The basic problem with modern BRC

[FlyingMonkey]

Riding Mowers are a fantastic base for an MV or disabled vehicle placard owners.

Make it happen!

Besides, Culture Jamming is at the heart of the ethos...

I was thinking more hovercraft than mower. get'em registered & don't go over 5 MPH.

[Captain Goddammit]

Between ‘99 and ‘01 I built several MVs based on riding mowers.
I regeared them to go lots faster, but I didn’t have the mower decks under them.

Back then there was a guy who brought a regular gas powered push mower, and he’d fire it up and walk around “mowing”, throwing a ton of dust. It was awesome.

But then, that’s when Burning Man was cool.

[Simon of the Playa]

remember how awful the weather was in 2015?


2019: hold my kombucha.

[wraith]

There have been so many instances where Stingray has been used "improperly". It's surprising what technology is actually available to local law enforcement.

Every little 3-man sherriff's office in the US has milsurp these days, bought with global war on terror funding.

It's not surprising.

remember how awful the weather was in 2015?


2019: hold my kombucha.

Here's hoping for dust.

[Simon of the Playa]

There have been so many instances where Stingray has been used "improperly". It's surprising what technology is actually available to local law enforcement.

Every little 3-man sherriff's office in the US has milsurp these days, bought with global war on terror funding.

It's not surprising.

remember how awful the weather was in 2015?


2019: hold my kombucha.

Here's hoping for HAIL.

fixed that for you.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9407977/h ... s-trapped/

[Lonesomebri]

I'll just leave this here to boil the blood. Lots of implications...

[wandererbkb]

Isn't it possible for them to just park their RV in the open camping area?

[some seeing eye]

Lonsomebri, good catch. You should send that to the czar of cultural direction setting.

Plug and Park (we are not even asking to play - AKA participate) camps are the new thing!

[Molotov]

There is a lot of "Park and Leave" parking out by the DPW fuel depot and Wet Spot at 5:30 and way the hell out there past L. I know some camps (including our ESD work camps) that direct their members to leave their cars out there after unloading since there isn't enough room to park them in camp.

[some seeing eye]

Mr Molotov, good information. The vehicle pass situation has been flat at 27K? for several years, I can't remember if that goes up under the EIS. But a sudden parking problem BRC does not have.

[Lonesomebri]

I'm guessin the people looking for parking know what they are doing (or hopefully a BMorg sting operation), they want to be closer to the action, not compete for the dwindling open space, but don't want obligations or responsibilities. They are willing to pay for that.

A camp can ask for more space, for more customers (replace terms with $5 words of your choice). Less space for open campers, so people are forced to buy in for space.

Here, they want a camp to rent their BMorg allotted space, which has displaced someone else who didn't buy in. This is so close to how big established camps do it now anyway. Every year the indignities grow.

If I had a camp that only rented out parking spots, and used that income to attend myself, and provide myself with an art vehicle, and hire a DJ, as long as I write off the vehicle and DJ on my "for the community" application form, it's cool, right?

The "joyous travellers in this wonderful journey of discovery"© who pay my parking lot attendants are contributing to the event monetarily, which has been argued is enough, I'm providing shit trying to get laid and stoke my ego, oops, I mean give to the community, and my lot would allow those bucket listers a place to park where they can check out what Burners do. Winning everywhere.

God, I hope this is a sting.

[Simon of the Playa]

“hey buddy...i got some backstage passes i’m looking to sell too”

[mgb327]

Hey! Let's get rich! I made 800 of these for this year....

[Ratty]

I love mine and wear it a lot. I had a knowledgeable burner ask me if it was real. It makes peoples mind fall into a hole. Love it.

[some seeing eye]

Hahaha MGB, well played. Obviously the problem with modern BRC is a lack of all access passes. Maybe next year, it could have some QR codes that lead to interesting places!

[Montanarchist]

Each person seems to be on a mission to head someplace else. It's like a fancy resort and they are heading for their yoga class that starts in 10 minutes.

What a shame. I haven't been to the big Burn in years but my virgin year I went stag. I had an Agenda, with a capital A. I struck out early the first morning, it was even before the gates opened, but before I got to my destination I was distracted and never looked at the book again.

[zeevzeev6]

all things in life and death are feedback loops.

success breeds in its own demise, and from death (demise) springs forth life (success).

if you don't like what burning man has evolved into, then devolve into those things you liked about burning man , and make it happen at burning man, and if not only there, then elsewhere.

such is the ebb and flow of life. and after all, we go back to being unborn. each day is a gift, but if you forget, it can feel like a curse. the mind makes a burning out of the man or makes the man out of the burning....as above so below .... or something....

