What does a hostess do?
You welcome visitors at a trade fair, conference or company party, register them and hand out badges. At the info desk you point the way and answer questions.
Speaking Dutch, French or English is a plusFlexi-jobs & student jobs at festivals and events
Events joined the sectors where flexi-jobs are allowed in 2024, after an earlier extension for culture and sport in 2023. Festivals in July and August, trade fairs in spring and autumn and corporate parties in December cause short, intense peaks in set-up, bar and reception. Organisers post those set-up and service days on AnyShift, where crew with free days can schedule them straight away.
A festival day on the crew
What does a day at a festival look like?
A summer festival needs crew from early morning until after the last concert. You usually work one block of six to eight hours, not the whole day. Click a moment to see what happens then.
-
The set-up crew puts the last fences, signs and bins in place. A team leader shows you what goes where. You lift a lot and walk for kilometres across the site, so sturdy shoes and work gloves are a must.
-
Before the gates open you get your wristband, a crew shirt and a short briefing. You learn where the first aid post is, where the emergency exits are and who to call if something goes wrong. At big festivals you also get a radio.
-
At the entrance you scan tickets and put wristbands on visitors. The first hour brings a long queue and everyone asks you the way to the stages. Bag checks and searches are done by a licensed security company, not by you.
-
At the token stand you sell drink tokens, at the cup stand you take back reusable cups and pay out the deposit. During a concert it is quiet, right after it everyone queues at once. You work the till with a regular colleague.
-
After the last act the night crew picks up litter and the first stands come down. If you are under 18 you went home long ago, because you are not allowed to work at night. Plan your way home in advance, as buses do not always run to a festival site at night.
Common roles: Set-up crew (days before), Bar staff (july and august), Reception host (8:00 to 18:00), Cloakroom attendant (november to march), Breakdown crew (the night after), Event marshal (parades and city festivals).
Which jobs can you do at a festival or event?
What does an event steward do?
You guide the crowd at the entrances and along the route and keep the emergency exits clear. Searches and security are done by a licensed security company, not by you.
No experience needed, briefing on siteWhat does a festival bar worker do?
You pour beers, serve soft drinks and take drink tokens at the festival bar. At the cup stand you take back reusable cups and pay out the deposit.
You learn to pour on siteWhat does a setup crew member do?
In the days before the event you help put up stages, tents, crowd barriers and stands. After the last act you take everything down again and load the trucks.
Sturdy shoes and work glovesWhy work at events?
An event lasts a day or a weekend and needs a lot of hands at the same time. That makes it easy to fit in a few days here and there.
One day is enough
You pick one day or one block, no fixed schedule. Handy in a week with exams or a full working week.
Every season is different
Festivals and city festivals in summer, trade fairs in spring and autumn, corporate parties in December. There is work almost all year round.
A crew your own age
You work with other students and flexi-jobbers. Do a good job once and you are often asked back for the next edition.
No experience needed
Scanning tickets or taking back cups takes ten minutes to learn. For the set-up, good shoes and some muscle are enough.
What do you earn at a festival or event?
You will not find an hourly rate here, because it differs per organiser and changes with every indexation. Here is how it is set.
Which joint committee?
That depends on who organises the event. A hospitality business running the festival bar falls under JC 302, an organiser of concerts or shows under JC 304 for the entertainment industry. Each committee has its own pay scale.
As a student worker
You get at least the pay scale of that committee. If you are still young, the minimum can be lower depending on your age.
As a flexi-jobber
You get at least the minimum wage of the sector you work in, plus flexi holiday pay. An organiser can always pay more.
Where you see the amount
The hourly wage is shown with every shift in the app. If you work at night during the teardown or on a Sunday, the committee may provide a premium.
Student worker or flexi-jobber at an event?
| Student worker | Flexi-jobber | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can do it? | You are a student aged at least 16, or 15 if you have finished the first two years of secondary school. | You have a job of at least 4/5 elsewhere or you are retired. |
| Hour cap | 650 hours a year at reduced contributions. A festival weekend adds up fast. | No cap. Tax-free up to 18,440 euros a year, with no limit for retirees. |
| Deducted from your pay | A solidarity contribution of 2.71 percent. | You pay no social contributions yourself. |
| Night work | Under 18 you do not work between 8 pm and 6 am in principle. The night teardown is not for you then. | Night blocks during setup or teardown are possible too. |
| At events since | Always. | 2024 for event companies, 2023 already for sport and the entertainment industry. |
All the rules for 2026Rules checked on 7 October 2026.
