Best & Worst Volunteer Experiences At Burning Man
Best & Worst Volunteer Experiences At Burning Man
I'll be returning to the playa this year for my second time home. Last year was my virgin year and I had an amazing time. I'm want to participate more this year than I did last year. I think one of the best ways for me to participate is to volunteer.
I searched the forum and didn't find any topic quite like this one. I'd like to find out what people's best and/or worst past volunteer experiences were. I know that everyone is different and someones best experience might be my nightmare and visa-versa. However I hope to use what people write here to steer me towards a good position for me.
I did attend the volunteer recruitment at the BM office in San Francisco, but I still would like to hear more from other people.
Thanks
I searched the forum and didn't find any topic quite like this one. I'd like to find out what people's best and/or worst past volunteer experiences were. I know that everyone is different and someones best experience might be my nightmare and visa-versa. However I hope to use what people write here to steer me towards a good position for me.
I did attend the volunteer recruitment at the BM office in San Francisco, but I still would like to hear more from other people.
Thanks
Immature beyond my years
- robbidobbs
- Posts: 2825
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:07 pm
- Burning Since: 1999
- Camp Name: Pottie Central
- Location: LOS of the Pottie doors
I have the best job in the whole city!
I get gifted, beer'd, and entertained all day. There is constant expressions of appreciation for what I do. I can't wait to go to work at dawn, and come in exhausted and happy every night at dusk. I work at my self-prescribed pace sometimes, and go into overdrive when duty calls. I wear a uniform of my own design, and express myself artistically as a primary function of my job. This will be my 7th year doing this. Some people love me, some respect me, some don't understand me at all and think I'm a loose cannon, but appreciate that I'm doing the job.
What do I do?
Here's a hint: I talk to people about a basic activity that everyone does many times a day, and wants to have it be a pleasant experience every time.
And yes, you can help.
I get gifted, beer'd, and entertained all day. There is constant expressions of appreciation for what I do. I can't wait to go to work at dawn, and come in exhausted and happy every night at dusk. I work at my self-prescribed pace sometimes, and go into overdrive when duty calls. I wear a uniform of my own design, and express myself artistically as a primary function of my job. This will be my 7th year doing this. Some people love me, some respect me, some don't understand me at all and think I'm a loose cannon, but appreciate that I'm doing the job.
What do I do?
Here's a hint: I talk to people about a basic activity that everyone does many times a day, and wants to have it be a pleasant experience every time.
And yes, you can help.
I'll be in my blanket fort until further notice.
- Green Wood
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2004 6:05 pm
- Location: Somewhere beyond the Rainbow
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- Posts: 39
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:35 pm
- Location: Pantalones
Never officially signed up for stuff but spent a few mornings unloading ice one year, wasn't as good a way to keep cool as I'd initially thought.
Recycle camp has also been a place I've jumped in and helped out at in the past. If you're dumping off cans you should stick around and flatten them anyway so it's easy enough to ask if they need a few hours of your time while you're there.
Had a blast at both places.
I haven't worked lamplighters but several of my campmates have thouroughly enjoyed the experience.
Recycle camp has also been a place I've jumped in and helped out at in the past. If you're dumping off cans you should stick around and flatten them anyway so it's easy enough to ask if they need a few hours of your time while you're there.
Had a blast at both places.
I haven't worked lamplighters but several of my campmates have thouroughly enjoyed the experience.
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
- munney
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2003 12:18 pm
- Location: SF Bay Area Peninsula / Palo Alto
- Contact:
Volunteer at Center Camp
First Year, First Day, First Morning I had signed up to volunteer at the Center Camp Cafe,
I have Barista experience from Europa, so I was sure to be the BasAss Coffee Maker, NO! They made me Trash Boy, and it was Great.
