It's Freshers' week at Leeds Met and we've been chatting to tons of new students about Festival Republic and our other partners, and the sorts of opportunities available. We've encouraged them to have a look at this blog to find out more about what went on this summer.
So if you're one of those people reading this now, you might like to register your interest in volunteering at a festival, going to see the ballet or a theatre production, getting involved with Light Night Leeds and many other great experiences.
Just fill in your details on the contact page on the Arts & Society website and choose 'Partnership working' as the nature of your enquiry. We'll add you to our database and email you with more information and opportunities.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Time to reflect...and then start again
So, now we're back. Like everyone else, I'm so glad to be in my own bed, and I spent so much time in the bath this morning my fingertips went wrinkly. The festival season is over and it's now time for us to think about the successes of 2009 and begin to plan 2010.
This summer we have been to both Latitude and Leeds festivals and we have provided volunteering and internship opportunities for over 200 students and staff. About ten percent of our volunteers gained undergraduate or postgraduate credit for their hard work, many more have "hard to find" experience on their CVs but some just came because they wanted to be a part of it. Our students have done exceptionally well; exceeding expectations in all of our projects.
But, I would also like to name a few staff who have made the Festival Republic partnership what it is. Firstly, Caroline Bonser, whose integrity, hard work and attention to detail have been invaluable, secondly, Patsy Robertshaw whose stamina is legendary and without whose support (at Leeds Fest) I would have probably curled up into a ball and cried. And finally Laura Taylor who is probably the most lovely and cheery person I know and is a true professional. These three key figures drive this project forward and yet every single person is needed and makes a difference. Some of our students have also been in responsible, stressful positions and working long hours, there are too many to name but special thanks to Michael Seymour, Isla Brown, Alex Herod, Gaz Davies and the HATs managers.
Looking forward to next year we hope that the same projects in Latitude and Leeds will happen again. But I am hoping to add an extra festival to our portfolio - I'm not allowed to tell you which one - but watch this space...
Rebekka Kill
Senior Lecturer in Creativity, Enterprise and Engagement, Teaching Fellow and Enterprise Pioneer
This summer we have been to both Latitude and Leeds festivals and we have provided volunteering and internship opportunities for over 200 students and staff. About ten percent of our volunteers gained undergraduate or postgraduate credit for their hard work, many more have "hard to find" experience on their CVs but some just came because they wanted to be a part of it. Our students have done exceptionally well; exceeding expectations in all of our projects.
But, I would also like to name a few staff who have made the Festival Republic partnership what it is. Firstly, Caroline Bonser, whose integrity, hard work and attention to detail have been invaluable, secondly, Patsy Robertshaw whose stamina is legendary and without whose support (at Leeds Fest) I would have probably curled up into a ball and cried. And finally Laura Taylor who is probably the most lovely and cheery person I know and is a true professional. These three key figures drive this project forward and yet every single person is needed and makes a difference. Some of our students have also been in responsible, stressful positions and working long hours, there are too many to name but special thanks to Michael Seymour, Isla Brown, Alex Herod, Gaz Davies and the HATs managers.
Looking forward to next year we hope that the same projects in Latitude and Leeds will happen again. But I am hoping to add an extra festival to our portfolio - I'm not allowed to tell you which one - but watch this space...
Rebekka Kill
Senior Lecturer in Creativity, Enterprise and Engagement, Teaching Fellow and Enterprise Pioneer
Monday, 31 August 2009
In the medical tent
Leeds Met nursing students busy at work. They helped to staff the festival medical tent as part of their placement hours.
Lucy
Lucy volunteered with Leeds Met on the Lake Stage at Latitude and was then offered paid work as artist liaison on the Festival Republic stage at Leeds.
Tom on the NME/R1 stage
Tom was part of last year's Leeds Met film crew. He made a useful contact while at Leeds Festival, and as a result was filming on the NME/Radio 1 stage this year.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
High Standards
It’s a busy backstage at the BBC Introducing Stage today. As well as Raw Talent and the Leeds Met crew, we’ve got Claire from BBC Introducing who has come up from Reading. The BBC have invited guests to get together in the backstage area and we’ve been talking to Sally Joynson from Screen Yorkshire and Head of BBC Yorkshire, Helen Thomas. They came into the production office to take a look at the film we made of The Frontiers (which you can see on this blog). Both Claire and Helen were really interested and impressed with the footage we’ve got and fingers crossed it will be going up on their websites in Yorkshire and Radio 1 soon.
Creating the short films on site has been really exciting and successful and we’re getting them up in about three to four hours. It’s nice to be able to see the results and share them so instantly because people can then understand what we’re doing and it’s nice to see the improvements as the days go on. Today the crew have been editing footage from The Teeth yesterday and have filmed Milk White White Teeth and the film should be up tomorrow. The crew have been really focussed and the production standards have been really high.
Laura Taylor
Film Crew Manager
Creating the short films on site has been really exciting and successful and we’re getting them up in about three to four hours. It’s nice to be able to see the results and share them so instantly because people can then understand what we’re doing and it’s nice to see the improvements as the days go on. Today the crew have been editing footage from The Teeth yesterday and have filmed Milk White White Teeth and the film should be up tomorrow. The crew have been really focussed and the production standards have been really high.
Laura Taylor
Film Crew Manager
Festeria
I’m having an amazing time being behind the scenes at such a massive event which is running incredibly smoothly, especially when I can see first hand just how massive an operation it is. Last night as I was walking between my temporary ‘home’ in the production area directly behind the main stage, it was funny to see staff battling to reinforce the fencing separating us and the heaving crowds rocking out to The Prodigy, who even from my limited view were brilliant.
People keep asking me what bands I’ve actually seen, but I’ve only really stopped to watch The Gossip who were ace, and seen snippets of others and heard a lot more as I wander round and round and round. I’m spending most of my time talking to our volunteers and staff working and performing here and battling technology to try and update the Leeds Met website from the Press tent where there are constant interviews going on with people that I don’t quite recognise. In fact the only ‘celeb’ I’ve had contact with is Ian Brown, thanks Rebekka for making me go up for a photo of him!
