Wednesday, May 4, 2022
It's May which means there's not long to go until we're back in a festival field!
It's been a long 3 years since we were last at Download Festival and we know many of you are as desperate to get back as we are!
A big thank you for applying to join us at Download Festival this summer, we've included some information below about what to expect from us as we edge closer to the festival.
We're receiving a lot of questions about this one! Shift Preference Selection usually opens around 2-3 weeks before the festival. We'll send you an email and post on our socials as soon as you can select your shift preferences, so don't worry - you won't miss it!
We require you to bring original documents to the festival site proving your right to work in the UK. The only 3 ways you can legally prove your right to work in the UK are:
We have a safe in the Hotbox Office at Download where you can keep any documents whilst you're at the festival if you'd prefer not to leave them in your tent. We are required by law to see your original documents - we cannot accept photocopies.
Please note *a driving license is NOT proof of your right to work in the UK* (it just proves you can drive).
Have you checked out the Portal in your Hotbox Events PAAM account? Here you'll find lots of useful documents to read before the festival, including the Download Festival Info Pack. We'll update this closer to the festival with arrival information including which gate to enter through at the festival, the day you need to arrive at the festival (either Tuesday 7th or Wednesday 8th June) and which briefing you need to attend. You're welcome to arrive at the festival from midday on Tuesday 7th June - we always recommend arriving early to avoid the queues at accreditation!
Is the Friends list in your Profile up to date? You can edit your PAAM Profile at any time so if any of your friends have signed up to volunteer since you applied, and you'd like to have the same shift pattern as them make sure their name and email address is in the Friends section of your Profile!
A couple of weeks before the festival you'll be able to order meal vouchers to use at Download. We'll include lots of information about these in an email, social, and news post on our website once ordering is live for Download!
Thinking of bringing a campervan or caravan to Download? Make sure you've read our Campervans, Caravans and Motorhomes FAQ and sent us the required details prior to the festival. Please note, unfortunately we're not able to provide electric or water hook-ups to any campervans or caravans.
We're looking for the new stars of our Hotbox Events films! These are the videos posted throughout the year on the Hotbox and official festival socials, websites, and shown on the main stage screens in between performances! Check out our existing films to get an idea of what we're talking about! If you're comfortable talking in front of a camera and think you're up for the job, get in touch!
It's totally normal to be anxious before coming to a festival, particularly if you're volunteering solo! We get hundreds of messages every year from volunteers wanting to join us but nervous about doing it, so we promise you're not alone! We're a very friendly bunch so if there's anything we can do to reduce your anxiety please get in touch! Try joining our Facebook Group to make friends with others before the festival - there are even a few WhatsApp groups that have been set up too!
We can't wait to see you at Download Festival in June!
To find out more and apply choose the festival you're interested in volunteering at, you'll then find all the info including when you'll need to arrive at the festival, how many volunteer shifts you'll do, how old you need to be to volunteer at festivals, the kind of things you'll get involved with when volunteering and loads more!
As usual, you need to pay a refundable security deposit to volunteer with us this summer.
When volunteering with Hotbox Events you only need to pay 1 deposit to volunteer at as many festivals as you like each summer!
So if you have already paid your deposit for Download Festival you can join us at more festivals without paying again 😊
Deposits are returned within 30 days of the last day of a festival, if you have volunteered with us before your deposit is discounted by 35%. There are no admin fees charged on deposits, so you receive your entire deposit back as long as you complete all of your shifts at the festivals!
Of course, if for any reason a festival does not go ahead, your security deposit will be returned to you in full.
Please remember that we cannot confirm your place until you have paid your deposit!
You can choose the shifts you prefer a few weeks before each festival and we will confirm your shifts in advance, so you know when you will be volunteering and can plan your festival schedule!
Shift preferences are allocated based on deposit payment date, so the earlier you pay your deposit, the more likely you are to get your top shift preferences!
If there is anything you would like to ask or you would just like to chat with us about volunteering, the easiest way is to...
You can connect with us @hotboxevents on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
If you would like to chat with others who have volunteered with us before head to our Facebook Group and Forum
On Facebook and in our Forum you will find new and returning volunteers chatting about what it is like to volunteer at festivals, arranging to share lifts, asking and answering questions about volunteering at festivals and making friends with other volunteers!
If you have not volunteered at a festival before and are wondering what it is like, check out some of our staff and volunteer interviews!
In the interviews you will get to hear from volunteers who have joined us talking about how they found their shifts, how they felt they were looked after by the Hotbox team, what it was like volunteering solo for the first time, taking on more responsibility year on year and progressing from a volunteer to staff role, and even how the experience and confidence gained has helped with career progression away from festivals!
Another way to see what volunteering is like is to check out some of our festival photos!
In our festival photo galleries, you will find thousands of photos covering our festival volunteering history over the past twenty years!
If you are thinking about volunteering but not sure about going alone, please don't worry! Every year more than half of those who volunteer with us do so on their own the first time and then return year after year to meet up with friends they have made whilst volunteering!
If you have specific questions about volunteering at festivals try our festival FAQs!
Our festival FAQs are regularly updated and packed full of answers to the questions we are usually asked, plus lots of handy hints and tips about volunteering at festivals.
We usually send an email newsletter about once a month, if you would like to keep up to date you can subscribe!
If you would like to drop us an email it's info@hotboxevents.com
You can reach our office by phone on the numbers below...
Tel: 01252849600 (UK) select option 2 for Hotbox Events
Tel: +441252849600 (International) select option 2 for Hotbox Events
We cannot wait to welcome you to the Hotbox Events team for an amazing festival filled summer 😊
