Cashless

Why to use a cashless system? It is a secure solution and it also avoids voucher systems and waste of paper. This system will contribute to facilitating the logistics: prepare for quicker services in the ba and restaurant. And, of course, less time waiting in lines.


There are no costs for using cashless. You just have to recharge your wristband at the venue, in Taskadélia, or trough the dashboard. You can charge with cash or card.

FAQ
What is Being Gathering?

It is an event of well-being, workshops, live music and sustainability. There will be a vast program of healing, health, spiritual activities, sustainability and permaculture workshops. There will be one music stage with live bands of world music and organic trance.

Is the Being Gathering a mini boom festival?

No: Boom Festival is a festival of Psychedelic Culture, the Being Gathering is a small gathering focused on well-being, healing, kids and spiritual activities. There will also be several concerts. The Being Gathering doesn’t have the same concept of Boom.

Why is the Boom team organising the Being Gathering?

For a few reasons. One of them was the intention of developing a concept that is solely dedicated to the spiritual dimension of the human being.

At the same time, the Boom Team was a pioneer on inviting trance bands to play regularly on festivals more than a decade ago, now feel that it should keep supporting the instrumental scene of trance (also known as Organic Trance) in a dedicated event.

The Being Gathering will give both the new and old generations of trancers the opportunity to listen to trance music that is played with instruments not electronic devices.

Another reason for the Being Gathering to happen is opening Boomland for a smaller number of people so the global family can keep its affective bonds. In conclusion, Boom Festival is an awakening through arts, music, sustainability and culture. The Being Gathering is space in which to shut out the noise and the outside matrix and come face-to-face with yourself and the ancestral sounds.

Can I rent accommodation onsite?

There are a very limited number of Tipis and Star Tents (big tents – Native American style) available for renting. Click here for details.

Is there an extra cost for camping?

No. It is included in the ticket.

Is there a special area for children?

Yes, there is going to be a kids area. It is open during the day and it has a variety of activities for children of all ages and their families. Note: considering the temperatures and dusty air, we recommend parents not to bring children below 3 years of age.

Is there an accesibility service?

Yes, there is. To ensure that we can assist you during the event please reach out to info@being-gathering.org

What do I need to bring?
  • This is a camping event. We recommend that you bring a tent, sleeping bag, mattress, poles, tarps and other infrastructure to create a shaded campsite;

  • Prepare for hot weather, but also cold weather and rain;

  • Bring a bicycle, if you like cycling in nature;

  • Free water is available on site. Bring your refillable bottle;

  • Yoga mats are essential to your comfort during various workshops and activities.

How can I take care of myself?
  • Drink plenty of water;

  • Don’t fall asleep in the sun. You could burn your skin and become dangerously dehydrated (wake up anyone that you see sleeping under the sun);

  • Keep skin clean by wiping the dust and use sunscreen (especially for those with a skin condition);

  • Sleep, meditate and relax, this is a Healing event. You may not want to miss a thing, however the experienced gathering-goer will tell you that you’ll enjoy the festival even more if you get some sleep;

  • Behave consciously and responsibly.

Are restaurants at Being Gathering?

Sure! There are several restaurants, bars and chaishops. Conscious food places are predominant at the gathering. It is mandatory for all places to have affordable prices and to source their food locally and organically.

Can I cook at Being Gathering?

You can cook only at the community kitchen.

Can I make make fire?

Absolutely not. Fire risk is EXTREMELY HIGH on the Boomland, please don’t put yourself, other people at the gathering and nature at risk.

Can I keep my valuables safe?

Yes. Never leave your valuables in the tent. If you have valuables (credit cards, documents, electronic equipment, etc.) please keep them in the Safe Lockers available at the Info Stand.

Can I bring my own generator?

Absolutely not. Fire risk is EXTREMELY HIGH on the Boomland, please don’t put yourself, other people at the gathering and nature at risk.

Can I bring pets?

Pets are not allowed into the event for their own safety. The heat and responsibility of looking after pets in such an environment lead to the conclusion that it is better to leave them at home. Moreover the Boomland is abundant in leishmaniasis that can kill animals.