It feels like I’ve been here for years and walked a million miles, although I’m only on my third day here. And I’ve got it relatively easy, the volunteers are working long and intense shifts running stages, DJing through the night, pandering to bands bizarre whims and giving out information to the masses. Then there’s Rebekka, Caroline, Laura and Patsy who seem to constantly be doing circuits of this massive venue sorting stuff out by phone and walkie-talkie to ensure the volunteers are getting the best possible experience. Everyone I talk to is sleep deprived and aching all over but are incredibly friendly, upbeat and having a brilliant time.
There also seem to be Leeds Met connections dotted all over the place on top of our 130+ volunteers, there are guests coming in on day tickets to see what we’re all up to, past and present students and staff on stage or milling around the guest area and arena and Leeds Met hoodies galore. It’s great to bump in to people all over the place and see just how far and wide the University’s tentacles extend.
Having heard, read and written about the partnership since its formation it’s eye-opening to be here and experience it myself and actually see it for myself. The students are making a great impression and being trusted with really important roles giving them valuable experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives and, in many cases, will open doors for them.
People keep asking me what bands I’ve actually seen, but I’ve only really stopped to watch The Gossip who were ace, and seen snippets of others and heard a lot more as I wander round and round and round. I’m spending most of my time talking to our volunteers and staff working and performing here and battling technology to try and update the Leeds Met website from the Press tent where there are constant interviews going on with people that I don’t quite recognise. In fact the only ‘celeb’ I’ve had contact with is Ian Brown, thanks Rebekka for making me go up for a photo of him!
It feels like I’ve been here for years and walked a million miles, although I’m only on my third day here. And I’ve got it relatively easy, the volunteers are working long and intense shifts running stages, DJing through the night, pandering to bands bizarre whims and giving out information to the masses. Then there’s Rebekka, Caroline, Laura and Patsy who seem to constantly be doing circuits of this massive venue sorting stuff out by phone and walkie-talkie to ensure the volunteers are getting the best possible experience. Everyone I talk to is sleep deprived and aching all over but are incredibly friendly, upbeat and having a brilliant time.
There also seem to be Leeds Met connections dotted all over the place on top of our 130+ volunteers, there are guests coming in on day tickets to see what we’re all up to, past and present students and staff on stage or milling around the guest area and arena and Leeds Met hoodies galore. It’s great to bump in to people all over the place and see just how far and wide the University’s tentacles extend.
Having heard, read and written about the partnership since its formation it’s eye-opening to be here and experience it myself and actually see it for myself. The students are making a great impression and being trusted with really important roles giving them valuable experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives and, in many cases, will open doors for them.
Saturday, 29 August 2009
The Frontiers
The Teeth, originally uploaded by Leeds Met Festival Volunteers.
Saturday at the BBC Introducing Stage - another mini film from the Leeds Met film crew
Cool CATs and Fantastic HATs
Arriving at Leeds Festival on Thursday morning, car fully loaded, I will admit to both excitement and trepidation. Camping is something I have not done since Girl Guides but I thought that this was the weekend to give it a go. This was going to be the best bit of my holiday!
With 80,000 people expected, the journey there was surprisingly quick and the CATs (Campsite Arena Team) were extremely cool and welcoming; (did one of the helpers really look like that Rob guy from Twilight or was it just my daughter's friends' imagination?) Their help in carrying all my stuff and then setting up my tent was just amazing. This was very different to the camping I remember!
Equally impressive is the planning and organisation that goes into this festival weekend and being there really brought the sheer scale and complexity to life. No wonder why so many of our students wanted to help out as volunteers. Meeting some of the 130 students in action on a tour of the site provided by Gavin was brilliant. The HATs (Helpful Arena Team) were terrific, students from business, cultural studies, events management and music technology were working on the BBC Introducing Stage with one of our graduates as Stage Manager, as Artist Liaison and on production. All were enthusiastic and valued the opportunity to develop their skills and experience as well as the chance to see the music festival first hand. I missed out the campsite DJ team whose shift ran from 11pm till 5am but I know, from the distant music and cheering I could hear as I sat in my tent later that evening, that they were doing a terrific job.
The partnership with Festival Republic has gone from strength to strength with outputs including internships and employment for our students and crime reduction on site. A great team - talented students, dedicated staff (well done Rebekka, Gavin and Caroline), a fantastic Festival team and terrific partnership.
Now 4am on day 1 and off to fix my tent pegs to stop my tent rising up and blowing away - (the cool CATs did say that they weren't experts at setting up tents!).
Barbara Colledge
Dean of Innovation North
Leeds Met
With 80,000 people expected, the journey there was surprisingly quick and the CATs (Campsite Arena Team) were extremely cool and welcoming; (did one of the helpers really look like that Rob guy from Twilight or was it just my daughter's friends' imagination?) Their help in carrying all my stuff and then setting up my tent was just amazing. This was very different to the camping I remember!
Equally impressive is the planning and organisation that goes into this festival weekend and being there really brought the sheer scale and complexity to life. No wonder why so many of our students wanted to help out as volunteers. Meeting some of the 130 students in action on a tour of the site provided by Gavin was brilliant. The HATs (Helpful Arena Team) were terrific, students from business, cultural studies, events management and music technology were working on the BBC Introducing Stage with one of our graduates as Stage Manager, as Artist Liaison and on production. All were enthusiastic and valued the opportunity to develop their skills and experience as well as the chance to see the music festival first hand. I missed out the campsite DJ team whose shift ran from 11pm till 5am but I know, from the distant music and cheering I could hear as I sat in my tent later that evening, that they were doing a terrific job.
The partnership with Festival Republic has gone from strength to strength with outputs including internships and employment for our students and crime reduction on site. A great team - talented students, dedicated staff (well done Rebekka, Gavin and Caroline), a fantastic Festival team and terrific partnership.
Now 4am on day 1 and off to fix my tent pegs to stop my tent rising up and blowing away - (the cool CATs did say that they weren't experts at setting up tents!).
Barbara Colledge
Dean of Innovation North
Leeds Met
Friday, 28 August 2009
Wonderswan
Wonderswan, originally uploaded by Leeds Met Festival Volunteers.
A short film by Leeds Met film crew at Leeds Festival 2009.
Pulled Apart By Horses
On the Festival Republic stage at Leeds Festival 2009. Guitarist James Brown is a Leeds Met alumnus.
