Burgeoning Birgin

[DogTagg]

G’day all!

½ yankee (the ‘dad’ half), ½ Aussie (the ‘mom’ half), and long-term resident/soon-to-be citizen of Canada; older than I look, younger than I feel, and ready to kick-off a new chapter in this life…

Well, despite having known and dreamt about Burning Man since 1994, this will be my first year.
Figure 20 years is a good enough ramp-up to the festivities =]
I’m keen to meet piles of people, share laughs, drinks and debauchery with those of like minds (like, everyone?), see some amazing crazy art and creativity, and generally soak it all in. Whirling Dervish Caravanserai for sure. Expect to be overwhelmed, and not sure exactly where/how to fit my ‘life-skills’ into the ‘economy’ of gifting… but my sustainability bone gets a workout any time I contemplate bringing some ‘thing’ to playa for someone else to take away from playa…

Suggestions for activities/services to help/render would be appreciated! Unfortunately I’m no barber, and while I rarely cut my own self shaving, I would be hesitant to offer same to others… then again, I give a wicked foot massage, have a biting (cutting?) wit, have bartended, bike mechanic’d, painted and constructed most my way through most my life. Surely something in there somewhere will come in useful to someone out there?!? Renaissance handy-man skills at your service =]

DogTagg

[gaminwench]

Hi DogTagg!

Definitely don't worry about gifty things, giving of yourself is the best way to go.
Foot massages are awesome gifts!

You sound like you'll fit right in.
Welcome!

[Jovankat]

½ Aussie (the ‘mum’ half)

Fixed that for you

[BoyScoutGirl]

Welcome to eplaya!

It's been said before, but it's worth repeating: focus on getting your basics worked out first. That means logistics and survival. Costumes, gifts, and other extras can come later. Your being there, being enthusiastic, and taking care of yourself (and leaving no trace while doing so) is more than enough of a gift for your first year. High fives, hugs, smiles, snarky comments well-aimed, assistance pitching a neighbor's tent, picking up MOOP for half an hour, good jokes, bad jokes, karaoke, guest bartending... all these things are gifts. Don't feel obligated to come with lanyard jewelry or whatever. Though it definitely sounds like you've some useful, handyman-type skills - bike mechanics always seem to be in demand. Maybe find eplaya user Elliot's thread - he does bike repair and drink service most days and would be happy to put you to work

If, come mid-week, you still feel like you've got the energy or desire to give more and/or meet more people, why not volunteer? You don't need to sign up to volunteer with the Lamplighters procession any night of the week - just come by a bit before five, behind Center Camp. Recycle camp takes walk-in volunteers as well, I believe, and is also generally in the Center Camp area. Your energy and enthusiasm volunteering can be your gift and you will probably make great friends!

Also, some unsolicited advice: do try not to get your hopes up too high about the event. Stop watching dance music videos and stop looking at art albums. Read the survival and first timers' guides, of course, but focus on preparation so the city can have a fair chance at a first impression - once you're there!

[Captain Goddammit]

Bike repair is a golden talent in BRC. I'll "second" everything BoyScoutGirl just said but I picked that skill out of your list as maybe the best BRC talent. If you want to help out, just go to one of the bike shop camps during the event and say Hi, tell 'em you know how to work on bikes, and volunteer to help. I used to have a bike repair camp and if you'd done that we'd have put you right to work meeting people, fixing flats and chains, and making friends!

But… YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS TWENTY YEARS AGO AND NEVER WENT?!!!!! GOOD GOD MAN WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!!!!
You missed all the good old days! I only found out in '99 and I wish I'd been able to be there earlier. It's still really great but it's definitely not like it was. What we have now is the "Rules-And-Shit" version of Burning Man.

[Savannah]

Welcome, DogTagg!

[DogTagg]

Thanks for the responses, all!

Your advice, wisdom and thoughtfulness is appreciated, and shall be acted upon =]

@ Jovankat: i sit corrected, and slightly ashamed! many thanks

@ BoyScoutGirl: my life tends to feel like a 'leave no trace' experiment, so thank you for reinforcing that aspect. as for dance music videos and art albums... THEY HAVE THOSE?!? seriously, i'm a veteran outdoors-man, in deserts, tropics, and my temperate rainforest homeland, but your advice to take survival and preparation first is well received. while my expectations are sky-high, i also seriously expect them to be blown, overwhelmed, and flummoxed, regardless =]

@ Captain Goddammit: bike repairs ahoy! and yes, there has been something seriously wrong with me for the past while (maybe not the full 20 years, but...), however, now i'm in, charging full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes! but oh, for the days of "Drive-by-Shooting-Ranges"... for sure!

@ Savannah and gaminwench: thanks for the warm welcomes! may our paths cross... somewhere... sometime =]

DogTagg

[BoyScoutGirl]

... while my expectations are sky-high, i also seriously expect them to be blown, overwhelmed, and flummoxed, regardless =]

Actually, that's what I was trying to warn you against. By suggesting you focus on survival and preparation, I spoke not out of the fear that'd you die of exposure or become dehydrated but out of the fear that you're letting your mind create expectations for the event. The event has its charms, but don't you think setting your expectations "sky-high" and then anticipating those expectations to be overwhelmingly surpassed is asking a lot?

As we like to quote around here, "It's just a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world."

[Eric]

... while my expectations are sky-high, i also seriously expect them to be blown, overwhelmed, and flummoxed, regardless =]

Actually, that's what I was trying to warn you against. By suggesting you focus on survival and preparation, I spoke not out of the fear that'd you die of exposure or become dehydrated but out of the fear that you're letting your mind create expectations for the event. The event has its charms, but don't you think setting your expectations "sky-high" and then anticipating those expectations to be overwhelmingly surpassed is asking a lot?

As we like to quote around here, "It's just a camping trip in the desert, not the redemption of the fallen world."

And shockingly, not everyone enjoys the event once they get there. One of my best friends was super-excited about it way back in the early aughts, went 3 times, realized he hated it and was only going because he thought he was missing something, as opposed to it just not being something he enjoyed. He hasn't been back since '05, doesn't miss it at all.

Try really hard not to set expectations on a place you've never been - what could have been an enjoyable experience may be ruined because it wasn't The Most Awesome Thing Ever. First suggestion - don't watch any videos or look at any pictures of the Burn from now until you get there, unless they directly deal with your preparations.

[Fidget]

Sorry to all of the folks telling DogTagg not to get his expectations up.
Toooo laaaaate - he's my roommate and I'm afraid I couldn't contain myself when we got back last year.. I'm pretty sure he can recite my trip verbatim.

I jest, but yeeeah we told him all about it.

[BoyScoutGirl]

So you're the one to blame for all the traffic on gate road! We told you to keep it a seeeecret, Fidget!

[Fidget]

I know right? Who knew things would have gotten so crazy so quickly!