First, create an account with us – it’s free to create your account. To sign up for an event, you must typically pay a non-refundable application and processing fee and fill out an application. Next you will be required to put down a deposit through your WET Account. This is our guarantee that you will complete your work, and is fully refunded after you complete your assigned work obligation in good faith, in accordance with the Work Exchange Team and event rules and regulations (accessible in the Terms you must read in your application and in each Event’s FAQ).
Once you are accepted, you will receive an acceptance email, prompting you to put down your deposit via our secure online merchant account. Deposits are processed immediately once you submit your credit card information. Deposit spots fill up on a first come first serve basis so make sure to get your deposit in as soon as deposits are open! Once the deposit is processed, we will hold onto the funds and refund them into your account up to 3 weeks following the event.
As long as you complete you work, you will receive a ticket to the event and a Festival Volunteer t-shirt (supplies limiting), and an amazing experience. Camping is provided only at full camping events, when available and listed in the Event Details when you sign up to work.
Once you put down your deposit, you will be able to select up to 3 friends to work with. Your friends must accept your request in order for you to work with them. This work with friends feature is only available to those who have connected their account to facebook. Keep in mind that we put more emphasis on you getting to work with your friends (i.e. same time slots) than missing your top bands. Working with your friends may mean that you are in different departments, but at least will have the same time free to enjoy the festival!
You can’t. However, the better you complete your work in ANY department, the higher your Credential Level, the better your chances of special privileges such as working your desired department. Also, earn lots of stars in any department to show us your expertise in that area!
As you fill out your application, you will be able to select your top bands (number of band choices depends on event) that you do not want to miss the most. We will do our best to schedule you around these time slots, especially the top choice, but the integrity of the festival comes first, of course. Please note that many night shifts are located inside the music festival concert area.
You will either get your work schedule before the event, or at sign in at the event. This varies per event. Also, you will likely not receive your assigned departments until you sign in to each shift. This is because the festival is constantly changing their needs and we wouldn’t want to disappoint you with a department swap. If we release schedule prior to the event, you will see yours in your My Events section.
The required amount of time a volunteer must commit varies by event (anywhere from 12-18 hours during the festival). All Volunteers are required to work all shifts they are scheduled for (4, 6, 10, or 12 hours long) for admission to the festival. If you are selected for Pre-festival or Post-Festival work you will be required to work full day shifts (10-12 hours) each pre-festival or post-festival day. Some special shifts will require 13 hours each shift – these are special opt-in only shifts that have special circumstances. If you are selected to work a 13 hour shift, you will be notified prior to the event. The number of hours required are listed in the Event Details of each Event.
Yes, some festivals offer pre or post festival work. Shifts are up to 12 hours in length, and work hours required are between 24-36 hours total. These opportunities are open to volunteers that have good ratings from past volunteer experiences. Keep in mind that with Post-Festival you may be required to work some hours off during the festival as well.
Schedules are determined by festival labor needs, past experience, your department choice, number of stars you have per department, friend requests, band requests and any other appropriate factors. You must expect to work at lease one night shift during the festival. Unless you have been requested by a specific department, please do not email us requesting certain shifts or departments.
ONLY credit cards are accepted. If you don't have a credit card, we suggest you ask either your parents or a friend to put the deposit down for you. Hey, if they don’t trust you with their Credit Card, why should we?
You can cancel anytime. Each Event has its own cancellation schedule and applicable fees. Check the Event FAQ for details. Cancelling MUST be done through your WET account, by clicking the “cancel deposit” link in your My Events section. You can re-enter your deposit at any time when space is still available.
Cancelling your application will remove you from the email list for that event. If you do not wish to receive emails anymore for the event, cancel your application. You can fill out another application at any time without entering another application fee for that event, as long as applications are still being accepted.
You must wear closed-toed shoes such as tennis shoes (weird toe-y river shoes do not count).
You must check in and out of all of your shifts at your WET Check In Location. You are absolutely not allowed to check in with your department staff. Upon check out with your work supervisor at your job position, you are absolutely required to get a Shift Completion Card signed by your shift supervisor. This is required for you to check out at the WET tent and you will have to go back to get it if you don’t have one!!
Arrive early to your shift. A 10-15 minute window makes a world of difference.
Be on top of your work obligation. It’s much easier to double check after your last shift is complete that you are all set in our system than to play e-tag after. Just ask us to verify you are all set
Your volunteer T-shirt is to signify that you are working. Therefore, please remove it when you are not and put it on when you are. ID Badges too, pls.
Absolutely no drugs or alcohol may be consumed during a Volunteer shift, or before, for that matter. Deposits will be absolutely forfeited. Volunteers are subject to the same vehicle search and seizure policies as the patrons attending.
Some events provide an area to camp (no tents or equipment will be provided). You must provide all of your food, camping equipment, and beverage for your stay at the event. Volunteers are responsible for their own accommodations and travel at non-camping events.
We will provide water while you are working. Sometimes for longer 12 or 13 hour shifts a small boxed lunch may be provided. This information will be shared with you prior to the event. You should come to all shifts well fed and ready to work – bring a snack and your reusable water bottle with you!
Bring water, a snack, a hat – be sure to put on sunscreen, and any medication you may need. A rain jacket is a great idea, as well as warm clothing for colder-area overnight shifts. You MUST wear tennis shoes to work. You will not be able to return to your tent/car at any time during your shift.
Volunteers perform a variety of tasks to assist in the festival’s success. Departments include: Front Gate, VIP, Access, Parking, Toll Booths, Merchandise Sales, Ice and Water, and pretty much anything that might pop up at a festival! A Volunteer may be asked to switch departments as last minute changes surface. Any special medical concerns that may keep a volunteer from performing some task needs to be stated in the Medical Notes section of your Profile. All tasks will be supervised by each festival department, who will report back to WET staff – departments will “grade” your work!
Your department supervisor will train you and provide management for your shift. At the end of your shift, you will be required to pick up a Shift Completion Card from your direct shift supervisor. This card is absolutely required at check out at the WET tent. Your shift supervisor will mark on the card how well they thought you performed your job. This is a totally subjective rating (like getting a grade on a paper in college) and is completely at the discretion of your work supervisor. Based upon your work performance, you will be able to climb the WET ladder and unlock special privileges only available to good workers!
Arrive to your shifts early and ready to work! Your work ethic will help you to shine at your assigned task. We know that not every job is for every person, but if you can complete your jobs to the delight of your shift supervisor, you will be awarded a star for that department. The more starts you collect, the better! If you collect 5 stars in any combination of departments, you will go up 1 Credential Level! Get all the way to All Access for special work opportunities and more!
If a WET coordinator feels that a Volunteer is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the Volunteer will be relieved of duties and their Event deposit will be forfeited. The volunteer will be blocked from future volunteer opportunities with any event utilizing WET Management. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.
Regular festival attendees may NOT enter the festival grounds prior to the official opening of the gates to patrons, even if accompanied by a working Volunteer. If you are scheduled for a pre festival shift, please be sure to make travel arrangements with other Volunteers, as your Non-WET friends will not be allowed to enter the festival grounds until gates open to the public.
You are required to check in and out of each shift at the WET tent onsite. You will be given directions to the WET tent either via email prior to the event, or at sign in at the event. At the check in, you will be transported to your assigned work station. This is why there is a “buffer time” (i.e 15 mins or half hour) added to each shift that is not included in your overall average minimum work hour requirement.
In the unlikely event that the festival is canceled, your application fee will not be refunded. This fee goes directly towards paying staff that process each application. Your deposit will be entirely refunded.
Where may I direct other questions not answered by this FAQ, and where may I make any suggestions?
Please read the entire FAQ menu before sending a question to: wet@workexchangeteam.com