You pick up trash from the Loosers, Yes Loosers that leave trash at a Leave no trace event.... Dumbasses.... Anyway, you get to meet cool people , do a big part, educate people and wear no uniform, (some people give you stuff too... Bracelets, trinkets, blinkie, BJ's whatever they've got to share)
Volunteer to be the Trash/Recycling person for shifts at the Center Camp Cafe,
Plus you get to drink lots of Coffee fer Free / Plus some tips at the end of the shift for gas money home... / Plus you get to ask about the good parties later / Plus you get to ask the girl with the Tongue ring what it's like to french kiss, then kiss her.... / Plus you get to participate at Ground Zero, / Plus you get to see some cool performances at the many stages of Center Camp, / Plus you might get to work while you're high in the middle of the night / Plus you may get to yell peoples names for their Coffee / Plus you get to give your friends free Coffee / Plus you get to meet cool People....
Amen
I have Barista experience from Europa, so I was sure to be the BasAss Coffee Maker, NO! They made me Trash Boy, and it was Great.
You pick up trash from the Loosers, Yes Loosers that leave trash at a Leave no trace event.... Dumbasses.... Anyway, you get to meet cool people , do a big part, educate people and wear no uniform, (some people give you stuff too... Bracelets, trinkets, blinkie, BJ's whatever they've got to share)
Volunteer to be the Trash/Recycling person for shifts at the Center Camp Cafe,
Plus you get to drink lots of Coffee fer Free / Plus some tips at the end of the shift for gas money home... / Plus you get to ask about the good parties later / Plus you get to ask the girl with the Tongue ring what it's like to french kiss, then kiss her.... / Plus you get to participate at Ground Zero, / Plus you get to see some cool performances at the many stages of Center Camp, / Plus you might get to work while you're high in the middle of the night / Plus you may get to yell peoples names for their Coffee / Plus you get to give your friends free Coffee / Plus you get to meet cool People....
Amen

Munney
"Miss the Playa Dont you?"
"Miss the Playa Dont you?"
I ended up volunteering at PlayaInfo this year and had a fantastic time. I worked mainly as an Oracle, but also helped with the directory and did some setup as well.
The PlayInfo people were great and it was fun talking with as many burners as I did. I thought Elecktra was a fantastic volunteer organizer and Rob O did a great job leading the group. The shift volunteers were great to work for and my fellow volunteers were friendly, fun, interesting and excited.
I don't have a worst volunteering experience because it went so well this year.
The PlayInfo people were great and it was fun talking with as many burners as I did. I thought Elecktra was a fantastic volunteer organizer and Rob O did a great job leading the group. The shift volunteers were great to work for and my fellow volunteers were friendly, fun, interesting and excited.
I don't have a worst volunteering experience because it went so well this year.
Immature beyond my years
best/worst
[color=indigo][/color]
best playa experience this year? toss up: doing the carne armada run on DPW and lavishing them with massages, liquor and gourmet food and massaging calves in center camp for most of Sunday.
worst experience: during the 7 hour dust storm on Monday, trying to clean up someone's crap (they apparently had brought a sh*t-ton of tiny styrofoam pellets to the burn and did not get them out of the wind) and they all blew in to our camp... so we spent about 3 hours trying to sift through dust to pick the crap up.
but we were drinking and on the playa... so really... it is all good
(the worst day on the playa is still better than the best day at work)
best playa experience this year? toss up: doing the carne armada run on DPW and lavishing them with massages, liquor and gourmet food and massaging calves in center camp for most of Sunday.
worst experience: during the 7 hour dust storm on Monday, trying to clean up someone's crap (they apparently had brought a sh*t-ton of tiny styrofoam pellets to the burn and did not get them out of the wind) and they all blew in to our camp... so we spent about 3 hours trying to sift through dust to pick the crap up.
but we were drinking and on the playa... so really... it is all good
(the worst day on the playa is still better than the best day at work)
Volunteering my time and my art and going up on the previous Saturday to set up because it's "manditory" because you're on Esplanade and then being stuck in the F-ing "D" lot for S I X hours all because we didn't have a freaking barcode that was never sent to us in the first place via some crazy glitch in the "email" process! That's my worst experience tell you what.
Bah! Psshhh!
I'll second ya IBDave!!! That opening night Greeters shift ROCKED!!!!!
