A little help with a conundrum...

[Elderberry]

So this year the Mudskipper camp will span the entire block from either D to E or D to C. Our "frontage" will be on D. So, we're are banging our heads together trying to figure out what to do with the back road. We have two major activities which run at the same time. The craft lounge and the cafe. Last year they were adjacent to one another and people that were waiting for a table were directed to the craft lounge while they were waiting. They also had the option to order and have their smoothies delivered to the craft lounge, especially if we were busy.

We were thinking maybe put the craft lounge on the back side and maybe line the fire road with cars to funnel people through the camp from one to another; but that problem that presents is keeping private areas private.

Other activities we host are the Whitney Crack is Whack party on Saturday and the Camel Toe & Moose Knuckle Fashion Show on Thursday, a photo studio, and finger nail painting salon, and various other things like a coffee tasting seminar, belly dancing class, and some other fun stuff that escapes me at the moment.

So, I'm putting it out there--what would you do to make both streets active and attractive but not sacrifice too much privacy? (If that's even possible.)

[motskyroonmatick]

I'd say keep your activities adjacent to each other so that they continue to be synergistic. Putting areas that need management on 2 separate streets will make more work for the camp leaders and that could lead to burnout. Save the back side street for those who want to camp on a street but not right next to the action. Fill in that back street with campers as soon as possible once you arrive to create a hard border. If it is a sparsely populated area and loosely filled in many people will try to camp there causing more work and camp management issues. Can you make the fire road a T that does not go all the way through camp to discourage rampant pedestrians? Or maybe put a Fire Truck/Ambulance navigable jog in it so that there isn't a clear line of sight from street to street. Clear views from street to street guarantee pedestrian use from 5 am to midnight and more for the ones that get used to having the path way. My 2c

[Elderberry]

I like the fireroad T idea.

It was suggested by the placers that you try to make it attractive and not wall it off with cars and RV's, which is the problem. Before we knew we would be placed like that, the back side was going to be very close to what you described.

[motskyroonmatick]

Most people that want to camp on a street create "front porches" which are not unattractive and are a step up from the presentation much of the city gives. Maybe ask your camp mates if any of them would like to group together to create a line of nice camps that naturally won't look like the wall of exclusion or parking lot city. The sides of camp are great for that as long as the sides are not on a numbered street.

[Jovankat]

This is a bit of a placement nightmare of mine.

Could you build some sort of simple mural anchored by stuff you're already planning on bringing?

Maybe you could make a "add your own art" wall like Sparr was asking about the other day.

[Elderberry]

We've been brainstorming most of the evening since I posted this and here is what we have come up with so far.

The photo gallery is pretty popular and it really isn't related to the cafe like the craft lounge is. So we're thinking of putting that on the other side and have both streets be interactive. We'll might put the nail salon on that side too. but this will only run 1/2 the width of the camp. The other half will be blocked off some way and that will be private area. Hopefully that will be enough to satisfy the placers vision, but keep the ideas coming.

Nothing yet has been set in stone. And I appreciate the brainstorming.

[graidawg]

In Barbie village if you want street front space you have to be Interactive to some degree, or at least have art of some kind. MDF does the village plan, maybe she will send you a copy of last years plan if you ask nice.

[Elderberry]

Thanks Grai, I will. Our main "frontage" is very interactive. It's just that now we have the equivalent of two "frontages".

[trilobyte]

Last year, two of our neighbors across the street were full block wide camps with their frontage along the other street. One of them was awesome - they did a fire/access road right down the middle. The bar and signage and frontage were all clearly focused on the other street, but the camp's mutant vehicle was parked at the back and it was designed in an inviting way (that access road meant we had pretty clear access to their bar space).

The other camp sucked. Actually, they probably were a pretty great camp, but as neighbors of ours, they...weren't anything. All we saw was their parking lot, and the back end of their shade structures, which only had openings on the other street. Other than as an access road for their campers to park, our street had no purpose for them.

I've never had a camp that went all the way through, so I don't have any experience to really share. But as a neighbor and participant, I really liked what the camp that used their access road did.

[Elderberry]

I only wish we had a mutant vehicle to park in the back.

[digital]

Conundrum? The bigger conundrum is how you'll get anything done placed NEXT DOOR to Glamcocks!

Jealous. Oh so jealous.

[trilobyte]

I don't even think it was so much the MV (after all, it was out cruising the playa half the time), it was the more open and inviting plan. They didn't wall themselves off from the neighbors, passers-by could easily see their public bar and join in the fun if they were so inclined.

[Elderberry]

I think we're leaning towards moving our old front--the scaffolding and sign and then putting the photo gallery there along with the nail salon. Then getting a new front and signage. The photo gallery is pretty popular, you can drop buy and get your picture taken by a professional photographer and then he gives you a card to the website where all the photos are posted to be viewed and downloaded. It usually draws a crowd.

The nail salon is new, but should be fun. I think there is going to be one manicurist that will be working the cafe so you can have your nails done while enjoying a smoothie. But will have the main station adjacent to the photo studio.

Then I think we're going to be telling people in the craft lounge that if they go the the photo studio to get their picture taken with the bling they just made, they can jump to the front of the line. The two main camp leads this year, my partner and a fellow from San Francisco are in Reno cleaning out the storage unit and should be back tomorrow. We should have everything firmed up hopefully by Friday.

[pink]

I'll have to stop by, we are right down the street from you at 7 & C

[Elderberry]

Please do!!!! bring your friends.

[pretty_monster]

because i clearly have too much time on my hands at work:



green - activity space
yellow - fire lane (also useful as a parking lane for your campers and a pass-through for pedestrians)
blue - panels/murals/photo wall
red - tent campers

i have absolutely zero experience with setting up a camp but i like to organize shit so... *shrug*

[Elderberry]

Thanks for that. I find it interesting how you arranged the parking, hadn't thought of that arrangement. The front and back are pretty close to what I think we will be doing.