Volunteering at UNTOLD Emergency was hands down one of the most incredible weeks I've had. It wasn't just about the music; it was the behind-the-scenes hustle, the late nights, and sharing the chaos with friends.
Day 1 (Monday): The journey started on a quiet Monday evening. We gathered for our official training, stepping into the massive, empty venue before the madness. That’s when it hit me—this was going to be huge. We received our iconic red volunteer t-shirts, met the crew, and the excitement started to bubble.
Day 2 (Tuesday): This was the calm before the storm. We spent most of the day handling paperwork, officially signing our contracts, and hanging around the volunteer camp. We took a long walk through the festival grounds, watching the stages being built. To be completely honest, it was kind of boring, ngl, but the anticipation kept us going.
Day 3 (Wednesday): Things started getting real! The staff called us to the Cluj Arena, where we stayed for about 4-5 hours to help set up. It was blazing hot outside, but we were just chilling, drinking ice-cold sodas, and having an absolute blast :)))) It honestly felt more like hanging out with friends than doing actual work. We just served drinks and soaked in the atmosphere.
Day 4 (Thursday): The festival officially opened its gates! I had a super chill morning shift, which gave me the perfect opportunity to just enjoy the artists and hang out with my friends later in the day. We walked around, explored the activations, and the energy of the crowd was infectious. I could tell you about the main stage, but honestly, this is my experience as an emergency volunteer, and to just tell the same story as regular participants wouldn't be nice :))
Day 5 (Friday): The perks of the job finally paid off! I spent the first part of the day at the volunteer camp, and then a friend and I got the rare chance to visit the backstage area! It was crazy seeing how everything operates behind the curtain. After checking out of my shift, I stayed for the festival and managed to see Swae Lee and Zara Larsson live. Singing along in the crowd was incredibly fun and definitely a highlight.
Day 6 (Saturday): The morning shift dragged on a bit, but it was a blessing in disguise because it meant I had the entire evening free to roam. The lineup wasn't my absolute favorite that night, but the vibe was still immaculate. Plus, staying for the special awards ceremony after volunteering made the whole effort feel super rewarding and appreciated.
Day 7 (Sunday): The grand finale, and easily the day with the most insane lineup! We were given the whole day off and we absolutely made the most of it. We saw Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, and all the massive DJs tearing up the main stage. Just look up the artists online—the energy was completely unreal :) When the final fireworks went off, I realized how exhausting the week had been. After the festival ended, I literally had zero energy left for two whole days... but it was so worth it. It was so cool :)))
