What to Expect

As well as the what to bring page, this page is aimed at first-timers who want to know what to expect. If you've been before, and you have comments, let us know!

Where should I camp?

This very much depends on what kind of things you enjoy and how you like to be woken up/kept awake!

Firstly, EMF is a festival with live music, and a fully operational nightclub that is open to the air. This means the nearer you get to the top end of the site, the noisier it gets (in general). You can check out the map online or in your booklet for other noise-making things, such as villages and some installations. Villages will also make their own amounts of noise, from banging sound systems (they're usually on the top end of the site) to happy chatting people up until the wee hours discussing projects. You can usually spot them by small marquees or camping shelters with circles of chairs.

Noise sensitivity?

The largest amount of noise should be from Stage D and NullSector. You can see these on the noise prediction layer on the map:

See the noise map

All the stages may overrun their hours slightly as sometimes performances can overrun. The site noise curfew is 00:30 Thursday and Sunday, and 02:00 Friday and Saturday, but most stages will close before then.

Here are the intended operating hours as a table:

Stage	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Stage A	-	10:00 - 21:00	10:00 - 21:00	10:00 - 19:00
Stage B (Performance)	16:00 - 23:00	10:00 - 23:00	10:00 - 23:00	10:00 - 18:00
Stage C (Film)	19:00 - 23:00	08:00 - 10:00 Film 10:00 - 18:00 Talks 18:00 - 01:00 Film	08:00 - 10:00 Film 10:00 - 18:00 Talks 18:00 - 01:00 Film	08:00 - 10:00 Film 10:00 - 18:00 Talks 18:00 - 00:00 Film
Stage D (Music)	19:00 - 23:00	14:00 - 01:00	14:00 - 01:00	14:00 - 00:00
NullSector	-	11:00 - 02:00	11:00 - 02:00	11:00 - 00:30

However, the quieter end of the site comes with its own noise makers. Family camping will contain babies, toddlers, all sizes of small humans, who tend to go to bed early and wake up early. The lake contains ducks, who wake up at dawn and quack incessantly. The big metal blocks are generators, and although we're using a number of electric batteries this time, some of them will make noise at random times of the day and night. Although it may be convenient to be near the loos, the Poo Truck makes a lot of noise and the occasional smell.

Finally, there is some form of noise everywhere on site. It just depends what's making it. Even down the bottom of the site you will hear wubwubwub until a maximum of 2am (the amplified noise curfew).

Smell sensitivity?

If you have smell sensitivity avoid generators, the food vendors, camping near anything marked as backstage, and possibly the lake depending on algae levels.

Dust sensitivity?

If it is dry, camping near trackway will probably result in a very dusty tent. The trackway is also lit at night.

Accessibility needs?

We have an area of accessible camping which is near the accessible facilities (toilets and showers). We've asked villages not to set up in this space to ensure room is left for those with either a need to be within quick reach of the facilities, or to have extra space/walkway between tents. You can decide whether you need this - we don't police it as some disabilities are invisible and it's hard enough without having red tape. If you have any questions, worries, or special requests, we're just an email away.

How do I communicate with others?

Post / Sneakernet

We have a postal service called Sneakernet on site. If you want to send something, just drop it into one of our on-site postboxes or larger items to the info tent, and it will be delivered by human volunteers. We also deliver actual proper post if you put a Royal Mail stamp on it (available from the shop, or bring your own), with a small delay.

You can even deliver to other hacker camps or to a future EMF!

Phones

We have free-to-use phones on poles around camp that will call any other phone attached to the site network. You can bring your own DECT handset and connect it to the site network for free, or you can get a SIM card from the shop (small fee). For more details have a look at the Electromagnetic Telecom help pages.

Although we have a phonebook, just because someone is in the directory does not mean they want cold calling. Fun lines, games, and information lines will be advertised on the panels by the public phones.

See the phonebook

Talking to random strangers

And of course, you can talk to people… if someone has a project with them they are generally happy to answer questions about it, and if you see anyone with an handy helper sticker they are also happy to be asked questions about EMF in general.

How should I manage my energy/spoons?

Firstly, you cannot do and see everything at EMF! We record talks unless they have a no-recording icon on, so you can always catch up on talks after the event.

We have several places to rest, the lounge being one of them - it will have comfy places to sit and recharge yourself (and your devices). If you need a bit more recharging, we have a welfare space, for your non-first-aid needs, right next to first-aid. If you need a space to chill, are having a tricky time, need a cuppa, or just want someone to listen to you, that's welfare! Soft drinks only, please.

The site is surrounded by hills, and some people like to walk away from the main site and up to the Obelisk. It is pretty steep but there are good views.

We have marked drinking water points throughout the site, and if you bring a refillable bottle you can keep topping it up to stay hydrated. If you're reading this on site and forgot, pop to the shop, one of the bars, or welfare.

If it's sunny, make sure you get some shade, in one of the tents or under the trees.

If you find yourself struggling with a task (eg taking down your tent), give info a call or drop into the info tent and we'll find you some help, no worries.

