms in Spring.
How do I get to the festival?
Everything you could possibly want to know about getting to the festival is here:
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/getting-here
Most people arrive at site by coach, train or car.....
COACH - The time tables are available on the website and will drop you off at Red Gate. So its a little bit of a walk but if you head past the pyramid stage then to kids field then home to acoustic!
TRAIN - If traveling by train you need travel to Castle Carey then get the shuttle bus to site.
CAR - If you are driving or getting a lift to site you will need to ensure you have your parking pass. Your parking pass will be for Blue Route and will arrive with your ticket or your friends, and needs to be displayed in the windscreen. As you approach site follow signs for blue route and park in the allocated parking then proceed on foot.
Help - my lift has fallen through, who else is coming from where I am?
This year we’ve set up a brand spanking new Facebook group ‘Glastonbury Acoustic Stewards 2010’ – this is the best place to go to get in touch with other stewards and find out whose coming from near you - even if you end up going by coach or train and just need someone to transport your tent and sleeping bag.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123273437704130
Where do I go when I get to Glasto?
So either you would have been dropped off at Red Gate (coaches)
Or Blue Gate (cars)
When you go through entrance, you’ll hand over your tickets and they’ll give you half back BUT no wristband…. All wristbands and laminates will be given to you when you get to the Acoustic Stage.
A map of the festival is here: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/data/image/fineguide_09m.jpg
But even if you don’t have a map – just follow the signs for ‘kids field’ ‘circus’ and ‘acoustic stage’ (the big circus tent tops are a useful compass for the walk!).
The acoustic stage is directly opposite the kids field, directly above the theatre field and iincludes the cinema in the same field (on the Map it is nearest to the Gate 3)
What do I do when I go to the Acoustic stage?
When you get to the Acoustic Stage – come and find Molly. We will be in a portacabin directly behind the stage.
This year we will be in charge of everything – issuing your laminate, camping pass, meal ticket and giving your wristband. For old hands – this should cut down all that time you spent going between three offices…. For newbies, hopefully you will be blown away by how efficient the system is.
We will take your photograph on a funky web camera – so you don’t need to bring any passport photographs with you.
When do I have to be to be on site by?
It is a condition of being an Acoustic steward that you are on site by Thursday lunch time. This means that you will have all your passes issued to you and your tent set up BEFORE our briefing on Thursday afternoon at 4pm.
Most stewards come down on Wednesday – to get a good spot to pitch their tent and to get into the festival vibe. Some even come down on Tuesday.
Glastonbury Festival state that the site isn’t fully safe and secure before Wednesday – so if you do come down earlier – be extra vigilant with where you leave your personal belongings.
What shall I bring?
So those who have been before you know the score, hats are a must, sun cream, wellies, wet wipes, phone charger and somewhere to lay your head are always a good idea . For the newbies remember you have to carry it from your car or the coach so only bring what you really need (meaning hats) or why not pop a wheel borrow in or sack trolley so that you can push it along with ease!
Oh please remember flip flops are not aloud on shift so make sure you have some comfy shoes and finally DON’T FORGET YOUR TICKET! Not that you would.
Food and Drink – what’s the deal?
FOOD – As part of your ticket you will be fed one meal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Acoustic catering. Other than that I’m afraid your stomach is your responsibility so you need to bring some nosh or cash to keep your stomach from rumbling!
DRINK – as most of you know we have a most wonderful bar in our crew camping field run by the very warm and welcoming Cam and Anne. You will always be welcome and can top up your alcohol levels at any time day or night (EXCEPT BEFORE OR ON SHIFT ). If you are looking to bring booze onto site to save some pennies remember that NO GLASS is allowed on site so make sure you decant into plastic so they won’t take it off you at the gate!!
Wash ‘n’ go?
TOILETS – while on shift you can use the posh loos but other than that there is a, good size, very clean toilet block at the bottom end of the camping field just a staggering distance from the bar. Remember to pop a toilet roll in ya bag for those emergency situations.
SHOWERS – unlike many of the other steward teams on site, we are very lucky to have showers...........But we don’t have many – so to avoid waiting, it’s often good to plan to have one off peak hours (the main rush is around breakfast – so if you get up early or wait to after lunch, you’ll find the shower block a lot easier to access). Also remember that the stewards are normally the last ones to come onto site… so as a polite reminder - if you arrive on site on Wednesday and by Thursday you are desperately trying to get access to the showers - you may not get the warmest of welcomes as some people have been on site for weeks and have had nothing more than a bowl to wash from! So embrace the smell and bring your baby wipes for the important bits!
