What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

demeter · Post by **demeter** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:33 pm

Besides the things that are explicitly not allowed at Burning Man (dogs, guns, cheap feather boas, etc)...

What are things that are useless on the Playa?

What should someone not bring?

What have you brought in the past thinking you'd need it but in the end it was just a waste of space?

Things I've heard so far:
* Peanut Butter
* Tiki Torches

Madgirl · Post by **Madgirl** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:38 pm

Uncomfortable shoes. Even if they only bother you the teeniest tiniest bit, they will drive you nuts on the playa and if your feet aren't happy, you won't be happy.

Moopy food - particularly anything that needs to be peeled (melons, citrus, etc.)

I think peanut butter is actually okay if you keep it in the cooler, it'll just get really melty otherwise.

Post by **Eric** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:45 pm

Tiki Torches are highly restricted:

Burning Man Prep Guide; Burn Scars wrote:Tiki Torches, Candles & Lanterns

Winds pick up without warning and blow things over -- tent fires have started due to tiki torches, candles and lanterns being blown over in or around tents. Tiki torches are restricted to The Esplanade, the pedestrian boulevard at the fron of our city; Villages; in our Center Camp; and within the two Plazas on 2500' at the 90° and 270° intersections. We are tentatively allowing their reintroduction only in specific pre-approved locations along the esplanade. Unattended candles are discouraged and safe use of lanterns is encouraged.

Peanut butter is fine, just make sure you have something to drink with it - hell, there are food places out there that serve PBJ's. A "what not to bring" list is going to be highly personal, because one persons unnecessary is another persons favorite thing (see: peanut butter).

My only "don't bring": high-maintenance people. I've seen them in friends camps and they can totally ruin a Burn.

Mojojita · Post by **Mojojita** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:54 pm

Definitely moopy food - don't bring food that generates a lot of trash such as corn on the cob or ribs unless you want them so much that you're willing to haul out all that stinky trash. Boiling pasta creates a lot of grey water. Don't bring anything that you would hate to have get very dusty.

Don't bring chemical light sticks!

And….even though no longer "banned", don't bring feathers or anything with glitter, beads, or rhinestones that could come loose and get left behind.

BeeWeeDee · Post by **BeeWeeDee** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:55 pm

a dustmop?

broom yes, whisk broom yes

Madgirl · Post by **Madgirl** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 2:59 pm

Mojojita wrote: Don't bring chemical light sticks!

UNLESS you are very careful to not let them become moop, which they often do. I like to keep a few handy in my supply bin so that if I see a total darkwad wandering down my street I can give them a little bit of light so they don't get run over.

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:14 pm

Extra water that you plan on "gifting" to the event when you figure out that you brought about three times as much as you ended up using, TONS of that shit left in my neighborhood last year.

I've been camped in the same general area for 5 yrs., and never seen close to that much crap left behind, ALL AROUND US.
People get to that outside edge of the city, they look around, it looks desolate enough, then proceed to gift their unwanted wares to my neighbors who are already gone. Take that shit home, or risk getting your ass chewed and belittled in front of me and my whole neighborhood!!!

On Monday morning a lot of what I saw was 55 gallon drums of who knows what. I moop, but there isn't shit you can do about those barrels unless you have a forklift or a drum dolly and a truck with a liftgate...

TAKE YOUR STUFF "HOME" WITH YOU, I DIDN'T BRING IT, AND NOBODY WANTS IT!!!

PEOPLE, IF YOU CATCH SOMEONE "GIFTING" CONFRONT THEM, CALL THEM OUT! MAKE THEM FEEL THE SHAME, GET OTHERS TO MAKE THEM FEEL THE SHAME, ASK THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T LEAVE THAT CRAP AT THEIR CAMP.

Post by **Sham** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:19 pm

Bug spray. Don't bring it--there are no bugs.

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:23 pm

do NOT bring my wife

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:25 pm

do NOT bring my wife

HA, good one!

AfricanFire · Post by **AfricanFire** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:38 pm

I have a wicked sweet tooth, and even I end up not really eating much in the way of sweet stuff. Limit how much sweet food you bring.

Post by **trilobyte** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:42 pm

Excess packaging. Don't take your trash on vacation

LowePro · Post by **LowePro** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 3:57 pm

Generally ate less food than I do in Defaultia,
First year, Took too many changes of clothes
Took canned soup, chili, and pasta sauce that created very messy dishes which were PITA to clean.
Spray-on hair color was fun but got all over my bedding--total mistake.
Duplicated too many things with other camp mates--now we coordinate better.
Took too much water.
Too many coolers

pink · Post by **pink** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:07 pm

The food drives for the Paiute reservation will take unopened water jugs, cases. Some of our neighbors still do not have running water! You only have to take it as far as Bunny's taco stand. Look for the neon Comfort & Joy banners along 447.

