Flipside 2008 Sound Policy
Sound Policy
I. Intro
Sound at Flipside can come from many places:
bullhorns/megaphones, large scale sound systems, drum
circles, art installations, and art cars to name a few.
Flipside’s sound has long been the most likely reason to
endanger our continued presence at any particular
location, as well as a potential source for legal
citations to be issued against the members of the LLC. In
2008, the lease contract for the use of Flat Creek Ranch
stipulates specific steps that we must take as a
condition for use of the land.
II. Sound Levels
There will be specific decibel levels and measurement
standards that will be made public prior to the event.
These will be determined experimentally, during specific
site visits, based on audibility of different sounds at
various measurement locations outside the event
boundaries. These levels may vary depending on location
within the event, frequency of sounds, as well other
factors. The Sound Team may lower the maximum acceptable
sound levels during the event if that becomes necessary.
The Sound Team will make every effort to train sound
artists to measure their own sound levels.
III. The Sound Team:
A. Chief Sound Marshall
A Flipside Volunteer Lead, the Chief Sound Marshall will
be responsible for educating the community about why the
rules set forth in the Sound Policy are important, making
sure that pre-event sound testing occurs to set the
initial sound levels, as well as organizing the volunteer
Sound Marshalls, designating and filling shifts during
the event as necessary, and any other activities needed
to carry out the Sound Policy.
B. Sound Marshalls:
Sound Marshals will volunteer under the Chief Sound
Marshall and will make sure participants are not
violating the Sound Policy. They will be trained to
understand sound propagation so they can properly educate
people why their sound needs to be turned down. On-duty
Sound Marshals will be identifiable at the event. Artists
who use sound as a medium are highly encouraged to
volunteer as Sound Marshalls.
IV. Registered Sound Sponsor
Any installation, camp, or other entity at Flipside that
produces sound will designate a Registered Sound Sponsor.
This person will be responsible for all aspects of the
sound source, so typically they will be the owner or
renter of the sound system, or the organizer of the camp
or art project producing the sound. The Flipside Sound
Team will communicate with the Registered Sound Sponsor
prior to the event to help educate them on the Sound
Policy. Prior to the event, Registered Sound Sponsors can
designate assistants to share the responsibility on site.
V. Sound Release Form:
Every Registered Sound Sponsor must sign a Sound Release
Form prior to entering the event. Failure to do so will
result in the sound source being barred from the event.
Language to this effect will also be included in the
general waiver that all participants sign. Signing the
release acknowledges that the Sound Sponsor understands
the terms and conditions of sound use and agrees to abide
by them.
VI. Sound Production:
Either the Registered Sound Sponsor or one of their
designated assistants must be present when sound is being
produced. If one is not readily available, an on-duty
Sound Marshall is authorized to lower sound levels or
turn the sound source off as they feel necessary.
VII. DJs/Live Music
Registered Sound Sponsors are responsible for ensuring
that any DJs, bands, musicians, or other participants
using their equipment are abiding by the Sound Policy.
Each DJ/musician is recommended to have a second person
present to monitor and dynamically adjust sound levels
during their performance to comply with the levels set by
the Sound Team.
VII. Art Cars
Mobile sound sources must also abide by the Sound Policy,
including pre-registering their sound systems prior to
the event.
IX. Enforcement
If a sound producing entity is found to be in violation
of the Sound Policy, Sound Marshalls are authorized to
address the problem.
a. Any entity violating the Sound Policy will receive a
verbal warning and must turn their levels down below the
levels set by the Sound Team.
b. A second violation, and/or gross negligence regarding
the Sound Policy may result in the violating system being
removed from Flipside. In the event that this occurs, the
amplifier, megaphone, drum, jet engine, or whatever sound
source is causing the violation will need to be removed
from the event. If the Registered Sound Sponsor is
unwilling or unable to remove the sound source, the Chief
Sound Marshall, on-duty Sound Marshall, or LLC will
remove the sound source to a secure location near the
exit of the event, and the Registered Sound Sponsor will
be responsible for retrieving it at the end of the event.
AAR LLC and the Sound Team are not responsible for any
accidental damage or theft that may occur if a sound
source must be impounded.
c. "Defcon 10"
The owners of Flat Creek Ranch have required Flipside to
initiate an event-wide sound dampening within 10 minutes
of a formal complaint lodged by Pedernales State Park,
the Blanco County Sheriff's Office, the Hays County
Sheriff's Office, or the neighbors in the immediate area
of Flat Creek. Should this occur, all sound-emitting
entities are required to immediately adjust their sound
output as determined on-site by the Sound Team or LLC.
The acceptable sound levels during Defcon 10 will be much
lower than during the event, and may be as extreme as
silence in bass frequency ranges ("cut subs"), or
possibly all frequencies ("cut sound"). In order to
maximize response speed, the Flipside Rangers will assist
the Sound Marshalls and the LLC in communicating the
situation to all sound producing entities.
When Defcon 10 is over, the Sound Team may need to
adjust the overall Sound Levels to prevent it from
recurring. Our goal in setting the sound levels in the
first place is to prevent complaints from outside so that
Defcon 10 won’t occur at all.
