Like Wasteland Weekend,
NEOTROPOLIS
has a strict SOUND and VOLUME POLICY. 

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.

Also, megaphones are not allowed.
The only exceptions for this are for senior staff, and approved entertainment use.

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 Factions and modules 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 Kaiju, one of the large Main Drag Faction spaces, generally has a live DJ and other performances throughout the event in their space. Kaiju includes descriptions of these in their Faction application. Another example is FREQ, who were located closer to The Core [Main Stage], usually have a stage area inside their Faction space with various performances that have included some amplified music that has been approved by senior staff.)

This is especially important in compacted spaces, like Megablock One and the Megamall areas. We encourage approved Factions and modules to create their own soundscapes (with small speakers and low volume) that include sound effects, atmospheric music, and other thematic elements. But the idea is for this sound to be contained in that one area, so that the soundscape changes as people explore these spaces, and doesn’t bleed into another. If you can hear your module’s audio from two modules away, it is probably too loud.  

How to Get Approval for your Faction or Module (Theme Zone Spaces)

All Factions and modules 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 Faction 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.) 

For example, these are okay:

These are NOT okay (WITHOUT OFFICIAL PERMISSION):