Festival Fever

It's been a busy week for me.

For the last few years I've volunteered to help set up the Bristol Beer Festival.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to run a festival, then I can tell you - a LOT of organization, a LOT of patience, a good sense of humour and a vast number of lovely volunteers.

In Bristol we start with a lovely venue - "Brunel's Old Station" at Temple Meads in Bristol

 This is particularly fortunate for those who like to associate their beer with trains...











Then you need stillage to put your casks on.  But it arrives in pieces, like a Meccano set.

















Of course - you also need beer.  In this case more than 100 casks of the stuff.  Many hands are needed to roll the casks in from the lorry to the hall...















Casks get sorted and stored whilst the length of stillage continues to be built.  Everyone trying not to get in each others' way.









Meanwhile, there are less physical jobs to do:  taps and other accoutrements need to be thoroughly washed to ensure the beer stays in tip-top condition.

Casks are carefully lifted onto the stillage using hoists.
They have to steadied and properly oriented (with the tap hole at the bottom) and then chocked in place

 By the end of day one of set-up all the casks are neatly racked on the stillage settling nicely.






 



Day two is mostly about preparing the rest of the room:  a secure area to sell tokens and memorabilia...














Tables to seat about 400 people (out of a capacity of nearly 1000) are positioned, covered and chairs arranged around them.

 There are long ladders to be climbed so that banners can be hung - from CAMRA, from local breweries and from a charity we're supporing.  All this goes to make the room feel more festive.













Some of our volunteers even help man-handle the staff loos into a tight parking space.

In addition to all this are such diverse jobs as putting programmes and tokens in glasses ready to hand to people as they arrive; putting up signage to loos, exits, for tokens and so that people can see roughly where their chosen beer might be.

Some of the jobs take a bit of experience and skill, others just take a bit of effort and it's great to be part of a big group of people all coming together for one purpose, and because they enjoy it.

So the next time you attend a beer festival, remember the volunteers who are not only working to serve behind the bar, or check your ticket as you come in - there are oodles of people who have also set the place up...and there will be volunteers after to take it all down.

Why not think about becoming a volunteer yourself?  Almost all festivals would welcome more help, and even if you're a bit shy or reserved, it's a really nice way to meet people.  There's a job that suits everyone and anyone...so join in!