LA Virgin Lone Burner Who Is Scared But Stoked

[talbottoh]

Hi! I'm Olivia and I am a Virginia girl who has lived in LA for 2 years. I am an improver, actress, stand-up, and server who was so desperate to go to BM this year that I decided to just do it (thanks to a low income ticket). I know NOTHING about toilets, survival, or pretending to be resourceful in the desert. That said, along with the fact that I am a 24-year-old woman just trekking by herself, I'm scared, but STOKED to meet new people, engage, and do creative shit together! I am still looking for a camp, mainly because I'm such a shitty girl scout. But I'm realistic about not maybe finding one and having to figure shit out. I'm a decent cook, 100% efficient at doing all tasks ever delegated to me, and all about the team work. Stoked to meet everyone.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[Ratty]

Olivia Welcome to eplaya. Don't be scared. With a little prep work you will survive and have a great time. Search out some burningman lists. They are all over Pinterest and other sites. Read the Survival guide. Buy your basics. Food water shelter suitable clothing. If you don't join a camp then bring an extra tarp for shade. You'll be fine.

[Dr. Pyro]

I can't imagine what possibly could go wrong.

[Drawingablank]

Welcome.

[some seeing eye]

Did you know there are about 10,000 other burners right by you in the LA basin for the 2016 burn and more than twice that who have been in previous years? Improv your way into their events and house parties via http://regionals.burningman.org/regiona ... h-america/.

NOW.

Eplaya has a few micro handfuls of active posters of that 10,000-20,000 people you could meet in person in a big burner town.

Eplaya is good for prep questions not available by searching and reading. But your [new] in person LA friends are much better! Throw into ePlaya for what ePlaya does.

[Wigwam]

LA, currently, Virginia native here. You'll be fine. Get in touch.

[Savannah]

Hi! I'm Olivia and I am a Virginia girl who has lived in LA for 2 years. I am an improver, actress, stand-up, and server who was so desperate to go to BM this year that I decided to just do it (thanks to a low income ticket). I know NOTHING about toilets, survival, or pretending to be resourceful in the desert. That said, along with the fact that I am a 24-year-old woman just trekking by herself, I'm scared, but STOKED to meet new people, engage, and do creative shit together! I am still looking for a camp, mainly because I'm such a shitty girl scout. But I'm realistic about not maybe finding one and having to figure shit out. I'm a decent cook, 100% efficient at doing all tasks ever delegated to me, and all about the team work. Stoked to meet everyone.

Hi Olivia!

I had two months to prepare for my first Burn as well, and hadn't camped since I was 13. If I can do it, you [probably] can too!

We have a saying (one of many) around here . . . plan as though you will be the only one who shows up. Could you survive? If yes, you'll be fine. Don't decide that right away. Read the Survival Guide at least twice first, then decide.

When you approach camps, don't lead with your fear. Fear is normal your first year. But it doesn't inspire camps to take a chance on you, so when you message or email any camps, lead with your skills and your bravery. Fear is a given. Make sure people know you have something to add and excitement for their theme. But remember--theme camps are optional. You could camp with a friend or acquaintance or even solo, and have all your time be your own--and visit theme camps all day instead.

. . . Will you be driving?

If you don't, consider googling The Burner Express bus or Green Tortoise Adventure Travel. Going in on these buses can provide you with a ride and some real estate to boot. You will still need a tent, food, water, supplies and knowledge.

If you look under "Rideshares & Resource Sharing" you might find an RV share.
viewforum.php?f=469

There is much to know about toilets.

There are many porta-potties at Burning Man. They're fairly nicely maintained. You can find them even in the dark by looking for the tiny blue light at each end of a porta-potty bank. You cannot use anything but 1-PLY in them unless you want to clog the works and make a sanitation worker unclog them by hand, which is mean, and jeopardizes the sanitation contract. NEVER put baby wipes in the potty. If you like wipes, carry a "biffy bag" with you with clean wipes and a spare ziploc to pack out your dirty wipes and put them in your trash. Put some sanitizer and a clip light in your biffy bag too, and some extra 1-ply). If you're staying in an RV during the event, you and your campmates will need to come to an agreement about pooping in the RV toilet: it should generally be done as little as possible; save it for the portos. Pee bottles and pee funnels (oval mouth automotive funnels; $3) are next-level, but if you feel like practicing an advanced skill--try it at home and see how you feel.

There. Toilet stuff.

Welcome!