Should I bring a bicycle?

You can use a bicycle inside the Being Gathering.

Is there a hospital at the festival?

Yes, there is a 24h medical service and ambulance.

Can I bring a sound system?

No. Respect the land and the silence, there is plenty of great music to listen to.

Is there a kosmicare?

Yes. There will be a mini Kosmicare.Launched in 2002 at Boom Festival, Kosmicare is an area born from a collaboration among several entities: Boom Festival, Universidade Católica do Porto, Check In, MAPS and the Portuguese governmental institution SICAD (ex-IDT).

Kosmicare comprises:

  • Advice on damage prevention;

  • Risk minimisation and Harm reduction: information and support, healthcare;

  • A team of multilingual volunteers (including psychologists, psychiatrists, and medics) ready to provide support in case of negative experiences.

Substances are not legal in Portugal, but due to Portuguese decriminalisation laws, projects for risk minimisation (such as Kosmicare) are allowed.

Is there free drinking water?

Yes. Look for the water taps around the Boomland. The water comes from the public grid and is regularly analysed by health and safety inspections.

Can I swim in the lake?

Yes, you can swim at your own risk. But do not use chemicals (soaps, lotions, etc) on your body that might pollute the lake and do not shit or piss in the water. Thank you!

Is the water from the lake clean?

The water from the lake is analysed several times, it is not proper to drink but good to swim in.

Can I bring glass bottles with me?

No. Glass creates a high risk of injury, maximises fire risk and increases rubbish around the site. Vehicles will be searched for glass. Please, pour your drinks into plastic containers.

IS BEING 100% CASHLESS?
  • No;
  • At the bars, restaurants and Info Stand you can only pay with cashless;
  • At Being Corner you can pay with cashless or bank card;
  • At the Bazaar stalls you can pay with the methods available in each stall (money and/or cards).

WHAT IS CASHLESS?

A cashless model is one where money — paper and coin currency — isn't used for transactions. Instead, transactions are electronic.

WHY IS BEING USING CASHLESS?

Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. At Being we intend to raise awareness of its use: our ethos on this matter is being a channel, not a dam.

So why cashless? It is a secure solution and it also avoids voucher systems and waste of paper. In a festival context, the system will contribute to facilitating the logistics: prepare for quicker services in the bars, restaurants, etc. And, of course, less time waiting in lines.

Keep in mind that

  • We are not using it to control consumption data but rather to facilitate.

  • We are keeping a mixed solution — at bars, restaurants and Info Stand you use cashless only; at Bazaar shops and Being Corner you can use either card, bank notes and/or cashless. 

HOW DO I KNOW MY PRIVACY IS PROTECTED USING CASHLESS?

Please check the answers related to Data Privacy below.

WHERE IS BEING USING A DIGITAL PAYMENT / CASHLESS?

Bars, restaurants and the Info Stand accept cashless only. Purchases at Being Corner and the Bazaar shops can be made with other methods of payment. Therefore you can use cashless for the following purposes:

  • Any item available at Being bars;
  • Any item available at Food Vendors;
  • Any item available at the Info Stand;

Any item at the Being Corner.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
  • PLAN AHEAD (IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT)
    • You can charge your cashless credit beforehand. Download the Being App to top up your balance before getting to the festival. 
    • This will prevent waiting in line to do so once you arrive. You do not have to register to use cashless, but there are perks to doing so, like being able to add your tax payer information in advance for invoicing purposes (check question 8 for more information on Registration).
       
  • STEP 1: You arrive at the festival and are given a RFID wristband. These will be anonymous. If you have already Registered, your cashless account is automatically associated with your wristband;

  • STEP 2: If you wish to make any purchase at Being Bars or restaurants, you need to top up your balance (learn about topping up on question 9). Purchases at Being Corner and Bazaar shops can be made with other methods of payment;

  • STEP 3: You can check your balance, transactions and invoices. Know more about this in questions 10, 11 & 12;

STEP 4:  After the festival is over, you can ask for a refund of the remaining balance on your account. Know more on question 14.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF USING CASHLESS FOR BEINGS?
  • There are no costs for using cashless.
  • Cashless is a service provided by a third-party entity, and the costs of the cashless operation are entirely supported by Being Gathering.
  • Being does not charge wristband activation or the transactions during the festival.

