Meet Betty and learn more about her position as a music festival volunteer. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Betty
My name is Betty Ball. I have been selected from ±«Óătv Outreach to work as a liaison for the artists and staff to pretty much just help and get a good feel about the festival and what ±«Óătv Introducing actually does.
I work for a community radio station and five people got selected to go to a ±«Óătv open day at Teesside University. One of the stalls was about ±«Óătv Radio One and the Big Weekend and they had 10 voluntary placements and you got delegated which one and I was so pleased I got ±«Óătv Music Introducing – fab!
These voluntary placements are vital because, if you want to impress and you want to be on that stage or be on the radio or behind the camera or in front of the camera, these are the people that get you there. Without them, and without you being in these placements, they're not going to know who you are unless you are absolutely out of this world connected or insanely talented.
I'm living proof that you can get to places like this just by volunteering. You don't necessarily have to go university, you just need the passion and you need the drive to get there. And that's exactly how I did it.
Betty works for a community radio station and was selected to attend a ±«Óătv open day at Teeside university. One of the stalls there was for Radio 1's Big Weekend where she signed up to be a volunteer at the festival
She was selected by to act as a liaison for the artists and the staff
Betty feels that these placements are vital if you want to impress the right people. She thinks that if you have ambitions to be on the stage, on the radio, in front of the camera or behind the camera these are the people that get you there.
I'm living proof that you can get to places like this through volunteering, you don't necessarily have to go to university, you just need the passion and drive to get there.
What to expect if you want to be a music festival volunteer
Where can I find out more about volunteering at music festivals?Do your research on what music festivals are on and then check their websites for opportunities or contact the organisers directly. Open days at universities are another good opportunity, where radio stations might have a stall promoting events they have coming up, like Radio 1's Big Weekend.
Why do it?The music industry is a notoriously hard one to break into especially if you aren't insanely talented, or really connected. Volunteering provides a good "in" to the industry and gives you an opportunity to start networking and building up your contacts.
What qualifications do you need to be a music festival volunteer?None in particular - passion, experience and dedication is more important, although musical knowledge and performance skills could be beneficial.
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