It all started with an idea
About three years ago, we at HR Campus decided to organise an open air event as a joke. Simply because we wanted to. With everything that goes with it: cool bands, sleeping in tents, mud and whatever else is needed. As a company, we are adept at organising HR projects. But an open air? Not so much. But with the help of a pig franchising entrepreneur and a wild technology freak, we were well positioned.
At first we had to be patient a little longer than we would have liked because the last two years were what they were. The set-up week was also wilder than we would have liked. After 3 (!) storms in a row during set-up, we almost put the seal on the whole idea. And at the start of the festival we had a lot more of this mud than we wanted. Which was a surprise, at least this summer.
Simply unforgettable
The preparations were a huge amount of work, a huge amount of stress and a huge amount of fun. And when the whole company, including families, sang "Charlotta" with the band Hecht during a cheesy sunset, all the hard work was forgotten. Rainbow on the horizon included. It was that one moment that we had been working towards for so long and when everything came together. A moment without before or after.
The open air was an absolute highlight that many will never forget: A bit like Christmas, getting married and a "Die Toten Hosen" concert all at the same time.
The big question of "why?"
Of course, you can ask yourself why companies should organise wedding celebrations aka open airs. The answer could certainly be rationalised with all kinds of arguments. But I would rather ask: "Why not?". Why should I work in a company where a company party doesn't feel like a family celebration? Why should I work with colleagues I wouldn't like to marry? Or with whom I at least enjoy spending my time? And why should I work in a place where it's not allowed to get really loud sometimes?
Who knows: perhaps in future the job profile for HR professionals will include a sentence like: "Experienced in organising medium-sized open air events". Newer job titles such as "Head of People and Culture" are at least not very far off.
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air
The Campus Open Air