Too many people dropping out this year?

[Burnorburn]

This year will be my second burn and I am excited about returning to the Playa. However, like many, I couldn't secure a ticket during the main sale and have been scouting for one since.

One thing that I noticed in the past few weeks is that too many of my close friends, who are veteran burners and have gone to almost every burn the past decade, are dropping out this year. Many have cited financial reasons, getting "burnt" out last year, or other travel opportunities, among other reasons, for not going.

I have also noticed many camps are looking for new members on social media, either because their former members are not going or they have been allotted extra tickets by the org.

Has anyone else noticed this trend? I am not sure if this is any different than previous years because I wasn't actively looking for tickets last year, and got lucky with one a week before the event.

If this seems like a different trend, do you expect more tickets to be available later in August?

[mgb327]

What I see of my community, several will decide to not attend this year due to last years: heat, crappy roads, dunes, whiteouts, ice running out on Thursday, general poor conditions. Last year sucked, but I am going to try it again. I think a lot of the bigger camps are losing members, hence the cattle call for newbies. Losing members, I have no exact idea why, other than age or memories of last year.

[FlyingMonkey]

It happens every year. Last year I bought 2 tickets and had to sell both because I got a new job. This year I have gone through 2 co-drivers because they couldn't swing getting the time off from work. July & August are probably the best time to get tickets if you are connected and pay attention.

If you have a strong regional organization, you can usually snag tickets this time of year because people will turn to them to get the word out when they need to sell for some reason.

[Captain Goddammit]

This has been the situation for decades.

[Elorrum]

No longer being actually able to afford it. Ticket access is ridiculous to navigate for a solo burner. I hate that I need to rely on other people to allow me access. I didn’t create the infrastructure of networks and camps, or org dept. servitude, years back, that would be helping me out now.

Conditions vary: I was offered a couple tickets but needed to find a vp. This year, it came down to finances. I won’t say never again, but it’s possible. I don’t feel like I dropped out, it feels more like I’ve been scraped off.

[Traveling_Fuel007]

Hello Burnorburn,

I have a ticket for sale at face value with one VP + shipping. Must take both. Let me know ASAP if you want them (also posted in ticket discussion).
P.S.: I agree with your assessment about drop-outs and camps.

[Lonesomebri]

I'm fighting with a huge camp, on other social media, over them getting too many "Steward" tickets. Seems they also have a BM board member in camp, an art piece, tickets to Burn. They're selling the tickets to whoever, no feint or pretence to aiding the camp in any way at all. Just selling the "extra" tickets they got while thousands pounded sand for an hour during the regular ticket sales. This is another fix: you really can't go unless you join a camp, or wait until the official camps disperse their "extra" tickets. The regular sales sell out, "extra" tickets go to massive camps, to big to fail, people see that trying to get a ticket themselves is a fools quest, the camps get bigger. Rant rant.

[Burnorburn]

Hello Burnorburn,

I have a ticket for sale at face value with one VP + shipping. Must take both. Let me know ASAP if you want them (also posted in ticket discussion).
P.S.: I agree with your assessment about drop-outs and camps.

Hi there! Thank you. I was able to secure tickets through the omg sale

[wraith]

Next year was better.

Especially since Hurricane Hilary is looking like making the Playa into Burning Mud.