Thumping Art Cars

Grizelda · Post by **Grizelda** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 6:54 am

So there I was having a nice chat with some folks sitting around in a camp. Along came an art car blasting dance music, and whoever was talking stopped in mid sentence because it was suddenly impossible for us to hear each other. We all waited for the art car to pass before resuming our conversation. This happened repeatedly. I know it's not a huge deal to have to wait a minute to resume a conversation, but I feel like I shouldn't have to.

Is there any regulation about art cars' sound systems? Should there be some rule about maximum volume within city limits, or would that be unjustified squelching of art car builders' artistic expression?

All the really loud sound art camps are stuck out at 10:00 and 2:00 so that they won't be disruptive, and that seems to be working. The loudly thumping art cars driving up and down city streets seem overbearing to me, and I wish they would tone it down a little or at least save their really loud music blasting for someplace out on the open playa away from people's camps. Do other people feel this way about them or am I just being a curmudgeon because I don't care for the music?

run_w_xcors · Post by **run_w_xcors** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:53 pm

I've been an electronic music fan for years now and even I had a hard time with the music from time to time, but knew about it before I came and knew it'd be something I'd have to deal with.

While I would think that most people who completely blast their music above "normal" standards (I still felt like Deep End was in my tent) are showing off, that's what this event is about.

Even though it disrupts the peace of the moment, it's expression, and I can't see a reason for squashing any kind of expression, no matter how loud or undesireable it is for others .

playasnake · Post by **playasnake** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:02 pm

Grizelda wrote:
Is there any regulation about art cars' sound systems? Should there be some rule about maximum volume within city limits, or would that be unjustified squelching of art car builders' artistic expression?

50db max inside the city, 100db max outside the city.

now on a personal note...

One of the best moments of my burn was friday morning (i think), sitting around carp camp talking about La Contessa being the first ship to ever run aground in a desert.. and the flying carpet came by out of the city booming "mexican radio"... it was just one of those perfect moments i go out to the desert for

they were probably over the limits, but if they werent, i wouldnt have heard it, and it wouldnt have had the same effect.

basically i think it just comes down to respect.

I have more boom in my art car than most, and i put a lot of thought into where and when i boom it.... that being said, im sure i piss off people every year.... I know i please a lot more though.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:10 pm

Every time I heard "booming music" (when I didn't want to hear it) I was simply thankful that it WAS an art car and that it would be brief.

Maybe there should be a ban on art cars (of any kind) beyond a certain ring road (?) Some people do want a nice, quiet-ish place to camp to which they can escape things for a while.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:27 pm

I have 51 weeks of the year that I don't have to contend with the booming art cars. One week is not going to kill me and even with 2 inches of foam insulation and a membrane type outer shell between me and the outside world I was woke up a time or two by loud art cars on Hysteria of all places. But then I realized where I was, that I was damn glad to be there, and that the art car was just a reminder of the special place I was at.

So....Bring on the thump! And if it's really that bad the survival guide does recommend ear plugs under the heading of "What you must bring". Did anyone read the survival guide? Page 4: Radical Self Reliance. On the PDF look at the center column.

DoctorIknow · Post by **DoctorIknow** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:59 pm

I hate to start "Back in the old days", but:

I think it was my first year when every morning some asshole slowly walked down the street, screaming into a mic/amp "What are you losers doing asleep! Get the fuck up!" and more comments like that, loudly, relentlessly, dependably slow in his delivery. Then he faded off into the distance. The second or third morning of this I would get so mad I'd consider going out with wire cutters and cut his wires, or put a nail thru his trailer tires. Then, I grew to welcome him, wondering if his rant would change, wondering if he stayed up all night to do this or if he set his clock. It engaged me so much, I dreamed of having a mosquito breeding theme camp, where I'd plan it so one million mosquitos would hatch and go out searching for blood some fine morning. I got it that IT SHOULD NOT BE some little safe world out there, where one can have a deep sleep ( or conversation!) and NOT be disrupted!

Back then:

Angry Postal Workers would intimidate you in your camp.

Naked Painted Crazies would come into your camp screaming and toss stuff around.

Fake BLM officers (in full cop gear) would chase a hippie thru camp while he tried to hide his stash in your stuff.

IF ONLY my disruptions had been an art car doing THUMP-THUMP !

During 2005 BM I woke up one morning and heard NOTHING. ZERO. Total desert silence. Freaked me out, didn't know where I was. Might as well have been in Yosemite.

Used to be I woke up 20 times a night with some loud something going off right near my tent. This year, I can't even remember waking up once.

Yes, "the old days" disturbed my sleep, but the disruptions had a deeper effect and made me aware all night of the fact I was somewhere special, and my subconscious mind began to actually like it.

