The Wild, Wonderful, and Wired World of Our Corporate Festivals Event Director: Your Questions for The Soul Camp, Answered!

If you’ve ever organised a corporate event, you know it takes a village. If you’ve ever organised a corporate festival, it takes a village, a fleet of trucks, miles of festoon lighting, an absolute powerhouse Crew, and an Event Director who lives on coffee and a dream!

As Event Director at The Soul Camp, I work hand-in-hand with Pete (our founder and creative mastermind) to build bespoke corporate festival experiences for remote and hybrid teams. Here is what actually goes into planning pne of our productions, and the real answers behind our most common client questions.

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Hi, I’m Donna, your Event Director at The Soul Camp. 

From your very first enquiry email to the moment we pack down the last tent pole, I am with you every single step of the way. 

But while I am your main point of contact, I certainly don't build these extraordinary events alone. Behind the scenes, I work hand in hand with Pete, the brilliant founder and creative mastermind behind The Soul Camp, alongside an incredible site crew who can quite literally move mountains.

Together, we design immersive experiences that spark deep social connections and build social capital.

Along the journey from booking to bonding, we get asked a lot of questions. To give you a peek behind the festival curtain, let’s dive into the burning questions you’ve always wanted to ask, and what actually goes through my head when you do.

Q: "Do we have to sleep in a tent? What if my team hates camping?

What I say: "Not at all! Pete has intentionally designed The Soul Camp experience to offer ultimate flexibility. You can have all the fun of the festival without ever stepping foot inside a tent. While we offer gorgeous glamping options and shared bell tents that are incredible for building connections, it is definitely not mandatory. 

Your team can mix and match: guests can glamp, bring their own camping gear/vans, stay in local hotels or onsite hotel bedrooms at some of our locations! 

We also host plenty of ‘away days’ where everyone enjoys a packed, high-energy day and our crew waves them off that same evening.  That said, if you can swing a two-day event, the value and bonding your team gets is unmatched. But hey, you have a business to run, and we adapt to whatever works best for you!"

What I’m thinking: "I spent many years working in the corporate world.  If my boss had walked up to my desk back then and told me I had to go camping with my colleagues, I probably would have handed in my notice on the spot.  I get it!  Sleeping in a field for some, sounds terrifying.  But having managed these events from start to finish alongside Pete, I’ve watched the magic happen.  I've seen cynical executives turn into festival-loving kids around the fire pit.  My opinion completely changed because I saw how Pete's creative spaces transform teams.  But don't worry, we will never force anyone outside their comfort zone.  Whatever works for your people, our team will make it happen.”

“The feedback has been exceptional, the [Chill Bar] became such a talking point, a true hub for people to re-connect and chill – which is exactly how you positioned it.  ... glamping was a new thing for us and there were a lot of nerves around it – but you proved us all wrong so thank you.” Red Bull

Q: "Where can we plug our phones in? Will there be somewhere to charge our devices?!"

What I say: "Absolutely! We’ve got you completely covered. However, to stop your team from leaving their expensive phones scattered randomly across the grass next to random plug sockets, we always suggest bringing a supply of portable power banks. You can keep them charged at a central hub so people can grab and go without losing their connection... or their phones!”

What I’m thinking:

"Yes, we have electricity! I promise Pete and I aren’t rubbing two sticks together out here. Our phenomenal site crew is quite literally building a fully functioning mini-metropolis from the ground up just for you.We design these spaces to feature professional outdoor kitchens preparing and serving delicious street food, sound systems, a live DJ spinning tracks, a full bar with packed back-fridges, and enough festoon lighting to be seen from space. So yes, rest assured, our sites can handle juicing up those phones!”

Q: "Be honest… where can I plug my hair straighteners in?"

What I say: "We embrace every style of festival goer! If a rustic, completely back-to-nature vibe is what your company culture thrives on, we do that beautifully.  But if your team includes people who want to look and feel their best for the big Club Tropicana themed DJ night, especially when meeting coworkers in person for the first time…we have everyone covered. 

For those who want it, we can create gorgeous, dedicated 'Pamper Tents.' These are beautiful dome structures equipped with power sockets, light-up mirrors, and hair dryers.  Alternatively, we can utilise onsite indoor facilities. We have all bases covered, ensuring the outdoorsy people and the festival glam squad both feel entirely at home.”

