Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: How to I register my interest to perform at the festival?

We are currently accepting applications to perform at BrisFest 2011 & 2012 from musicians, comedians, walkabouts, poets, circus performers and visual artists. All successful artists will be informed by July 31st and there is no need to re-apply each year. Please click here to submit your band/artist details: PERFORM AT BRISFEST. These details are shared with all our programming team which includes many local venue and festival promoters so it’s well worth submitting your details. Good luck!

Question 2: How do I get involved, volunteer or help out?

BrisFest is built by hundreds of volunteers, all giving their time for free to create Bristol’s community festival.

We really need your help to make it all come together. Volunteer now to help organise the festival, build the site, run the event and clear it all away again afterwards. All volunteers get tickets to the whole event, a free t-shirt… and warm fuzzy feeling! It’s a great way to get more experience, enhance a CV, meet people or give something back, plus lots of fun!

Please complete the VOLUNTEERING FORM HERE or email getinvolved@brisfest.co.uk and we’ll be in touch soon.

Question 3: I would like to have a stall or trade pitch at the festival, what do I do?

There are a number of catering and trade pitches available across the weekend, forming excellent promotion and sales opportunities, as well as special charity and information stands. For rate cards and further information please email traders@brisfest.co.uk

Question 4: I would like to purchase an advance ticket for the festival, where can I do so?

Tickets will be available first from this website, see Tickets, and then in all usual outlets including The Bristol Ticket Shop. Full details will be released nearer the time.

Question 5: Is there Disabled Access?

The Brisfest site has full disabled access and accessible toilets, however it will be on grass. Wheelchair users and those in need of carers to attend receive one free pass for their carer. The nearest disabled car parking is immediately outside the site. Blue badge holders are politely requested to not park immediately outside the entrance as this is the access point for emergency vehicles; there’s plenty of reserved disabled bays within the car parks just a stone’s throw away.

Question 6: What can you not bring onto site?

Sorry no dogs or other animals permitted on site, except guide dogs. This is due to the mess they create and the fact it’s a crowded site with lots of children running around.

You may be searched on entry so obviously nothing illegal.

No glass bottles, as they may mean nasty breakages.

Due to licensing laws we are unable to allow you to bring your own alcohol, however there will be very reasonably priced bars on site, proceeds from which go towards the festival, helping to keep the entry prices so low. We’re one of the cheapest bars in town, and have weather shelter, seating, a beer garden and tasty food too!

There will be a challenge 25 scheme in place at the bars so if you are lucky enough to appear under 25 please bring ID.

Bikes. There is plenty of space to lock them up outside the entrance to the event.

Question 7: What is there for Kids?

We welcome all ages! Kids under 12 are free and there’s a dedicated kids area plus lots of workshops, dance and music classes for them to get involved in. We’ll have dedicated children’s performers, arts and crafts and plenty of seating for parents. There’s even a music tent programmed solely with bands under 19 years old. Please do not leave children unattended at any time, as we are in the city centre.

Question 8: Will you be selling tickets on the gate?

Yes. Day and weekend tickets will be available to buy at the ticket office at the main entrance. However it’s cheaper to get them in advance! See TICKETS for more info.

Question 9: Are Boat Party Tickets available as part of a combined festival ticket?

No, they have to be purchased separately due to the limited capacities of the vessels. Select the trip you want on the TICKETS page.

Question 10: What makes BrisFest a ‘community festival’?

Quite simply its organised By the People, For the People! It’s all organised by local volunteers, from promoters to public, who work hard all year round to stage an event that we feel benefits artists, the city of Bristol and all the volunteers involved who gain work experience and training. We’re a registered charity so all the proceeds go back into the festival and working with artists to improve their chances of hitting the big time. We aim to deliver people the festival they want with regular public consultations and keeping the price as low as possible.

Question 11: Why can it not be free?

Unfortunately it’s impossible to stage a large festival for free these days, even with everyone working and performing for free. Licensing and health and safety laws have developed so that we now have to provide a basic level of infrastructure such as plenty of toilets, safety barriers, security personnel, ambulances etc and these all cost a lot of money. Even the ‘free’ events that currently happen are paid for by council taxes. But it’s not all bad! Events are a lot safer than they used to be with better access, less environmental damage (from pee-ing in the woods for example) and we have all come to expect safety and protection should anything bad happen.

The festival costs around £600,000 to stage and as we don’t receive public funding we have to raise all of this ourselves through selling sponsorship, advertising, fundraising events, trade pitches, tickets and bar sale. But by keeping the profit in the festival and everyone volunteering we keep the ticket prices as low as possible.

Question 12: What other work do the organisers do?

As a registered charity we work with volunteers year round, offering work experience, skills sharing and training such as first aid, forklift truck license, Health & Safety PASS, stage management, risk assessment and more. This not only improves employability, with numerous volunteers gaining paid employment as a result of their time with us, it also builds confidence and is a great way to meet people and become part of a supportive community.

We help with other community events such as St Pauls Carnival and Stokes Croft Streetfest, enabling people to put on events and raise the funds they need to do so.

We campaign on behalf of local artists, working alongside The Bristol Music Industry Forum and The Bristol Music Trust, to secure performance opportunities and empowering artists to promote themselves too. We are working on future plans to build a structured support network for local artists with industry mentors offering support and guidance.

Question 13: Can I add “gift aid” to my donation?

Question 14: If I buy a ticket to the 2012 Brisfest at Ashton Court when will it be posted?

Question 15: I accidentally bought the wrong ticket, can I get a refund or swap?

Question 16: What’s included in the VIP ticket?

Question 17: Will BrisFest definitely move to Ashton Court in 2012?

Question 18: If it doesn’t go ahead will I get my ticket refunded?

Question 19: What if I can’t make the date in 2012 or don’t like the line up?

Question 20: Can the event sell out?