Burning Man changes sound policies and reactions are mixed

Burning Man walks a fine balance between harmony and cacophony. This year, new policies hope to tamper that cacophony to a conversational level — and some burners aren’t happy about it.

Earlier this month, the Burning Man organization released a blog post detailing the changes to this year’s rules regarding amplified sound. Although Burning Man is known for its laissez faire attitude towards most forms of self-expression, the reality of 80,000 people sleeping in close proximity does require some considerations when it comes to noise. The post lays out previous ways loud music has been addressed, which include a policy enacted in 2000 regarding dedicated “Large Scale Sound Art” sections of Black Rock City and a 2015 decision to create a Deep Playa Music Zone (DMZ) for mutant vehicle sound systems.

The new policy changes the way volume is measured. Instead of relying solely on decibels, they’ve shifted to a “conversational level” of measurement (which if you want to get technical, is roughly 60db). Music is restricted to the level of common speech once it reaches the border of another camp. Speakers must be pointed towards the interior of the camp, rather than directed towards neighbors. Large-scale sound installations can only be set up in the appropriately titled Large Scale Sound Zone, and camps located on the edge of the city and open playa (known as the Esplanade) must limit their sound such that it doesn’t exceed conversational levels at 100 feet into the open playa. 

Vehicles can still play music as loud as they want when driving on the playa and in the DMZ, but now have a curfew as to when they can play music in the streets of Black Rock City (no amplified sound between 2 a.m. and 10 a.m). There’s also to be no amplified sound during the Temple burn, and vehicles can’t camp out playing music at art installations for more than three hours at a time.

While those trying to get a few hours of sleep might welcome some of these changes, some burners aren’t so happy. One Reddit post from a 25-year event veteran with the handle zapperwippersnapper claimed to be a member of the “LOUD Silent Majority” who believe “your sleep is less important than their Radical Self Expression.” Replies to the post cite rumors of an art car protest, however, other Reddit posts seem to welcome the changes and consider it common courtesy. Facebook posts in private Burning Man groups also show mixed reactions, with some commenters lamenting the addition of more rules and lack of community involvement, with others saying the policy is long overdue.