What are villages and do I need to be part of one?

A village is a place where people with a shared interest have decided to be. You'll see round orange blobs on the map that show roughly where they intend to camp. Some of them have a big shared tent they set up where they cook together and make things, others a circle of chairs, some are just friends who want to camp together!

You don't need to be part of a village, but if you're a first-timer there's a blob in camping C3 called "Unaffiliated Village" where you could camp with other first-timers if you wanted to, otherwise the whole camping area is your oyster.

You'll find that villages move location sometimes, as a blob on the map does not reserve you a space, it's just an indication of where they roughly want to be.

Some villages run workshops or show off stuff they've brought, and they'll usually advertise that in some way.

See the Village list

Is there anything I shouldn't bring?

• Glass bottles: broken glass is a pain to clean up.
• Pets: The site does not allow dogs or, indeed, any other animals.
• Things that could be a risk to other attendees: something dangerous if you don't know what it is/what do with it, things that might overheat or catch fire not on purpose, etc.

If in doubt, ask us.

How should I behave?

We have a Code of Conduct which you can find here, please read it even if you think you've read one before.

Also, it's worth highlighting that if you're taking photos where you can recognise a person, it's expected that you ask them if that's OK, and delete it immediately if they want you to. Do not publish identifiable photos of people without their consent (this includes streaming and video calls).

What are the bathroom facilities like?

Toilets are always the thing we get most feedback on! We have a selection of different facilities. There is generally not much queuing unless it's showers first thing in the morning which can be a 10-15 minute wait. Shower later, or have a nice chat with someone in the queue.

There are flushing loos, compost loos, showers, and handwashing sinks.

Flushing loos

These are by family/accessible/welfare, and another block by the volunteer kitchen. We have a team of cleaners, and QR codes for you to report any loos out of toilet roll.

Composting loos

These are by Stage A, by live-in vehicles, by the badge tent, in NullSector, and by the north live-in vehicles. If you just do a wee, all good. If you do a no.2, drop a scoop of sawdust down after. Scoop for poop, leave free for wee.

Handwashing sinks

Please wash your hands after using the facilities. ;)

Showers

These are individual cubicles and if there's a queue, just join it and take the next available shower once you're at the front. We'd advise you bring a plastic carrier bag to hang your stuff up in, as otherwise your clean clothes might get wet. If you have sliders or flip flops they can be useful to avoid getting mud in the changing area.

Accessible toilets and showers

These can be found by accessible camping and by the volunteer kitchen. Please note that these will be using RADAR keys (see the info tent if there is an issue with this) so remember to check that the facility is not occupied before using your key. Knocking may not be sufficient if the person inside has a hearing impairment or water in their ears from a shower.

Swaps and exchanges

Much like magpies, attendees tend to bring things like stickers, small tokens, custom coins, badges, hexpansions, postcards, and other small items to swap with other attendees. This is not necessary but you might enjoy it.

What is NullSector?

NullSector is an open air nightclub. It's always themed to match the event, and is based on a facility belonging to the evil corporation of Polybius Biotech. Somehow the rebels always manage to take it over for the duration of the event, and there are a number of activities and installations to explore, as well as the bar and dance floor.

During the day it is a cool place to hang out, visit installations, admire the scenery, and use the bar (from 3pm). Later in the evening there are DJs and music on the dance floor, with the bar and installations around it still operating.

A section is dedicated to the Night Market, which is where people sell their wares, and that's open on Friday from when NullSector opens, and from 18:00 Saturday and Sunday. During the day there will also be a Hexpansion market from 14:00-16:00 Saturday and 10:00-12:00 Sunday where people who have made things to attach to your badge will be selling or swapping them.

Most of the music at NullSector can be described as "doof with a side of whimsy". Expect techno, rave, drum and bass, and donk at loud volumes. You may want to bring your own hearing protection if you're near the speakers, and soft earplugs are provided at the info tent, the entrance to NullSector, and the entrance to the dancefloor. You can keep and reuse your earplugs throughout the event. Last time the Bodgeham Badger somehow got into the DJ booth and played a tune or two.

Some people like to dress for the club, and often go with the festival theme. There will be lasers and flamethrowers (please do not bring your own to NullSector). If you want to do things like streamers, poi, hoops etc, you can still experience a lot of noise and lasers just outside NullSector in a more open space.

Noise will happen here as per the operating hours above, although during the day on Friday it will likely still be in setup and testing mode even if you're not allowed in yet. If you check the schedule close to the date of the event, you'll be able to see precisely when there are artists and DJs.

It is NOT open on Thursday.

The bar is open from 3pm.

What's with the ducks/spiders?

The ducks live on the ponds down the West side of the site. They can be rather noisy in the mornings, and so have a reputation as agents of chaos. One year (2022?) the field had an unseasonably large amount of money spiders, and they were great at hanging off microphones and distracting speakers. There is a rumour that they have attended that many talks that they are now a hyper-intelligent subspecies, and probably have their own nuclear programme.