September 2021

PEOPLE
Our first couple of days will usually be
spent putting the tents up. We train our
crew to put the structures up in a precise
way – we don’t want any leaks or sagginess!
As a team leader I work closely with the
crew, ensuring the tents are all going up
correctly, the guy ropes are tight and the
groundsheet is stretched out properly. I’m
always there to provide a helping hand.
After the tents are up, we’re hard at
work getting all the interiors in. ZooBells
offers different levels of luxury which vary
between jobs depending on the clients’
preferences. Some like a range of packages
to suit different budgets, so we might
have up to five different styles of interior
at one event and it’s vital they’re allocated
correctly.
Every tent will have a minimum of a
carpet, entrance mat and central table
with lantern. Once these are in, the build
manager and team leader will plot a
diagram of the site, labelling each tent with
its interior package. There’s a lot of walking
back and forth to get everything in place
and it’s important to keep team spirits up
and motivate everyone to keep going. We
encourage the crew to have fun at work!
Getting the interior furnishings into
the tents can take a few days. It’s vital I
continually check the right kit is in each
tent, making sure everything is arranged
perfectly and that the beds are made
beautifully and ready for our guests to sleep
in style.
At around 1pm we head back to camp
for a delicious lunch made by our crew
chef. Featuring anything from sandwiches
to soup, frittatas to risotto, there’s always
plenty to eat. After eating, the crew then
spend the rest of their break chilling out and
recharging before heading back to work.
We tend to work until 6pm then head
back to camp. As a team leader, I check
around the site to make sure all the tents are
“YOU’LL OFTEN FIND ME SAT ROUND THE
CAMPFIRE LISTENING TO MUSIC, PLAYING
CARDS OR HAVING A GAME OF FRISBEE”
zipped up, there’s nothing left outside, and
that all the kit in the storage area is covered
by tarpaulin if necessary. Then it’s time for
a catch-up with the other managers and
team leaders. We discuss how the build is
going, whether we’re on target and the plan
for the following day. Communication is
so important – we all need to know what is
happening and what the priorities are. The
last task of the day is to fill out everyone’s
timesheets for that day and sign off the chef
food hygiene paperwork.
Then at last it’s time for dinner and some
quality time with the crew. You’ll often
find me sat round the campfire listening to
music, playing cards or having a game of
frisbee. I also love getting the crew together
for little trips out in the evening to a nearby
beach or local pub. We cover events all over
the UK so we get to see some great places
along the way!
DURING THE FESTIVAL…
At many of the events we offer reception
services and I ensure all crew are trained
and ready to give our customers the best
service possible, with a smooth and easy
check in. I also allocate shifts to the crew,
deal with any queries, maintain the check
in database and delegate concierge and
maintenance tasks. I absolutely love leading
reception; it’s a great opportunity to get to
know customers and oversee our boutique
site!
Once all the hard work is done, it’s time
for the best part of the job… the festival! We
generally get free entry to the event and it’s
great to experience so many in one summer!
It’s hard to pick a favourite, but one that
really stands out for me is Boomtown. It’s
one of the most diverse festivals on the
scene with such a wide variety of music and
immersive experiences. You feel like you’ve
entered a dream like town in a different
world and the atmosphere is incredible!
82 82 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM