early entry question

[TomServo]

Ive come in early before, but was with a theme camp. Are you required to be in a registered theme camp for early entry? Don't plan on registering my camp and would be cool to know if the "non theme" spaces will be open at midnight monday morning.

[MikeVDS]

Unless something has changed this year, you have to be part of a theme camp to get in early. Other exceptions would obviously be DPW and other support crew. If you want to set up art early, you even needed to be part of a camp.

[mdmf007]

Correct me if im wrong but being part of a theme camp alone isnt enough to guarantee early entrance. Your theme camp must also have a reason to be in early - art projects, large infrastructure to set up, etc...

[dr.placebo]

The point behind early entry is that you should be working to setup the event, either individually or as part of a crew. There are a lot of legit reasons, but you generally have to have signoff by BM staff. Checking for early entry permission is pretty strict.

[mdmf007]

The point behind early entry is that you should be working to setup the event, either individually or as part of a crew. There are a lot of legit reasons, but you generally have to have signoff by BM staff. Checking for early entry permission is pretty strict.

exactly. your department head drops you an email, you print it, and hope to god it got transposed to the good list - otherwise you sit and wait until they can confirm it.

[gaminwench]

There are BLM restrictions re: population both prior to and during the festival, so Themecamps and Art projects submit the number of workers they *need* on the playa before opening to realize their dream, BM assesses and assigns a number of early entry passes to the Camp/Project leader,(not necessarily as many as requested )who then gets to match his/her list of people with passes.
Some people are at Black Rock a month before the event, most early-in is in the penultimate week; from Thursday to Monday it's awesome to watch a block of naked Esplanade playa become a functioning neighborhood.
You can be a 'non-mapped' Themecamp, but you won't get early entry, Sunday at Midnite for you!

[MikeVDS]

It's not really that strict. It's strict as far as your not getting in unless you're name is on the list of workers that a theme camp had to submit tons of paperwork and justification for, but if you go through all the hoops you'll get at least a few campmates in if you appear deserving and to have a genuine need. It's hard to enforce since you can't expect much more than 8-12 hours solid work per day in those conditions, so it's not like everyone will be constantly working once they are through the gates.

I think the key is that they make the paperwork and multiple deadlines a bit tedious so they only dedicated people actually go through the work. Also that the people out there are working their asses off to make some great stuff, so you're a dick if you're taking a spot away from a worker who could be helping the community.

[AntiM]

Our early entry passes for a mere 24 hours in, had our names and a barcode, we had to should picture ID that matched the name on the pass.

[Simon of the Playa]

ours were printed on Hundred Dollar Bills....

no id neccessary.

[Captain Goddammit]

The other stipulation is that you do actually arrive early, rather than have a catastrophic tow vehicle failure enroute force a return-home trip for a replacement, causing you to not arrive until Monday night anyway.
I have some unused early entry passes from last year I'll sell you cheap.

[Toolmaker]

Its best to sneak in early. The feeling of accomplishment and the bragging rights are worth all the work. Nothing like being able to lord over Gate/Perimeter that you snuck in like an illegal alien. Make sure you have good airflow and cooling in the dummy grey water tank you stash yourself in.

[TomServo]

Correct me if im wrong but being part of a theme camp alone isnt enough to guarantee early entrance. Your theme camp must also have a reason to be in early - art projects, large infrastructure to set up, etc...

I don't want to get in early..Im just curious to know if the Non reserved spots start to fill up before the gate opens. I like the flexibility of not having my spot chosen for me...so I wont be registering.

[TomServo]

Its best to sneak in early. The feeling of accomplishment and the bragging rights are worth all the work. Nothing like being able to lord over Gate/Perimeter that you snuck in like an illegal alien. Make sure you have good airflow and cooling in the dummy grey water tank you stash yourself in.

maybe I'll just set up camp when I go up in July...and have the DPW build around me.

[Bob]

There are camping spots open when Burning Man starts -- most of them, in fact.

[oneeyeddick]

Ive come in early before, but was with a theme camp. Are you required to be in a registered theme camp for early entry? Don't plan on registering my camp and would be cool to know if the "non theme" spaces will be open at midnight monday morning.