What I’m thinking: "When a client first asked me this, I told Pete, and he burst out laughing because he thought I was joking. I had to say, 'No, it’s a real thing, Pete!' 

Business owners often tell us, 'We want this to be rustic and grounded,' and we absolutely deliver that.  But The Soul Camp is all about radical inclusivity. We know that for some folks, being forced to forgo a mirror next to colleagues they've only ever seen on a screen is stressful.  Pete and I realized that inclusivity means creating spaces where the 'give me mud and a fire pit' crowd and the 'I need to tame my frizz before the DJ set starts' crowd can coexist happily.  Whether you want a rugged wilderness retreat or a touch of festival luxury, we build it to match your exact business goals.”

Q: "What are the toilet and shower facilities actually like?"

What I say: "This is an absolutely brilliant question, and to be completely honest, it’s one of the very first things Pete and I focus on when mapping out your site layout! 

We know that if people have clean, comfortable washing and toilet facilities, they instantly feel relaxed and ready to enjoy themselves.  That comfort is a massive part of what The Soul Camp Crew delivers.  So, rest assured, we bring in luxury toilet and shower facilities that beautifully match our festival aesthetic.  They are clean, fully flushing, and properly serviced throughout your stay.”

What I’m thinking: "I get it.  When people hear 'corporate festival,' they instantly envision a plastic cubicle of doom, or worse, a bucket behind a tent and a torch. 🤣

Let me reassure you: Pete and I are in the business of social connection, not psychological warfare.  We aren't testing your team’s survival skills.  You will not need to hold your breath, you will not need to bring your own shovel, and you will definitely be able to wash your hair in a beautifully warm shower. Our build Crew does next-level because your team deserves the best."

Q: "The Extreme Weather Question: What if it rains or we hit a heatwave?!

What I say: "Whether we get a classic rainy summer day or a roaring heatwave, we have you covered.  

Our festival setups are entirely weatherproofed from the start. We don't need a separate 'wet weather program' because our main structures embrace the elements while keeping everyone safe, warm, and dry.  On the flip side, we are seeing the climate shift, and we have very recently run events for 200+ people right in the middle of intense heatwaves.  That presents a completely different set of challenges, but our team manages it flawlessly.  On either extreme, we ensure everyone stays safe, comfortable, and able to fully enjoy the spaces we have built to connect.”

What I’m thinking: "Many of our clients fly teams in from all over the world, so when they look at a booking in the UK, the weather is their number one anxiety. If they are from sunnier climates, a bit of drizzle looks like a natural disaster! 

In fact, watching the rain fall over the fields from inside a cozy, beautifully lit Chill Bar with a drink in hand is incredibly bonding. 

The truth is these days I worry just as much about the heat. 

Managing a 200-person festival in peak summer sun requires military-grade hydration and shading strategy (without anyone really noticing).  But whether you need a hot cocoa by the fire pit or a mountain of ice for the drinks fridges, we adapt to whatever the skies throw at us.”

From First Click to Next Year’s Countdown

"The event was such a success for us as a company, afterwards we did an internal survey and scored 9.8 out  of 10.  I’ve never seen that with a corporate event before..." MPG

At the end of the day, my job as your Event Director isn't just about coordinating power, weatherproofing structures, or sourcing luxury loos.  It’s about taking the stress off your shoulders from the very first moment you get in touch.

Working closely with Pete who is the creative heartbeat of the event and our site Crew handling the heavy lifting, I am here to hold your hand through the initial planning, deliver the magic flawlessly on the day, and sit down with you afterward to hear how much your team loved it.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of our whole team wrapping up an event, looking at a unified, smiling company, and instantly starting the ideas with Pete on how we’re going to top it for your booking next year.

So, whether you want to charge fifty iPhones, dance in the rain, get your hair festival ready, or sleep in a luxury bed instead of a sleeping bag….we’ve got you.

Ready to start planning your team's ultimate festival experience?

Let’s chat! Get in touch today, and let's map out a ‘The Soul Camp’ experience your company will be talking about for years to come.