Help – March seems a long time ago, I’ve forgotten everything I was told about being a fire steward?
It is amazing how quickly everything we learnt in March becomes a distant memory.
On Thursday at 4pm we have a mandatory steward briefing in the Acoustic tent – where we will run through everything specific to being an Acoustic Steward, and refresh those brain cells.
What are the shift times?
There are two teams (A&B) and the shifts are as follows:
11:45 – 18:15 18:15-00:45
FRIDAY A B
SATURDAY B A
SUNDAY A B
What shift am I on and who are my team mates?
As always you will find this out on site!! NOT BEFORE! No matter how many times you ask nicely and as always we have done our best to please as many people as possible as well as being fair!
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll?
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL – I’m sure you have checked out when your favourite band is playing but sadly if you are working your working! But this year there are so many good bands that I’m sure that no one will miss out!
DRUGS – the long and short version comes back to illegal drugs are illegal drugs even at Glastonbury! And there is increasing numbers of police cameras hidden around site and in recent years stewards and other Glastonbury workers have been caught, removed from site and prosecuted (although we are pleased to say – this is never happened to any of the Acoustic crew) NO DRUGS ON SHIFT!
SEX – well I need give you no advice as you are all grown ups........ though I will say baby wipes make it all a bit nicer and condoms are a bit safer! Also remember the warning from the steward training team about a certain ‘couple’ from another stage – sex with a tabard on in another stewards tent while on shift – ISN’T ACCEPTABLE!
What should I bring to shift?
As old hands will tell you – a lot can happen with the weather in 6 hours.
It’s always good to bring on shift a waterproof and a jumper, especially in the evening when it always gets cold.
Hats – make us happy – but also are great for keeping cool in the heat and warm in the chill (you never see Holly or Molly without some sort of hat attire!)
Sun-cream. Obviously it is always better to be hopeful, but even on overcast days its amazing how easy it is to get sun burnt.
Sensible footwear. One of the only site wide rules for stewards is that wearing flip flops are not allowed on shift. If you turn up wearing flip flops we will simply ask you to change your footwear.
Bringing wellies is always advised – as it is amazing just how wet and muddy the site can become. Writing from years of experience – the best, most comfortable shoes that work well in all conditions are walking / hiking boots (but maybe we are just getting old!)
Glastonbury Festival provides personal protective equipment (PPE) for all stewards to work on shift safely. These include ear plus, ear defenders (for those in the pit) and plastic gloves (for collecting rubbish)
Is there anywhere to store my precious things when I’m on shift?
It is always better to be over prepared for your shift rather than under prepared and feeling wet/cold/too hot while still smiling to the public.
Bags and coats can be stored in the steward portacabin while you are on shift – which is either manned by Holly, Molly or a shift leader, or locked.
But it also goes without saying that extremely precious things shouldn’t come onto site – we would hate anyone to lose their designer jacket, expensive camera or deluxe mobile phone and nowhere is ever 100% secure (even our friendly portacabin)
Is there anywhere to charge my mobile phone?
The steward portacabin has power – and approximately 8 plugs… which makes it a perfect place to charge your mobile phone when on shift. There will be 39 other stewards also wanting to charge their phones, so it is good to be patient and also not to expect a full top up… but our experience over the last few years is everyone leaves their shifts which more phone power than when they arrived. Do remember to bring a mobile phone charger and wherever possible label your phone and your phone charger – it does make finding it easier.
When does everyone leave?
The final shift ends at 12.45am on Sunday evening. Most stewards tend to leave Monday afternoon (it can be carnage trying to get off site in the middle of the day), or very early Monday morning. You can even leave on Tuesday (although the backstage bar does close on Monday).
Glastonbury believes in leaving no trace – which means take everything back with you. Leave No Trace.
When will I get my tickets?
This year we will be sending all the tickets out by registered post. Everyone will be sent a text the day the tickets going into the post box. We’re anticipating this will happen within the next fortnight (hopefully sooner, rather than later).
