That problem has been recognised - various crews, including Oxfam, are being moved off site this year.
Glastonbury 2008
- Thread starter pagan
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That problem has been recognised - various crews, including Oxfam, are being moved off site this year.
dervish
if you flibble when you wibble, don't wobble
oxfam are outside the fence this year as they outgrew tom's field (not helped by people bringing huge tents each)
they keep the campsite quiet so that people who's shift starts at 4am can sleep and a lot of their stewards come alone, so the campsite is a place of safety.
they keep the campsite quiet so that people who's shift starts at 4am can sleep and a lot of their stewards come alone, so the campsite is a place of safety.
newbie
undisambiguated
tbh that's one of the least useful fields, because it's buried so far inside a zone you need passes for. What about WBC, are they being shifted offsite as well?
I'm afraid I'm not overly convinced about either of those points. It's a festival, a gathering where other people and their peculiar ways are the major attraction. insulating yourself from that, by circling the waggons and sticking with people just like you, is part of the problem.
I'm afraid I'm not overly convinced about either of those points. It's a festival, a gathering where other people and their peculiar ways are the major attraction. insulating yourself from that, by circling the waggons and sticking with people just like you, is part of the problem.
I'm wondering how that's going to be enforced to be honest. I could have camped in one of the segregated fields up by the farm last year with my Crew Pass but I chose to camp in the public camping areas with my mates. If they move the crew camping offsite then surely a lot of those that they are trying to shift will just decide to use the public campsites instead and the overcrowding problem remains.
newbie
undisambiguated
I hope it's not like the poor security folk are treated. Their camping is offsite but they're not allowed on except during their shift. I spent a chunk of a night with a bloke from Glasgow on a tower one year and he was so peeved that he couldn't join in. He'd never been to anything remotely like it before but said he was coming back as a punter. I hope he did.
I'm wondering how that's going to be enforced to be honest. I could have camped in one of the segregated fields up by the farm last year with my Crew Pass but I chose to camp in the public camping areas with my mates. If they move the crew camping offsite then surely a lot of those that they are trying to shift will just decide to use the public campsites instead and the overcrowding problem remains.
On some teams already off site - security at least - it is enforced (wouldn't be too difficult with them, I would imagine), but as for the ones moving this year, no idea yet as to how it will work in that respect.
Even if they don't enforce it, it will still mean extra space for public. But if public camp densities still overrun, with crew camps being visibly less populated, then I could imagine it being enforced in 2009.
Hopefully it will never be enforced for Info
It's still useful. Moving Oxfam out of Tom's field means another crew, from a more central area, can be moved there. WBC are already off site as far as I know.
But either way, the main point is that there will be more public camping this year, and at least some of it will have come about by moving crews.
dervish
if you flibble when you wibble, don't wobble
its part of the deal that you get to enjoy the festival when you arent working.
I read the contract carefully
On some teams already off site - security at least - it is enforced (wouldn't be too difficult with them, I would imagine), but as for the ones moving this year, no idea yet as to how it will work in that respect.
Even if they don't enforce it, it will still mean extra space for public. But if public camp densities still overrun, with crew camps being visibly less populated, then I could imagine it being enforced in 2009.
Hopefully it will never be enforced for Info
I agree with you that it’s relatively easy to enforce for those whose duties are outside of the fence. I gave a couple of girls a lift to the festival last year who were working perimeter security for Stuart. They had to be dropped off at the B&W showground and then bussed to the security compound. To be honest though, I can imagine that a lot of the security types wouldn’t be particularly fussed about camping with the great unwashed anyway. Plus these girls were working 8 hour shifts at night so I’m sure they were pretty glad for some offsite peace & quiet to catch up on some kip at the end of their shifts. Another friend working offsite stewarding had to be on duty from the Tuesday but wasn’t actually given a wristband to allow him onsite until the Friday by which time it would be pointless trying to pitch a tent inside anyway.
