A whole bunch of virgin Burners

[OrcaDonut]

So my friends and I are all looking forward to going to Burning Man in the future. However, we are all virgin burners, and none of us know a veteran. In your opinion, is it necessary to have a veteran in your camp?

[Ano]

Not at all. You guys already sound like a fantastic camp.

[Jovankat]

Yes and no, you will need guidance and advice but it doesn't necessarily have to come from someone in your group. ePlaya can be your proxy veteran.

[Sham]

I would definitely go to the "introduce yourself" thread and tell us a bit about yourselves. Where are you from, how long have you know about Burning Man, what do you hope to get out of your trip etc.
Welcome to eplaya!
Sham....

[Elderberry]

And definitely read the survival guide and first timer's guide in the signature of the post above.

[Lonesomebri]

I personally do not believe that anyone should attend the Burn unless they have first attended the Burn.

[theCryptofishist]

I personally do not believe that anyone should attend the Burn unless they have first attended the Burn.

Bri is right. The whole problem of the burn is that the first burners didn't have a veteran to teach them how to burn. They've been doing it wrong every since.

[Savannah]

So my friends and I are all looking forward to going to Burning Man in the future. However, we are all virgin burners, and none of us know a veteran. In your opinion, is it necessary to have a veteran in your camp?

Nope.

It IS necessary for everyone in your camp to read the survival guide, however.
http://survival.burningman.com/

I also recommend the Relationship Survival Guide linked within this page.
http://blog.burningman.com/2007/08/part ... tionships/

[digital]

My first year I went with an entire group of virgins. We all knew each other from an online forum where we moderate together so it wasn't a random group of unknowns. We more or less knew each other's personalities and worked for months on a common goal.

The following year we tried to do it again but some key players were missing and the camp fell apart. One of my default friends happened to be staff and midweek I relocated. The people at the original camp wanted to spend the week partying, doing drugs and having sex. While I like these things as well I wanted BRC to be more. I wanted to work.

Fast forward a couple years and I too am staff working my buns off for three weeks. I found my 'playa family' out of sheer luck and the right intentions. Going with a group of virgins and keeping it simple the first year led me to what I was looking for. The playa has a funny way of leading you where you need to go... Virgin or veteran.

Good luck out there! (And read the survival guide!)

[Capt. RON]

Or you could find a camp that welcomes "burgins"

[Corvus]

The Arizona region holds a Newbie Briefing in early July to which first and second year participants are encouraged to attend. It's about three hours where various veterans present different aspects if attending TTITD -- what to carry when you leave your camp, no means no (by our BED representative), what the rangers aren't, etc. My presentation is on the Temple. Depending on where you live, your region may do something similar.

[Bless]

[media]

[Drummin Jim]

2014 was my first burn, and I prepared for nearly a year by reading nearly every posting on ePlaya. I initially thought I needed an experienced, sage "elder" for guidance, or at least the company of a large established theme camp. As the date grew closer, I began to take the "radical self-reliance" principle to heart.

I ended up camping in a tent, by myself, and I'm glad I did! The entire burn was totally my own experience, on my own terms. I met amazing people who were camped around me, spent some time visiting several theme camps with newly-met friends, and filled my days and nights doing whatever struck my fancy.

One of the advantages was that I could pull the plug before serious overload took over. And that happened several times, when the heat and sleep deprivation and sensory overload all crept up together. I know myself well enough to know that I would have continued on had I been with a few friends who urged "let's just check out that before we go back..."

Don't be afraid to burn on your own. It's a liberating experience, and you get to dictate your own pace and direction.

[sade_goddess]

Thanks to everyone who replied! As a first time burner, attending with another first time burner, I have A LOT of concerns and questions, but you all have reassured me a bit that there nothing to fear about attending without a veteran