A successful start
So we're here at Leeds Festival, and have just managed to get an internet connection. So much has happened already that our barbeque on Wednesday night seems like a very long time ago. We spent most of Thursday preparing, which involved lots of walking around the site, checking equipment, practising performances, preparing backstage areas, and being quizzed on lots of festival info.
Our HATs (Helpful Arena Teams) are busy helping festival-goers as I write, and our performance artists and campsite DJs have had their first successful night, which included singing to the punters when the PA system failed. The BBC Introducing stage team started off supporting the Dance to the Radio night and are now fully in control on the first full day of bands.
Our HATs (Helpful Arena Teams) are busy helping festival-goers as I write, and our performance artists and campsite DJs have had their first successful night, which included singing to the punters when the PA system failed. The BBC Introducing stage team started off supporting the Dance to the Radio night and are now fully in control on the first full day of bands.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Volunteering can often lead to something more
Well, gearing up ready for Leeds Festival tomorrow. I have been very lucky to be able to gain a position as Artist Liaison on the Festival Republic stage after volunteering at Latitude on the Lake Stage as Artist Liaison. The position that I was given at Latitude has made a great difference to me not only by being able to gain a paid role at Leeds Festival, but also allowing me to add more skills on my CV and allowing me to gain more events experience towards my Event Management degree at Uni.
I believe that volunteering is a great way to get involved with the great opportunities that Leeds Met has to offer as well as having a fun time and meeting new people. My advice to anyone who is debating whether or not to do a volunteering placement is to go for it. You gain some valuable skills, a great way to meet people, have a fun time and it may lead to something more, in my case it did. So thank you to Rebekka, Caroline, Gavin, Isla and the rest of the team for allowing me to gain a position at Latitude, for without their help I wouldn't be where I am now.
Lucy McCann
2nd year Events Management student
I believe that volunteering is a great way to get involved with the great opportunities that Leeds Met has to offer as well as having a fun time and meeting new people. My advice to anyone who is debating whether or not to do a volunteering placement is to go for it. You gain some valuable skills, a great way to meet people, have a fun time and it may lead to something more, in my case it did. So thank you to Rebekka, Caroline, Gavin, Isla and the rest of the team for allowing me to gain a position at Latitude, for without their help I wouldn't be where I am now.
Lucy McCann
2nd year Events Management student
One more day, one more cuppa
So after 6 months preparation...being over- faced with applications, caffeining through the 3- day interviews, making 200 students volunteer- happy, getting suitably aquainted at a pre- festival social, feeling the stress, loving Team Latitude, sleeping a lot, and then doing it all over again...Leeds Festival is one day away.
We're all sat in the LeedsMet office at the mo having feasted on some top- notch houmous sandwhiches and fruit crumble (it's carby central in here) and getting the last few bits and bobs together for tomorrow. I've put together some mega information packs for each project so that no- one is in the dark (and no excuses for 'forgetting' a shift during the Bloc Party set- we know you wouldn't do that you lovely lot) and am giving out the last bits of merch- volunteers are popping in on their way into town for last- minute Superdrug baby wipe binges. Caroline is expertly making HATs shift spreadsheets and Gavin is finalising guest lists for lucky LeedsMet staff who'll be joining us this weekend- all between jokes, japes and making cups of tea. It's a happy office, as always.
Everyone is excited if a little rough round the edges already. We seem to have had a contagious office this week- Gavin is still necking antibiotics from a dodgy mosquito bite and I for one am batting off some fluey symptoms (oink?) with a Vitamin C- flavoured stick and also hobbling on a gammy foot. You all wanted to know that didn't you?
I'm 'ard though, it's fine. I'll have stage schedule in one hand and some pocket tissues in the other- as you do.
I think it's going to feel a little odd once the festival is over. A definite anti- climax but more than likely some more fab new friends, lots of cringey photos and more rave reviews of everyone's hard work from Festival Republic, BBC and the like (fingers crossed). I realised I probably won't be going to another festival until next Summer and even then, I might have a year off from fields and tents and falafel pittas. This will be my 5th major festival this Summer (although my friend an Oxfam volunteer bunny is on his 10th) so next Summer maybe I should do something else like stay at home with a good book or jet off to Thailand like everybody else. Both very tempting (one very expensive) but I have a feeling I'll decide that England, fields, falafels and rain are strangely where it's at.
I'm supervising the stage team at Leeds which will be a similar deal to Latitude but a bit smaller and a bit more hectic. There's a cracking line- up on the stage, I'm hedging my bets on Lovvers headline set on Sunday being a corker. We'll be working quite closely with BBC RAW Talent which is exciting- being able to network with the professionals does pose real opportunities. One of our Artist Liason from The Lake Stage at Latitude is lucky (and clever) enough to be enjoying some paid work on the Festival Republic stage at Leeds this week. If that's not motivation for volunteering, I don't know what is!
Keep checking the blog for Leeds festival updates from tomorrow.
Exciting times!
Isla Brown
Festival Republic Partnership Intern
PG Dip International Events Management - graduated 2009
We're all sat in the LeedsMet office at the mo having feasted on some top- notch houmous sandwhiches and fruit crumble (it's carby central in here) and getting the last few bits and bobs together for tomorrow. I've put together some mega information packs for each project so that no- one is in the dark (and no excuses for 'forgetting' a shift during the Bloc Party set- we know you wouldn't do that you lovely lot) and am giving out the last bits of merch- volunteers are popping in on their way into town for last- minute Superdrug baby wipe binges. Caroline is expertly making HATs shift spreadsheets and Gavin is finalising guest lists for lucky LeedsMet staff who'll be joining us this weekend- all between jokes, japes and making cups of tea. It's a happy office, as always.
Everyone is excited if a little rough round the edges already. We seem to have had a contagious office this week- Gavin is still necking antibiotics from a dodgy mosquito bite and I for one am batting off some fluey symptoms (oink?) with a Vitamin C- flavoured stick and also hobbling on a gammy foot. You all wanted to know that didn't you?
I'm 'ard though, it's fine. I'll have stage schedule in one hand and some pocket tissues in the other- as you do.
I think it's going to feel a little odd once the festival is over. A definite anti- climax but more than likely some more fab new friends, lots of cringey photos and more rave reviews of everyone's hard work from Festival Republic, BBC and the like (fingers crossed). I realised I probably won't be going to another festival until next Summer and even then, I might have a year off from fields and tents and falafel pittas. This will be my 5th major festival this Summer (although my friend an Oxfam volunteer bunny is on his 10th) so next Summer maybe I should do something else like stay at home with a good book or jet off to Thailand like everybody else. Both very tempting (one very expensive) but I have a feeling I'll decide that England, fields, falafels and rain are strangely where it's at.