[Elorrum]

Expectation of service from strangers. I’m seeing a pretty big gap in people actually planning and preparing for their own survival in the desert. One week out and people are looking for camps to join, not just because they are horrified of being friendless, but because they need someone to give them water and shelter and food. They expect they can buy it, one week out.

I’ve been trying to remember a man who had a tremendous web page with so many links to all things burning man: shelters, equipment, Reno shopping sources. Tonight I found it, phil. He posted here a lot. His web page was called “The Civilized Explorer” and his last post here was in 2014. I miss his clearing house of links to other web pages. We were offered more options than get a kodiak or a shift pod and an impact driver and lag screws. Modern brc is not supported with all the knowledge a web search used to offer. Now you find simple stupid lists made by someone who’s never been, written as content for pay. Or simply links to purchase items. Eh… I guess that’s two basic problems.

[The Rod]

if you don't like what burning man has evolved into, then devolve into those things you liked about burning man , and make it happen at burning man, and if not only there, then elsewhere.

*starts browsing Craigslist for used lawnmowers*

[motskyroonmatick]

I think Ticket Scarcity really did a number on the city by creating cold war between Theme Camps, giving a huge boost to Plug and Play camps that secure tickets for people and turned Theme Camps, Art and Mutant Vehicles in to Ticket distributors.

I think as seemingly impossible as it is and with oh so many reasons why it's a terrible idea and oh but the regulations and the gnashing of teeth about the feds and so on.... We've got to find a way to raise the population cap beyond the demand for tickets and give this "experiment" another go at having tickets be the easiest resource to get and the rest is on you.

[wraith]

Ticket scarcity and the continuing evolution of Burning Man As A Service schemes to sell to the over-monied and under-socialized Silicon Valley set.

[some seeing eye]

The distortions in the DGS have been discussed in the culture process, including over-requests by camps. This year and next year, one might imagine the organizers want to reward camps especially because many camps / DGS- holders donated back to the organization to survive 2020-2021. The day may come that camp placement decreases, especially on measuring and expecting greater participation. I read somewhere else the preliminary Census is showing 29% virgins in 2022, up from 26% in 2019, so the DGS didn't stop the participation of virgins (within the margin of error.)

If you look at the Census, the virgin return rate is low, though they all state and intent to return. Burners bringing virgins is a great antidote.

The basic problem of Burning Man is moopy supermodels. A lot of sequins and bedazzle this year.

[HarryN]

I think Ticket Scarcity really did a number on the city by creating cold war between Theme Camps, giving a huge boost to Plug and Play camps that secure tickets for people and turned Theme Camps, Art and Mutant Vehicles in to Ticket distributors.

I think as seemingly impossible as it is and with oh so many reasons why it's a terrible idea and oh but the regulations and the gnashing of teeth about the feds and so on.... We've got to find a way to raise the population cap beyond the demand for tickets and give this "experiment" another go at having tickets be the easiest resource to get and the rest is on you.

All that I can tell you is that for people who would like to go to BM, buying a ticket is extraordinarily difficult.

I have helped on some projects in the past and even this year but could not buy a ticket, so not very motivated to help in the future ATM.

There was an interesting post / question in the ticket's section where a prospective attendee for 2023 was inquiring about the potential to buy 1/2 of 1/3 of a ticket time period. For various reasons, could not attend the entire event.

Perhaps there is a glimmer of an idea in this guys simple request:
- The number of tickets' is limited
- The cost to the organizers is more or less fixed per ticket
- So perhaps there is a clever way to offer (some) tickets that can be time shared by the original buyer to others vs the current more restrictive approaches used when someone leaves ?

Perhaps this could open the door to a broader audience and more volunteers?

Perhaps there can be a location on the way to BM where the ticket can be transferred to the next person - or at least a common place to meet up?

There are all kinds of bugs in the idea, but all ideas have minor issues to work through.

Just an idea to kick around.

HarryN

[gaminwench]

No. Once a ticket has been scanned, it cannot be used by someone else.

You, HarryN, seem to want to change things, without having ever been to the playa.

I would suggest that you attend the event first, before making sweeping assumptions around bettering the process.

[HarryN]

No. Once a ticket has been scanned, it cannot be used by someone else.

You, HarryN, seem to want to change things, without having ever been to the playa.

I would suggest that you attend the event first, before making sweeping assumptions around bettering the process.

I would like to - If I could ever get a ticket - or at least a ticket to go for a few days.

That is my entire point - if things stay as they are - then there isn't any chance for improvement.

What is better- 20% of an experience or 0% of an experience?

Right now all I have done is helped 2 camps with some solar power - but have not been able to go. If I can't get ticket, then why bother helping?

