Don't build your for profit business on Burning Man

[some seeing eye]

Some rangers made a for profit spinout providing security to festivals. They are now begging "the community" for work. Nope.

Sure there are other examples.

[Bless]

Why is BMorg allowed to profit off of TTITD but not Rangers?

[ygmir]

Why is BMorg allowed to profit off of TTITD but not Rangers?

bam

[privet]

Why is BMorg allowed to profit off of TTITD but not Rangers?

I agree with you, that this is not right

[Elderberry]

How can a non-profit corporation make a profit?

[Bless]

MM makes $300k salary a year from that thing in the desert. Would you or wouldn't you say she personally profits off of the TTITD trademark?

Why was this film allowed to shoot at the burn? Did these filmmakers profit off of TTITD? I assume so.



Then there was the official Burning Man documentary:



I assume some profit was collected there...

Then of course is actually Burning Man merchandise: https://marketplace.burningman.org/

I'm sure some of you visited the Smithsonian Exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in DC on BM. They had a gift shop there as well. I wonder if any one profited off of those sales: https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/burning-man

I'm sure there are countless more examples.

My whole point is that it is up to the powers that be to decide who and when people profit off of the event. I think that's rather arbitrary and capricious.

[Elderberry]

https://journal.burningman.org/2017/11/ ... nal-films/

[Elderberry]

https://journal.burningman.org/2016/10/ ... urning-man

[some seeing eye]

In my humble opinion, the conversion of the LLC to a non-profit was a brilliant piece of legal work. If you have followed the BORG you have seen the legal team at work on the Pershing lawsuit, trademark, all the fine print on the ticket, the EIS, and now the BLM lawsuit.

Non-profits are first, an IRS corporation tax status, and second, they are governed by state law. That constrains many things suggested for getting them out of their Corona-cash-flow-pickle.

Many nonprofits pay their executives very well. Look at your local Goodwill, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, hospital, etc. They have massive revenues.

In non-profits, there is "earned income" which you can easily look up. I think "the BORG mission" is probably to "educate" people on the "10 Principles" at their yearly week long campout, while "promoting the arts."

It is probably not hard to dig up the bylaws. And while we are shut in quarantine, the 990 makes for good reading, though I wouldn't say great reading

[Ratty]

Why is BMorg allowed to profit off of TTITD but not Rangers?

Bless, Why do you say that High Rock Security can't function? They do.

[Token]

LOL, of all things BORG to get butt-hurt over, this ain’t even on the list.

BORG going non-profit was the right thing on many levels. The big one on nonprofits is no ownership and no shares to trade. It is strictly accountable to its mission, not shareholders.

Anyone that can run a business that grew out of the BM culture - more power to them.

[some seeing eye]

Why do you say that High Rock Security can't function? They do.

I did not say that.

I don't think for profit businesses built by burners are "community" which burners need any special loyalty to beyond long time individual person to person relationships outside the burn.