Events close to home
- AntwerpAntwerp Expo and the Sportpaleis need extra set-up and reception crew.Events in Antwerp
- BrugesThe Concertgebouw and events on 't Zand need extra crew.Events in Bruges
- GhentCrew is scheduled for the Gentse Feesten and trade fairs at Flanders Expo.Events in Ghent
- LeuvenAround KU Leuven, from welcome week to graduation ceremonies, and at trade fairs in the Brabanthal, there is demand for set-up and bar staff.Events in Leuven
- MechelenThe Nekkerhal needs crew for trade fairs and the Christmas jumping.Events in Mechelen
- HasseltPukkelpop in Kiewit and fairs at the Grenslandhallen run on bar staff and set-up crew.Events in Hasselt
- KortrijkEvery major fair at Kortrijk Xpo needs extra set-up crew.Events in Kortrijk
How to start
-
Step 1
Apply
Pick a shift in the app and tap apply.
-
Step 2
Get accepted
The business picks you and your contract is ready.
-
Step 3
Clock in
Arrive on time and clock in through the app.
-
Step 4
Work your shift
You work and break when it's allowed.
-
Step 5
Get paid
Clock out, your pay follows within days.
Articles about events
20/04/2026
Flexi-job in Events, Sport and Culture: New Opportunities since July 2026
Since 1 July 2026, flexi-jobs have been possible in almost every sector of the Belgian labour market. Three of the most...
Read article
For shifters
A student job at a festival for one day or a weekend
- Build-up, bar, ticket scanning or teardown
- No experience needed for most tasks
- Under 18? Pick a daytime block
For businesses
Need event staff for a festival or a trade fair?
- Post one block per day and task
- Build-up, bar, ticket scanning or teardown
- Contract and declaration handled per day
Frequently asked questions
From what age can you work at a festival?
As a student worker you can work at a festival or event from the age of 16, or from 15 if you have finished the first two years of secondary school. If you are under 18, you do not work between 8 pm and 6 am in principle. Pick a daytime block at the entrance, the cup stand or the welcome desk. A flexi-job is only possible if you work at least 4/5 elsewhere or are retired.
Is working at a festival hard?
It depends on your task. Setup and teardown are truly physical: you lift barriers and cables and walk for kilometres across the site, in sun or rain. Scanning tickets or working the cup stand is lighter, but you are on your feet for six to eight hours. Drink enough water, wear sturdy shoes and take your break, it is part of your block.
Can I do flexi-jobs at festivals and trade fairs?
Since 2024 the events sector has been among the sectors where a flexi-job is possible, alongside culture and sport, which were added in 2023. The general condition of a main job of at least four fifths, or a pension, still applies. Students work at events on their student contract within the 650 hours a year.
When is most of the event work?
The festival summer from June to the end of August is the biggest peak, followed by trade fairs in March, April, October and November and corporate parties in December. Set-up starts two to three days ahead, and breakdown often follows the same night. An event day is long, with shifts of eight to twelve hours that are often split into blocks.
What should I bring to an event shift?
Sturdy, closed shoes and clothing that can take a shower of rain, because a large part of the work happens outdoors. Work gloves are handy for set-up, and for bar and reception work the organiser sometimes asks for a plain black shirt. Read the shift description in advance, so you know whether there is a dress code or a meeting point.
How quickly can I start at an event?
Organisers often post their crew shifts weeks in advance, so they have a full team in time. In the final days shifts are always added because of cancellations and extra visitors, and you can pick those up straight away. Those available for set-up and breakdown are usually asked first.
How do I get to and from a festival site?
Festival sites are often outside the city, so check in advance whether shuttle buses or a crew car park are provided. For shifts that end late, the organiser usually states whether public transport is still running or whether car-sharing is the better option. Plan your journey back before you confirm the shift, especially for overnight breakdown.
Ready for your first shift at events?
Download the app as a shifter or register your business for free.