[gaminwench]

If people only go for a few days (weekend warriors), they are not contributing to the event, which is crucial to the experience.

It takes at least 2 days to acclimate to the playa; altitude, dust, heat, dryness.

It generally takes one day to set up one's camp, then another day to strike that camp.

It is not a standard 3 day festival, it is a weeklong adventure into a temporary city and playa Art gallery; there is no way the Org would accommodate 'tourists' by making 3/4 day tickets available, that would defeat the purpose.

Helping projects pre-playa is a great way to get involved; one also has to make friends in the local community.

This year, there were tickets going begging in Reno pre-event, that would be one way to get a last minute pass to the playa.

[some seeing eye]

Since the event sold out, people have posted ideas for all kinds of "ticket reforms," which always come down to giving them a ticket by taking a ticket away from someone else. We have had a shift since Bruce Stirling's Wired article away from virgins 100% brought by friends to most virgins now brought by media and social media sensation.

So I always suggest to potential virgins to get involved in their Regional. Go to their parties. If you don't like the people, you are not going to like the event, so go someplace nice for vacation instead.

After your first party, if you like it, up your participation in the next one,

For extra credit, if you are in commute distance, camp out on the playa non-burn time, but ideally dust time. No matter what, camp near home off the grid for a week to test your camping setup. If you can't stand a week of camping, the burn is not for you.

[Token]

@Harry - check out what happened here:

Gamin’ gone done explained the why of it, the cultural value behind the whole thing.

SSE did up what we call acculturation; the act of bringing you into the spirit of the thing in a tactile way, experience aspects of it, smell some of the ethos. Immediacy sprinkled in for good measure.

You live in the East Bay fur fucks sake, get involved with any number of art yards and projects.

Heck, you tinker, have a mind for it … build some propane fire arts …

[Elorrum]

Tourism. Spectator consumerism. When the principles break, the city breaks. I’m seeing on social media a lot of dismissal of people quoting principles in answers to “how much does it cost?” “How do I book a camp?” The expectation is of not just direction to accommodation, but fast specific costing and access to reservations. “Just answer the question and don’t regurgitate principles.” The cost seems to be of no issue. Contributing isn’t even a consideration. Turnkey is a big expectation.

Have a look at the IAMU Skybar photos from playa right now. The camp infrastructure is still not even finished being disassembled. Four people were left to finish, and they are recruiting with an hourly wage for people from Reno or parts nearby to hurry come do their work. They need riggers with harnesses and hard hats to disassemble a tower with gravity feed water tanks for their showers. The insistence by the org that theme camps were a collective of people all working together to support their gift to the city is simply not working. The org in notes on their studies of turnkey camps and subsequent meetings insisted that dues should majorly be in support of theme camp projects and community contribution. Well, they are effectively hotels with meal plans, and sliding fee scales. The dues pay for accommodation mainly. The sound system and djs are window dressing.

Looking at photos of a lot of garbage. Single use durable goods that are wanted and purchased for use with no plan for storage or disposal. LNT for folks who fly to NV and then need a ride to their camp is someone else’s job.

The principles make a temporary city work. I’m seeing it more clearly.

[Token]

Which brings it back full circle to DGS being the deal with the Devil.

I can tell you first hand that BM was just as grand and awesome when theme camps ended on A-street.

Unfortunately, what started as an organic flow of ideas long ago has transformed to a corporate business model. Marion simply doesn’t have the ovaries to rip off the bandage and let the community find an organic solution that is inline with the ‘experiment in culture’.

What we need is the return of HellCo, the famed Playa opera, but actually live the parody out for realz.

There are about 100 legit theme camps out there every year, on average. Maybe a dozen or so create 80% of the vibe and allure.

The rest is just ticket grab shenanigans, bars, chill spaces, and a general creative void to meet a least common denominator.

But instead, we have thousands of theme camps pretending to do something memorable. Most fail pathetically at everything except the ticket grab.

Here’s an experiment for you:

Take the dozen or so them camps that deliver the goods, fund them with 30% of their DGS ask.

Take the rest of the 100 or so and fund them to a 20% ticket level.

The remaining couple-three thousand “theme camps” - 10% of their DGS ask.

Set up the HellCo Mergers and Acquisitions web page in Spark and let the people work it out, consolidate, fuse the big pile of garbage into something creative.

If the community doesn’t figure it out by June, you still have time to revert to the old DGS nonsense and save the corporate bacon, put out a good product - cringe.

Unlikely to happen since the BORG needs to do their big money grab early in the year …

What do I care, I got my fond memories all comfortably archived and cataloged of days gone by.