17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 of September 2008
CREWING INFORMATION
Volunteering at the festival is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and experience the festival from a completely different and rewarding viewpoint.
The deadline for all applications is September 2nd
(though we may fill up before then)
You will need to send us a cheque for £80 as a deposit to apply to be crew. This will not be cashed unless you fail to turn up at the festival without giving us at least a week’s notice, fail to complete your shifts, are consistently late or unable to work your shifts. The cheque should be made out to Knockengorroch CIC.
We need to ask for a deposit because in the past some people have not completed the shifts that we have trusted them to do, leaving more work and pressure for others. By choosing to crew you choose to muck in as part of a family and to complete the work you have pledged to do to make the festival happen.
Q: What kind of work is there?
A: stewarding the festival site, stage stewarding, working at the gate box office (off the festival site), working at the festival HQ/office, cooking, bar, night stage sitting and shifts and post-production crewing.
The bulk of jobs available are stewarding. This is an active and social job that involves directing traffic and campers into the camping and parking fields. Experience with the general public, diplomatic and assertive skills, and working at outdoor events will be useful.
There are a limited number of stage stewarding involves being outdoors, under shelter, stewarding the backstage entrance. You will need patience, diplomatic and assertive skills.
The festival HQ involves dealing with general enquires from the public and dealing with lost property as well as relaying messages to the stages and monitoring the CB radios. If you wish to work in the office it will help if you tell us of any experience you have had in this area, or just why you think you’d be good in the job. It will also help if you have references and a full disclosure, as the office also looks after lost children.
For bar or box office work you will need to provide references as well as evidence of experience.
For post-production work you need to be available at least until the end of Wednesday after the festival to help clear up. If you are working post-production you will be fed after the festival when you are working but not during the festival.
There are limited jobs in the kitchen and it will help if you have had some experience.
Please consider when you apply your skills and experience. We will choose people who are more suited to the jobs they have chosen.
Q: How many hours do crew work?
A: All crew will work no more than 24 hours over the four/five/six days.
For night shifters the hours are slightly less. A stage sitting job will involve two night shifts (12 midnight to 8am or 2am to 10am) guarding the stage equipment and up to 8 hours stewarding in day shifts. A night shift in the office will involve two office shifts from 2am-10am and up to 8 hours stewarding in day shifts.
Q: When do I have to be there and when am I needed until?
A: The festival gates open at 10am on Thursday morning to the public. All crew need to be on site by Wednesday evening. You can leave on Sunday night but you must let us know so that we do not rota you on for that night.
Traffic Stewarding
Most of the shifts will be on Thursday and Friday. If you can arrive earlier on Wednesday or can stay later on Monday you may be able to do some of your shifts at these times (out-with the festival times).
Office
There are some shifts available on Monday – please let us know if you are able to stay – you will be able to get some of your shifts done after the festival is over.
Kitchen
Again, if you can stay later or arrive earlier you may be able to get some shifts done on the Wednesday before and Monday after the festival.
Post clean-up/ production
We ask for a minimum of 3 full days of work after the festival has ended.
Regardless of job, all crew need to arrive on site by Wednesday evening to attend the crew health and safety briefing.
It is important you state if you want to leave on Sunday on the crew application form.
Q: What will we be fed?
A: We provide 3 vegetarian meals a day. Breakfast of porridge and/ or toast, and two more hot meals. This food is for working crew only and we will not feed friends or family who are not working. If you have any special dietary requirements make sure you bring what you need with you.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: There is a crew camping area. You will need to bring all your own camping equipment, including tent! You also must bring waterproofs including waterproof footwear, a change of clothes and pairs of dry socks. A torch would be very useful. You also must bring your own plate, cup and cutlery for meals which you keep with you all weekend as we do not supply those. You will need to bring any luxuries or special dietary needs with you. There are no villages, towns or shops nearby!
Q: Can I work with my friend/ girl/boyfriend?
A: If you have a friend who wishes to come and crew, they need to apply in their own right. If you state that you are with them we will do our best to rota you on together, but we cannot guarantee this at all times.
Q: How do I get to Knockengorroch?
A: Knockengorroch Farm is off the A713 between Dalmellington and Carsphairn in Dumfries and Galloway. The nearest train station is Ayr to the North and New Cumnock to the South. The nearest bus stop is Dalmellington to the North and Carsphairn to the South. There are some infrequent buses that go from Carsphairn to Dalmellington past the festival road end.
If you can make your way to Dalmellington we will pick up crew from Dalmellington square on Wednesday 21 May.
Check the website for a map www.knockengorroch.org.uk, Macewans bus services http://www.carlberry.co.uk/op/MacEwans_Coach_Services_Amisfield.htm for info on buses in Dumfries and Galloway, http://www.stagecoachbus.com/index.html for buses in Ayrshire and www.trainline.co.uk for national train services.
We will also do a couple of crew runs back out to Dalmellington on Monday lunchtime and late afternoon.
Email crew@knockengorroch.org.uk for more information or if you’d like to volunteer in the fortnight leading up to the festival.
Email applications to: crew@knockengorroch.org.uk