Couple with a yurt looking for a camp, or advice finding one

[LittleRadagast]

Let me start by saying I understand camps being hesitant about both couples and giving up that much square footage.

Last year I found a group with open space two weeks before the burn, but I'm afraid that will be much harder when my footprint is so much bigger. I was hoping to go with them again, but I just heard they didn't apply for space.

If we go by ourselves, how difficult is it to secure space on a Monday or Tuesday? Will we have to camp far away from Esplanade? I'm nervous because of how many people I saw getting told 'no' last year where we were camping, but I'm hoping that was just because we were so close to center camp.

We go camping several times a year and have no problem being self sufficient, but would be more than happy to work for a camp or vehicle. Setup, physical labor, bar tending, cooking, whatever. We are working professionals in our mid / late twenties, outgoing,and have been together for five years. We'd like just about any camp that is social and drinks beer (I have a keg & Jockey Box). It would be a plus to be near center camp or 730ish or an art car, but really our preference is to find good neighbors.

So do I just check this board every day looking for camps asking for more members? Is now the time to do that, or does it get easier after people are assigned spaces?

Should I be looking for camps with extra space, or just camps looking for more members?


Literally any advice is appreciated !

[mudpuppy000]

What kind of beer??

Our camps filled up a while ago, so I imagine that might be the case for a lot of the camps asking for placement. You don't HAVE to be in a camp though. You can make friends with your neighbors easily, and I'm 100% sure they will help you drink your beer. Or there are usually last minute camps of total strangers that form right before the event.

[trilobyte]

My advice is to get radically self reliant. There are already a bunch of camps who have posted threads on here, and there is also a thread that links you to a partial list of all the camps who have registered for placement. Instead of approaching it from the standpoint of "hey we need a bunch of space but really want prime real estate, what do we have to do to get someone to give it to us?" I recommend approaching it from the standpoint of "let's join forces with some people we think are doing something awesome!"

It's kind of that simple. The threads, and the partial theme camp list, sort of make for a freaky candy store that you guys get to be kids in. Serving coffee? Making waffles? Yoga classes? Themed bar? Live music? Spanking? There are all those things, and more. Skim through those lists, find something that you guys thinks looks like fun. Reach out to them, either through a private message on the board (if they're posting here), clicking on a link (if they're on the list and have one), or do your own Facebook search. Reach out, write them and tell them you think their idea is awesome, and that you guys are interested in joining and being a part of their great plans.

To be honest, I wouldn't worry too much about the specifics of the location (other than avoiding 2:00/10:00/Esplanade if sound levels are a concern). Not-so-secretly, all the neighborhoods are pretty great (seriously, check out that theme camp list), and leading into a discussion about joining a camp by asking about the camp's location tells a potential camp leader that you don't really care about them as much as you care about getting a piece of their real estate.

If for some reason you don't find a camp that you connect with, that's absolutely fine. In fact, welcome to the bulk of people who come to Burning Man. Yeah, if you're heading towards a crowded placed neighborhood (such as 7:30) you'll find that there isn't much available when the gates open... but that's because it's a placed neighborhood. Check the city map, it shows shaded areas where camps are placed, and the unshaded areas that are open. For what it's worth, over the last couple years the 3:00 side has not been as densely populated as the 9:00 side, so if you're coming in once the gates open 'land rush' style I strongly recommend you head on over to the 3:00 side (pro tip, less densely packed usually also means better porta-potties because fewer people per potty are using them).

Good luck!

[LittleRadagast]

"welcome to the bulk of people who come to Burning Man"

This makes me feel better.

"Check the city map, it shows shaded areas where camps are placed, and the unshaded areas that are open."

I did not realize it worked that way. Thanks, this explains a lot