My 'not to bring'? Sweet drinks. I don't even want a diet coke out there. Seltzer, yes. Electrolyte powder in water, yes. Electrolyte powder in seltzer? Hell yes!

Post by **Savannah** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:14 pm

* Those goddamned sky lantern things people set on fire. It's a tent city. Those are the fucking worst! They could land on a tent with someone passed out in it. Sheesh.

* Spike heels or stiletto heels. I discovered this during the Rocky Horror Picture Show. They sink in. I had to walk on my tiptoes for the whole damned floorshow.

* Irreplaceable heirlooms or highly valuable jewelry. We see dozens of posts every year about lost wedding rings and engagement rings and the ring grandma gave away before she died. It's pretty sad. Never take a material possession that would devastate you forever if lost.

* Whiners, entitlement, shitty attitudes, expectations.

FossaFerox · Post by **FossaFerox** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:50 pm

Walkie talkies. They're nearly useless if you're on civilian bands and if you plan on relying on then you will be let down. Unless, of course, you really want to hear some stranger shout "Dave? Dave? DAVE?" for six hours, interspersed with crackling interference. Then they're super useful.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:54 pm

BeeWeeDee wrote:a dustmop?

Eric wrote:A "what not to bring" list is going to be highly personal, because one persons unnecessary is another persons favorite thing

Exactly. I do bring a dust mop, for my camper. Contrary to popular belief, it's not really hard to have a clean home on the playa.

Lonesomebri · Post by **Lonesomebri** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 5:16 pm

Don't bother to bring any DJs, there is an unlimited supply on the playa.

FossaFerox wrote:Unless, of course, you really want to hear some stranger shout "Dave? Dave? DAVE?" for six hours, interspersed with crackling interference. Then they're super useful.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 5:52 pm

Starry-eyed dreams about how wonderful the community is.
Some of those people will stab you in the back to get to pbj sandwich cart.

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:01 pm

theCryptofishist wrote: Some of those people will stab you in the back to get to pbj sandwich cart.

Nicely put, I like it!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:08 pm

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:19 pm

Do NOT bring a bullhorn if anybody in your circle of influence is on mushrooms.

BBadger · Post by **BBadger** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:36 pm

Do not bring any of the ticket panhandlers you may encounter at Gerlach that haven't yet been rightfully hauled away by law enforcement.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 8:58 pm

Expectations!!!

GreyCoyote · Post by **GreyCoyote** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 9:52 pm

FossaFerox wrote:Walkie talkies. They're nearly useless if you're on civilian bands and if you plan on relying on then you will be let down. Unless, of course, you really want to hear some stranger shout "Dave? Dave? DAVE?" for six hours, interspersed with crackling interference. Then they're super useful.

Fossa: Use MURS 1 thru 3. Very sparsley populated and way more power than FRS/GMRS. And you can call for help on MURS 5 if someone needs it. No license needed.

What not to bring: any form of fish-based food. BLECH! I love herring and sardines in Defaultia, but in the desert they turn my stomach. No clue as to why.

Jovankat · Post by **Jovankat** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 9:44 am

Dr. Pyro wrote:Do NOT bring a bullhorn if anybody in your circle of influence is on mushrooms.

That sounds like it has a story behind it!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:07 am

Sham wrote:Bug spray. Don't bring it--there are no bugs.

Yes, If your going to stop and camp along your trip..

Madgirl · Post by **Madgirl** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 10:11 am

Dr. Pyro wrote:Do NOT bring a bullhorn if anybody in your circle of influence is on mushrooms.

Also do not bring a bullhorn if any member of your camp has lost their voice from yelling too much...it will only allow them to yell more.

Gunslinger · Post by **Gunslinger** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:07 pm

The big costco sized bag of m&m's. They're absolutely delicious! until the playa heat melts them into a chocolate cannonball that chips your goddam teeth so bad that you have to then look around for dentist-camp-with-multitool, and can no longer use your bullhorn on mushrooms. Skittles fare better. Jolly ranchers are ichiban.

pink · Post by **pink** » Fri Aug 15, 2014 2:47 pm

I need my bullhorn because I lose my voice before the gates even open. Mine is the smaller size though. As camp MOOP nazi, I get to harass people if they are not compliant, or they'll get my riding crop!

Oh wait, with my camp, they'll probably MOOP on purpose then

What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?

Re: What NOT to Bring to the Playa?