I'm supervising the stage team at Leeds which will be a similar deal to Latitude but a bit smaller and a bit more hectic. There's a cracking line- up on the stage, I'm hedging my bets on Lovvers headline set on Sunday being a corker. We'll be working quite closely with BBC RAW Talent which is exciting- being able to network with the professionals does pose real opportunities. One of our Artist Liason from The Lake Stage at Latitude is lucky (and clever) enough to be enjoying some paid work on the Festival Republic stage at Leeds this week. If that's not motivation for volunteering, I don't know what is!
Keep checking the blog for Leeds festival updates from tomorrow.
Exciting times!
Isla Brown
Festival Republic Partnership Intern
PG Dip International Events Management - graduated 2009
Friday, 14 August 2009
An insider's view
I’m writing this blog after I got given the opportunity (thanks Caroline!!) to help the Production Co-ordinator for Reading and Leeds festivals down at the Festival Republic office. I’ve enjoyed going to various festivals in the past, and through my Event Management course and working on a few festivals, including working with the HATs (Helpful Arena Teams) for Leeds Met, I decided that festivals is the route I wanted to go down. So that’s what I’m pursuing right now at Festival Republic.
I’m here at the FR office for all of August up until festival week and then driving up to Bramham Park where hopefully I can be re-united with some of the other lovely Leeds Met volunteers!
So here’s what I’ve been up to so far…
I’ve been emailing bands who will be playing the BBC Introducing Stage and the Festival Republic stage to get to know what they’re all bringing along and sound specifications for their sets. I’m beginning to put together manuals for all of the stages and updating all of the information we have for bands as it changes, and as more acts get added to the bill. It’s slowly but surely speeding up work-load wise so I’m really trying to get organised now so that it’s easier the week before – which I’m anticipating to be a little hectic! I’ve also helped Artist Liaison out during quiet times when I’ve been waiting for bands to email by sending out tickets for people on guest lists. I work quite closely with Artist Liaison anyway because often bands ask me questions about passes which I talk to them about, and also bands ask them questions about equipment which they will hand over to me. I get sent hospitality riders (bands requests of alcohol, food and other weird and wonderful things) which I have a nosy through for my own curiosity and then send them to Artist Liaison too.
The Festival Republic office is in Covent Garden, which if you haven’t visited is really nice – lots of nice shops, restaurants and tempting places to fritter my money away! At the office on a Friday there’s ‘Free Lunch Friday’ – where Festival Republic allow us all to go out for a longer lunch all together as a team building thing. They pay £5 towards each person’s meal, and it becomes all too handy being located here for this, since there are lots of places around with some good lunch time deals on. On my first week we went to a curry house and last week we went to Gourmet Burger Kitchen (one of my favourites!). So that’s a nice end to the week. The staff here are really friendly and helpful too, and going out for lunches on a Friday definitely has helped me get to know them a bit better.
The office is gradually getting more and more empty as more of the staff re-locate to the two festival sites, so I’m looking forward to joining some of them out where all the action is!
I really can’t wait to get up to Leeds Festival… Only two weeks to go until the show starts!
Olvia Sime
Festival Republic Intern
BA (Hons) Managing Cultural & Major Events - graduated 2009
I’m here at the FR office for all of August up until festival week and then driving up to Bramham Park where hopefully I can be re-united with some of the other lovely Leeds Met volunteers!
So here’s what I’ve been up to so far…
I’ve been emailing bands who will be playing the BBC Introducing Stage and the Festival Republic stage to get to know what they’re all bringing along and sound specifications for their sets. I’m beginning to put together manuals for all of the stages and updating all of the information we have for bands as it changes, and as more acts get added to the bill. It’s slowly but surely speeding up work-load wise so I’m really trying to get organised now so that it’s easier the week before – which I’m anticipating to be a little hectic! I’ve also helped Artist Liaison out during quiet times when I’ve been waiting for bands to email by sending out tickets for people on guest lists. I work quite closely with Artist Liaison anyway because often bands ask me questions about passes which I talk to them about, and also bands ask them questions about equipment which they will hand over to me. I get sent hospitality riders (bands requests of alcohol, food and other weird and wonderful things) which I have a nosy through for my own curiosity and then send them to Artist Liaison too.
The Festival Republic office is in Covent Garden, which if you haven’t visited is really nice – lots of nice shops, restaurants and tempting places to fritter my money away! At the office on a Friday there’s ‘Free Lunch Friday’ – where Festival Republic allow us all to go out for a longer lunch all together as a team building thing. They pay £5 towards each person’s meal, and it becomes all too handy being located here for this, since there are lots of places around with some good lunch time deals on. On my first week we went to a curry house and last week we went to Gourmet Burger Kitchen (one of my favourites!). So that’s a nice end to the week. The staff here are really friendly and helpful too, and going out for lunches on a Friday definitely has helped me get to know them a bit better.
The office is gradually getting more and more empty as more of the staff re-locate to the two festival sites, so I’m looking forward to joining some of them out where all the action is!
I really can’t wait to get up to Leeds Festival… Only two weeks to go until the show starts!
Olvia Sime
Festival Republic Intern
BA (Hons) Managing Cultural & Major Events - graduated 2009
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
The Lake Stage
I'd like to share a Facebook status update from our BBC intern (and my new pal) Samaira- 'I would now swap a shower, a 12 hour sleep and a large capri sun to be back at Latitude with swollen feet and dreaded hair with the best people ever'.....pretty much sums it up.
We got back on Monday and a constant stream of text messages, phone calls, and Facebook-ing show everyone is still buzzing from our amazing week and the new friends we've made. We worked mega hard, learnt more in a week than we have in a year, networked with some industry bigwigs (and lovely ones at that), didn't wash much (or ever), wore out our branded hoodies and pink tshirts, ate the culinary delights of the staff canteen and made like Bear Grylls with our campfires and outdoor survival techniques (tip- never, ever pitch a tent on an ants nest). Above all, everyone worked as a team and as friends- helping each other out, helping each other learn, and bonding over cider and dancing after a hard days work.
