Virgin Burner needs a camp!
Virgin Burner needs a camp!
This year I will be a virgin burner and I still don't have a camp or ride from SF. I have to go, it's a necessity! I can provide just about anything the tribe needs. Can anyone PLEASE help. I don't really want to show up alone and am looking to meet burner's in the SF bay before the burn. Youucan view my profile at MEETinSF.com.
Tasha
Smart move on your part.
As a newbie it's precarious to camp alone (and for none of the reasons you might expect). Additionally it seems that joining a camp is becoming less simple. There are a number of camps which only accept new members they personally know or who are being "sponsored" by an existing member. It doesn't sound like a very "Burningman" kind of method, but it's a fact.
Which means a newbie, who is coming alone, can be in a tight stop. If you don't know anyone at Burningman, and have never camped in a desert environment, you will need to do considerable preparation. If you don't you're putting yourself in real danger.
My best advice would be to read through the Theme Camps and send some emails. Offer your services and offer to pitch in, and help in specific ways. Also, as your read the Survival Guide, believe what you read.
In particular there are three things you have to do:
Make sure you are constantly drinking water. If any significant amount of time passes where you're not drinking water, you've made a mistake. Don't go anywhere without your water (not 30 feet to the tent next door).
Stay out of the sun during the heat of the day. Take a break and chill out when it's hottest. Running around in the heat of the day is a bad idea (it's where the idea of a siesta comes from).
Make sure you eat. Funny thing happens in the desert. Your body tells you you're not hungry. People forget to eat and then get sick.
These are just basic things. Do some reading, some thinking . . . get ready. If you have specific questions I'd be glad to help.
Merman
Smart move on your part.
As a newbie it's precarious to camp alone (and for none of the reasons you might expect). Additionally it seems that joining a camp is becoming less simple. There are a number of camps which only accept new members they personally know or who are being "sponsored" by an existing member. It doesn't sound like a very "Burningman" kind of method, but it's a fact.
Which means a newbie, who is coming alone, can be in a tight stop. If you don't know anyone at Burningman, and have never camped in a desert environment, you will need to do considerable preparation. If you don't you're putting yourself in real danger.
My best advice would be to read through the Theme Camps and send some emails. Offer your services and offer to pitch in, and help in specific ways. Also, as your read the Survival Guide, believe what you read.
In particular there are three things you have to do:
Make sure you are constantly drinking water. If any significant amount of time passes where you're not drinking water, you've made a mistake. Don't go anywhere without your water (not 30 feet to the tent next door).
Stay out of the sun during the heat of the day. Take a break and chill out when it's hottest. Running around in the heat of the day is a bad idea (it's where the idea of a siesta comes from).
Make sure you eat. Funny thing happens in the desert. Your body tells you you're not hungry. People forget to eat and then get sick.
These are just basic things. Do some reading, some thinking . . . get ready. If you have specific questions I'd be glad to help.
Merman
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RingO'Fire
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 3:00 am
- Location: Chattanooga
I'm a newbie as well and I'll be camping with the Lamplighters this year. I signed up for them on the Volunteer page on the official BM website and they got right back with me and have since welcomed me with open arms.
From what I've seen so far, these Lamplighter folks are a bunch of really cool people.
So, that'd be my recommendation, is to sign up on the "Volunteer" list on the Bman site with a group that sounds interesting to you. There's a questionnaire and a list of several camps/groups that you can check off when signing up - if you think you might be interested in joining them.
From what I've seen so far, these Lamplighter folks are a bunch of really cool people.
So, that'd be my recommendation, is to sign up on the "Volunteer" list on the Bman site with a group that sounds interesting to you. There's a questionnaire and a list of several camps/groups that you can check off when signing up - if you think you might be interested in joining them.
...but it seemed like such a good idea at the time...
Stuart - you are quite right, but it's still an unusual situation.
Burningman is known for, and by many things, not just Self Reliance. It is also known as a place of profound kindness, broad openness, and a ubiquitous approach which says, "please come join us", "come play with us", "come participate." A newbie may have a difficult time rectifying that kind of openness with a "closed camp policy."
It's not that these things are in conflict. It's that from the outside they may appear to be in conflict.
I mean, let's face it, a newbie is at a disadvantage. That is especially true, if you've found out about Burningman from some media source and aren't being pulled in by friends. It's a lot to deal with if you just show up without any context or contacts, friends or acquaintances.
Burningman is known for, and by many things, not just Self Reliance. It is also known as a place of profound kindness, broad openness, and a ubiquitous approach which says, "please come join us", "come play with us", "come participate." A newbie may have a difficult time rectifying that kind of openness with a "closed camp policy."
It's not that these things are in conflict. It's that from the outside they may appear to be in conflict.
I mean, let's face it, a newbie is at a disadvantage. That is especially true, if you've found out about Burningman from some media source and aren't being pulled in by friends. It's a lot to deal with if you just show up without any context or contacts, friends or acquaintances.
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DangerMouse
- Posts: 211
- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2003 11:27 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Bacon Lube - The 8th Food Group
- Location: Seattle, WA
Well just blindly inviting someone into a camp would be difficult as I imagine.
That person my not match other people's personalities, expectations, habits, wardrobe, mooching, ill-preparedness, etc.
I'm running as a BM virgin myself this year w/ a long-time friend riding shotgun w/ me. We really have little clue as to who/where/what we'll end up camping with.
A situation I'm not necessarily please with, but I don't expect people to take us in either.
That person my not match other people's personalities, expectations, habits, wardrobe, mooching, ill-preparedness, etc.
I'm running as a BM virgin myself this year w/ a long-time friend riding shotgun w/ me. We really have little clue as to who/where/what we'll end up camping with.
A situation I'm not necessarily please with, but I don't expect people to take us in either.
meet other burners
There are a ton of "events" happening in the S.F. area between now and the exodus to the playa. I'd suggest hitting a few up. <unabashed plug> take The KOOSH KARNIVAL for instance, a local (s.f.) event happening next saturday the 26th where a bunch of Burners are inviting another bunch of burners to a party in hopes of raising funds and spirits of activities on the playa.</unabashed plug>
You can meet a whole variety of Burners at such events and begin to cultivate connections and determine levels of commitment. Some prefer smaller sized camps where they can get to know everyone involved, while others would rather be immersed in a huge community where they're introduced to a new name/face at every turn. It's up to you to deside where you are on such a curve.
Once you've choosen one camp over another, it'll still be nice to have places and people you can set out to visit amidst your meanderings in Black Rock City...
Good luck
You can meet a whole variety of Burners at such events and begin to cultivate connections and determine levels of commitment. Some prefer smaller sized camps where they can get to know everyone involved, while others would rather be immersed in a huge community where they're introduced to a new name/face at every turn. It's up to you to deside where you are on such a curve.
Once you've choosen one camp over another, it'll still be nice to have places and people you can set out to visit amidst your meanderings in Black Rock City...
Good luck