The only cashless movement that incurs a cost is, in the case of a refund, where a service tax of 0,20€ needs to be paid. Check question 13 for more information.

DO I NEED TO REGISTER? IF SO, HOW?
  • You do not need to register to use cashless;

  • The registration link is available from 15 June 2024;

  • Registration is necessary in case you need an invoice with your personal details or an entity’s details;
  • Registration is useful if you wish to check the details of where and how you are using your cashless;

  • Registration is necessary if you wish to ask for a refund of your balance after the festival;
  • Any Being Gathering ticket holder (Being family, Worker, Volunteer, Artist) can register by creating a Wallet with a Being Family ID;

  • Registration is available  before the festival starts, from 15 June, some text
    • On the Being Festival App
    • On the official website
  • Registration allows you to:some text
    • Top up your cashless online;
    • Check your invoices;
    • Check your account balance;
    • Check your transactions;
    • Request your balance refund at the end of the festival.

Registration is free from any cost.

WHERE CAN I TOP UP MY BALANCE?
  • At any of the 2 Top-Up Stations (at Info Stand and at Sacred Fire)
  • Via any of the 5 Self Top-Up Stations (at Beach Bar and Being Fields, and also right beside the Top-Up Stations of Sacred Fire and Info Stand)
  • A mobile Top-Up Assistant will be available at peak times and places;

Via your Pocket, which you can access through the Being App or our website.

CAN I TOP UP WRISTBANDS OTHER THAN MINE?
  • Yes, but only after you have entered the festival.

  • When a Being family member (whether it is an adult or a kid) arrives at the gates, they receive a wristband that is automatically associated with their ticket, Being family ID and an account (that may or may not have been created from 15 June on);

  • If you’re a parent and wish to associate your kid’s wristbands to your account, you may do so by changing the settings of your account at the Info Stand Top-Up Station

WHAT METHODS OF PAYMENT ARE ACCEPTED TO TOP UP MY BALANCE?
  • Bank notes are accepted at Top-Up Stations only;
  • Card is accepted at Top-Up Stations, Self Top-Up Stations, on the Being App and on our website.
    • Accepted cards are: Visa and MasterCard.

MBWay is accepted at Top-Up Stations only.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM & MAXIMUM TOP-UPS?
  • If you’re topping up with bank notes: the minimum top-up is €5. Note: Top-Up stations do not accept coins;
  • If you’re topping up with a card: the minimum top-up is €1;

The maximum balance you can have is €250.

HOW CAN I CHECK MY BALANCE?
  • On your Wallet, which you can access via the Being App our on our website;
  • On any of the 2 Top-Up Stations;
  • On any of the 5 Self Top-Up Stations;
  • Whenever you are purchasing something.

HOW CAN I CHECK MY TRANSACTIONS/SPENDINGS?
  • To know about your top-up transactions
    • Check your Wallet on the Being App or on our website
    • Check the email associated with your Being Family ID. You will receive an email with each cashless transaction you do.

  • To check your spendings:
    • Check your Pocket on the Being App or our website.

HOW CAN I GET AN INVOICE?
  • If you need invoicing with a personal tax number or an entity’s tax number, you need to register and create a Pocket with the details that need to go on the invoice;

  • Those who use cashless without adding their tax number details will still receive an invoice for each purchase, but the invoice will be issued to a general consumer;
  • All invoices are generated on your account dashboard, which you can access via the Pocket on the Being App or via our website;
  • If you need an invoice for a purchase at Being Corner or the Bazaar, please ask for it before payment. 

If you need an invoice from one of the restaurants, you will need to request it directly to the restaurant. Restaurants have their own invoicing system so invoices will not be automatically issued for purchases in restaurants.

