Some advice for a (freak) newbie on joining a camp...

Contessa · Post by **Contessa** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:22 pm

Good evening, lovers of all forms!

:oops:
I'm almost embaressed to proceed in this topic, and I don't know why, but here it goes.

I will be attending with my mother. She is a bit.... shy/tentative about the whole thing, but in her heart she knows that she should go and be herself for one wek of her entire life. I've been gung ho about going since I was 13.

Can one just... join another camp? contact the leader and be like "Wello! (combo of well and hello and my tired fingers) I want to join your camp."
Or should I just set up mine own camp for just the two of us (and whoever else stops by) I have an idea and have been (I'm crazy...) saving up money for it since I was 13...

Are people open to anyone joining their camps? Can one just show up and join?

I'm just conufusused.

Tea anyone?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:02 pm

You can look on this board or join others (BM Virgins 2008 Tribe, perhaps) to meet people. You can go to the mainsite and follow links till you get to the theme camp list from previous years and email them and ask. You could ask Kidsville, as they might have a better idea of what younger people are doing. Or you and your mom could just show up, and camp. Depending on how a camp is orgainized they might not accept you if you just drive up on playa and ask. And be sure that you bring something to the mix, no one's gonna want you if it's a drag for them.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:57 pm

I concur with fish.

My first bit of advice would be to stalk these forums (and read the First Timers Guide and Survival Guides several times) and meet some people. I am sure that some camp will let you in.

As far as the big theme camps go, most of them are probably pre-arranged as far as who is camping there and who is contributing what (in most cases that means camp dues, working time, etc). You could probably join one these camps without much trouble but be aware of what is expected of you.

Regarding Kidsville: I am not sure how old you are. You said that you have been wanting to go since you were 13. Does that mean you are 14 now or does that mean you are 25 now? Kidsville would be cool if you are very young since there will be little or no drug/alcohol use in there.

Regarding Camping Alone: I actually think this is a good idea for a first timer. You could camp over in walk-in camping and I promise you it is MUCH quieter over there. You will not be bombarded by techno-thumping art cars over there either. The only downfall of camping back there is that it is so far to everything and you won't be "in the shit" as I like to call it. Try to be somewhat near the porta-potties too (but not too near /puke).

Also, if you are very young (i mean 17 and younger) then I would first make sure that you and your mom know what you are getting yourselves into. I mean, seriously, people are on drugs at BM; people are puking drunk; things are exploding all over the place and there are crazy people on bicycles to run you over. This is not Disneyland, you can get hurt here. That being said make sure you are ready for the environment as well. It's freakin hot and dusty at BM and you are going to be living in it for 7-ish days and nights. There are no showers either. Are you willing to live with that? Some people aren't.

If you AND your mom feel that you are ready for that stuff then BM can change your life if you let it. For better or worse, that is up to you.

The CO · Post by **The CO** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:18 am

The above statements are good advice. I would add:

If you find a camp you want to join, start talking to them now/asap. Last year, I got several requests to join our camp in the week leading up to the event. By that time we are planned out, & number of people in camp affects several factors that cannot be changed by then: camp size, evap system size, early arrival passes, etc. Plus it's damned annoying to spend months coordinating 15-25 people and then have someone bugging you to let them join when you have no idea what they are like, how they will contribute.

Cheers, enjoy, & hope your first burn rocks!

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:23 pm

Contessa wrote:Good evening, lovers of all forms!

I'm almost embaressed to proceed in this topic, and I don't know why, but here it goes.

I will be attending with my mother. She is a bit.... shy/tentative about the whole thing, but in her heart she knows that she should go and be herself for one wek of her entire life. I've been gung ho about going since I was 13.

Can one just... join another camp? contact the leader and be like "Wello! (combo of well and hello and my tired fingers) I want to join your camp."
Or should I just set up mine own camp for just the two of us (and whoever else stops by) I have an idea and have been (I'm crazy...) saving up money for it since I was 13...

Are people open to anyone joining their camps? Can one just show up and join?

I'm just conufusused.

Tea anyone?

Hummmm tea.....

Where do you live, there are burners closer then you think. As mentioned above www.tribe.com is a good place to start.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:45 pm

The CO says something I tried to say, but didn't say as well. Listen to him.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:27 pm

Last year I was part of a camp called Stag Camp. It was for self sufficient people or small groups going to burning man who wanted to camp with people but did not want a regimented theme camp thing. It worked out very well and some of us are planning on doing it again. You are welcome to check us out and see if it is right for you. http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=19875

The other end of the spectrum is a theme camp where there are shared resources, camp chores and a fee to cover expenses like food, shelter and support for what the camp is contributing to the city. Many people like the organized quality of these camps and usually the food is great due to assigned food prep crews. A drawback could be having to do camp duties at a specific time and planned meal times.

People also have fairly good luck checking an area of the city out, then finding people they like and asking if it is ok to camp with them.

Showing up well prepared will give you the best shot of having the best time. If you find that you lack something just ask. Our city is really good a providing. Its going to be great!

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:45 am

my dear lass, i am assuming this by your handwriting, of course, BUT there are SOME camps you may want to avoid...

i dont know, i'm not a data mining filter correlation machine, so i havent been able to break you down into one of 44 marketing target group sub-categories yet, but i would steer clear of say, Jiffy Lube, or i dunno, Temple of Atonement with the whole walk right up and volunteer thing....

from what i can tell, you might like the Center Cafe...there is ALWAYS yoga, and the vibe is SO REAL, you know...

there are many GROOVY jobs there, and it's like the center...oh wait, thats why they call it CENTER CAMP...holy shit...