Team Latitude should be proud!
Supervising the stage team was a pleasure. I spent a long 3 days on our Lake Stage- the festival's new music stage, curated by Huw Stephens and hosting carefully programmed talent from the Friday morning mellow British- country of New York Fund to a crowd- surfing, belter of a headline set from Bombay Bicycle Club. We worked with the dry- humoured but massive legend that is Kevin Sutherland: industry- respected stage manager whos briefcase was covered with Production passes from staging gigs from Foo Fighters to Enter Shikari. He'll be stage managing the Festival Republic stage at Leeds Fest this year....respect, Kev! The lovely Sam and Claudia were working with our artist liason, Harry and Lucy, but pretty much left them to it after the first few hours.
Emma, Mark and Joe worked as the stage team trio and I couldn't have been happier with the way they got stuck in and made Kev (and me) very proud. With the usual swaggering, windbag tour managers that insist on 'one more song- this is their new one' and new- timer Electro-pop getups that nervously run for a wee 20 seconds before their set, their hardest challenge was to make the stage run on time. After a few nervous moments, most notably swifty building a drum riser to stage the unexpected arrival of the extraordinary, stomping 23- piece female choir 'Gaggle', the team sailed through to a prompt 9.15pm finish of Slow Club's jolly set on Sunday, followed by much high- fiveing. Emma, Mark, Joe- you know you're ace!
Harry and Lucy were our high- energy and forever witty artist liason pair who stormed our row of dressing rooms with a constant supply of fruit baskets and mini mars bars to keep the stream of hungover bands and their flawlessly dressed girlfriends (heels at a festival? why?) quiet and happy. Successfully blagging through calling 'Colorama', 'Calamari' (yes, like squid) and 'Django Django', 'Diabilio Diabilio' for hours, the pair worked like genuine professionals and I'm sure will be getting paid with the Big Dogs before too long.
Highlights of the week:
- Shaking hands first time with the huggable Huw Stephens who, despite me knowing full well who he was, said 'Hello Isla, I'm Huw' in a tone reminiscent of the Trumpton opening titles. He really is very nice. Then passing his thanks to the whole team as I unashemadly grabbed a photo at the end and saying he hopes to work with us in the future. Yes please!
- Nicking the skipping rope and admiring the handmade guitar of our new pal Newton Faulker who hung out all weekend and was bashful, mega friendly and who I caught singing 'Teardrop' under his breath during a lull in conversation. Guilty pleasure.
- Kev having a full- on and explitive yell at the tour manager of 'The Cheek' who pretended not to have done his Maths GCSE, therefore rendering him unable to understand that when the big hand got to the little hand on the clock hung on stage that his band had to kindly....get off.
Finally, I want to thank the whole stage team for knuckling down to a hugely challenging job and holding your own with experienced professionals. Brilliant!
I also want to thank the film crew for being so friendly and fun to work with whilst filming the stage. Working like true professionals they created some pretty special footage...look out for it soon.
I'm off for a nap...
Isla
We got back on Monday and a constant stream of text messages, phone calls, and Facebook-ing show everyone is still buzzing from our amazing week and the new friends we've made. We worked mega hard, learnt more in a week than we have in a year, networked with some industry bigwigs (and lovely ones at that), didn't wash much (or ever), wore out our branded hoodies and pink tshirts, ate the culinary delights of the staff canteen and made like Bear Grylls with our campfires and outdoor survival techniques (tip- never, ever pitch a tent on an ants nest). Above all, everyone worked as a team and as friends- helping each other out, helping each other learn, and bonding over cider and dancing after a hard days work.
Team Latitude should be proud!
Supervising the stage team was a pleasure. I spent a long 3 days on our Lake Stage- the festival's new music stage, curated by Huw Stephens and hosting carefully programmed talent from the Friday morning mellow British- country of New York Fund to a crowd- surfing, belter of a headline set from Bombay Bicycle Club. We worked with the dry- humoured but massive legend that is Kevin Sutherland: industry- respected stage manager whos briefcase was covered with Production passes from staging gigs from Foo Fighters to Enter Shikari. He'll be stage managing the Festival Republic stage at Leeds Fest this year....respect, Kev! The lovely Sam and Claudia were working with our artist liason, Harry and Lucy, but pretty much left them to it after the first few hours.
Emma, Mark and Joe worked as the stage team trio and I couldn't have been happier with the way they got stuck in and made Kev (and me) very proud. With the usual swaggering, windbag tour managers that insist on 'one more song- this is their new one' and new- timer Electro-pop getups that nervously run for a wee 20 seconds before their set, their hardest challenge was to make the stage run on time. After a few nervous moments, most notably swifty building a drum riser to stage the unexpected arrival of the extraordinary, stomping 23- piece female choir 'Gaggle', the team sailed through to a prompt 9.15pm finish of Slow Club's jolly set on Sunday, followed by much high- fiveing. Emma, Mark, Joe- you know you're ace!
Harry and Lucy were our high- energy and forever witty artist liason pair who stormed our row of dressing rooms with a constant supply of fruit baskets and mini mars bars to keep the stream of hungover bands and their flawlessly dressed girlfriends (heels at a festival? why?) quiet and happy. Successfully blagging through calling 'Colorama', 'Calamari' (yes, like squid) and 'Django Django', 'Diabilio Diabilio' for hours, the pair worked like genuine professionals and I'm sure will be getting paid with the Big Dogs before too long.
Highlights of the week:
- Shaking hands first time with the huggable Huw Stephens who, despite me knowing full well who he was, said 'Hello Isla, I'm Huw' in a tone reminiscent of the Trumpton opening titles. He really is very nice. Then passing his thanks to the whole team as I unashemadly grabbed a photo at the end and saying he hopes to work with us in the future. Yes please!
- Nicking the skipping rope and admiring the handmade guitar of our new pal Newton Faulker who hung out all weekend and was bashful, mega friendly and who I caught singing 'Teardrop' under his breath during a lull in conversation. Guilty pleasure.
- Kev having a full- on and explitive yell at the tour manager of 'The Cheek' who pretended not to have done his Maths GCSE, therefore rendering him unable to understand that when the big hand got to the little hand on the clock hung on stage that his band had to kindly....get off.
Finally, I want to thank the whole stage team for knuckling down to a hugely challenging job and holding your own with experienced professionals. Brilliant!
