FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WASTELAND WEEKEND:
ALL OF THE POLICIES ON THIS PAGE AND ON OUR RULES PAGE ARE FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE ONLY AND ARE AT THE STAFF’S DISCRETION AND MAY BE CHANGED, MODIFIED, OR INTERPRETED AS NEEDED BY WASTELAND WORLD STAFF.
Please “pack it in – pack it out!” THAT MEANS EVERY TINY THING!
Draining of holding tanks, littering, and trash dumping is prohibited.
If you have concerns about weather, please read this.
1. Do I have to wear a post-apocalyptic costume?
2. Where does this event take place?
3. Do I have to have a themed vehicle or themed campsite to attend?
4. When am I allowed to show up at the event to grab my campsite and start setting up?
5. I have questions about ticket availability!
6. Do you sell one-day passes? I'm only planning to come for the day.
7. Can we bring out our own sound system so our DJ or band can play in our camp?
8. Is this a LARP or cosplay event?
9. I saw that there are DJs. Is this a rave?
10. Is the event accessible by a regular street vehicle?
11. There is mention of campers, RVs, trailers and such. Is there an extra charge for those? Do we need one? Can we just bring a tent?
If you’re bringing an RV, here is some helpful info from nearby Borax Bill Park (one of the closest locations with showers and RV services) as of Wasteland 2021:
If you will be off roading, please make sure your guests purchase a riding permit. They are $15 each and are good for the season. We also have family packs.”
12. Will bathrooms be available?
14. Is this a “kid-friendly” event?
15. Can I bring my pets?
Also, the Desert Tortoise is protected, so PLEASE do not harm or touch any if you see them. You WILL be ejected from the event and may actually face a fine! (Please alert a staff member in the rare chance you spot a tortoise).
16. I understand that firearms are not allowed, but can we bring prop & replica weapons?
BLADES – Edged weapons must be VERY dull, or should stay sheathed while you are inside the event boundaries. This includes sharp objects on costumes. Wasteland Weekend security and staff reserve the right to inspect and confiscate any weapons that appear to be unsafe, or are being used in an unsafe manner (they will be held for you until the end of the event). If you have questions about a specific weapon, better to ask us before you bring it out. And remember that California law supersedes any of our weapons policies. If you carry something to or at the event that is against the law in the state of CA, you do so at your own risk. County Sheriffs ARE on site during this event.
17. What will the weather be like for the event weekend?
18. Are campfires/bonfires allowed?
19. Will there be a power grid for all attendees to use?
20. Can we use a personal camp shower / solar shower?
21. Can I use my phone at the event?
This is five days of trying to live inside a Mad Max-style movie. Embrace it. Cell phone reception for most carriers out at our location is generally okay (though data can be very slow), but there are no guarantees, and you’ll need to find some way to charge your phone.
22. Can I spin fire? Can I bring a flamethrower?
If you are not a performer, you MAY spin fire, but you may only do so within the boundaries of the designated fire practice area (HADES). We have staff in the Hades free fire spin area to oversee safety. Anyone seen breaking the safety rules for fire spinning is subject to removal from the event. Each year we evaluate our fire rules in cooperation with the local authorities. Your safety and cooperation will help Wasteland Weekend to continue to be a fun and safe event for everyone.
You are not be allowed to use your propane pyrotechnic devices or flamethrowers.
Additional details on fire spinning and fire-based devices is found on our Fire Policy page.
23. Can I take photos or shoot film/video?
Still photography:
Anyone who attends Wasteland Weekend may take still photos. They need not pre-register.
All attendees assign to Wasteland World Inc. a joint ownership in the copyright of their event imagery for the purpose of enabling Wasteland World Inc. to enforce any copyright against a third party that displays or disseminates their event imagery. Personal use is excluded from this and would include displaying on a personal website or social media page, provided that the display is not monetized and the website does not sell any product or service. Joint copyright by Wasteland World Inc. may only be waived in writing from Wasteland World Inc. ownership.
Imagery from the event may be downloaded or copied only in accordance with a creative commons license that prohibits the licensee from using the Event Imagery for commercial purposes, including CC BY-NC, CC BY-NC-SA, and CC BY-NC-ND (available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/)
Members of the press should notify WW staff members before their arrival so that we may assist them in covering the event (and some media outlets will qualify for free admission). Anyone who receives a complimentary press pass for the event is expected to share some of their work with WW staff afterwards so that we may use it for promotional purposes. (We will always make our best efforts to obtain permission from photographers and give them proper credit when using their photos for promotion.)