I’m just wondering what changes they may have to put in place to stop the majority of Oxfam & any others who are to be designated as being offsite campers from pitching a tent inside the fence given the fact that most currently have full access to the site from Tuesday onwards & I wonder whether they will start having to be a lot more draconian towards some crew categories in order to force them to camp outside the fence in future. And yes I can potentially even see this being extended to people like Infocrew. It’s only core workers after all who actually need to be onsite before the Wednesday & even then only 2 of the 6 Info points are open before the Thursday morning.
newbie
undisambiguated
that's a really awful notion. I was talking about getting rid of the exclusive areas, not making the crew unwelcome. Not that there'll be very much experienced crew left if we're all expected to camp in some farflung field outside the fence.
I totally agree but if the crew decide that they want to stay inside the fence then how else do you persuade them otherwise to free up space for paying punters?
Interesting stuff, and some good points. Do you know if, for example, there is any enforcement for WBC?
If/when enforcement does happen, it might also be a bit of carrot, not just stick. 'Bonus' facilities like subsidised/free food, late bar, showers, nicer loos... if those things are in off site crew fields, it will help.
As for Info, I think it will be way down the list of priorities. It's a small team and - as the boss tells me they favour more mature people - I think those types of volunteers, if forced off site, are more likely to stump up the ticket price and forego the involvement. So I think a bit of camping freedom will be there for awhile yet. Still, that's probablly as much my speculation as it is my wishful thinking.
I guess we'll see how this year pans out. 2008 is going to be an interesting year for the festival for all sorts of reasons. It sounds like alot of things are being changed for the better, much more so than recent years, but that's against a backdrop of disillusionment amongst some regulars. It's even conceivable it won't sell out (and I really didn't think I'd be saying that a month ago).
Out of interest, where are you at %ge wise, going vs. not going?
newbie
undisambiguated
I totally agree but if the crew decide that they want to stay inside the fence then how else do you persuade them otherwise to free up space for paying punters?
simply don't. It's a wholly wrong concept and will serve the kill the festival
newbie
undisambiguated
paging WBC people... is this right? Wasn't there a camping area by the stage road, inside the perimeter?
Out of interest, where are you at %ge wise, going vs. not going?
I still really don’t know! On top of everything else my girlfriend can’t make it as it’s her daughter’s graduation that weekend. I’ve also been invited on a stag weekend in Prague but have decided that as the wedding is later in the summer in Cyprus we’ll probably go to that instead. We really need to synchronise diaries properly this weekend and see if there is any possibility of us both getting a bit more travelling in this year at some stage. If there is then I simply won’t have 5 days of spare holiday for Glastonbury. If not then it may well be that come the 6th of April I might just be consumed with an overwhelming urge to buy a bloody ticket after all.
I still really don’t know! On top of everything else my girlfriend can’t make it as it’s her daughter’s graduation that weekend. I’ve also been invited on a stag weekend in Prague but have decided that as the wedding is later in the summer in Cyprus we’ll probably go to that instead. We really need to synchronise diaries properly this weekend and see if there is any possibility of us both getting a bit more travelling in this year at some stage. If there is then I simply won’t have 5 days of spare holiday for Glastonbury. If not then it may well be that come the 6th of April I might just be consumed with an overwhelming urge to buy a bloody ticket after all.
It is a fair whack of holday-days budget indeed. I'm sure you'll tell us here if you take the plunge. Might be your last chance, eh?
Not going sadly.
Still think it is worth the money but is too much money for us right now. As a comparison I managed to book a weeks stay in a Cornwall cottage that sleeps six for £118 in June. Admittedly there are no bands playing and I am probably getting old before my time but Glasto for two people who like a drink/whatever is a big expense.
I am sure we will be back soon
Ah ok. If that's the case then that team, at least, will only be a stone's throw from their prvious spot.
>>> "Flipp"
What are YOU doing here? 
Loads of interesting stuff here on crew camping etc., would like to respond, but am off to meet paolo999 for "a" pint to diuscuss all this kinda stuff!
What are YOU doing here?
Loads of interesting stuff here on crew camping etc., would like to respond, but am off to meet paolo999 for "a" pint to diuscuss all this kinda stuff!
MsShirlLaverne
wearing purple
Having a year off for sure, managed not to register, even booked a gig in London to make sure we didn't weaken
Gimme Sunrise Solfest, Shamania and any other 24hr lovliness (doesn't even have to start with 's'!)
Hey, good to see you here chuck
