Mud, tapes and fire at Glastonbury

I had to be up and backstage by 8.30am to deliver some vox pop videos we shot yesterday to be shown on the stages at Glastonbury. 8.30? It’s Glastonbury. But with the first bands going on around 10.30, they wanted the videos into their system early.

So I pulled myself out of my tent in the rain, made my way backstage in time only to be told I was at the wrong stage. I was supposed to be at the Other Stage, not the Pyramid Stage. Thus began my epic day running between one stage and another.

I lost count of how many times I went back and forth. Technical issues. It seems the Glastonbury lot are still operating in the 20^th century – playing from beta tapes. "You’ve got to be kidding me," I thought as I stood there with my tiny mini DV tape from the handycam. They tried valiantly for an hour but got nowhere.

I went back to the Pyramid Stage to see if they could do anything there, was told the problem was sorted so back to the Other Stage. Nope, problem not sorted, back to the Pyramid – yes problem sorted and back to the Other Stage. Success. Back to the Greenpeace field. Call from Other Stage – hard drive crashed, they lost everything, "Come back straight away." Back to the Other Stage. Phew.

Now for all of our pre-recorded videos and the Glastonbury ticket competition animations. Apparently they need a purple sticker of approval. Back and forth a few more times. Done. Now, off to the Pyramid Stage to load them there.

By this time I am covered in mud, the only thing I’ve had to eat are the sweeties, biscuits and tea that the screen crew have foisted upon me (thanks Habs). But at last I catch a break and while I’m waiting for the rain to subside Amy Winehouse comes on. It’s now ten past three, what’s another half hour…

Alright, off to the Other Stage, last mission backstage.

I know what you’re saying: I’m at Glastonbury spending my day backstage and here I am whinging about it. Ungrateful git. You’re right. While my final tape was loading, I met Arcade Fire and got video of them to support the I Count campaign to stop climate chaos.

So a lovely end to a long day and now I am desperate to go and have a hot carbon neutral shower in our field before it closes, go see Arcade Fire and Bjork and actually enjoy this amazing festival – until 8.30am tomorrow when I have to be backstage with another tape.