We expect photographers to be courteous of attendees and not take anyones’ photograph who asks you not to, or who makes it clear through their actions that they do not want to be photographed. Use your best judgement. When in doubt, ask before shooting. (If possible. We don’t necessarily expect you to ask everyone’s permission when taking crowd shots).
All photographers must obey the same rules and codes of conduct as other Wasteland attendees, including proper post-apocalyptic attire at all times.
Members of the media should check in at the WW Command Center (just inside the Wasteland gates) when they arrive at the event.
Film & Video:
The above rules all apply, with additional restrictions:
Anyone taking motion photography of any sort (film, video) will need to be pre-approved by Wasteland staff and file a permit (except for very small non-professional cameras like cell phones). If you plan on shooting video for any reason, be it media, your own personal use, a short film for YouTube, whatever, you will need to register. There is no fee. You may or may not be given a special arm band to wear while at the event that tells us you are approved by staff. Anyone seen filming without an arm band may be asked to stop, at staff discretion. Anyone who doesn’t stop when asked, may be escorted out of the event.
Videos taken at Wasteland are expected to be of a personal documentary (non-monetized, non-commercial) style only, and not narrative films or the like.
Note: Cell phone video cameras are usually exempt and will be treated as still cameras for the purposes of this policy. However, even if filming with a cell phone, you may be asked to stop if it becomes in some way disruptive to the event and narrative filmmaking of any kind is still prohibited, even with a cell phone camera, without expressed written permission.
Cameras may be “themed” if you wish to blend in, but cameras should not be HIDDEN. Attendees should have reasonable awareness of when they are being filmed (i.e. do not film people secretly).
Live steaming – Wasteland Weekend is supposed to be a live event for the attendees actually there. Live streaming (such as via Facebook Live and other apps) is not completely banned, as that would be difficult to enforce, but it is heavily discouraged. Let’s let some of what happens in the Wasteland stay in the Wasteland.
Why do we have this policy? Several reasons. One reason is that we want to limit the number of cameras and film crews at our event. Even when a film crew is in costume, having many cameras rolling at WW can break the immersive illusion of the event. But we certainly understand the need to get great imagery of the event (after all, some of the film crews out there will be shooting footage specifically for event staff, so that we can document this unique event and have material for future promotion). Limiting the total number of film crews and media crews is a way for us to try and strike a balance between the publicity that is so important to the continuation of this unique event, and the enjoyment of our attendees.
Another reason is that there are film and TV companies out there that would simply like to get some footage at WW to use in their low budget productions. These companies are not interested in our event, or our attendees, except to the extent that they can use them as free extras, and use our volunteer-built sets to make their low budget films look better without having to pay anything. We would like to prevent this type of exploitation of our people and the works of art they have worked hard to create.
Basically, if you are considering trying to get some cool footage for your short film, feature film, video game, or any other similar use at our event without permission – DON’T. We claim joint copyright on all images taken at our event (you sign that over to us as part of your signed waiver to be admitted) and we will make you remove all such footage online and block you from using it in your projects. We do this to protect the event itself and our attendees.
Anyone wishing to film at wasteland should immediately submit the following information to:
wastelandweekend {at} gmail [dot] com
WASTELAND FILMING APPLICATION
The more specific and detailed information you give us below, the more you increase your chances of obtaining a film permit. We are a ticketed private event and reserve the right to refuse filming rights to anyone for any reason. And some applications will be rejected simply to keep the total number of film crews manageable.
Submit this Form
Name:
Contact info: (phone, email, mailing address)
Name of project: (if applicable)
- Which days do you plan to film at Wasteland? Let us know if you will be filming at night as well.
- What is the intended purpose of the footage you will be shooting? News media? Personal use only? Narrative short film? Television show? Please be as specific as possible. And you must let us know if your project is intended to be non-profit or for-profit.
- Tell us about your production company (if you have one) or about your background as a filmmaker. If the answer is “none, I just want to pick up a camera and film my friends”, that’s fine. Tell us that.
