New burners: Being in a camp / getting involved

[Token]

But isn't it the theme camps that provide most of the big (and small) entertainment? The bars, art cars, art, entertainment, ice, rangers, etc.???? Aren't they all usually all dependant on a theme camp?

It is truly pathetic that shilling booze is all it takes to be a theme camp.

10% rule.

The remaining 90% have a bar, chill space, a trampoline, and various "day in the park Hasbro games".

But it has always been like that.

It will be better this year.

[Elderberry]

The remaining 90% have a bar, chill space, a trampoline, and various "day in the park Hasbro games".

Personally, it's all of those little, unexpected things you can run into that makes the event extra special.

And it's always better next year.

(BTW have we ever met?)

[trilobyte]

For what it's worth, shilling booze no longer even counts towards being a placed theme camp these days. Years before the event started selling out and tickets were a scarcity, camps have been registering for more space than the placement team has to allocate to camps. What's been happening as a result is that the minimum bar for what qualifies as a placed theme camp keeps going up.

[Captain Goddammit]

Plenty of art, interactivity, and art cars don't come from theme camps. Mine, and several friends' for instance.
I maintain that theme camps are great but are not the sole source of playa awesomeness.

[Ratty]

Elderberry wrote:
But isn't it the theme camps that provide most of the big (and small) entertainment? The bars, art cars, art, entertainment, ice, rangers, etc.???? Aren't they all usually all dependant on a theme camp?

I know you didn't mean that. You're just stirring the pot. Our little camp has no theme. Unless independent camping can be called a theme. YET...We save 50 to 100 peoples burn by saving their ass. Literally. A thick foam and fur bike seat is the best gift someone can get if they really need it, (with the exception of having Eliott fix their bike.)

The small bars in the burbs are my favorites. Good, generous people that welcome everyone and are genuinely happy to see you. Not judgemental or clickish. I do love seeing the big theme camps, art cars and of course the art. Hoisting my coffee cup for a toast Here's to all the little guys. Keep on doing what you do.

[Token]

Trillo, I really want to believe you on that story. I do desperately.

But, the map the way it's all shaded reserved for theme camps, villages and laws of entropy simply lead me to allot of skepticism.

Is there a link to the guidelines published anywhere? Do we have a numerical ratio of granted vs. denied applications?

I'd really like to learn, not just poke jaded old fart fun at it.

[Token]

. What's been happening as a result is that the minimum bar for what qualifies as a placed theme camp keeps going up.

Now that was fucking funny!

[some seeing eye]

In the past they have published applied vs rejected theme camp numbers. You can look it up, I think rejected last year or two is much less than 10% I do hope that bar shilling is a diminishing criteria.

Announcing the black rock solo camper control department. It is similar to the animal control department. Burners burning solo will be rounded up, quarantined with 20 other solos then formed into mandatory camps. And the Costco solo camper trading post will be available for existing camps to adopt solos. When solo camping is outlawed, only outlaws will have solo camps!

[Ratty]

Token, Placement has the numbers you seek. They gave us the numbers at an East Bay Burner event last month. Wish I was paying attention. Too much cleavage and bootie shorts to listen to numbers.

Ticket shortage and directed group sale has changed the whole game. I would guess the number of rejected apps to be 100%* or more. Everybody that missed out on a ticket in the past is trying to get in that way.

*give or take a 90% error in figures

[Jovankat]

Token, Placement has the numbers you seek. They gave us the numbers at an East Bay Burner event last month. Wish I was paying attention. Too much cleavage and bootie shorts to listen to numbers.

I wrote it down!

No idea what I did with that bit of paper though...

[Token]

I know I'm getting old when the search for the afterburn report and placement data on the new modern BM website completely gen-gaps me.

Fuck I absolute hate that new monstrosity.

[chuckularone]

Plenty of art, interactivity, and art cars don't come from theme camps. Mine, and several friends' for instance.
I maintain that theme camps are great but are not the sole source of playa awesomeness.

Amen!

[purcitron]

I created a camp last year full of single strangers and small groups, most of them first timers. It went super well and some really strong friendships were formed. There were some folk whose vibe didn't quite fit who aren't coming back this year but nearly all the campers who are returning are bringing extra friends.

