November 14th 2024.
My first shift at Glastonbury was on a Wednesday morning, and from the moment I arrived, I was convinced that I had made a huge mistake. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, and the crowd was packed in tight, shoulder to shoulder. Everyone was craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the stage, and the speakers were blasting out music in epic proportions.
I was lucky enough to be watching Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. headline at the Park Stage earlier this year. Being there, in that moment, surrounded by the music and the energy of the crowd, was an experience like no other. It felt like the bass was pulsing through our bones, and we were all caught up in something special, something that we would never experience again. We were all jumping and moving with complete freedom, thanks to the unique atmosphere that only a festival like Glastonbury could provide.
Despite the looming threat of a 5:30 am wake-up call, I was completely immersed in the moment and the music. I had been determined to secure a ticket months before, even though my student finances were already struggling. But when the fateful day arrived, all I was met with was the dreaded loading screen. My bank account may have secretly rejoiced, but I was gutted.
It was then that some friends from university, who had worked at the festival the year before, suggested that I join them in applying for a job. Even though Glastonbury was still months away, in June, I was all in. A few months later, my very organized friend Bobby found a company called CTM, which manages traffic at the festival. We signed up for five days of work at Glastonbury 2024, after paying a deposit to secure our spots and ensure that we wouldn't bail on our work commitments.
At this point, I felt more relieved than excited. After all, Glastonbury was still months away, and I had no idea what to expect. In a blur of university deadlines and thesis writing, the festival crept up on us, and before I knew it, we were just weeks away. A frantic trip to Go Outdoors ensued, as we tried to make our seven days of roughing it slightly more glamorous by stocking up on camping chairs and blow-up beds.
Aside from working for Glastonbury, there are other ways to get into the festival for free. These include volunteering for various roles, such as stewarding, where you act as a friendly face to help with any issues, or litter-picking, where you clean up after fellow festival-goers. You can also volunteer with organizations like Water Aid, helping with tasks such as cleaning toilets, or work at one of the many food trucks or shops on-site. You can read about the experiences of people who have tried these options here.
Finally, the festival itself arrived, and we made the infamous, long trek from the car to the campsite just outside the festival grounds on Tuesday. My first shift was on Wednesday morning, and I was instantly convinced that I had made a major mistake. It was the day when everyone arrives, and I started at 4:30 am. I was shaky and running on a mix of caffeine and anxiety. It was a challenging task, trying to direct 10,000 impatient cars to park in a straight line, especially on just four hours of sleep.
My team leader was lovely, but everyone was stressed. Our shift was 16 hours long, with a break for lunch around 3 pm. By the end of the day, I was sunburned, and my water bottle had long been emptied, but I had survived. Thankfully, my next two shifts were comparatively easier, lasting 13 hours each. By then, most of the cars had been parked, and we were able to sit in our camping chairs, listening intently for snippets of music from the nearest stage.
We finished work around 6 pm every evening, which gave us just enough time to make it back to our campsite, take a shower, and head into the festival site for the evening. On Saturday, we finally had a much-needed lie-in before enjoying a beautiful set from Michael Kiwanuka and browsing the stalls at one of the markets.
One evening, my group of friends and I headed up the hill to get a view of the Pyramid Stage, framed by a seemingly endless crowd. We were treated to a spectacular display of Coldplay's rainbow lights from that vantage point. It was a perfect day for me.
But then, it was back to work at 6 am on Sunday and Monday. Those shifts were a rude awakening from the dreamlike atmosphere of Glastonbury. I don't know where all the peace and love had gone, but for some people, it seemed to have disappeared as soon as they got into their cars. In the parking lot, people were begging, lying, cheating, and screaming in an attempt to cut in line and leave before everyone else.
My partner, Mia, had a particularly unpleasant experience with a woman who blared her horn, revved her engine, and made threats to run her over, all because Mia had politely explained that she couldn't cut in line. Despite all of this, I still believe that working at Glastonbury is the way to go. If I'm lucky enough to get a spot again, you'll find me back there, parking cars and rocking a hi-vis vest and a walkie-talkie.
Not only did I save over £350 on the ticket itself, but after factoring in travel costs, food expenses, and the money I spent on gear, I was still at least £500 better off than when I arrived, thanks to my £750 paycheck that arrived the following month. And when I received my £400 deposit back, it felt like I had won the lottery.
Despite only being able to explore about half of the festival site during my time off, and the exhausting walks to get anywhere, I still feel incredibly lucky to have experienced Glastonbury. The slightly lackluster lineup for 2024 turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me. I was able to see almost all of the music I wanted to and try food from almost every food truck that caught my eye.
The stereotype of the Glastonbury spirit was more than true for me. It was infectious, and I left the festival with dreams of quitting my job, buying a van, and living off the grid in true hippy style. My advice? However you can get to Glastonbury, do it. I truly believe that you won't regret it. Do you have a Glastonbury story of your own? Share it with me by emailing James.email. And don't forget to share your views in the comments below.
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