FAQ Categories
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find some of the most frequently asked questions below, for more FAQs please click one of the categories to the left...
How and when can I apply to work at a festival?
Applications are processed online via DCSS PAAM.
The DCSS PAAM application usually goes live in mid-March.
We let everyone know via the DCSS Newsletter - so please make sure you've subscribed!
To go straight to the DCSS PAAM application please visit https://dcss.paamapplication.co.uk/
Please do read the Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct, and check the Application Guidelines.
If you have any questions try popping into the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), checking the News, and Festivals Calendar.
Also please visit the DCSS Forum - a useful place to ask experienced staff about working at festivals and events.
If your questions are not answered within one of the areas above - please contact us.
How and when will I find out if I have a job at a festival or event?
You will be offered a position via DCSS PAAM.
Please check your DCSS PAAM account regularly for updates.
Don't forget that following application you need to pay a refundable security deposit to secure your position(s).
Your deposit needs to be paid after you have applied.
Paying a deposit does not confirm your position at an event; applications are assessed and positions confirmed after a deposit has been paid.
Positions are filled on a first-come first-served basis.
Generally, we only refuse applications for one of the following three reasons:
- The applicant does not fulfil the criteria specified on the About Page of this website, the section "To apply you will need to...".
- If it is ascertained the applicant has previously been blacklisted by DCSS or another festival organisation which recruits and/or manages staff and/or volunteers.
- The applicant fails a PNC check.
If you are offered a position via DCSS PAAM at a festival or event please confirm this via DCSS PAAM.
Positions are sometimes not confirmed until 3-4 weeks prior to a festival or event. We understand many of you want to make summer plans and would prefer confirmation of your position straight away. Due to the nature of live events - dates change & events are cancelled - it is often near impossible to confirm any earlier.
We always strive to confirm with staff as early as possible.
We receive thousands of applications each year – those who apply to work on the smaller shows as well as the larger ones are more likely to gain the positions they're after at the larger more popular events.
At which festivals and events do you have vacancies?
Once an event is fully staffed it is marked as such in DCSS PAAM - please check DCSS PAAM for details (if you can apply the event isn't fully staffed!).
Can I work at a festival or event if I don't live in the UK?
You can only work with DC Site Services if you are permanent UK resident that holds a UK National Insurance number.
What kind of clothes should I bring?
Music festivals can be VERY HOT and VERY COLD - all in the space of one weekend! So please pack clothing to cover both extremes, for example...
- A waterproof jacket.
- A jumper or fleece.
- 2 pairs of lightweight trousers that dry quickly.
- A pair of shorts.
- A hat.
- Lots of warm socks.
- Boots and trainers (you cannot work onsite whilst wearing sandals or flip flops).
More suggestions: Anything else I should bring?
What does working with DCSS involve?
This depends on the festival or event, and the roles available.
You can check the roles available at a festival or event via your DCSS PAAM Account.
Then have a read of the job descriptions area of the DCSS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
You could also try popping a post in the DCSS Forum and chatting to those who have worked with us before.
Can I see some bands?
We do our best to help you see the bands you’d like to see!
Our staff often swap shifts, take a late lunch etc so they can see the bands they'd like to – it is a festival after all!
How do I become a Supervisor or Manager?
We select Supervisors and Managers based on experience and responsibility.
If you work in a supervisory capacity away from festivals and events please note this in your application and email a CV to Admin@DCSiteServices.com.
Supervisors and Managers usually arrive early, work longer shifts, and leave late!
Do I need to pay a refundable deposit to work with DCSS?
You need to pay a refundable security deposit to secure your position(s).
Your deposit needs to be paid after you have applied.
Paying a deposit does not confirm your position at an event; applications are assessed and positions confirmed after a deposit has been paid.
Positions are filled on a first-come first-served basis.
Generally, we only refuse applications for one of the following three reasons:
- The applicant does not fulfil the criteria specified on the About Page of this website, the section "To apply you will need to...".
- If it is ascertained the applicant has previously been blacklisted by DCSS or another festival organisation which recruits and/or manages staff and/or volunteers.
- The applicant fails a PNC check.
You only need to pay 1 deposit per year i.e. 1 deposit covers all festivals and/or events you would like to work at.
You can pay your deposit online via a major debit or credit card: Visa, Visa Delta, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Switch/Maestro, Solo, or by posting a Cheque, Postal Order, Bankers Draft.
You can find further details about paying your deposit within DCSS PAAM once you have setup an account.
Please also read the DCSS Terms and Conditions.
When will I get my deposit back?
Details can be found within the DCSS Terms and Conditions.
How much will I get paid when working for DCSS?
The basic answer is that DC Site Services Ltd will always meet the minimum hourly wage when paying our staff for work on-site.
Many of you often ask for more information – specific rates for specific events. It would of course take some time to here detail the full financial logistics of running a company, especially one as modular as DC Site Services. What we mean by this is that we don’t sell oranges. The selling of oranges, one would assume, is fairly straight forward. You buy your oranges, you place your oranges in a cart, you pull your cart to your preferred orange retail outlet, or if going for the maximum profit – your preferred spot in the sun, you sell your oranges on.
As you may have guessed – our oranges are fairly involved, many have personal issues, many are in the midst of education – here trying to better their colour, many have families often requiring attention with little notice. All this and more we attempt to work with and sometimes even help with.
As with our oranges themselves both our carts and retail outlets (or your and our preferred spots in the sun) are also fairly involved – the latter often chopping and changing with regard to both location and size up to the last minute.
We always try to get the best deal for our standard oranges, and it has also been known for us to give bonuses to our really fruity oranges. Although, with such a volatile market – with so many competitors quoting to the same grocers; from time to time we have to lower our prices to keep our juices flowing.
Please keep in mind our oranges are well treated, stored in secure areas, fed (contextually) well, adorned with pretty passes allowing access to peachy areas often out of reach to the average veg…