I also want to thank the film crew for being so friendly and fun to work with whilst filming the stage. Working like true professionals they created some pretty special footage...look out for it soon.
I'm off for a nap...
Isla
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Part of the team
During the festival a few students have been working more directly with Festival Republic and also with BBC Radio. Andi and James have spent the week in the Performers Campsite, helping to look after the artists and doing all sorts of jobs to keep everything running smoothly.
BBC Radio 2 have been lucky enough to have five of our volunteers all helping them out at some point - Samaira, Lailah, Dan, Chris and Chris. The BBC were delighted with all our interns. We spoke to Janine Maya-Smith from Radio 2 earlier: "I can't fault them. They became part of our team and I couldn't have told them apart from the staff I manage. They were reliable, great fun and got on with people, and were a core part of what we've done over the weekend".
A security message
We've been asking some of the people we've worked with to give us a message for our blog. Matt has been in charge of security at the Lake Stage all weekend. He's enjoyed working with our volunteers:
Hey you lovely bunch of mad people! Been good to meet you all, hope to see you up at Leeds Fest next month!
Less work, more play
Our playwork team are ace. They've been getting up early every morning to entertain the kids in the family campsite before the main arena opens. Activities are led by the children - they choose what they want to play with and how they want to play. There are musical instruments, a ball pit, pogo sticks and a massive crash mat to jump on to, as well as loads of other things to be creative with. Families love it as it keeps everyone happy and entertained during the festival. As well as the morning activities there are sessions throughout the day and early evening. The playwork team from Leeds Met, led by Mike Wragg, came to Latitude last year and were so popular that they were asked to extend their hours this year.
Huw and the crew
Our film crew caught up with Huw Stephens to ask him about Latitude and the Lake Stage.
Matt, Kev, Lucy and Emma
Our stage team with their Festival Republic supervisor and head of security.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Tips from Huw Stephens
We had a chat to some of the people that the volunteers have been working with, and asked them for a message for our blog. Here's what they said:
Whatever you choose to do after Leeds Met, the experience you gain from hands on events like working at Latitude is invaluable. Hope everything works out, keep keen, calm and busy and you'll go far!
Huw Stephens
Lake Stage Curator and BBC Radio DJ
Hey you Leeds Met types. Dudes, yeah, like I went to Leeds Met. I'm part of your funky massive. Why don't we get together and chill?
Love you,
James x
Pulled Apart By Horses
Leeds-based band, played on the Lake Stage
A week to remember
Well it is Saturday night and the misty drizzle-rain is here again. I am pleased to be tucked up in this little cabin away from it nice and dry, so that I can tell you about my take on the festival so far.
I am a HAT and am thoroughly enjoying my interaction with different members of the public. Rob, Seymour and myself have had different acts depending on our mood. We have been a human fruit machine, we have pretended Seymour is the world champion at 'Rock Paper Scissors' and we have been dancing around shaking tiny maracas.
I have also been taking photos on a sideline which will soon be uploaded to http://flickr.com/nathandainty and http://nathandainty.co.uk
The thing I have most enjoyed about Latitude is discovering new bands, comedians and performances that I would have usually been too ignorant to go and see by choice. I have also made a lot of new friends with a wide range of people and I think it is a week i will remember for a very long time.
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/nathandainty
Nathan Dainty
HAT (Helpful Arena Teams)
Friday, 17 July 2009
Loads of responsibility and support
It's the end of the first full day of filming and the festival is in full swing. Lots of planning has paid off and the film crew are on form; when interviewing Post War Years - hot from their set on the Lake Stage - the band commented on how professional our Leeds Met students were. Brilliant. This is something that has been mentioned many times before in relation to the Festival Republic partnership; something that makes this project interesting for me as a Work Based Learning advocate.
Students on the Lake Stage are being managed by the wonderful Kev, who has a stage to run, but is happy to give loads of responsibility and support to our stage crew volunteers. He threw them in at the deep end this morning and they're coping well. This theme continues with our film students who are producing an official EPK for Festival Republic. There's such a sense of trust and respect for our students, a real belief that they will deliver within their various roles. We're all working very hard and the learning curve is sometimes steep, but the rewards are clear to see.
Laura Taylor
Film Crew Manager
Posing with Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Winkleman and David, the sheep farmer, pose with our film crew after spray painting sheep in a stunt for Radio 2.
Claudia Winkleman paints a sheep
A Radio 2 stunt in the guest area which we filmed and photographed.
Mixing the sound for film
Tom takes a feed from the sound desk backstage and mixes it for the film crew.
Trusted to do it right
This is our fourth day on site at Latitude Festival and everyone is very busy. We've got students working all over the site: playwork, performance, film and stage crew. What's been interesting this year is all of the additional jobs we are being asked to do. For example yesterday two of our students worked with team 'Maconie' as runners. They were helping to organise the guests for his Radio Two show. Today our helpful arena teams are assisting Radio Four, who record numerous radio shows at Latitude, with their audiences for their live shows.
When I had my planning meeting with Melvin Benn (Managing Director of Festival Republic) in November he described our partnership as the success story of the summer. I said, "why?". Melvin said, "because you're easy to work with and you do what you say you're going to do". I was surprised by the simplicity of this statement, but on reflection that is the most important thing in such a complex busy environment.
We came to Latitude with 40 volunteers last year and this year it's over 70; however it's important to remember that this isn't just a 'bums on seats' scaling up. This is the third summer of the Festival Republic partnership and the mutual respect and trust is growing. This is why we are being asked to work on high profile jobs with Festival Republic's high profile media partners - they trust us to do it right.
Rebekka Kill
Festival Republic Partnership Manager
Volunteers take centre stage
The Lake Stage opens at 2pm today with The Late Greats from Eastbourne. Leeds Met volunteers are running the whole stage under the watchful eye of Kevin Sutherland, who is happy just to let them get on with it. The team are really excited about their first full day and have been getting on marvellously so far. It's so important that the stage runs to time, so they will be keeping a tight rein on the schedule, whilst making sure that the bands are ok and all equipment is in the right place. The Lake Stage is one of four main music stages at the festival, and gets its name from its location, just by the lake and the specially created beach, complete with deckchairs.
