Crew application form for World Ceilidh 22nd-27th May 2013
Crew applications are now closed. We have received a high number of applications for volunteer crew for Knockengorroch 2013 and all volunteer crew postions will be filled. Please only use the enquiry form below if you wish to be added to a volunteer crew waiting list.
Crew Enquiries Form
Information on other Knockengorroch projects and events
Volunteers FAQ
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.
Q: What kind of work is there?
A: These are the main jobs:
- Stewarding. This is an active and social job that involves communicating with festival visitors – 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.
- Stage stewarding shifts involve stewarding the backstage entrance. You will need patience, diplomatic and assertive skills.
- Night stage sitting involves working a night shift to ensure the stage equipment is secure on either of the two stages or being in the main festival office overnight. You will be supported by a friendly security team for all night jobs.
- 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 would 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.
- Bar or box office applicants will need to provide references as well as evidence of experience.
- There are limited jobs in the kitchen and it will help if you have had some experience.
- Post-production work: you need to be available for three full days after the festival to help clear up – at least until the end of Wednesday. If you are working post-production you will be fed after the festival when you are working but not during the festival.
- Pre-production: we will only consider experienced people who can arrive on the Saturday before the festival begins at the latest.
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. A night shift in the office will involve two office shifts from 2am-10am.
Q: When do I have to be there and when am I needed until?
A: From Wednesday 22 until Sunday 26 or Monday 27 May. The festival gates open on Thursday morning to the public. All crew need to be on site by Wednesday evening at the latest. You can leave on Sunday night but you must let us know so that we do not rota you on for that night.
Specifically:
Traffic Stewarding
Most of the shifts will be on Thursday and Friday. If you can arrive earlier on Tuesday 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 and you may 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 Tuesday 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 about meals?
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: Are there crew facilities?
A: All crew get to camp in a designated crew area, based in the garden behind the main farmhouse. This is also next to the crew kitchen and the crew chill out area, which is a cosy indoor space for crew to use with tea and coffee making facilities and comfy seating! Please ask at the festival office upon arrival and you will be shown where the crew camping area is. There is also a crew car parking area adjacent to the crew camping space.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: You will need to bring all your own camping equipment, including tent! You must bring warm clothes and 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 to pick up extras!
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 stations are Ayr and New Cumnock.
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 22nd May.
Buses in Dumfries and Galloway: Macewans bus services
Buses in Ayrshire: http://www.stagecoachbus.com/index.html for buses in Ayrshire and www.trainline.co.uk for national train services.
We will also do a crew run back out to Dalmellington on Monday lunchtime and late afternoon if needed.
IMPORTANT!
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 weeks notice, do not complete your shifts are consistently late for your shifts turn up in no fit state 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. Please appreciate that by coming to crew you are pledging to take responsibility for yourself and others. There is plenty of time off for crew to party, but if you want to spend your time partying only, then please buy a ticket!!
If you have any queries in the meantime please email crew@knockengorroch.org.uk.