Crew Camp Guide

What every Omnificent Crew member needs to know before arriving on site: expectations, packing checklists, and how to handle mud, desert, cold, and heat.

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Leave the drama at home. Focus on the work. Get paid.

Crew camping is not attendee camping. You’re there to work. Shifts are 12 hours minimum. Expect early calls, and trying to sleep while the music is still playing. Showers, power, and shade are never guaranteed, so plan to take care of yourself.

Every festival has its own rules. Read them before you arrive.

With every gig confirmation, you’ll receive the event’s rules, crew handbook, or site policies, or a link to them. You’re responsible for reading and following all of them: prohibited items, camping rules, quiet hours, credential rules, vehicle and parking rules, and the dress code. Where an event’s rules differ from this guide, the event’s rules win.

Drug screening policy

All crew must pass a drug screen before placement. Our screening follows the laws of the state where you'll be working. We test for THC only where state law allows it or when a client's contract requires it.

  • Weather holds and evacuations happen. When the site gives an instruction, you follow it.
  • Your camp stays clean, quiet during posted hours, and packed out when you leave.
  • You camp where you’re assigned. Crew camp is not an attendee area.
  • Your conduct on site is covered by the Crew Agreement.

Before you leave home

Arrival and check-in

Arrive at the check-in time on your confirmation, not the time you think the gates open. At credentialing you’ll show your ID and receive your crew pass or wristband. Keep it on at all times; losing it can mean losing site access.

Find crew camp and set up before your first shift, not after. You won’t want to pitch a tent in the dark after 12 hours on your feet. At check-in, find out three things: where the medical tent is, where water refills are, and how to reach your lead.

Setting up camp

  • Pick the highest, flattest ground available. Low spots become ponds in rain.
  • Stay away from walkways, roads, generators, and light towers.
  • Put your tarp under the tent, folded so no edge sticks out past the floor; an exposed edge funnels rain underneath you.
  • Stake every loop and tie out every guy line. Wind flattens unstaked tents every festival.
  • Face your door away from the wind.
  • Crew camp is shared space. Keep your footprint tight and your gear inside your area.

Core checklist: every festival

Shelter and sleep

Clothing

Work gear

Food and water

Hygiene

Health

Power and tech

Security

Camp tools

Mud festivals add-on

Mud tip: take your boots off before you enter the tent, every time. One muddy night inside your tent can ruin your sleeping bag for the whole weekend.

Desert festivals add-on

Desert tip: drink before you’re thirsty. In dry heat, sweat evaporates so fast you may not notice how much water you’re losing.

Cold-weather festivals add-on

Hypothermia warning signs

Shivering that won’t stop, confusion, slurred speech, and clumsiness. If you see them in yourself or a crewmate, get to warmth and alert your lead or medical immediately.

Hot and humid festivals add-on

Wind and storms

  • Double-stake the corners and tie out every guy line before the weather turns, not during.
  • Take down canopies and shade structures when high winds are forecast. They become dangerous in a gust.
  • Keep loose gear inside your tent or vehicle.
  • When the site calls a weather hold, go to the designated shelter or your vehicle. A tent is not shelter from lightning.

Shift life

  • Eat before your shift, even if you’re not hungry. A 12-hour shift on an empty stomach doesn’t end well.
  • Drink water all shift long, and add electrolytes in the heat.
  • Use your breaks for water, food, and the bathroom, in that order.
  • Sleep when you can. On back-to-back days, protect your sleep like it’s part of the job, because it is.
  • Take care of your feet: dry socks, blister care, and a change of shoes if you can.

Staying safe

Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke

Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, headache, weakness. Get to shade, drink water, and cool down. Heat stroke is an emergency: hot skin, confusion, a fast pulse, or passing out, and sweating may stop. Call medical immediately and cool the person while you wait.

  • Lightning and weather holds: go to designated shelter or a hard-top vehicle, not your tent.
  • Fire safety: no open flames unless the site allows them. Never cook inside a tent.
  • Buddy system: know where your crewmates are camped, and let someone know when you leave camp.
  • Harassment or an unsafe situation: tell your lead first, then site security. You will never be penalized for reporting.
  • Medical emergencies: find the medical tent at check-in so you know where it is before you need it.

Crew camp rules and etiquette

  • Respect posted quiet hours. Your crewmates may be sleeping before an early call.
  • No guests in crew camp.
  • Respect other people’s space and gear. Don’t touch what isn’t yours.
  • Stay sober on shift. No exceptions.
  • Stay out of attendee areas off-shift unless you have a wristband that allows it.
  • Keep your camp clean. Trash attracts animals and complaints.

What not to bring

Always check the event’s prohibited-items list. These are almost always banned or a bad idea:

  • Glass containers
  • Weapons of any kind
  • Illegal drugs
  • Drones
  • Fireworks
  • Generators, unless the site permits them
  • Pets
  • Valuables you can’t afford to lose

Sanitation and leave no trace

  • Porta-potties are cleanest early in the morning. Bring your own toilet paper and sanitizer.
  • No showers? Body wipes, dry shampoo, and a clean change of clothes go a long way.
  • Dispose of gray water only where the site allows it.
  • Pack out everything you brought: trash, broken gear, and leftover food. Leave your spot cleaner than you found it.

Pack-out and departure

  • Check out with your lead before you leave the site.
  • Break down camp and do a final trash sweep of your area.
  • Don’t drive exhausted. After a 12-hour closing shift, sleep first. Drowsy driving after festivals is one of the most common ways crew get hurt.

Car and RV camping notes

  • Sleeping in your vehicle is often allowed in crew camp; confirm with the event first.
  • Window covers help you sleep in daylight and add privacy.
  • Crack windows for ventilation to prevent condensation and stale air.
  • Never idle your engine all night for AC or heat. Carbon monoxide can build up, and you’ll drain your fuel.
  • RVs: confirm hookup availability, generator rules, and quiet hours with the event.

Crew FAQ

What if it rains all weekend?
You work in it. That’s why the mud add-on exists. Keep one set of dry clothes sealed in a bag at all times.
Can I leave the site between shifts?
It depends on the event’s rules and your credential. Check the crew handbook, and ask your lead before you go.
Where do I charge my phone?
Don’t count on on-site power. Bring a fully charged power bank, and consider a small solar charger for multi-day events.
What if I get sick on site?
Tell your lead and go to the medical tent. Leaving early for illness with your lead’s approval is not counted against you.
Do I get into the festival?
Crew who work less than 12 hours for an event do not receive an entry wristband, where the event provides them.
What about food?
A real meal is provided every shift. Bring extra snacks for long days.