I. Intro
Sound at Flipside can come from many places:
bullhorns/megaphones, large scale sound systems, drum
circles, art installations, and art cars to name a few.
Flipside’s sound has long been the most likely reason to
endanger our continued presence at any particular
location, as well as a potential source for legal
citations to be issued against the members of the LLC. In
2008, the lease contract for the use of Flat Creek Ranch
stipulates specific steps that we must take as a
condition for use of the land.
II. Sound Levels
There will be specific decibel levels and measurement
standards that will be made public prior to the event.
These will be determined experimentally, during specific
site visits, based on audibility of different sounds at
various measurement locations outside the event
boundaries. These levels may vary depending on location
within the event, frequency of sounds, as well other
factors. The Sound Team may lower the maximum acceptable
sound levels during the event if that becomes necessary.
The Sound Team will make every effort to train sound
artists to measure their own sound levels.
III. The Sound Team:
A. Chief Sound Marshall
A Flipside Volunteer Lead, the Chief Sound Marshall will
be responsible for educating the community about why the
rules set forth in the Sound Policy are important, making
sure that pre-event sound testing occurs to set the
initial sound levels, as well as organizing the volunteer
Sound Marshalls, designating and filling shifts during
the event as necessary, and any other activities needed
to carry out the Sound Policy.
B. Sound Marshalls:
Sound Marshals will volunteer under the Chief Sound
Marshall and will make sure participants are not
violating the Sound Policy. They will be trained to
understand sound propagation so they can properly educate
people why their sound needs to be turned down. On-duty
Sound Marshals will be identifiable at the event. Artists
who use sound as a medium are highly encouraged to
volunteer as Sound Marshalls.
IV. Registered Sound Sponsor
Any installation, camp, or other entity at Flipside that
produces sound will designate a Registered Sound Sponsor.
This person will be responsible for all aspects of the
sound source, so typically they will be the owner or
renter of the sound system, or the organizer of the camp
or art project producing the sound. The Flipside Sound
Team will communicate with the Registered Sound Sponsor
prior to the event to help educate them on the Sound
Policy. Prior to the event, Registered Sound Sponsors can
designate assistants to share the responsibility on site.
V. Sound Release Form:
Every Registered Sound Sponsor must sign a Sound Release
Form prior to entering the event. Failure to do so will
result in the sound source being barred from the event.
Language to this effect will also be included in the
general waiver that all participants sign. Signing the
release acknowledges that the Sound Sponsor understands
the terms and conditions of sound use and agrees to abide
by them.
VI. Sound Production:
Either the Registered Sound Sponsor or one of their
designated assistants must be present when sound is being
produced. If one is not readily available, an on-duty
Sound Marshall is authorized to lower sound levels or
turn the sound source off as they feel necessary.
VII. DJs/Live Music
Registered Sound Sponsors are responsible for ensuring
that any DJs, bands, musicians, or other participants
using their equipment are abiding by the Sound Policy.
Each DJ/musician is recommended to have a second person
present to monitor and dynamically adjust sound levels
during their performance to comply with the levels set by
the Sound Team.
VII. Art Cars
Mobile sound sources must also abide by the Sound Policy,
including pre-registering their sound systems prior to
the event.
IX. Enforcement
If a sound producing entity is found to be in violation
of the Sound Policy, Sound Marshalls are authorized to
address the problem.
a. Any entity violating the Sound Policy will receive a
verbal warning and must turn their levels down below the
levels set by the Sound Team.
b. A second violation, and/or gross negligence regarding
the Sound Policy may result in the violating system being
removed from Flipside. In the event that this occurs, the
amplifier, megaphone, drum, jet engine, or whatever sound
source is causing the violation will need to be removed
from the event. If the Registered Sound Sponsor is
unwilling or unable to remove the sound source, the Chief
Sound Marshall, on-duty Sound Marshall, or LLC will
remove the sound source to a secure location near the
exit of the event, and the Registered Sound Sponsor will
be responsible for retrieving it at the end of the event.
AAR LLC and the Sound Team are not responsible for any
accidental damage or theft that may occur if a sound
source must be impounded.
c. "Defcon 10"
The owners of Flat Creek Ranch have required Flipside to
initiate an event-wide sound dampening within 10 minutes
of a formal complaint lodged by Pedernales State Park,
the Blanco County Sheriff's Office, the Hays County
Sheriff's Office, or the neighbors in the immediate area
of Flat Creek. Should this occur, all sound-emitting
entities are required to immediately adjust their sound
output as determined on-site by the Sound Team or LLC.
The acceptable sound levels during Defcon 10 will be much
lower than during the event, and may be as extreme as
silence in bass frequency ranges ("cut subs"), or
possibly all frequencies ("cut sound"). In order to
maximize response speed, the Flipside Rangers will assist
the Sound Marshalls and the LLC in communicating the
situation to all sound producing entities.
When Defcon 10 is over, the Sound Team may need to
adjust the overall Sound Levels to prevent it from
recurring. Our goal in setting the sound levels in the
first place is to prevent complaints from outside so that
Defcon 10 won’t occur at all.