I miss it. I sleep undisturbed every night in my house, why would I want that at BM? I miss the obnoxious fuckers who brought unpleasentness to my safe little tent with my shower and food and shade.

alanogy · Post by **alanogy** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:03 am

DoctorIknow wrote:During 2005 BM I woke up one morning and heard NOTHING. ZERO. Total desert silence. Freaked me out, didn't know where I was. Might as well have been in Yosemite.

Heh. That morning freaked me out, too. No thumping music all night, no drums in the morning. I wondered if something had gone wrong with the world.

I think it's about taste and originality and courtesy, not regulations. Um, not that it would be a horrible idea to have areas thumping art cars didn't drive through.

I had the impression this year that most art cars were required to play the exact same boring dance music. It was like radio playlists. Really short ones. And it really did distract from more interesting events, however briefly. People could put a little thought into the music or even enjoy a quiet ride. I was much more entertained by cupcake cars or hearing a car playing *gasp* classical music out by the temple.

I didn't need thumping art cars disrupting nearly any event I attended and nearly every night of sleep way out at 5:30 and Gestalt. I went back to sleep, but the noise didn't substantially enrich my experience. I can't compare it to the old days, but ... death to the thumping art cars!

shivamatt · Post by **shivamatt** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:38 am

I'll stick with my belief that thumping art cars are only annoying when you don't like the music. :P Of course I may have been responsible for one of those thumping art cars...but what are you doing trying to sleep anyway?! ;)

Grizelda · Post by **Grizelda** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:02 pm

During 2005 BM I woke up one morning and heard NOTHING. ZERO. Total desert silence. Freaked me out, didn't know where I was. Might as well have been in Yosemite.

Me too! I almost wanted to get out of my tent and run around banging on stuff to feel better. But it was very cold and I couldn't be bothered.

I guess maybe I'm just getting to be a grumpy old lady a little early. Kids these days. I don't understand their music. It all sounds the same. Why do they have to play it so loudly? Perhaps instead of more rules, it would be better for me to buy an umbrella or a cane to shake at them while I berate them for disrupting my afternoon tea. Not that they'll be able to hear what I'm shouting about over the music.

playasnake · Post by **playasnake** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:05 pm

Grizelda wrote: Kids these days. I don't understand their music. It all sounds the same. Why do they have to play it so loudly?

Damn Rock and Roll!

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:47 am

This is one area that the DMV is probably not too concerned about, for much the same reasons as listed above. You only have to read the rules concerning sound on art cars (and camps in general) in the city to realize that... a better rule would be to have a dB limit at a set distance, then any person could easily (and discretely) do a check. But who wants more rules at BM?

If an Art Car is bothering you, try to politely engage the driver in conversation about the matter (i.e.- "could you please turn the music down while in the city?") If that doesn't work, get their DMV liscence number and make a complaint to the DMV about it...

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:24 pm

Grizelda wrote:
During 2005 BM I woke up one morning and heard NOTHING. ZERO. Total desert silence. Freaked me out, didn't know where I was. Might as well have been in Yosemite.

Me too! I almost wanted to get out of my tent and run around banging on stuff to feel better. But it was very cold and I couldn't be bothered.

That was wierd, and the only thing I could think of was it was *so* freaking cold that morning no one wanted to get out of their semi-warn sleeping bags and party. It's one thing to have the noise wake you, but to be at 3 and Amnesia and hear... silence??!! Just another thing to set Y2K5 apart from the other years...

And yes, be glad it was an art car and not your neighbors - we had "out-of-spec" camps on both sides of us (at least one reoriented their speakers which made it bearable) and it *was* bad. Then again - one finds that one can sleep through anything after a while...

Q_ · Post by Q_ » Fri Sep 09, 2005 3:24 pm

I have a hard time sleeping unless there is some crazy deep trance playing...

As a bringing of an Art Car with a sound system, I must say that I did not pull out the ole DB meter and check our sound levels...

xodiamondxo · Post by **xodiamondxo** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:44 pm

Mikey Bable, Capt. Erotica and I were discussing Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle when a scooter roared by, drowning out Mikey. Without missing a beat, Capt. E sez "I remember! It's the formula that defines how soon after a loud scooter passes that you can start hearing each other again!" Extended gigglefest ensued.

Driveway · Post by **Driveway** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 1:16 am

Rules are for pussies.

"Ohh...that amazingly beautiful car that someone spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on is playing music I don't care for while it drives around the desert serving free alcohol! There oughtta be a rule! Who can I sue? Where are my wet wipes?"

You don't like someone's music? Bring some speakers. Or some earplugs.