I wanna do it again, everyone said they were almost tooo tired, i swear, I know I WAS TOO TIRED! But as soon as the excited Ju-Ju was coming from each participant as the drove on in, It was like a very contagious anti-dote to sleepiness...I was OVER stimulated by the whole fun wee-hours !!!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Topless Deb...lets do it again...WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
I wanna do it again, everyone said they were almost tooo tired, i swear, I know I WAS TOO TIRED! But as soon as the excited Ju-Ju was coming from each participant as the drove on in, It was like a very contagious anti-dote to sleepiness...I was OVER stimulated by the whole fun wee-hours !!!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
Topless Deb...lets do it again...WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
Names pinemom, but my friends call me "Piney".
I didn't have any pre-arranged volunteer jobs.. but I ran into RobbiDobbs twice on Monday, and by the end of Monday had become Princess of my Potty Bank and happily kept it restocked all week...
Thurday morning, saw a giant lineup outside Ice Cubed, and asked if they could use an extra hand, so spent a shift organizing blocks and bags of crushed and hauling stuff outta the back of the truck.. and it was awesome! Great crew, nice to be cold in the middle of the day, and I had a lovely time... I think next year I might try to do that again, but go front-line so I can chat up more folks!
Didn't do any greeting shifts this year, but wound up spending a lot of time at Greeter's Camp... still kidna curious about who the yummyummy man was that greeted me at the gates with a hug and a neck nibble and some smooching, that was a most excellent start to my burn!
X.
Thurday morning, saw a giant lineup outside Ice Cubed, and asked if they could use an extra hand, so spent a shift organizing blocks and bags of crushed and hauling stuff outta the back of the truck.. and it was awesome! Great crew, nice to be cold in the middle of the day, and I had a lovely time... I think next year I might try to do that again, but go front-line so I can chat up more folks!
Didn't do any greeting shifts this year, but wound up spending a lot of time at Greeter's Camp... still kidna curious about who the yummyummy man was that greeted me at the gates with a hug and a neck nibble and some smooching, that was a most excellent start to my burn!
X.
<b>The ePlaya Bar Camp:</b> "What will it be?"
- EspressoDude
- Posts: 4920
- Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:30 pm
- Location: the first Vancouver
- Contact:
Re: Volunteer at Center Camp
Maybe we will do that next year.....munney wrote:First Year, First Day, First Morning I had signed up to volunteer at the Center Camp Cafe,
I have Barista experience from Europa, so I was sure to be the BasAss Coffee Maker, NO! They made me Trash Boy, and it was Great.
You pick up trash from the Loosers, Yes Loosers that leave trash at a Leave no trace event.... Dumbasses.... Anyway, you get to meet cool people , do a big part, educate people and wear no uniform, (some people give you stuff too... Bracelets, trinkets, blinkie, BJ's whatever they've got to share)
Volunteer to be the Trash/Recycling person for shifts at the Center Camp Cafe,
Plus you get to drink lots of Coffee fer Free / Plus some tips at the end of the shift for gas money home... / Plus you get to ask about the good parties later / Plus you get to ask the girl with the Tongue ring what it's like to french kiss, then kiss her.... / Plus you get to participate at Ground Zero, / Plus you get to see some cool performances at the many stages of Center Camp, / Plus you might get to work while you're high in the middle of the night / Plus you may get to yell peoples names for their Coffee / Plus you get to give your friends free Coffee / Plus you get to meet cool People....
Amen
Instead of operating ESPRESSOCAMP on the 3:00 Plaza and spending $500.00 on coffee and water to GIVE AWAY 3500 shots of espresso.
No tips either, but somebody did try to give me $20.00 for a couple shots in one of our cups (EspressoCamp is strictly byo cup).
But then maybe that was a TIP!
I bet nobody pissed (and left a wad of asswipe) on the ground 10 feet from the espresso machine at center camp, either
Is 4 shots enuff? no foo-foo drinks; just naked Espresso
Tactical Espresso Service http://home.comcast.net/~espressocamp/
Field Artillery Tractor
FOGBANK, GOD OF HELLFIRE
BLACK ROCK f/x Trojan Horse,Anubis,2014Temple
burn shit and blow shit up
Tactical Espresso Service http://home.comcast.net/~espressocamp/
Field Artillery Tractor
FOGBANK, GOD OF HELLFIRE
BLACK ROCK f/x Trojan Horse,Anubis,2014Temple
burn shit and blow shit up
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
Re: Volunteer at Center Camp
If it hasn't happened yet, it will soon.EspressoDude wrote:I bet nobody pissed (and left a wad of asswipe) on the ground 10 feet from the espresso machine at center camp, either
(Savages, savages, the sooner the Kernel takes over with his message of oven mitts, hygene and doom for all, the better.)
