The greatest thanks for Ilosaarirock’s 40-year existence goes to the people working as volunteers, such as the 3000 people behind this year’s Ilosaarirock. Somewhat surprisingly, the free festival ticket does not seem to be the main source of motivation for the volunteers:
- Last year was so much fun I wanted to come here again. You can also meet new people and observe, from a front row seat, how the festival is being organized, says Petri Heikkola, an Ilosaarirock volunteer for the second year now.
- And of course we are supporting a great cultural event. You would not do this just for the free ticket because the normal price for the ticket is relatively low compared to an average salary, Erno Aalto continues.
Both Aalto and Heikkola have regular day jobs in addition to their Ilosaarirock responsibilities. During their two evenings as volunteers they have been doing the interior decorations for the artists’ cabins.
- We have been carrying tables, drinks, trash cans and such to the backstage areas. Just basic manual labor, Heikkola shuckles.
There are other ways to contribute to the organization of the festival. You can serve beverages or work in catering at the bar areas. You can change electronic tickets to wrist bands or work as a security guard. Decoration, technical work, cleaning and recycling are just some of the various kinds of volunteer work needed to make Ilosaarirock happen.
There is a different person in charge of all the areas of work. People who have previous experience as volunteers at Ilosaarirock are qualified to be in charge of other volunteers. There are 85 of them at this year’s Rock.
-It’s nice to see the smooth cooperation between the different areas of volunteer work. You get a very special feeling from working towards a common goal, says Antti Rask the man in charge of selling Ilosaarirock products.
Working at the Rock for the sixth year now, Raski thinks that the organization of the festival is a great experience in and of itself.
-Very few people here work with sour expressions on their faces, so maybe volunteer work is really its own reward, Rask muses.
Text: Toni Malinen
Translation: Juha Peuhkuri
