🎪 Are You Being Exploited by That Music Festival? - A Field Checklist for Volunteers Who Deserve Better

Perfect for volunteers who want to know whether they’re part of a meaningful community event — or just unpaid labour keeping the LED screens on.

Are you working more than 4–6 hours a day? Anything more and you're basically staff — but unpaid.
Is your “free” ticket only valid after your shift ends? Congrats, you’ve been given the illusion of access.
Do you have to pay a “deposit” that’s only returned if you complete all shifts? That’s not a deposit — it’s a leash.
Are your shifts during headliner sets? If so, you’re not attending the festival, you’re facilitating it.

Are there proper break times and shaded rest areas? You’re not a desert mule, even if you’re dressed like one.
Are you given meals or at least food vouchers? If not, they expect you to work and pay $18 for a taco.
Do you have access to staff-only toilets or showers? If not, you’re part of the event — but not considered part of the crew.

Is the festival run by a for-profit company charging $200+ for tickets? If yes, and you’re unpaid, someone is profiting off your free labour.
Are artists being flown in while volunteers sleep in tents? This isn’t jealousy — it’s an economic structure worth questioning.
Are they offering “exposure” or “community” instead of tangible benefits? Exposure doesn’t pay rent, and “community” is not a currency.

Do organizers actually learn your name or say thank you directly? Or are you just “one of the volunteers”?
Is there a volunteer feedback process or any input on future events? No feedback = no care = no accountability.
Are the only cool perks things you never get time to enjoy anyway? If the perks are theoretical, they’re not perks.

Do you feel like part of a community or part of a staffing solution?
Would you do it again if you didn’t get the ticket? If not, maybe you're not actually volunteering — you're being used.

0–4 boxes checked: Not bad. Maybe it’s love after all.
5–9 boxes checked: You're in the grey zone. They like your free time.
10+ boxes checked: You are a voluntern, and the festival is a startup disguised as a vibe.
Get Tickets 2 our next Rave on Aug 1