Pink, Purple, Blue and Green
Our internet access has just been upgraded from a dongle to full wireless broadband in the press tent. This is very exciting for me as it means I can get photos and stories uploaded on-site much more easily. Thursday was a busy day, with the last of the preparations before the arena opened and the festival started properly in the early evening. The HATs are already a hit, with festival-goers asking all sorts of questions and playing along with the performances. They look amazing in their pink and black, with top hats and a whole variety of bizarre accessories.
One of the most fun things for me so far has been watching the painted sheep arrive. I was there with the film crew to watch them explore their new home for the week and it was really funny seeing them in all their strange, bright colours. They seem perfectly happy with the change from their usual white and black. This afternoon I'll be watching as two Radio 2 presenters have a go at hand painting some sheep in the guest area. It's this sort of thing that makes Latitude so quirky and different, and one of the reasons why I love the festival.
Caroline Bonser
Festival Republic volunteer projects co-ordinator and photographer
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Pretty Pink Pictures
Below are a few photos from our first full day at the festival. Have a look at our flickr page to see more.
Flamboyant HATs
This was during a performance workshop, where the HATs were developing ideas for their characters.
Can you remember my name?
The HATs play the 'name game' - can they remember all of their fellow volunteers?
From the volunteers' perspective
Arriving at Old Broadcasting House and seeing a sea of fuschia pink t-shirts gave us an enormous sense of belonging and team spirit. After meeting the team, we were so excited about what lay ahead...
It was a surprisingly quick six hour coach journey, and we arrived at Henham Park and unloaded our luggage. With 72 happy helpers we were soon all camped. We almost managed to leave our tent on the coach, which could have been a disaster - after all a tent is an important piece of camping equipment! Luckily we recovered the tent and two lovely boys assembled it for us. Good times already and it's only day one. After the hustle and bustle of setting up our home for six days, we settled down for a team BBQ, feasted on burgers and talked into the night. We met some friendly Welsh festival-goers, but by 2am we decided to finish on a high and bed down for the night.
Waking up amidst your own sweat is a bittersweet experience - bitter in its suffocating effect, but sweet in knowing you have arrived at your first festival of the year. This is the life! After cat crawling from our tent, we switfly decided the weather called for minimal clothing - bonus! We headed to the staff canteen for a full English (with chips!), and were then taken on a site walk by the wonderful cheerful Gavin. We were really impressed with the enormous effort put into the art and the mass of woods and open space, which completely transforms them into a rave wonderland. We were all excited and filled with anticipation for the weekend to come.
Later on we retired to the campsite to take it easy, sunbathe and contemplate the next four days as runners for the BBC. What an awesome opportunity, and what an amazing festival.
Samaira Scibberas and Lailah O'Donnell
Latitude Festival interns for BBC Radio
The story so far...
I'm sitting in the campsite listening to the sound of tents flapping in the wind and water bottles being squeezed. This time yesterday we arrived at Latitude Festival with over 70 students and staff, with the intention of learning, entertaining and, most importantly, laughing!
It's been a busy lead up to Latitude Festival for me, with a Leeds Met open day last Friday and Faculty of Arts & Society graduations on Monday. I talked to prospective students about our festival volunteering opportunities and used these as an example of how Leeds Met offers more than just a degree. I then congratulated and interviewed graduates who have already taken up these opportunities.
Yesterday I was on one of the two coach loads of volunteers from Leeds to Latitude. Everyone was eager and excited, and I brought them fresh British strawberries as a welcome to the festival season. After getting settled in, which involved me helping to set up lots of tents, we had a BBQ round the campfire. This morning I took the stage crew, film crew and BBC runners on a tour of the site, and after lunch I observed the Flamboyant HATs workshop. Their ideas included performing everything from an imaginary swimming pool to a human fruit machine, spontaneous mass crowd drumming and tea leaf reading.
Tomorrow evening, after three days with the Leeds Met crew, I start my work as Woods Zone Manager for Festival Republic. I look forward to seeing the popular pink t-shirted Leeds Met volunteers all around the festival.
Gavin Freeborn
Cultural Partnerships Officer
Monday, 13 July 2009
Countdown...
I've been working for the last few months to help coordinate the partnership with Festival Republic after I was given the fab opportunity by Rebekka and Caroline who seemed to think my endless experiences of running around in a muddy field with 3 day old make- up and a radio manically glued to my ear might be worth something...I certainly hope so! I've worked for lots of festivals before, from helping out with my parent's mega hippy 'One World' festival since being a wee tot to helping run the U.K.'s student festival 'Beach Break Live' since it started in 2005 (a challenging year this year if you read any of the press...moving a festival for 10, 000 excitable students all the way from Cornwall to Kent in a week. Google it! Festival history!)
I joined the team working to take over 200 students to Latitude and Leeds festivals about 4 months ago and have been doing all sorts ever since. I particularly loved meeting all the students (yes you!) at our recruitment interviews where it really was an eye- opener to hear all the amazing things that students at LeedsMet get up to at University and in their various projects. Definitely not just sitting around and getting pissed...no-one should underestimate the potential of students to make a huge success of a whole range of interesting projects that make a real contribution to their own development and to communities and organisations aswell (if we're going to get into that one!). Unfortuantely, in my experience lots of people still have a rather negative view. Projects such as this one with Festival Republic are an example of students working really hard for a large organisation and making a genuine positive difference to the event. We'll have a few drinks too but who says you can't work hard and have fun?! Shifts with hangovers, yes please. I've worked on various projects to involve young volunteers in relevant and genuine opportunities with established organisations and this is DEFO one of the best I've seen. I've learnt so much about how to make a success of partnerships and volunteer involvement that I'll be taking on to future jobs and have already passed on to other people I work with.
Anyway, enough of the gushing...the last few weeks I've been prepping for Latitude and organised a big knees up for our volunteers and people associated with the partnership last week. You can read about that below but it was nice to see everyone together and to throw around a few quiz prizes to the brainiacs amongst us!
We leave for Latitude tomorrow and I'll be helping manage the volunteers with the lovely Patsy, particularly concentrating on the The Lake Stage that's overseen by Radio 1's Huw Stephens. Mega excited about that one...
Well I'm off out to buy balloons, batteries and a pink feather duster. Good times. Look out for updates from the site after tomorrow!