Pretty much my same experience. Randomly throwing people together works out surprisingly well. Over the years we've had our share of camp drama but that seemed to come out after we've all become friends with one another ironically.

sounds awesome.
i also want to put together a stranger camp rather than try to "access" an existing camp... which i understand isnt easy to do.
any advice on doing this please? how did you find the strangers for your stranger camp? i know there are many others like me out there somewhere.

[some seeing eye]

95% placement in 2013. http://burningman.org/culture/history/b ... placement/
Afterburn format changed in 2014

Number of camps placed: http://burningman.org/culture/history/b ... -services/
2014 PnP's from the Burning Blog 25

No info on % placed in 2014. I like the old afterburn report format.

[Token]

Thanks SSE.

Somehow I'm getting more comfortable with Theme Camps becoming the commodity of choice in our little decomodification zone trip.

Change sucks.

[Elderberry]

Elderberry wrote:
But isn't it the theme camps that provide most of the big (and small) entertainment? The bars, art cars, art, entertainment, ice, rangers, etc.???? Aren't they all usually all dependant on a theme camp?

I know you didn't mean that. You're just stirring the pot. Our little camp has no theme. Unless independent camping can be called a theme. YET...We save 50 to 100 peoples burn by saving their ass. Literally. A thick foam and fur bike seat is the best gift someone can get if they really need it, (with the exception of having Eliott fix their bike.)

The small bars in the burbs are my favorites. Good, generous people that welcome everyone and are genuinely happy to see you. Not judgemental or clickish. I do love seeing the big theme camps, art cars and of course the art. Hoisting my coffee cup for a toast Here's to all the little guys. Keep on doing what you do.

I did mean what I said, but I think you interpreted it wrong. Notice "and small". That was meant to cover the little guys that do things like you do.

But there are, I think, a lot of people that come just to enjoy what others provide; and there's not anything wrong with that either.

And, I could be wrong on this, but it's just my opinion--I think guys like CGD are pretty much mobile theme camps.

It's all a matter of perception. I respect anyone that participates and gives something back in return for all that is provided. It's sort of like an endless circle. (No, I haven't been drinking.) And frankly, I have never camped any other way other than with a camp.

When I first started going, our camp had a different name (actually, the name has changed a couple of times over the years) and didn't do much of anything at all. Why we were placed is beyond me. But since becoming the Mudskippers, our camp has grown from doing nothing, to serving root beer floats, on to fruit smoothies in a cafe, with a craft lounge open everyday, as well as offering a photo studio (all the photos posted on line and available shortly after the burn to download) and we also offer various other activities all open to the public.

And on top of all of that, I personally volunteer at Artica, greeters, lamp lighters and the bus depot. I love it, and for me, I wouldn't want it any other way. But that's my burn, and I wouldn't expect that to be anybody else's way of burning.

[The Rod]

But that's my burn, and I wouldn't expect that to be anybody else's way of burning.

We have a weiner! Winner? Whatever...

[Jovankat]

95% placement in 2013. http://burningman.org/culture/history/b ... placement/
Afterburn format changed in 2014

Number of camps placed: http://burningman.org/culture/history/b ... -services/
2014 PnP's from the Burning Blog 25

No info on % placed in 2014. I like the old afterburn report format.

From the Blog about PnP Camps;

In 2014, there were 1027 placed theme camps, villages and camps within villages. Only 58 additional camps completed questionnaires and were not placed.

But since becoming the Mudskippers, our camp has grown from doing nothing, to serving root beer floats, on to fruit smoothies in a cafe, with a craft lounge open everyday, as well as offering a photo studio (all the photos posted on line and available shortly after the burn to download) and we also offer various other activities all open to the public

Did you do the root beer float in 2013? Where were you placed and did it happen at like 1pm on Friday? I think I might have visited.

[Soliton]

A few comments from a virgin Burner here on theme camps vs. camping solo and community involvement...

One of the only friends that I have that has been to BM very emphatically told me *NOT* to camp solo (something about being stubborn, pig-headed, missing out, dumb-ass... - she knows I'm not a great planner)..

Well, I *LIKE* challenges and mastering new skills! I'm going solo, bringing a shit-load of probably unnecessary stuff, spending waaaay too much $$$, but also figuring out some things - and having some fun in the process! I met one of the BM placement coordinators at the same EBB theme camp speed dating event mentioned earlier, and she gave me some confidence and encouragement on the solo route, and that has been repeated elsewhere in threads on this board (this board is REALLY helpful!).