I believe what the couch was trying to say is that monday/midnight is not early enough to need a pass.

the early entry passes are a crapshoot anyhow, I've always gone in early, except for '99, and since they have been (supposedly) requiring them for early entry(2003,4?), I have only had to show one once, and that was three years ago.

it all depends on when you show up and who is running your lane at the gate...hell they didn't even search inside my RV AT ALL last year, and I was driving alone..........

and a further answer to your two part question is ...Yes , spaces are available all week long, there was still lots of unused land last year, and yes people do use some of the unregistered land before the event opens, usually at the descretion of the placer in the area that they took land from.

[TomServo]

Ive come in early before, but was with a theme camp. Are you required to be in a registered theme camp for early entry? Don't plan on registering my camp and would be cool to know if the "non theme" spaces will be open at midnight monday morning.

I believe what the couch was trying to say is that monday/midnight is not early enough to need a pass.

the early entry passes are a crapshoot anyhow, I've always gone in early, except for '99, and since they have been (supposedly) requiring them for early entry(2003,4?), I have only had to show one once, and that was three years ago.

it all depends on when you show up and who is running your lane at the gate...hell they didn't even search inside my RV AT ALL last year, and I was driving alone..........


fuck...i hate computers!..
and a further answer to your two part question is ...Yes , spaces are available all week long, there was still lots of unused land last year, and yes people do use some of the unregistered land before the event opens, usually at the descretion of the placer in the area that they took land from.

[TomServo]

Ive come in early before, but was with a theme camp. Are you required to be in a registered theme camp for early entry? Don't plan on registering my camp and would be cool to know if the "non theme" spaces will be open at midnight monday morning.

I believe what the couch was trying to say is that monday/midnight is not early enough to need a pass.

the early entry passes are a crapshoot anyhow, I've always gone in early, except for '99, and since they have been (supposedly) requiring them for early entry(2003,4?), I have only had to show one once, and that was three years ago.

it all depends on when you show up and who is running your lane at the gate...hell they didn't even search inside my RV AT ALL last year, and I was driving alone..........

and a further answer to your two part question is ...Yes , spaces are available all week long, there was still lots of unused land last year, and yes people do use some of the unregistered land before the event opens, usually at the descretion of the placer in the area that they took land from.

Thank you! Don't need the pass.don't want to get in early..was just curious if th theme camps stole non reserved spots...thanx again! there should be bloody marys on 6:30 or 5:30!

[StevenGoodman]

Thank you! Don't need the pass.don't want to get in early..was just curious if th theme camps stole non reserved spots...thanx again! there should be bloody marys on 6:30 or 5:30!

Theme Camps are not supposed to "steal" space ahead of Midnight (Sunday night); "land grabbing" is frowned upon. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen. But there is plenty of space available on Monday.

The other way to get Early Entry passes is "Honorarium Art Installations"; i.e. those projects that Burning Man partially funds. In fact, as part of the agreement with Burning Man, all Honorarium Art Installations are supposed to be setup by Monday, i.e. when things open.

Martini Steve

[mdmf007]

Correct me if im wrong but being part of a theme camp alone isnt enough to guarantee early entrance. Your theme camp must also have a reason to be in early - art projects, large infrastructure to set up, etc...

I don't want to get in early..Im just curious to know if the Non reserved spots start to fill up before the gate opens. I like the flexibility of not having my spot chosen for me...so I wont be registering.

Reserved areas are marked, and there is usually enough people there to let you know you got to bounce. If you can read a map its also marked in the SWAG pack you get at the gate.

[Lord Of Ruin]

Correct me if im wrong but being part of a theme camp alone isnt enough to guarantee early entrance. Your theme camp must also have a reason to be in early - art projects, large infrastructure to set up, etc...

I don't want to get in early..Im just curious to know if the Non reserved spots start to fill up before the gate opens. I like the flexibility of not having my spot chosen for me...so I wont be registering.

To directly answer: No, they do not fill up.

Early entries, as mentioned earlier, are comprised of all the volunteer groups that work for the org....DPW, Gate/Perimeter, Commissary, etc. Later than that are art installation folks and registered theme camps. Each of these IS limited in the number of passes they can get and the number is in directly proportional to the size/scope of what they are setting up.

Theme camp definition has gotten tighter, so to even register as one of them you'll need to demonstrate "significant public interaction and contribution." And no...a simple bar camp that's open once in a while no longer cuts it. (sadly)

All of the above, generally, camp out in their respective areas...DPW in their ghetto, Gate folks in the Black Hole, art people near their art camp. So generally the rest is pretty wide open come Monday morning.

Hope that helps...and none of it is conjecture. I've been in early every year, helped with theme camp and work Gate.

turned code back on MDMF