Isla Brown
PG Dip International Events Management
I joined the team working to take over 200 students to Latitude and Leeds festivals about 4 months ago and have been doing all sorts ever since. I particularly loved meeting all the students (yes you!) at our recruitment interviews where it really was an eye- opener to hear all the amazing things that students at LeedsMet get up to at University and in their various projects. Definitely not just sitting around and getting pissed...no-one should underestimate the potential of students to make a huge success of a whole range of interesting projects that make a real contribution to their own development and to communities and organisations aswell (if we're going to get into that one!). Unfortuantely, in my experience lots of people still have a rather negative view. Projects such as this one with Festival Republic are an example of students working really hard for a large organisation and making a genuine positive difference to the event. We'll have a few drinks too but who says you can't work hard and have fun?! Shifts with hangovers, yes please. I've worked on various projects to involve young volunteers in relevant and genuine opportunities with established organisations and this is DEFO one of the best I've seen. I've learnt so much about how to make a success of partnerships and volunteer involvement that I'll be taking on to future jobs and have already passed on to other people I work with.
Anyway, enough of the gushing...the last few weeks I've been prepping for Latitude and organised a big knees up for our volunteers and people associated with the partnership last week. You can read about that below but it was nice to see everyone together and to throw around a few quiz prizes to the brainiacs amongst us!
We leave for Latitude tomorrow and I'll be helping manage the volunteers with the lovely Patsy, particularly concentrating on the The Lake Stage that's overseen by Radio 1's Huw Stephens. Mega excited about that one...
Well I'm off out to buy balloons, batteries and a pink feather duster. Good times. Look out for updates from the site after tomorrow!
Isla Brown
PG Dip International Events Management
Tomorrow: Latitude
There's only one day left until we head off for our first festival of the summer. 70 volunteers from Leeds Met will be all over the Latitude Festival site - stage managing, filming, entertaining the kids, running for the BBC, and helping people out in a flamboyant way. This blog will be the hub for stories and pictures about our adventures and will be updated directly on-site as all the fun happens. Do check back and join in with us over the next week, and if you're actually at Latitude then look out for lots of pink and black, and come and say hello.
DJ extraordinaire
One of our DJs at the party - Jamie is part of Haus DJs, who regularly put on nights and DJ at various venues around Leeds
Quiz winners
We were so impressed by everyone's musical and local knowledge at our pre-fest party. This team took 2nd place and won a festival survival kit - a goodie bag filled with all sorts of helpful things to use in a field.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
It's party time...
We're having a party tonight for all our Latitude and Leeds volunteers. It's a chance to meet up, have a drink and get to know each other. We'll also be testing everyone's music and festival knowledge with our quiz. It's at the SU bar on Headingley Campus, 7.30-11pm. Friends/housemates/partners are all very welcome.
Friday, 3 July 2009
More about Latitude Festival
The first festival our volunteers will be working at this summer is Latitude. As well as three music stages, Latitude Festival features comedy, cabaret, theatre, literature, poetry, art, film and dance tents. It is set in beautiful surroundings around a lake and woods in Henham Park Suffolk
One of the best things about Latitude is the variety and creativity of it all. You never know what you might see next. There are painted sheep, all sorts of happenings in the woods, live radio broadcasts from the BBC, a Pimms Island, book club, human music box...and even some bands...
Now in it's fourth year, Latitude has really established itself among the cream of UK festivals. With a massive children's arena and family campsite too it's great for kids and has such a lovely atmosphere.
Hopefully you can tell by now that we can't wait to be there!
One of the best things about Latitude is the variety and creativity of it all. You never know what you might see next. There are painted sheep, all sorts of happenings in the woods, live radio broadcasts from the BBC, a Pimms Island, book club, human music box...and even some bands...
Now in it's fourth year, Latitude has really established itself among the cream of UK festivals. With a massive children's arena and family campsite too it's great for kids and has such a lovely atmosphere.
Hopefully you can tell by now that we can't wait to be there!
Thursday, 2 July 2009
So how do you get involved?
Our volunteers are a mixture of students, staff and alumni from Leeds Met. We also collaborate with external performers and playworkers, and take volunteers from our partner colleges.
The recruitment process all started in March, when we advertised our available positions. Since then, we've been reading application forms, meeting potential volunteers, and working hard to fit the right people into the right roles. A festival volunteering experience with Leeds Met is a great chance for our students, staff and alumni to use the skills gained in their studies and/or work, and build on these in a real world festival setting. Plus they get to meet new people, watch some bands and generally have a lovely time.
Leeds Met has been working in partnership with Festival Republic since 2007. The University has partnerships and links with a number of cultural organisations in Leeds and beyond, providing lots of opportunities to broaden students' horizons and enhance their university experience.
The recruitment process all started in March, when we advertised our available positions. Since then, we've been reading application forms, meeting potential volunteers, and working hard to fit the right people into the right roles. A festival volunteering experience with Leeds Met is a great chance for our students, staff and alumni to use the skills gained in their studies and/or work, and build on these in a real world festival setting. Plus they get to meet new people, watch some bands and generally have a lovely time.
Leeds Met has been working in partnership with Festival Republic since 2007. The University has partnerships and links with a number of cultural organisations in Leeds and beyond, providing lots of opportunities to broaden students' horizons and enhance their university experience.
Monday, 29 June 2009
15 days and counting...
We're getting ready to leave for Latitude Festival on 14 July - only 15 days away now...
The coaches are booked, the hoodies, t-shirts and wellies have been ordered and lots of pink props are arriving in the office for our Flamboyant Helpful Arena Teams. We're also looking forward to our pre-festival social next Tuesday at the SU bar on our Headingley Campus. This is for all our Latitude and Leeds volunteers to meet up, get to know each other and have a bit of a boogie.
The coaches are booked, the hoodies, t-shirts and wellies have been ordered and lots of pink props are arriving in the office for our Flamboyant Helpful Arena Teams. We're also looking forward to our pre-festival social next Tuesday at the SU bar on our Headingley Campus. This is for all our Latitude and Leeds volunteers to meet up, get to know each other and have a bit of a boogie.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
New blog
This is the new blog for Leeds Met's volunteering projects at Latitude and Leeds Festivals. We work in partnership with Festival Republic to provide brilliant opportunities for our students, staff and alumni to work behind the scenes at some of the UK's best loved festivals.
Find out more at www.leedsmet.ac.uk/festivalrepublic
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