CAN I GET REFUNDED FOR THE AMOUNT I DIDN’T USE AT THE FESTIVAL?
  • Yes. Refunds have a €0,20 service fee.
  • Refunds can only be made for amounts superior to €0,50 cents, due to banking regulations.
  • You can opt to donate your outstanding balance to specific non-profit organisations: CERAS (wildlife recovery centre), IdanhaCulta and Kosmicare Association.
  • Refunds can be solicited from 25 June to 17 July 2024, via the Pocket menu on the Being App or via our website;

Refunds will be processed within a three-week time frame. Each refund will depend on the time that each bank takes to process the transaction/refund, so please have this in mind.

HOW CAN I GET REFUNDED?
  • Refunds can be solicited from 25 June to 17 July 2024, via the Boom App Pocket or via our website;
  • Refunds have a €0,20 cost for the Being Family;
  • If you have an account configured with a card, the refund will be made directly to the card that was last used on your account;

If you don’t have a card associated with your account, you will be asked to provide a card to which the refund can be made. This will be the case for who has topped up their cashless account at the Top-Up Stations or Self Top-Up Stations at the festival, regardless of the method of payment used.

HOW CAN I GET HELP IN CASE OF A TECHNICAL ISSUE?
  • If you have an issue with your wristband, ask for support at the Info Stand Top - Up Station (check the map);

  • If you have an issue with a Self Top-Up Station, ask for support to the closest bar staff.

WHAT IF THE TRADER/BAR/FOOD VENDOR CHARGES AN INCORRECT AMOUNT?

If you were charged the wrong amount or if you were charged for the incorrect item, please ask for support with the manager of the place where the mistake occurred.

DO KIDS ALSO GET A RFID WRISTBAND?

Yes.

CAN THE TECHNOLOGY BE USED TO TRACK MY MOVEMENTS?
  • No. They are not equipped with any GPS technology;

  • The wristbands we use can only be read by our access devices at the gates and by the payment scanners used by vendors from a few centimetres away.  

IS MY CASHLESS WRISTBAND DATA SAFE?
  • Yes. Your wristband chip is protected by a highly secure encryption.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT GDPR REQUIREMENTS ARE MET?

Follow this link to know about our third-party partner’s compliance with GDPR.

IF I MAKE AN ACCOUNT/REGISTER, WHAT DATA DO YOU COLLECT?
  • If you choose to make a cashless free account in advance of the event, we will ask for your consent to collect the following data:
    • Your First Name
    • Your Last Name
    • Your Boomer ID
    • Your Credit Balance
    • Transactional Data relating only to your purchases at the event
    • Access Data - this data is standard on the wristband to tell us whether you are in or out of the festival.

WILL MY DATA BE PASSED ONTO THIRD PARTIES?

Your data will only be used for the purposes stated by Weezevent to enable the implementation of the cashless service, and will not be passed to any other third party.

HOW LONG IS THE DATA STORED?
  • Personal data is only stored for the period of time it is needed to deliver the access to a cashless system, and to enable cashless refunds after the festival;

  •  All other data is stored in accordance with timelines stated in the GDPR regulations.

CAN I ERASE MY DATA?
  • Yes. Your data can be erased after the festival is over, once it is no longer needed to process refunds, or if the festival doesn’t take place and you have created a virtual account;

  • If you wish to erase your data, please reach out to technical support at cashless@boomfestival.org

ARE RFID CHIPS SAFE?

Near Field Chip (NFC) devices, such as the RFID cashless free system, exchange data using a High Frequency (HF) radio wave. This is the same technology used to make a contactless payment with your bank card or via your smartphone. The chip itself is passive, meaning it does not emit an electromagnetic signal, exposing you to no more risk than your contactless card.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE MY WRISTBAND?
  • If you’ve registered an online cashless account: 

If your wristband is lost or stolen we can block the lost or stolen wristband and transfer your unspent money onto a new wristband for you. Please go to the Info Stand Top-Up Station and ask for a new wristband. You’ll be asked to show your photo ID and given a new wristband. You will be credited with the last known balance from your wristband. Being Gathering cannot be held responsible for any balance spent between you losing your wristband and the festival issuing you with another one.