- Is there anything specific you plan to shoot (scenes, story lines, posed groups)? Describe in detail. Feel free to submit scripts and/or storyboards if you have them.
- Describe the equipment you will be using, and the size of your crew. If filming at night, will you be using artificial lighting? If so, describe. NOTE: Drone cameras are not permitted (except for our in house video team, whose drones are already pre-approved).
Wasteland Weekend will not supply power for film crews. You may not plug into our generators for lighting or to recharge batteries, etc.. (Exceptions may be made for our own official WW documentary crews).
Even if you are given a permit to film at Wasteland, significant changes to any of the above information once you arrive, could be cause for your permit to be revoked (Don’t tell us you’re just going to use a small camcorder to shoot your friends and then try to show up with a full pro crew.)
If the intended use of your footage changes after WW is over (i.e. you wish to sell it to another company for them to use as part of a different project) you must notify us in writing for further permission.
By submitting this application, you agree to share your footage from Wasteland Weekend with event staff so that they may use it for event promotion. (This also helps us to help you promote the end result of your hard work with all of our fans!)
Send all of the above info to wasteland wasteland weekend (at) gmail dot com
24. What's up with the bottle caps and bartering?
Bottle caps are NOT currency at Wasteland. At least, not officially. The whole bottle cap thing started at the event many years ago, inspired by the Fallout video game series. Our Last Chance Casino in Wasteland City DOES use bottle caps as gambling chips, but only THEIR special bottle caps, and they do not represent real money. People DO use bottle caps for fun and custom caps are given out or traded by those who collect. Here’s a handy graphic that may help. (Made by Wastelander Kevin Sharkey):
25. Do you have a lost and found?
26. Are there any off-road vehicle requirements?
Anyone bringing a gas or electric powered vehicle eventually finds themselves asking if they will need a permit to operate their vehicle.
(Such as an “Off Highway Vehicle” or “OHV” permit.)
The answer varies based on a few factors, the first of which is registration. If your vehicle is currently registered with the DMV in your state you will not need an OHV permit. If you have a powered vehicle that you intend to operate solely within the boundaries of the event you are not required to have an OHV permit. However some attendees want to take their vehicle off-property at some point to really ride shiny and chrome, so Wasteland Weekend strongly suggests that vehicles be registered or get an OHV permit.
Where to get an OHV permit-
Online:
California City Police Department
https://www.calcitypd.org/Online-Permit-Pay.php
In Person:
Borax Bill Park
1363 Twenty Mule Team Parkway
8.5 miles from Wasteland
Foxy’s Landing
22636 Airport Way #10 (inside the airport)
(760) 373-1555
Ace City Hardware
7594 California City Blvd
(760) 373-1116
Cal City Market
8170 Aspen Mall
(760) 373-4926
High Desert Cycle
8209 California City Blvd #2
(760) 373-4495
Other California City services:
- City Fresh Water and R.V. Dump Service Permit: $25.00/year
A single Self-Contained Travel Trailer/R.V. Service Permit will entitle the operator of the assigned permitted vehicle to obtain up to 150 U. S. Gallons/Day at any of the designated “Fresh Water” dispensing stations. The permit holder would also be entitled to dispose of normal “Grey” or “Black” water waste in any of the City DUMP STATION sites. This permit is only valid to privately owned recreational vehicles. No commercially owned vehicle may dump or dispose of commercial waste at City DUMP STATION sites. - Family Pack: $50.00/year
A Family Pack includes the issuance of four Street Operating Permits and one City Fresh Water & R. V. Dump Service Permit. - City Fresh Water (Single Use): $ 5.00/dayA single Self-Contained Travel Trailer/R.V. Service Permit will entitle the operator of the assigned permitted vehicle to obtain up to 150 U. S. Gallons (one time only) at any of the designated “Fresh Water” dispensing stations.
- R.V. Dump Service Permit: $ 5.00/dayA single Self-Contained Travel Trailer/R.V. Service permit will entitle the operator of the assigned permitted vehicle to dispose of normal “Grey” or “Black” water waste in any of the City DUMP STATION sites. This permit is only valid to Privately Owned Recreational Vehicles. No commercially owned vehicle may dump or dispose of commercial waste at City DUMP STATION sites.