New lawsuit tests 'volunteer' status at US events

A class action lawsuit in the States has put the focus on the use of volunteer labour at music festivals, something many large scale music events depend on. According to ClassAction.org, a new lawsuit is aimed at Live Nation and its festival promotion partner Insomniac Events, and has been brought by an individual who volunteered at the Californian edition of dance music festival Nocturnal Wonderland. The plaintiff claims that the event's organisers violated America's Fair Labor Standards Act by recruiting volunteers to "carry out the work of paid employees" - here in return for a free ticket.

Festival fun helps Highland cops balance books

This is the headline from the Ross-shire journal reporting that Scottish music festivals in the Highlands have helped the Northern Constabulary save £2 million in the last year. Policing huge outdoor events like this weekend’s RockNess event near Inverness has helped keep the force in the black and save £2 million out a revenue budget of £51.5m for 2011/12 which was underspent. The paper says "Scores of officers are needed to police the thousands of revellers who attend several large music festivals and one-off concerts which are annually held in the region including the three-day RockNess event, Tartan Heart at Belladrum near Beauly and Loopallu in Ullapool" and they are, of course, charged for.  Andy Cowie, the force’s deputy chief constable, did not know how much cash had been raised from the policing of festivals but said "The public purse should not be subsiding private enterprise".

                                                                                                       

http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/News/Festival-fun-helps-Highland-cops-balance-books.htm