SOUND and VOLUME POLICY

Since our first event in 2010, Wasteland Weekend has had a rule of “no rogue sound systems.”
Here is some clarity about that rule.

What’s Not Allowed

For the most part, attendees are NOT ALLOWED to bring their own sound systems, in either the Theme Zone or in the general camping area.
This includes DJs, bands, amplified instruments or vocalists (including karaoke), and other amplified music and sounds. This is to help preserve the immersive theme and curated soundscapes for various areas throughout the event.
Megaphones are not allowed. The only exceptions of this are senior staff, and approved entertainment use, do not use a megaphone.
Listening to the standard radio from a car or RV at a reasonable volume is also acceptable.

What IS Allowed

Small speakers such as those pictured below, are allowed, as long as you follow the Volume Policy (also detailed below).

Some Theme Zone Tribes ARE allowed to have DJs or other amplified performances in their space, BUT, they must be approved by senior staff in writing prior to the event. When you submit your Faction application, you can explain what it is you’d like to do sound-wise, and the Faction Team will let you know if that’s okay or not. (Some examples would be Wasted Saints, one of the large Tribe spaces, generally has a live DJ and other performances throughout the event in their space. Wasted Saints includes descriptions of these in their Tribe application. Another example is Uncle Zeke’s, who usually have a stage area inside their Tribe space with various performances that have included some amplified music that has been approved by senior staff.)

How to Get Approval for your Tribe and Theme Zone Spaces

All Tribes in official Theme Zone spaces must request permission, both for their actual space and for their entertainment and amplified sound each year. Prior year approval is not a guarantee for the next event. If you plan to apply as a Tribe or Theme Zone space, you can do that here.

Other than a few select performance groups and official entertainment areas (who must get PERMISSION IN WRITING from senior staff members PRIOR to the event), no one may bring out any sound system or music device that is larger than a small portable radio or small bluetooth speaker (or similar).

VOLUME POLICY

Yes, the SOUND and VOLUME POLICY is in effect for the entire General Camping area as well as the Theme Zone.

Official event audio will always take priority. Regardless of the size of your speakers, your volume must never get to the level that it disturbs your neighbors, interferes with the immersive atmosphere, or official entertainment.

Enforcement of this policy is at the sole discretion of senior staff. Repeated offenses (refusal to turn down or turn off your music) can result in discipline up to and including the expulsion of your entire camp from the event. If in doubt, leave your sound system at home.

Also, just so it’s clear, performance groups with prior permission to play music are still under the authority of the event staff in terms of music volume, hours played, and content.

QUIET HOURS

Even in areas with permission for amplified sound, there are established quiet hours for this event. It is not a 24-hour desert rave. Noise is expected to be avoided between the general hours of 3am-9am each day. (Sometimes the cut off will be a bit earlier on say, the Wednesday night the event begins, and could go a bit later than 3am in certain areas on Friday and Saturday nights.)