The Lady with a Lamprey
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.
Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri
- bigbluedoggy
- Posts: 1619
- Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:25 am
- Burning Since: 2006
- Camp Name: Destiny Lounge 3D
- Location: Pasadena / Joshua Tree, CA
- Contact:
Aw Espresso Dude, that had to totally suck! You guys are such great folks for doing what you do! I enjoyed being your neighbor and stopping by every morning for that wonderful blast! Hope you don't let some self indulgent Moophead get the better of you. And if you do decide to change plans... more power to you! It's the playa after all!
Doggy
Doggy
A plan is what you vary from.
Destiny Lounge has been proven to cause cuteness in small kittens.
Destiny Lounge 3D - located in the 3:00 Plaza at G for 2019! Look for our art installation too: The Temple uv Enlightenment!
Destiny Lounge has been proven to cause cuteness in small kittens.
Destiny Lounge 3D - located in the 3:00 Plaza at G for 2019! Look for our art installation too: The Temple uv Enlightenment!
-
- Posts: 3527
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 11:07 pm
- Burning Since: 2020
- Location: black rock city
Re: Volunteer at Center Camp
are you fucking kidding me?!EspressoDude wrote:I bet nobody pissed (and left a wad of asswipe) on the ground 10 feet from the espresso machine at center camp, either
- skygod
- Posts: 737
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 8:50 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Location: Twentynine Palms, CA
- Contact:
Re: Volunteer at Center Camp
Mr. Dude, that is so heinous. But don't let the assholes get you down, you are the Mother Theresa of Coffee!EspressoDude wrote: I bet nobody pissed (and left a wad of asswipe) on the ground 10 feet from the espresso machine at center camp, either
"It will seem difficult in the beginning. But everything seems difficult in the beginning."- Musashi
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
- Nick Collide
- Posts: 769
- Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:21 pm
- Location: Booby Bar - Terminal City BM 2011
- theCryptofishist
- Posts: 40313
- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Burning Since: 2017
- Location: In Exile
Third that! Beautiful experience. Next year, more interrogations, though.Opening Night Greeter Shift....... WOW
I went out with the BooBy Bar camp and had a Fucking Blast...
Sign me up for next year's shift please....
"No one is innocent, citizen. We are merely here to determine the level of your guilt."
- Judge Dredd
- Judge Dredd
- Simon of the Playa
- Posts: 20637
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:25 pm
- Burning Since: 1996
- Camp Name: La Guilde des Hashischins
- Location: BRC, Nevada.
2005..... i was garbage man/recycle guy a few nights at center cafe....
the 5 minute "shake your groove thang on the bar-breaks" were side spltting, not to mention the schwag that got stuffed in my pockets, etc, as tips...
but far and away, the bestest mostest coolest thing EVER was getting to ride over to recycle camp with the "burnables" on the back of a real live garbage truck and getting to hang on the handle and see the city from a different point of view....oh man.....be still, my heart....
i had always wanted to do that, actually, since as long as i can remember...
riding the garbage truck, that is....and who would of thunk it, one of my childhood "i'm going to do/be that" list got crossed off at burning man....
actually, now that i think of it, 3 others were too...
no, i'm not telling what they were....
yet.
the 5 minute "shake your groove thang on the bar-breaks" were side spltting, not to mention the schwag that got stuffed in my pockets, etc, as tips...
but far and away, the bestest mostest coolest thing EVER was getting to ride over to recycle camp with the "burnables" on the back of a real live garbage truck and getting to hang on the handle and see the city from a different point of view....oh man.....be still, my heart....
i had always wanted to do that, actually, since as long as i can remember...
riding the garbage truck, that is....and who would of thunk it, one of my childhood "i'm going to do/be that" list got crossed off at burning man....
actually, now that i think of it, 3 others were too...
no, i'm not telling what they were....
yet.