PROVA: FESTIVALS FOR FREE
FESTIVALS FOR FREE My first music festival was an incredible experience. It rained for four days. If I hadn’t been an antidirt fanatic, I would quickly have resembled the mud-covered hippies who used to be my friends. Checking the tent every hour wasn’t enough to stop my bag from disappearing. I’d spent so much money on the ticket I didn’t have enough for food. And yet, somehow, even though I missed a lot of the headline acts (I wasted a lot of time failing to master juggling in the circus tent, in a misguided attempt to impress a girlfriend – don’t ask!), the atmosphere more than compensated. I came home tired and broke, but wanting more … Unfortunately, finances are a problem. Tickets for most of the big global festivals now cost over €120 a weekend! To some extent I sympathize with the organizers. Top music acts will charge over a million Euros for a performance, but that’s nothing compared to the huge costs of building the festival stages, lights and fences, which is still cheaper than the cost of safely policing an event. Almost as pricey are the health and sanitation facilities … the list goes on. The problem is, for a poor student like me, festivals simply aren’t affordable. My student loans will just about cover university fees. My flat’s small, grotty, but relatively inexpensive. There isn’t much left over. That’s why my band is an instrument and demo album short of our first paying gig. I want to keep my credit card balance at zero. How can I pay for tickets? Nowadays, I don’t need to. As a festival worker I get a free ticket, and a special campsite away from the stinking crowds. Burger vans and drinks vendors usually demand experience, but if, like me, you don’t fit the bill one of the easiest ways to get in on the act is to pick up litter. To be honest, the prospect didn’t initially fire me with enthusiasm. I’m hardly known for being a keen environmentalist, and my friends were bound to laugh when they saw me in a bright yellow tabard. I knew the work would be hard. However, I soon discovered that there are worse jobs to have. Security support staff work for shorter hours, but they have to deal with unpleasant customers. For the most part, I got left alone, without a manager looking over my shoulder all the time – even when I wanted one. Most festival workers have to put down a deposit, and litter pickers are no exception. However, you don’t have to buy equipment and you get your money back at the end, sometimes even with a small bonus. Now I’ve developed a good reputation for being reliable and efficient, organizers are keen to hire me. In my first year I went to five festivals. Last summer I was offered places at eight more. In the end I accepted eleven of them, although two were cancelled due to bad weather. Still, not bad going for someone with only €150 in their festival kitty! I even briefly met Lady Gaga, although I missed the opportunity to get an autograph. Her manager quickly hurried her away, but not before she’d passed on a few singing tips! My band-mates and I are reaching the point of getting a drum kit, so I don’t know how long the litter-picking will continue. Maybe next time I go to a festival it’ll be as a performer …
Glossary mud headline act sanitation demo album litter tabard deposit
Part 1: Reading comprehension Choose the correct answer. Only ONE answer is possible. [0.5 points for each correct answer. Wrong answers will be penalized by deducting 0.16 points. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.]
1. What didn’t happen to the writer at his first festival? a) He got dirty. b) He missed a lot of bands. c) He had something stolen. d) He was hungry. 2. What did the writer enjoy the most about the festival? a) the music b) learning a new skill c) meeting his girlfriend d) the general mood 3. What is the most expensive part of organising a festival? a) The musicians. b) Building work. c) Safety and security. d) Health and sanitation. 4. What does the writer need extra money for? a) university b) his flat c) his band d) credit card bills 5. Why did the writer chose a job as a litter picker? a) He didn’t meet the requirements for working at a food stall. b) He thought it was easier than some of the other jobs. c) He wanted to do some work that would help the environment. d) He thought it would be fun to work with his friends. 6. What is an advantage of being a litter picker? a) working for fewer hours b) having greater freedom c) getting lots of support d) not needing to bring any money 7. How many festivals did the writer go to in the year that’s just passed? a) five b) eight c) nine d) eleven 8. Last summer, the writer … a) bought a musical instrument. b) didn’t spend any money at festivals. c) got a celebrity’s signature. d) heard some useful advice.
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Part 2: Writing Choose ONE topic. Write about number 1 or 2. Minimum length: 100 words. [4 points]
1. ‘Listening to live music at a concert or festival is better than listening to recorded music on your mp3 player, computer or stereo.’ Explain the advantages of the different types of musical experience and say which one you prefer. 2. You think that music festivals are too expensive. Write a letter to a music festival organizer, explaining why you feel this way and what you think should be done.
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