I have viewed the website, read the stories and I am still under question... I have asked my friends that have gone 2, maybe 3 times before and they don't tell... I am expecting a woodtock-style, free-world, anti-commercial kind of a rave... Where there are few rules, no boundaries and certainly no embarassment on anyone's behalf... I would like know if this is a good interpretation from a BM virgin... And if maybe BM was what you expected when you first went... I am debating going or not, but i have several friends interested... And few friends determined to go to BM 2006...
Please be honest!
Thanks in advance!
What should I expect?
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bananabender
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:58 pm
- Location: Denver, Colorado
What should I expect?
Running in place is pointless!
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Dr. Pyro
- Posts: 4808
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 8:11 am
- Burning Since: 1999
- Camp Name: Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro
- Location: Meadow Vista, CA
- Contact:
You will get plenty of the "read the survival guide" and website advice so I will refrain from that. What surprised me the most was how noisy it is there. The pictures, the stories, the inane newsfootage cannot convey adequately just how friggin noisy the place is. I sleep in an RV with earplugs, and that is adequate. One night in 2003 I was spending the night (God does that sound corny) at a friend's spread under the stars, and the all-night-long rythemic beating of trance, disco, jazz, heavy metal finally got the best of me around 5 a.m. and I headed back "indoors". As the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared.
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Lassen Forge
- Posts: 5320
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:35 pm
- Location: Where it's always... Wednesday. Don't lose your head over it.
Ditto on the noise - if you really gotta sleep >>he he he<< earmuffs over those foam stick-in-your-ear earplugs (the good ones on both accounts) will cut a bunch of the noise. Nothing is foolproof, esp. near some of the raver camps.
Water. Get used to drinking water. Water is your friend. Get a couple liter nalgene-style bottles and start getting in the habit of lugging them with you everywhere, and drinking from them frequently.
Bring food to eat. Something to keep your belly from growling. Figure for each day plus 3 (in case... well... ask someone about alphas!) a decent breakfast and something early evening, and some snacky stuff... stuff that is simple to put together. I like to bring a couple good sticks of salami, some canned meat (spam), and maybe bacon, canned pasta in little jars, that kinda stuff. I even bring things like Smoked Oysters and Kippers and Anchovies for bad munchies. Individually wrapped sweet rolls and Bring things in containers you can finish in one sitting, and nothing that will go bad in heat. But plan on feeding yourself twice a day - you will thank yourself for that, as will those you come into contact with. MRE's are a good flash substitute. So's the add water cereals from lik Mountaihouse. Cookies. Crackers. All kindsa things.
And water. Drink water. Bring water - 1 and 1 /2 gallons a day for yourself for drinking absolute minimum - more if you can. Not couting food prep or wash water. If you take it home (or donate it to DPW) at the end you did about right.
Good tent, warm sleeping bag, cot. Stakes (REBAR, SHARPENED, BENT OVER, 2' LONG, and HAMMER, SLEDGE, 2.5 LB) and parachute cord to stake and tie down everything, including your tent. Tarp for over the tent to keep the dust inside to a minimum (and stakes and cord for it). Shade for over the tent (and stakes and cord - you're prolly getting the idea!! >grins<). Shade and Shelter are necessary. Oh, something to sit on - folding chair or somesuch (stakes, cords... OK, OK, I'll shaddup!).
Did I mention water?
Last thing - get involved. Hook up with a camp, hook up with local burners, hook up with part of the BMOrg, try to figure some way to give to the experiene. It prolly sounds foreign now, but trust me, this time next year you'll understand...
Oh - one more thing... water?
Hugs 2 you,
bb sue
Water. Get used to drinking water. Water is your friend. Get a couple liter nalgene-style bottles and start getting in the habit of lugging them with you everywhere, and drinking from them frequently.
Bring food to eat. Something to keep your belly from growling. Figure for each day plus 3 (in case... well... ask someone about alphas!) a decent breakfast and something early evening, and some snacky stuff... stuff that is simple to put together. I like to bring a couple good sticks of salami, some canned meat (spam), and maybe bacon, canned pasta in little jars, that kinda stuff. I even bring things like Smoked Oysters and Kippers and Anchovies for bad munchies. Individually wrapped sweet rolls and Bring things in containers you can finish in one sitting, and nothing that will go bad in heat. But plan on feeding yourself twice a day - you will thank yourself for that, as will those you come into contact with. MRE's are a good flash substitute. So's the add water cereals from lik Mountaihouse. Cookies. Crackers. All kindsa things.
