Lamplighters Need Volunteers Every Night

[BoyScoutGirl]

The Lampighters host a different themed party every day, with costumes, speciality drinks, and shenanigans. BRING YOUR OWN CUP! It is 100% okay if you don't drink alcohol - we happily serve sodas and juices as well.

MONDAY through FRIDAY parties are 3pm-5pm:

* Monday 3pm-5pm: Smokey's Old Skool Hip Hop Party (wear Gold)
* Tuesday 3pm-5pm: Cupcake's Ska/Punk Checker Party
* Wednesday 3pm-5pm: Panda's Cider Party
* Thursday 3pm-5pm: Boy Shorts's Drag Party
* Friday 3pm-5pm: Tumbleweed's BRO party

On SATURDAY the party is moved up an hour for the burn:

* Saturday 2pm-4pm: BROWN COAT PARTY! serving Sereni-TEA

We also have after-lamplighting parties THURSDAY night and SATURDAY night:

* Thursday 10pm-2am: Cosplay/Superhero Party
* Saturday 10pm-2am: Country Night

Anyone can be a Lamplighter!

Each year it takes over 1,000 volunteers to help us light the city - we can't do it without you! All you need to do is show up any night or nights you would like to volunteer at 5pm (4pm on Burn night) to our Workspace behind the Center Camp Cafe.

Have a theme camp and you would like to volunteer as a group? PM me and I can help you set that up.

[Hannah PBS Miller]

This is a FUCKING BLAST. DO IT!
Or just go to the parties.

Really really great crew, I have to say (okay I am biased but whatever, I have good judgment!)

[Omitimo]

Oooh, Ska/Punk Checker party. Maybe I will have to pull that Two-Tone belt out of the closet.
Can I make some requests for Toy Dolls?
And then A Cider party?!? Yum-F'n-o! Is this fo rill?
I heard there is a tendency for things to not happen when they
say they will, is this one of those things? I have flexible volunteer shifts
happening and I would like to *schedule around these.
Especially Cider.

[BoyScoutGirl]

Welcome to eplaya, Omitimo!

You're right that many events in Black Rock City tend to happen on "playa time." That being said, we pretty much have our sh*t together and you can count on those times and days. I like to say that lamplighters are (among) the people most likely to be wearing watches on the playa. We light the city every night, without fail. To do so we need walk-in volunteers and we get that ball rolling at 5pm (4pm Saturday). In the recent past we've had to turn away volunteers because some days we fill up in <20 minutes, so if you want to be a part of the procession you definitely want to arrive by five. You don't have to sign up for a shift ahead of time - just show up!

As for the parties: Panda's cider always runs out quickly, so I would recommend being on time for that one. I can't guarantee that we'll have a particular band's music for any of the parties, but requests are welcome, of course.

The only time the Lamplighter Bar is closed is during lamplighting hours (i.e., just before 5 until the lamps are up), so you're welcome to stop by any time.

[Savannah]

Lamplighters is one of the few camps whose events I would expect to start reasonably well on time--they've got lamps to light, after all. (And they're easy to locate in the Center Camp ring).

Lamplighters was also the friendliest playa bar I've ever been to.

[Omitimo]

Cool Sav, even if I don't make it for lamp lighting, I will be sure to mark my mental map.
Thanks for the welcome BSG and the new word. Playatime, It has a nice ring to it
But does it get annoying at all? Whatever...
One thing I like more then Cider is sharing my enthusiasm for it with others.
I will bring extra yummy to share.
Timo

[BoyScoutGirl]

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Owing to earlier Gate opening time this year, there will now be a full lamplighting procession on the first Sunday evening (24 August this year). Because this is a new process, we're expecting some bumps. Here are two ways you can help:

1) If your vehicle is arriving in the city on Sunday right before sunset, remember to make way for your lamplighters. Seriously, we will not deviate from our path down the middle of the road for anything short of an ambulance with sirens blazing. You really shouldn't be driving on Esplanade anyway - use back access to camp on A road.

2) If you have arrived, settled in, and feel like helping out, please, please come volunteer to light the city. The city has grown in size (radius) this year and we especially need volunteers early in the week.

So excited!

[HEATHER_INVICTUS]

Definitely gotta stop by one of those nights!

[theCryptofishist]

There are rules about wearing robes.

[BoyScoutGirl]

We'll be happy to have you, Heather!

[BoyScoutGirl]

"But what do I actually do as a Lamplighter?" you ask. Great question! There are three roles as the procession moves throughout the city in a beautiful, meaningful dance:

Carrying


Carrying is not just for big, burly men. Plenty of women carry, plenty of older folks carry, and I've been told we've even had a few kids in the 12-14 age range carry as well. A fully-loaded lantern-carrying pole is about 40 pounds/18 kg (six lanterns per side) and it gets lighter as the lifters remove lanterns along the way. The flow of the procession revolves around the steady advance of the lines of carriers. I've carried twice on the longest route without much trouble. It's very zen: you walk slowly, focused entirely on your task.

Support


If you volunteer for support, you play the attentive problem-solver. There is a small chance a carrier will be asked to replace a tired carrier. Otherwise, support is focused on keeping the lanterns lit with well-adjusted flames, on keeping the carriers comfortable (goggles on/off, giving water, pairing up with another support person to hold the ends of the carrying pole to give the carrier a quick shoulder-rotating break, etc.), and on helping the lifters keep track of where to take the next lantern from. Because the support role is less physically demanding, it's great for those who can walk with us but might have trouble with their back/neck/arms in other roles.

Lifting


Lifters do the most walking as they move to pick up a lantern from a carrier, proceed forward out of the processional line to the lamppost, lift the lantern, and then come to the back of the line to get another lantern. While being a carrier is a time to look inside yourself, lifting is all about working in unison with your partner and the other lifters. Unfortunately, being short is a disadvantage for lifters.

I love being a part of the procession to light the city and recommend it to every burner. We have robes for kids!

There is no sign-up, just show up! I recommend coming a bit before 5pm (4pm on Saturday) - last year we had so many volunteers we were sad we had to turn down some walk-ins. There is a procession every night, Sunday to Sunday.

[BoyScoutGirl]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all who came by lamplighters and volunteered. This year had some nights with interesting twists and turns but the lanterns went out every evening without fail, and it was beautiful.

[Elderberry]

I think the time has come for electric lanterns. It is 2014 you know.
Just kidding!

[BoyScoutGirl]

I think the time has come for electric lanterns. It is 2014 you know.

Elderberry has quoted in jest the second-quickest way to get under a lamplighter's skin. The quickest, of course, is failing to make way for the procession after being asked to move aside six times.

In all seriousness, there are reasons for using kerosene and those reasons are legion. This is a fire festival, after all.

Also: masochism can be a reason, right?

[Elderberry]

Yup. My partner and I volunteer almost every year. You guys have great bling.

Plus, I love the reactions from people as the procession marches down the street.

[GreyCoyote]

Yep. I can just see it. BSG leading a procession of lamplighters saying in their best Monty Python voices "...Bring out your LEDs..."

Aint gonna happen.

[BoyScoutGirl]

Aint gonna happen.

(Emphasis mine.)

[Lonesomebri]

Anything that keeps 1000 robe wearing hippies busy, especially involving fire, instead of them being in front of me in some line for snowcones, is alright in my book.
Thank you.

[BoyScoutGirl]

The pleasure and the honor are entirely ours...

... at least until you get outta the snowcone line and lend us a hand