HOWEVER... It is a little complicated, expensive, time consuming, and inconvenient to camp solo for a virgin. Yes, I realize it doesn't have to be that way, and lots of people can and do burn with minimum necessities, but for a virgin that either entails elevated risk (from not having or knowing something really critical) or a mental or physical toughness that I choose not to exercise (my preference is to have some electricity, an occasional shower, and a shady retreat if I need it). I totally get why people are encouraged to join theme camps - especially in their first year. I've heard that part of "Participation" and "Communal Effort" is more easily accomplished in a theme camp - and I agree with this. Also, reaching out to fellow burners (on this list or even at the event) is part of how a community can be built and that is how theme camps form and thrive --AND is part of 'Radical Self Reliance.'

My burn will be what it will be. I hope to meet other self-reliant, burners that may someday be campmates (or more) if I choose to return. I'm going to make efforts to that end. New theme camps have to be started by someone after all. How I will ever meet other solo or otherwise radically self reliant burners with all the villages and theme camps that exist -- now that is an open question to me...

Soliton

[Captain Goddammit]

Shit, put a camper on the back of your truck and ALL problems solved.
Easy. Or get a cheap little old trailer.
Paint the inside cool colors. Bring a little generator and turn on the AC.
Bring some extra 30 gallon water jugs. Shower and be clean.

People make it out to be so difficult.

[FIGJAM]

It doesn't have to be complicated to be comfortable!!!

[The CO]

I know I'm getting old when the search for the afterburn report and placement data on the new modern BM website completely gen-gaps me.

Fuck I absolute hate that new monstrosity.

Off topic, but agreed. The old website was fun to just browse around on. The new version is shit.

[DerbyDave 18]

I'm a first timer and I'm hitching a ride with a couple who are also first timers. They'll be joining a camp and I'll be camping solo. I think for my first time I want all my time for me to do whatever I want. Never having done this, I may be wrong but I get the feeling that with camps some participation is expected, from a little to a lot depending on the camp and that's not what I'm looking for..l think. Any thoughts or opinions?

[lucky420]

I'm a first timer and I'm hitching a ride with a couple who are also first timers. They'll be joining a camp and I'll be camping solo. I think for my first time I want all my time for me to do whatever I want. Never having done this, I may be wrong but I get the feeling that with camps some participation is expected, from a little to a lot depending on the camp and that's not what I'm looking for..l think. Any thoughts or opinions?

Agree! My first year it was just me and my kids camping solo. Was a blast. Camping by yourself where you can just be on your own time schedule is awesome. It's fun

[Mojojita]

^^^^ Yup, your neighborhood will quickly become your "camp".

[mudpuppy000]

I created a camp last year full of single strangers and small groups, most of them first timers. It went super well and some really strong friendships were formed. There were some folk whose vibe didn't quite fit who aren't coming back this year but nearly all the campers who are returning are bringing extra friends.

Pretty much my same experience. Randomly throwing people together works out surprisingly well. Over the years we've had our share of camp drama but that seemed to come out after we've all become friends with one another ironically.

sounds awesome.
i also want to put together a stranger camp rather than try to "access" an existing camp... which i understand isnt easy to do.
any advice on doing this please? how did you find the strangers for your stranger camp? i know there are many others like me out there somewhere.

Start a thread on here. "Camp xxx forming" Set the ground rules, like no shared resources, everyone brings their own shit. Voila. If you don't get along when you meet on playa then you have all your own stuff and can move anywhere you like.

[Captain Goddammit]

There have been several strangers-camps over the years. They usually work out, it's kinda like one of those Thanksgiving dinners made up of people who all had nowhere to go, some of which were the best ones I ever attended.

[Canoe]

^^^^ Yup, your neighborhood will quickly become your "camp".

^^^ THIS!
Camping Solo = Freedom.

If you come across some work/help you can do on-playa, you can always offer to help with whatever where-ever whenever.

[chuckularone]

Last year I was part of what you might call a "Strangers Camp" Most of us were virgins. This year we have placement. Come and get a bacon tamale or an otterpopperita at Fish Out Of Water @ 5:00 & Freak Show.