And water. Drink water. Bring water - 1 and 1 /2 gallons a day for yourself for drinking absolute minimum - more if you can. Not couting food prep or wash water. If you take it home (or donate it to DPW) at the end you did about right.
Good tent, warm sleeping bag, cot. Stakes (REBAR, SHARPENED, BENT OVER, 2' LONG, and HAMMER, SLEDGE, 2.5 LB) and parachute cord to stake and tie down everything, including your tent. Tarp for over the tent to keep the dust inside to a minimum (and stakes and cord for it). Shade for over the tent (and stakes and cord - you're prolly getting the idea!! >grins<). Shade and Shelter are necessary. Oh, something to sit on - folding chair or somesuch (stakes, cords... OK, OK, I'll shaddup!).
Did I mention water?
Last thing - get involved. Hook up with a camp, hook up with local burners, hook up with part of the BMOrg, try to figure some way to give to the experiene. It prolly sounds foreign now, but trust me, this time next year you'll understand...
Oh - one more thing... water?
Hugs 2 you,
bb sue
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CagedKitty
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:05 pm
- Location: Nevadacity, CA
I was interested in going because of all the art and wanted to see what people were like when they could do anything they wanted. When planning to go I got all caught up in the survival mode and brought food, water, tent and shade. I had minimal costuming, but I did have one good cage I wore. After I got there I realized it would be worth it to ruin all my best costumes for the sake of fashion, and brought them the next time. They didn't even get ruined really. The parties there are not even like the ones you find at home, and when they are I leave because there is so much more to do there than to stand around.
Where have I been all my life?
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bananabender
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 4:58 pm
- Location: Denver, Colorado
Thank for your time in responding to my what may seem like foolish inquisitions... But this is truly helping :) I am planning a meeting with about 18 people that are pretty serious about going... I have travelled in the middle east, staying in the desert (not military) and also I lived in AZ for about 4 years... I will be giving a briefing on Desert survival and what to/not to bring along... They are all just wondering what they should be expecting from this experience... I would appreciate more input if any of you have time to interject into this conversation...
Again... Thanks in advance :)
Again... Thanks in advance :)
Running in place is pointless!
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Simply Joel
- Posts: 3483
- Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 9:08 am
- Location: Land of Lincoln
- Contact:
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Lassen Forge
- Posts: 5320
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:35 pm
- Location: Where it's always... Wednesday. Don't lose your head over it.
This is what I have taken up telling people:
Cruise the Q&A section generally, I know that there are threads there that talk about what people found useful.
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... highlight=
s
Now, on more practical matters; start with the sticky Frequently Asked Questions: Look here First. We have covered a lot of ground there.Burning Man is everything you can imagine, but you've got to accept that your imagination doesn't go far enough.
Cruise the Q&A section generally, I know that there are threads there that talk about what people found useful.
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... highlight=
s
I like playing with fire.
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grand wizard hornsby
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:25 pm
- Location: folsom ca
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Lassen Forge
- Posts: 5320
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:35 pm
- Location: Where it's always... Wednesday. Don't lose your head over it.
I've not been made fun of, but have been scorned for... well... indiscretions. Drinking wrong combinations. And I know better. After all, has been said I can drink. Is survival skill in some situations. Just be careful of... things...
The one thing I have found is that if you have to pass out somewhere, there''s a lot worse places to do so than BRC. Even the heartiest of drinkers can find their doom there. And you can go to BRC and stay sober. too.
Just remember - water is your friend.
So... leave every expectation - even what you get here - behind. After all - it's just a f***ing camping trip!
bb
The one thing I have found is that if you have to pass out somewhere, there''s a lot worse places to do so than BRC. Even the heartiest of drinkers can find their doom there. And you can go to BRC and stay sober. too.
Just remember - water is your friend.
So... leave every expectation - even what you get here - behind. After all - it's just a f***ing camping trip!
bb
Expect dust, a lot of dust.