Along with your ticket – one member of each group (partner, set of friends etc) will receive a blue parking pass, which means you can drive a vehicle and park in the staff parking area, next to the festival site.
Please do let us know if your address has changed since March and if your travel arrangements have altered radically since you filled in the forms in Spring.
How do I get to the festival?
Everything you could possibly want to know about getting to the festival is here:
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/information/getting-here
Most people arrive at site by coach, train or car.....
COACH - The time tables are available on the website and will drop you off at Red Gate. So its a little bit of a walk but if you head past the pyramid stage then to kids field then home to acoustic!
TRAIN - If traveling by train you need travel to Castle Carey then get the shuttle bus to site.
CAR - If you are driving or getting a lift to site you will need to ensure you have your parking pass. Your parking pass will be for Blue Route and will arrive with your ticket or your friends, and needs to be displayed in the windscreen. As you approach site follow signs for blue route and park in the allocated parking then proceed on foot.
Help - my lift has fallen through, who else is coming from where I am?
This year we’ve set up a brand spanking new Facebook group ‘Glastonbury Acoustic Stewards 2010’ – this is the best place to go to get in touch with other stewards and find out whose coming from near you - even if you end up going by coach or train and just need someone to transport your tent and sleeping bag.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123273437704130
Where do I go when I get to Glasto?
So either you would have been dropped off at Red Gate (coaches)
Or Blue Gate (cars)
When you go through entrance, you’ll hand over your tickets and they’ll give you half back BUT no wristband…. All wristbands and laminates will be given to you when you get to the Acoustic Stage.
A map of the festival is here: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/data/image/fineguide_09m.jpg
But even if you don’t have a map – just follow the signs for ‘kids field’ ‘circus’ and ‘acoustic stage’ (the big circus tent tops are a useful compass for the walk!).
The acoustic stage is directly opposite the kids field, directly above the theatre field and iincludes the cinema in the same field (on the Map it is nearest to the Gate 3)
What do I do when I go to the Acoustic stage?
When you get to the Acoustic Stage – come and find Molly. We will be in a portacabin directly behind the stage.
This year we will be in charge of everything – issuing your laminate, camping pass, meal ticket and giving your wristband. For old hands – this should cut down all that time you spent going between three offices…. For newbies, hopefully you will be blown away by how efficient the system is.
We will take your photograph on a funky web camera – so you don’t need to bring any passport photographs with you.
When do I have to be to be on site by?
It is a condition of being an Acoustic steward that you are on site by Thursday lunch time. This means that you will have all your passes issued to you and your tent set up BEFORE our briefing on Thursday afternoon at 4pm.
Most stewards come down on Wednesday – to get a good spot to pitch their tent and to get into the festival vibe. Some even come down on Tuesday.
Glastonbury Festival state that the site isn’t fully safe and secure before Wednesday – so if you do come down earlier – be extra vigilant with where you leave your personal belongings.
What shall I bring?
So those who have been before you know the score, hats are a must, sun cream, wellies, wet wipes, phone charger and somewhere to lay your head are always a good idea . For the newbies remember you have to carry it from your car or the coach so only bring what you really need (meaning hats) or why not pop a wheel borrow in or sack trolley so that you can push it along with ease!
Oh please remember flip flops are not aloud on shift so make sure you have some comfy shoes and finally DON’T FORGET YOUR TICKET! Not that you would.
Food and Drink – what’s the deal?
FOOD – As part of your ticket you will be fed one meal on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Acoustic catering. Other than that I’m afraid your stomach is your responsibility so you need to bring some nosh or cash to keep your stomach from rumbling!
DRINK – as most of you know we have a most wonderful bar in our crew camping field run by the very warm and welcoming Cam and Anne. You will always be welcome and can top up your alcohol levels at any time day or night (EXCEPT BEFORE OR ON SHIFT ). If you are looking to bring booze onto site to save some pennies remember that NO GLASS is allowed on site so make sure you decant into plastic so they won’t take it off you at the gate!!
Wash ‘n’ go?
TOILETS – while on shift you can use the posh loos but other than that there is a, good size, very clean toilet block at the bottom end of the camping field just a staggering distance from the bar. Remember to pop a toilet roll in ya bag for those emergency situations.
