Virgin burner in SoCal

[TheCretanBull]

Hey ePlaya!

I'm gonna make this year my first! I don't have a ticket, a camp, or generally a clue as how to make this all happen. I am, needless to say, quite intimidated. Though, it seems like I'll be able to answer most of my questions with further reading!

It looks like I may be going solo. Not sure how I feel about that! Excited and nervous, I suppose. I wouldn't mind meeting some SoCal locals to pick their brains or join forces!

For a first timer, is it better to try and "just show up" or go whole hog and drive a humongous RV up and live in luxury? Personal preference?

Hit me with any advice! I am here to learn.

[BBadger]

Right.

Well, you should read all of this and don't come back until you have.

[TheCretanBull]

Right.

Well, you should read all of this and don't come back until you have.

Ha! I've made myself sound overly pathetic. I've read the standard materials. Not sure what I was trying to ask, exactly. I suppose what I am really after is a place to meet some burners so I'm not a sad, lonely fellow in the desert .

[Blue_Bike]

Hello. What BBadger said, read every page linked there. Then read some more on the org's website.

If you are relatively young (relative to me), in good health, good shape, etc., I suggest that you go for it solo tent camping.

All differences aside, the more one interacts with others, the richer one's experience in Black Rock City. An RV can be a trap,maybe especially on one's first visit. A relatively dust free and climate controlled hideout with the luxuries of a kitchen and bathroom can be hard to leave when it is super hot, cold, windy, dusty, or otherwise challenging or intimidating outside.

Just prepare and go. You will meet as many people as you wish and make new friends there through very simple things like:

- Don't be a douche or an ass-hat.
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors and ask if they need a hand with something.
- Volunteer a few shifts somewhere your first year (perhaps the biggest thing you can do to increase the odds of an awesome first burn).
- Take a bike to tour the fantastic art out on the playa.
- In the city, get off your bike and walk enough to engage with others in their camps. Most camps want you to stop by and experience what they have brought to the city.
- When you stop by a camp and it does not feel like you are exactly where you want to be, keep exploring. The week passes quickly there and the wait for next year seems pretty long.
- Leave your expectations at home.

Not telling you how to burn, just some things that worked well for me. For more opinions and what others have experienced, look up the many threads here on solo vs camps, tents vs RVs, and volunteering. And you can get involved locally with established regional groups and events.

[BBadger]

More important than being a sad, lonely fellow in the desert is to not be a sad, desiccated corpse in the desert.

As for meeting other burners, you should check out your local burner communities, and try and attend its regionals (e.g. YOUTopia in your area), especially if you can't get a BM ticket.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to ePlaya!

[TheCretanBull]

Awesome advice! Exactly the stuff I needed to hear. I guess I just needed a pep talk haha.

The RV is out...so spendy for my lone self! I have a large truck with a camper shell. What's the consensus on just sleeping in that? I'm going truck camping for a week this month, so it'll be good test run for the rig!

[Savannah]

Awesome advice! Exactly the stuff I needed to hear. I guess I just needed a pep talk haha.

The RV is out...so spendy for my lone self! I have a large truck with a camper shell. What's the consensus on just sleeping in that? I'm going truck camping for a week this month, so it'll be good test run for the rig!

I would totally sleep in a truck with a camper shell. It should be completely adequate for your needs, honestly. Just get it a tune up.

Maybe bring a silver tarp (not a blue one, they're noisy and fragile) and some poles and rebar (cap the ends for safety) and draw out a shade on one side of your truck.

You probably won't be lonely even without a camp--people are largely friendly, and you'll have neighbors unless you purposefully camp on the outside edge.

Welcome!

[David M]

There is a great burner community here in LA (if that is near you). Get yourself on the mailing list to if you want to hear about local meet-ups, noobie orientations, etc.

My fire conclave formed through the LA burners email years ago and now we are a great group of friends.

The link to subscribe is on the bottom of this page.

http://www.laburningman.com/

[TheCretanBull]

You guys are awesome! Any hesitation I felt has passed. Looking forward to my first burn.

[funkee olive]

Looks like you're muddling through the process successfully! Congrats.

I have a friend who has camped in her F-150/camper shell through two burns. She thought it was great - other than being a little stuffy and dusty. Just driving onto the playa generated dust that piled in the back. She added battery operated fans and string lights to save her car battery. Even taped the button in the door frame so that when she opened the truck door, the dome lights didn't come on...

This post might give you some pointers:
viewtopic.php?f=277&t=78622

and this:
viewtopic.php?f=277&t=16501&p=295104&hi ... up#p295104

(3 times to get the dang links correct)

Cheers, Funkee

[TheCretanBull]

Looks like you're muddling through the process successfully! Congrats.

I have a friend who has camped in her F-150/camper shell through two burns. She thought it was great - other than being a little stuffy and dusty. Just driving onto the playa generated dust that piled in the back. She added battery operated fans and string lights to save her car battery. Even taped the button in the door frame so that when she opened the truck door, the dome lights didn't come on...

This post might give you some pointers:
viewtopic.php?f=277&t=78622

and this:
viewtopic.php?f=277&t=16501&p=295104&hi ... up#p295104

(3 times to get the dang links correct)

Cheers, Funkee

Hey, thanks!

Are we allowed to run our engines at all on Playa? Ya know, just yo charge the battery.

[LeonardPotato]

Just prepare and go. You will meet as many people as you wish and make new friends there through very simple things like:

- Don't be a douche or an ass-hat.
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors and ask if they need a hand with something.
- Volunteer a few shifts somewhere your first year (perhaps the biggest thing you can do to increase the odds of an awesome first burn).
- Take a bike to tour the fantastic art out on the playa.
- In the city, get off your bike and walk enough to engage with others in their camps. Most camps want you to stop by and experience what they have brought to the city.
- When you stop by a camp and it does not feel like you are exactly where you want to be, keep exploring. The week passes quickly there and the wait for next year seems pretty long.
- Leave your expectations at home.

This is well-worded and I believe to be sage advice from someone wise.
Printing them for sure.

[funkill]

Hey, thanks!

Are we allowed to run our engines at all on Playa? Ya know, just yo charge the battery.

You can run them as long as you like. No real driving, but sitting at an idle is ok. It will stir up some dust and add to the accumulation in your engine and ventilation system. Regardless, you'll be smelling playa dust for years when you turn on your heater or a/c. Change your air filter after your burn!
Funkee

[TheCretanBull]

Hey, thanks!

Are we allowed to run our engines at all on Playa? Ya know, just yo charge the battery.

You can run them as long as you like. No real driving, but sitting at an idle is ok. It will stir up some dust and add to the accumulation in your engine and ventilation system. Regardless, you'll be smelling playa dust for years when you turn on your heater or a/c. Change your air filter after your burn!
Funkee

Awesome! You guys are the best. Can't wait to pop my BM cherry!