What are the festival dates?

The 2011 WE Fest will take place August 4th, 5th, 6th.

What jobs do you have and how much do they pay?

Those are the two questions we're asked most. There are a lot of different jobs, and because it takes so much time to go through them on the phone, we've put together a page of short jobs, pay rates & shifts descriptions. There's generally more to those jobs than described there, but they'll give you the general idea. If you fill out an online application you'll also find a link when it's time to make your top three job choices.

Pay rates are the same for most positions, but exceptions are noted below.

These are the basic pay rates:

• $7.25/hour first shift and second shift.
• $7.50/hour third shift.
• Camping Cashiers, Event Staff, Parking, and Sanitation positions generally pay more.
• Most jobs consist of three seven- or eight-hour shifts over three days.
• All festival employees also receive event t-shirts and a complimentary three-day concert wristband.
• Those who live 50 miles or more from the festival grounds, and WE B Green volunteers and employees can camp free.

What are the shift times?

All the positions we have fit into two broad categories: Camping and Concert Area. Camping consists of Camping Staff and Camping Cashiers. All other positions are in or near the Concert Area.

Camping Staff:

• First shirt 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Second shift - 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Third shift - 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Camping Cashiers - 12-hour shifts:

• First shift - 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Second shift - 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Concert Area shifts:

• First shift - 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Second shift - 7:00 p.m. to closing (around 1:00 a.m.).

The exact starting time for some jobs will vary depending on how the area managers like to do things and which day of the festival it is. Everyone starts early their first day in order to get signed-in and ready.

The number of shifts people work also varies from job to job. In general, most Camping Staff people will start the day before the festival begins (when the campgrounds open), and put in either three or four shifts. Camping Cashiers also start the day before the festival begins, but tend to work two or three shifts.

Normally, all Concert Area Staff will start the day the festival begins and work either two-and-one-half or three shifts, depending on the time the gates open.

If you apply and are hired, you'll receive specific shift times for your particular job. This general information will help you determine which jobs and shifts you would prefer to work when making those choices on the application.

Can friends or family work together?

The short answer is, yes. But there are a few things to be aware of to make sure that things work out well:

• If you'd like to work in the same area on the same shift, make sure everyone in your group fills out their application the same way when it comes to your "Top three job choices" and the shift.
• Be aware of the differences between "Camping area" and "Concert area" jobs. If, by chance, you apply and get hired to do a concert area job, and your friend is hired to help out in camping, your friend will need to arrive at least one day, or maybe even two days, earlier than you because the campgrounds open before the concert area.
• The earlier you apply the more flexibility we have to assign family and friends to the same area. If you can't get the same jobs, you can ask the employment office to put you on the same shift, so you can spend time together.
• Once we mail confirmation letters we cannot change anyone's job or shift, so coordinate with your family and friends before you apply.
• At the end of the application you'll see a place to enter "Anything else you'd like us to know?" If you're planning on coming with friends or family who will also be applying, put a short note there that includes their names, and other information. For example: "John Smith, Terri Larson, Kim Walton and I will be riding together and we'd like to work in the same job on the same shift and stay in the same campground if possible." Tell the other people in your group to do the same thing.

What happens after I apply?

If you haven't worked with us before, a couple of important things to know are that we take applications well before we start hiring people, and we hire past employees first. That's important because you may apply as early as February but not hear from us until late March, April or May, which could cause you to wonder if we're going to call at all, or assume we won't. No need to worry. If you apply early, chances are good that we'll contact you.

Past employees have "hiring priority" until March 18th. That means they have until then to get their applications in and be assured of getting the same job and shift they had the previous year.

Approximately two to three weeks after the hiring priority date we start working our way through all applications in the (date) order they've come in, hiring on a first come, first served basis.

If you use email your application number is sent to you in an "Application Receipt." You can keep track of your application's status, or update your contact information, by going to the Application status, update, etc. page and entering your name and application number in the "Status check" or "Update contact information" area.

If you haven't worked here before we'll conduct a phone interview, so keep your phone number current on your contact information. If you miss our call and return it and get our voice mail, please include the best days and times to reach you in your message.

If last year was your first year working with us you should be aware that the only time you'll hear from us is when you receive the "early notification" email we send, or a quick call, to let you know you've been hired so you can make plans, and when your confirmation letter arrives: We only do phone interviews with people who haven't worked with us.

Note: To make sure you get your application receipt, be sure to read what it says about putting our email addresses on your email program's "allowed" list in the section immediately below, "How will I know if I've been hired?" Also, save that receipt someplace you'll be able to find it later.

How will I know if I've been hired?

If you're hired you'll receive an "early notification" email or phone call so you can make vacation or travel plans.