SHOWERS – unlike many of the other steward teams on site, we are very lucky to have showers...........But we don’t have many – so to avoid waiting, it’s often good to plan to have one off peak hours (the main rush is around breakfast – so if you get up early or wait to after lunch, you’ll find the shower block a lot easier to access). Also remember that the stewards are normally the last ones to come onto site… so as a polite reminder - if you arrive on site on Wednesday and by Thursday you are desperately trying to get access to the showers - you may not get the warmest of welcomes as some people have been on site for weeks and have had nothing more than a bowl to wash from! So embrace the smell and bring your baby wipes for the important bits!
Help – March seems a long time ago, I’ve forgotten everything I was told about being a fire steward?
It is amazing how quickly everything we learnt in March becomes a distant memory.
On Thursday at 4pm we have a mandatory steward briefing in the Acoustic tent – where we will run through everything specific to being an Acoustic Steward, and refresh those brain cells.
What are the shift times?
There are two teams (A&B) and the shifts are as follows:
11:45 – 18:15 18:15-00:45
FRIDAY A B
SATURDAY B A
SUNDAY A B
What shift am I on and who are my team mates?
As always you will find this out on site!! NOT BEFORE! No matter how many times you ask nicely and as always we have done our best to please as many people as possible as well as being fair!
Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll?
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL – I’m sure you have checked out when your favourite band is playing but sadly if you are working your working! But this year there are so many good bands that I’m sure that no one will miss out!
DRUGS – the long and short version comes back to illegal drugs are illegal drugs even at Glastonbury! And there is increasing numbers of police cameras hidden around site and in recent years stewards and other Glastonbury workers have been caught, removed from site and prosecuted (although we are pleased to say – this is never happened to any of the Acoustic crew) NO DRUGS ON SHIFT!
SEX – well I need give you no advice as you are all grown ups........ though I will say baby wipes make it all a bit nicer and condoms are a bit safer! Also remember the warning from the steward training team about a certain ‘couple’ from another stage – sex with a tabard on in another stewards tent while on shift – ISN’T ACCEPTABLE!
What should I bring to shift?
As old hands will tell you – a lot can happen with the weather in 6 hours.
It’s always good to bring on shift a waterproof and a jumper, especially in the evening when it always gets cold.
Hats – make us happy – but also are great for keeping cool in the heat and warm in the chill (you never see Holly or Molly without some sort of hat attire!)
Sun-cream. Obviously it is always better to be hopeful, but even on overcast days its amazing how easy it is to get sun burnt.
Sensible footwear. One of the only site wide rules for stewards is that wearing flip flops are not allowed on shift. If you turn up wearing flip flops we will simply ask you to change your footwear.
Bringing wellies is always advised – as it is amazing just how wet and muddy the site can become. Writing from years of experience – the best, most comfortable shoes that work well in all conditions are walking / hiking boots (but maybe we are just getting old!)
Glastonbury Festival provides personal protective equipment (PPE) for all stewards to work on shift safely. These include ear plus, ear defenders (for those in the pit) and plastic gloves (for collecting rubbish)
Is there anywhere to store my precious things when I’m on shift?
It is always better to be over prepared for your shift rather than under prepared and feeling wet/cold/too hot while still smiling to the public.
Bags and coats can be stored in the steward portacabin while you are on shift – which is either manned by Holly, Molly or a shift leader, or locked.
But it also goes without saying that extremely precious things shouldn’t come onto site – we would hate anyone to lose their designer jacket, expensive camera or deluxe mobile phone and nowhere is ever 100% secure (even our friendly portacabin)
Is there anywhere to charge my mobile phone?
The steward portacabin has power – and approximately 8 plugs… which makes it a perfect place to charge your mobile phone when on shift. There will be 39 other stewards also wanting to charge their phones, so it is good to be patient and also not to expect a full top up… but our experience over the last few years is everyone leaves their shifts which more phone power than when they arrived. Do remember to bring a mobile phone charger and wherever possible label your phone and your phone charger – it does make finding it easier.
When does everyone leave?
The final shift ends at 12.45am on Sunday evening. Most stewards tend to leave Monday afternoon (it can be carnage trying to get off site in the middle of the day), or very early Monday morning. You can even leave on Tuesday (although the backstage bar does close on Monday).
Glastonbury believes in leaving no trace – which means take everything back with you. Leave No Trace.