People may, or may not be respectful.
You might be unsettled or put off by somethings, especially if you are more then usually vested in notions of groupthink.
Mediocre art.
Mindblowing art.
Changing definitions of which is what.
A lost sense of entitlement.
Egos "this" big!
An unquencable thirst.
Utter bafflement.
Complete understanding.
A persistant morbid itch in your nether regions.
To never hunger. For anything, ever again.
To be restless for something or other.
It gets cold.
It gets hot.
Wind, howling howling howling.
Drunks, howling, howling howling.
DJs, preening preening preening.
People expressing their radical individuality by dressing up pretty much like everyone else.
A vague sense of annoyance at yourself over all the money you've spent.
A yearning to do more.
Craving humidity.
An imposing law enforcement presence.
Lots of old people re-living the dream.
Lots of young people who know it all, but nonetheless have yet to "get it."
Golf carts.
"Do you know who I am!"
Hypocrisy.
Mixed signals.
Utter purity.
Yourself.
Absolutely nothing.
People may, or may not be respectful.
You might be unsettled or put off by somethings, especially if you are more then usually vested in notions of groupthink.
Mediocre art.
Mindblowing art.
Changing definitions of which is what.
A lost sense of entitlement.
Egos "this" big!
An unquencable thirst.
Utter bafflement.
Complete understanding.
A persistant morbid itch in your nether regions.
To never hunger. For anything, ever again.
To be restless for something or other.
It gets cold.
It gets hot.
Wind, howling howling howling.
Drunks, howling, howling howling.
DJs, preening preening preening.
People expressing their radical individuality by dressing up pretty much like everyone else.
A vague sense of annoyance at yourself over all the money you've spent.
A yearning to do more.
Craving humidity.
An imposing law enforcement presence.
Lots of old people re-living the dream.
Lots of young people who know it all, but nonetheless have yet to "get it."
Golf carts.
"Do you know who I am!"
Hypocrisy.
Mixed signals.
Utter purity.
Yourself.
Absolutely nothing.
Fight for the fifth freedom!
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swampdog
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:27 am
- Burning Since: 2004
- Camp Name: Rising Arms Pub
- Location: Bellingham WA
Everything you read about burning man is true.
Everything you read about burning man is a lie.
It's about creativity, people let their most wild imaginations run.
It's a big rave in the desert.
It's a bunch of folks who never got over the 60s
It's a place where people go to open themselves up and see what's inside, free of normal social pressures
It's a place to see mind-blowing art
It's a spiritual thing
It's sex, drugs, and techno music, baby!
It's got too many rules
It needs more control
It's a place to see tedious hippie art
It's what you make it
It is what it is
It's just a f**king camping trip in the desert
It's about community
It's all about Larry Harvey's ego
It ain't what it used to be
It's too big
It should take over the world
All true
All lies
For me, I go to explore who I might be if I could be who I really am. There are 35,000 people who go every year and every experience is unique. You can't find out what it's like by reading about it, you can only experience it by going.
If you really want to find out more about it, plug into your Denver regional, start to meet people, ask them about it. Mostly you'll get far-away looks and either a puzzling zen statement or more stories than you've got time for. There are books, videos that you can order.
Everything you read about burning man is a lie.
It's about creativity, people let their most wild imaginations run.
It's a big rave in the desert.
It's a bunch of folks who never got over the 60s
It's a place where people go to open themselves up and see what's inside, free of normal social pressures
It's a place to see mind-blowing art
It's a spiritual thing
It's sex, drugs, and techno music, baby!
It's got too many rules
It needs more control
It's a place to see tedious hippie art
It's what you make it
It is what it is
It's just a f**king camping trip in the desert
It's about community
It's all about Larry Harvey's ego
It ain't what it used to be
It's too big
It should take over the world
All true
All lies
For me, I go to explore who I might be if I could be who I really am. There are 35,000 people who go every year and every experience is unique. You can't find out what it's like by reading about it, you can only experience it by going.
If you really want to find out more about it, plug into your Denver regional, start to meet people, ask them about it. Mostly you'll get far-away looks and either a puzzling zen statement or more stories than you've got time for. There are books, videos that you can order.