If you're hired you'll receive a "confirmation letter" from us approximately two weeks before the festival that contains all the details you need to arrive at the site, find your work assignment, and get your passes and employee identification.

You can also find out if you've been hired by checking your application's status at any time by going to festivalwork.com, clicking Application status, update, etc. and using the information that will be in the "Application Receipt" we'll send you when you submit your application.

IMPORTANT: To make sure you get that "Application receipt" and "early notification" note make sure to put our email addresses on your email program's "allowed" or "white" or "not spam" list (addresses you want to receive messages from - - messages you DON'T want blocked). If you don't do that, chances are 50/50 our emails will wind up in your "junk," "bulk" or "quarantined" mail folder and be automatically deleted a week or so later. If you're not sure how to put us on that list, check with your email provider or their "Help" system.

The two addresses to put on your "allowed list" are:

info-at-festivalwork.com (replace "-at-" with the "@" sign)

hiring-at-festivalwork.com (replace "-at-" with the "@" sign)

One of the best ways to get hired

After May 31st, when the employment office opens for the season, one of the best ways to get hired is to fill out an online application here, and then head out to Soo Pass Ranch 4 miles south of Detroit Lakes on Highway 59, come to the Employment Office (by the Ranch House), and talk to us. Chances are good you'll be hired then and there. (Call first to make sure the office is open: 218-846-1990)

What happens after I'm hired?

In addition to letting you know via email or phone, we'll send you a "confirmation letter" that will list your position, shift, pay rate, what passes you'll be receiving, and fill you in on the other details you'll need to know (when to plan on arriving, where to go and what to do after you do, etc.). Your confirmation letter will arrive via regular mail. It's your "ticket" into the festival. If you're hired, be looking for it, and whatever you do, don't lose it or forget to bring it with you! If you're hired after they're mailed you'll be able to pick it up when you arrive.

Two forms of identification?

Everyone who's hired needs to bring two valid forms of identification with them including a valid photo ID, or they won't be able to work, get passes or get paid.

If you'd like to review the forms of identification that will work, take a look at the "Lists of Acceptable Documents" on the I-9 form that will open in a new window if you click this link. (You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader running on your computer to open it.)

If you go there, you may want to print the I-9 and, if you're hired, fill it out but don't sign it - that needs to be done and witnessed in-person. If you bring it with you it will save some time and hassle when you check-in at the event.

When will I be paid?

All paychecks are mailed within three weeks of the event. Checks can not be picked up in-person after the festival. If your mailing address changes between the time you apply and the time of the festival be sure to let us know that! Your check is mailed to that address, as are confirmation letters and W-2 tax refund information, and, if you don't use email, a letter that lets you know when it's time to apply for the following year's festivals.

You can update your contact information anytime by going to www.festivalwork.com and clicking "Status check, update, etc." Or call the employment office after it opens on June first.

How old do I need to be to work?

As a rule, we don't hire anyone who isn't at least 18 years old.

Employee camping: How does it work?

There are three main things to be aware of when it comes to employee camping:

1) You have to live 50 miles or more from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, in order to receive an employee camping pass (some exceptions apply in areas on the edge of that circle).

2) There are designated employee camping areas within the campgrounds where we have employee camping. Everyone who receives an employee camping pass must camp in those areas.

If you're hired, and have friends who will be coming to the festival, but not working, and they have campground vehicle and camping permits, they can use those permits to stay with you in those employee camping areas, but you cannot use your employee vehicle permit and camping pass to stay with them in their campground.

If they have a campground vehicle permit (for any campground), you are welcome to purchase a camping permit for that campground and stay with them, but you can't "trade your employee passes" for other campground passes.

3) Anyone hired to work as part of the Camping Staff or as a Camping Cashier will camp or park (if not camping) in the campground in which they're assigned to work.

Those things are important to be aware of when it comes to making plans with friends you may want to camp with during the festival. It's also to important to be aware that Camping Staff and Camping Cashiers begin working at least one day before everyone working in "Concert Area" positions (non-Camping Staff or Camping Cashier positions).

Do you have a volunteer program?

Yes - you can volunteer to work 5 hour shifts for the WE B Green recycling program. Volunteers receive free concert passes and camping permits, as well as t-shirts and one free meal per day in the VIP hospitality area.

Why no calls before June first?

The Employment Office doesn't open until June first, and people in the main office cannot hire you, or discuss your application. Please, mark you calendar and hold off until June first before calling (218-846-1990).

What about questions not answered here?

If you haven't been able to locate an answer to one of those nagging questions on either this or the jobs, pay rates & shifts page drop us a note via the contact form and we'll do our best to clear it up for you.