SOAK Sound Policy
We are seen and heard.
SOAK is dedicated to the cultivation of enriching, participatory experience, while simultaneously respecting boundaries and the principle of consent.
Music is an integral part of many experiences at SOAK. Unlike other forms of art, SOUND is unique as it can easily overwhelm a space, making it difficult for participants to opt out from that experience. Additionally, bass travels omni-directionally and cannot be effectively contained within camp structures. SOAK is simultaneously dedicated to radical self-expression and to cultivating community. We must be considerate to other participants, as well as to local wildlife and the surrounding residents.
All participants must abide by this policy. If you believe a participant is not following this policy, bring your concerns to SOAK Rangers, who can be identified by their khaki or olive green clothes and lanyards. Rangers can be found at the HQ in Central Services, in the Main Field or you can flag down anyone with a radio to call a Ranger. SOAK Rangers will first investigate complaints about excessive sound and escalate to SOAK Operations/Placement as needed.
Failure to respond appropriately to complaints raised by SOAK officials may result in one or more of the following actions:
Volume check by SOAK Operations
Mediation between camps and/or individuals
The loss of amplified sound privileges
Ejection from the event
Camp Standing may also be degraded.
This policy applies to every individual, group, instrument and device producing sound at the SOAK event space:
Event-wide “Quiet Hours” are from 6:00am - 10:00am, every day. During this time, keep all sound at or below 70 dB (normal conversation level) so people can sleep.
Camps at SOAK are placed within any of four Sound Zones (these are defined on the Placement Map). Camps in each Sound Zone are required to adhere to their respective policies. They are:
Zone 0:
From 10:00pm - 10:00am, there may be no sound above 70 dB (normal conversation level).
Zone 1:
From Midnight - 10:00am, there may be no sound above 70 dB (normal conversation level).
Zone 2:
From 3:00am - 10:00am, there may be no sound above 70 dB (normal conversation level).
Zone 3:
From 3:00am - 6:00am, amplified subwoofers must be turned off.
From 6:00am - 10:00am, there may be no sound above 70 dB (normal conversation level).
Your camp is your responsibility. Ensure that everyone creating sound within your camp, or from mutant vehicles, is aware of this policy and agrees to abide by it.
Everyone (camps and individuals) who brings an amplified sound system is encouraged to bring a functional sound meter, and to use it to comply with applicable Sound Zone Policy. It is recommended to acquire a purpose-built sound meter, as decent ones can be purchased at a reasonable price. If you decide to use a smartphone-based sound meter, be aware that there is great variation in the accuracy and reliability of these apps and devices - see this article on the NIOSH Science Blog for a reasonable comparative analysis.
Amplified sound systems of 300 watts or more must be pre-registered with SOAK. A representative for the sound system must attest to Placement that all policies are understood and agreed to.. Note that ALL sound systems must comply with applicable Sound Zone policy, irrespective of how many watts they use.
All speakers must be pointed inward toward the interior of your own camp or dance area rather than outward toward other camps and the general event space. Dominate your own space to the best of your ability, not the spaces of others.
As a general guideline, sound should never exceed 85 dB when measured at 50 feet from the source. Due to the event site’s physical attributes, sound cannot be uniformly measured; therefore, measurements alone do not constitute reliable or clear indicators of a policy violation. Participant input and observations by SOAK Rangers and SOAK Operations may be the determining factors for Sound Policy violations, in addition to (or in spite of) meter readings.
Be a good neighbor by reacting to the size of the audience and time of day. For example, if the dance floor is nearly empty at 5 in the morning, please bring your levels down.
If a SOAK Ranger or SOAK Operations/Placement requests that your camp turn its amplified sound system’s volume down, or off entirely, it is expected that your camp and its representatives will do so and with minimal fuss, irrespective of what applicable Sound Zone policy might otherwise prescribe. In such an event, the SOAK Ranger or SOAK Operations/Placement individual will explain the reason for the request, with information as to when and how your camp’s amplified sound operations may return to normal.
Resolving Conflicts
Sound is subjective; sound camps and individuals may negatively affect the experience of others without realizing it.
If you’re in a sound camp, get to know your neighbors and share your sound schedule with them. Talk about how you can work together rather than compete for sonic space.
Make sure your neighbors know who’s ‘in charge’ at your camp, so they know who to talk to if they have concerns.
If you’re concerned about sound, start by talking to the camp or individual responsible and try to resolve the issue through direct communication.
If you’ve already spoken to someone and can’t find a compromise, contact SOAK Rangers for assistance. They can be identified by their khaki or olive green clothes and their lanyards.
Consider Joining The Harmonic Council
Established at SOAK in 2023, The Harmonic Council is a voluntary association between Placement and Sound Camps. All Sound Camp Sound Leads are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Participation in The Harmonic Council involves communication with other Council members in the months between when Theme Camp Placement decisions go out, through to the end of SOAK each year.
Before the event, these communications involve mostly email, with the possibility of an occasional Zoom or real-life meetup mixed in for good measure. The idea is to get to know each other, and to discuss ways that, through creative and harmonious use of sound, we can produce an optimal experience at SOAK for everyone.
When SOAK is finally happening, at the event space after we’ve arrived and set up, we work together to evaluate how the sound that each of our camps produce is heard and experienced in the environment, and, especially, how the sound we produce impacts other sound camps.
Models can only go so far, and there will always be the unexpected to contend with. How we think sound will work and interplay is not always accurate. Sound wars are bad. Cacophony is bad. We want to avoid these things, and to that end, we work together to find creative solutions to resolve conflicts, ideally before they occur.
Sound Camp Sound Leads will be sent invitations from Placement to join The Harmonic Council after Theme Camp Placement decisions go out, so that should be expected. Also, feel free to contact placement@soakpdx.com if you have any questions about The Harmonic Council. Thank you.