11 years out there and i just GOT IT.

anyway, the other thing to remember is that there are a LOT of really funny, but sometimes possibly a little too sarcastic for their own good kind of people out there, and they can be real assholes....sorta.....in a really loving way...kinda

so prepare yourselves for more tongue in cheek than a lesbian orgy, and possibly that too...

read the survival guide....sounds cliched and overused but i still read the damn thing every year and it helps enormously..carry it at ALL TIMES...in a pinch, i prefer it to the Black Rock Beacon for toilet paper, but thats another issue...no pun intended...

have a wonderful time.....and we'll see you next year.....

Contessa · Post by **Contessa** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:08 pm

Many thanks sent to all of you. I've spoken with my mother, and as I've been away at art school school fo three years doing god knows what, she and I have decided (also after careful reading of the relationship survival guide) to camp alone and camp together. Because I can't help myself from creating, we'll be "Contessa's box of love" which should inspire some interesting camp art.
I know that we'll be getting into some crazy things, but most of it will be stuff the both of us have lived through before, so that should not be too much of a problem.

And as for the delightful laddy above me...
I'll see you on the playa, dah-ling.

Thanks, Spasibo, Merci, Danke, Gracias. Om mani padme hum....

Yours,
Contessa

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:38 pm

there should be a sticky on this thread. It's pretty good.

thisisthatwhichis · Post by **thisisthatwhichis** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:08 pm

Yea, I have to agree, DVD.......

Contessa, I hope to meet you and your mum on Playa this year..... Look us up at the B(O)(O)by Bar, or let us know where you end up... we'll stop by.....

GREENPENIS · Post by **GREENPENIS** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:16 pm

Spreading my love onto virgins is one of
my favorite playativities.
You'll have a ball, welcome home !!!

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:27 pm

*blush*

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:19 am

Contessa, have you heard of BurningMans La Contessa, had a rather tragic ending but at least it involved flames. She was playful yet dangerous.

http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?image=8488

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:03 pm

You may also want to check out burner type events in your area. You may meet some people you end up camping with even if that's not where you set up camp. People tend to sleep random places there.

rane · Post by **rane** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:03 pm

i was told we werent allowed to sleep at bm. wtf, im never trusting a 3 legged purple monkey on a pogo stick again... even if he did make some excellent fruit punch.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:27 am

The only trick I learned is to take your shoes off if you're going to sleep. In many regions if you fall asleep with your shoes on you are considered "passed out" and are free game to be drawn on, tied up and harassed in numerous ways, if you simply take your shoes off, you are allowed to sleep in peace and someone might even bring you a blanket and pillow.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:13 pm

MikeVDS wrote:The only trick I learned is to take your shoes off if you're going to sleep. In many regions if you fall asleep with your shoes on you are considered "passed out" and are free game to be drawn on, tied up and harassed in numerous ways, if you simply take your shoes off, you are allowed to sleep in peace and someone might even bring you a blanket and pillow.

This is a boldfaced LIE!

You MUST sleep with shoes ON to avoid the sharpie! Plus when you take your shoes off it is customary for other participants to hide one of the shoes. Generally folks wear shoes only when sleeping. When you are awake you are supposed to run around barefoot as much as possible.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:16 pm

...never fall asleep in JUB JUB!

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:52 pm

This thread gets better and better every day.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:49 pm

The only trick I learned is to take your shoes off if you're going to sleep. In many regions if you fall asleep with your shoes on you are considered "passed out" and are free game to be drawn on, tied up and harassed in numerous ways, if you simply take your shoes off, you are allowed to sleep in peace and someone might even bring you a blanket and pillow.

I was about to respond to that with... Hey, that sure makes sense!
Then I read the funnier response.

Joining a camp -- that is, camping together for a week -- is a lot about human "chemistry". Total strangers might blend magically, but they might also blow sky high. So I join the chorus of "get to know people here on ePlaya" -- and get to know burners where you live.

In 2007 we had a camper who joined "sight unseen" from ePlaya, and it worked out wondermussly -- since we had already established that we were compatible people.

At the same time, we had two late-joiners who were voted "the first guys we eat when we get snowed in and run out of food", because the "chemistry" was all wrong.

There is no reason why you and your mom cannot camp by yourselves. And there is no reason why you cannot move during the week, if you find somebody you want to join.

Before my first burn, I started "hanging out" here on ePlaya, contributing my thoughts in a lighthearted manner, and would up being invited to join a pretty darn cool Theme Camp. So you already have a good start.

See you on the playa!

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:19 pm

Hmm. I'll have to dig around to see if there are any pictures of Toolmaker sharpied.

I never saw any of him but I know people grabbed pictures of others. Why we assholes put up with each other, I'll never know.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:00 pm

Ok, well......I dont think you wanna have me take my shoes off.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:46 pm

I woke up one night in the middle of a sharpie attack.
Why did you think I have to wear this stupid eyepatch ?

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:07 am

Contessa · Post by **Contessa** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:17 pm

The La Contessa!! How beautiful!
I don't think I'm as pretty as a ship, though.

The camping situation is all figured out, and I may have some grand friends from school coming to join us.... and whoever else.

This is a stunningly hilarious thread, I must say.

Merry effing christmas to all of you who celebrate it today. I celerate on january 7th. :)

Contessa · Post by **Contessa** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:19 pm

OH!!!! And I will most definatly be by the b(o)(o)by bar.
I'm looking forward to it.

You all are welcome to sharpie me... weather or not my shoes come off. I support using the body as a canvas.

:)

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:28 pm

OH!!!! And I will most definatly be by the b(o)(o)by bar.
I'm looking forward to it.

So are we.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:38 pm

Who was born on January 7?

I celebrate December 25 because December 25 is MY effing birthday.

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:45 pm

Hey,

happy birthday!

Some advice for a (freak) newbie on joining a camp...

Some advice for a (freak) newbie on joining a camp...

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