How and where does our band play at burning man...

[celtman]

Bringing bands down from Seattle area. We are virgins to burning man. Does someone have any info for me where we play, should we become a part of a camp or make a camp. We are total turnkey with stage, sound, lights if need be or are there stages there or what? Help I'm confused as hell. Tips on weather proofing gear, pa\backline PLEASE. Thanks-Jeff

[theCryptofishist]

HOw--well, I hope.
Where--there is communal performance space in theme camps, at center camp cafe (register early and often and look out for roving chai protests) and you can always go guerilla and just play! Or build a stage at your camp. Although, that may be advanced. Theme camps will register on the main site in the summer and they will have contact info--email and ask if they have space. It's hot and it's dry and it's hard on electronics and Rian Jackson doesn't bring her good viola--do searches on instrments and see what you can come up with on this board.

[wedeliver]

Bringing bands down from Seattle area. We are virgins to burning man. Does someone have any info for me where we play, should we become a part of a camp or make a camp. We are total turnkey with stage, sound, lights if need be or are there stages there or what? Help I'm confused as hell. Tips on weather proofing gear, pa\backline PLEASE. Thanks-Jeff

Sounds like you are stoned man,....which is cool. or you are just starting a process so your questions have that sound. either way...

Hi, What kind of music? Got any downloads available, website? In answer to your question. Yes to everything, you can bring your gear, or try and find someone with stuff. But, if you really want to have give your music to us, bring it all and do it. Ideas would be having your band on the back of a truck (or have a truck pull a flat bed trailer. Naturally you stop to play, turn on the lights and sound and be like it was when Mutaytor blew my fucking mind and I fell in love and...well thats another story. you could drive around the playa and playa wherever you want. You can join a theme camp and build their stage, or make your own.

Real musicans cannot be kept from doing what they do best, if your bands really love to play, really love to play, it will all come together and you will play. If I can answer any questions you have, even to helping you get up to speed on your understanding of what is Burningman, I would love to.

So, do you have blisters on your fingers?? I would consider helping with installing a stage, to be shared, if I thought enough professional musicans would use it. (as a matter of fact I have wanted to do this for the last 3 years)

I think that one thing you probably would not have would be power for equipment. A 600amp generator can be rented for the week that can run a small city, they are delivered and picked up by the rental company so it is very simple and the rates are pretty good in my opinion. A refueler comes around daily. Do you have enough in the way of equipment to play with the big boys. And by that I mean that you have no limitations, and sound should be big. But I digress since you are the musican, and I am the promoter.

So I am babbling at this point but what seems to make Burningman work is the team work that happens. I will await your reply..oh by the way, did you get your tickets?

[AntiM]

I too am delighted there will be more live music, and am curious as to what it may sound like.

I must quibble with wedeliver on a couple points, as quibbling to make folks think about their plans in the frame of reality is what I do:

you could drive around the playa and playa wherever you want.

Uh, no, driving equates with mutant vehicle, which must be approved and licensed well beforehand. Do the research on the main site about driving and mobility to see why I have reservations about that idea. Mutaytor? Thye have permission. YES I know burning man isn't about permission, but I didn't make the rules, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

A 600amp generator can be rented for the week that can run a small city, they are delivered and picked up by the rental company so it is very simple and the rates are pretty good in my opinion. A refueler comes around daily.

Yes you can rent a genny; if you need power you need a genny of course as there is no power grid. What puzzles me is the refueler bit. Anyone else ever hear of a refueler service that is willing to come out to Black Rock? Whatever happened to self-sufficiency? I imagine the expense of a refueler coming out to BRC every day would be astounding. But then, I'm part of a small, self-reliant camp with limited means so I don't have the promoter's train of thought when it comes to paying for shit vs. hauling it in yourselves.

welcome home, mind the dust. Do you have your tickets, have you read the survial guide?

[blyslv]

No no no, "They" are doing it totally different this year.

Send demo tapes to the Committee for Band Placement and Center Cafe Coffee sales.

Once they determine your target demographic they will assign you a time and a place to play.

Don't forget to include the $200 non-refundable deposit.

[AntiM]

Oh that's just mean. Funny, but mean.

[wedeliver]

You can quibble with me anytime you like.. I am vey ticklish.. Yes a DMV (department of mutant vehicles) permit would be necessary for art cars or other motorized transport, and it would need to be a day time and night time permit. Safety first..right.. and actually you get your DMV permit and sticker when you go get it, by driving over to DMV and fillingout forms and standing around with all the real artists. You don't need to do anything in advance, other then have something that makes people say wow, and safe. So in my drug induced state I pictured a massive art vehicle, like bus or cow or turd, or giant ship that drives around in the dark.. all of the sudden the lights come on, the music starts. naked munchkins running around the crowd, wait this has been done before. but thats ok..

and finally you hottie. (can I see your tits?) I know we think that burning man is somekind of freedom feast, but it really is not. we all pay a bunch, work really hard for months, go through a security check at the ticket takers that today more resembles a TSR airport security check in. so I will gibble you back...(are you ticklish also) We do need permission for everything we do at burningman is some artisitic, obtuse way.
For example We have brought our Red Tail Boa 8 foot long snake the last 3years and in 2005, the ticket takers almost told us to go home or leave the snake. This comes from the no dog rule, (which is fucking bullshit) which the power people are going to turn into a no pet rule and so goes the freedom and the family and apple pie and if you ask the power people why the ticket takers are so fucking scared of someone not paying and sneaking into burningman that they get an attitude. Last year the guy climed in my enclosed trailer and climbed around on top of all my gear, (cracking the windsheld of my golf cart) looking for what? And they are the first people you see. Did you know that they use radar to scan the fence, but this radar also see's you when you are bumping uglies at 2:00am in the middle of the friggen playa thinking you have some kind of privacy. Oh, oh, I better stop or I will speak to the "Master Emergency Plan" which if everyone knew what might happen, they might not even go................

Today they can (whoever they is) come and unplug your speakers if your music is bothering someone (disable your sound systme). And I have always looked for permission when I am rubbing my groin against the girl in front of me.... and that you appove of my body.. but I digress

I too am delighted there will be more live music, and am curious as to what it may sound like.

I must quibble with wedeliver on a couple points, as quibbling to make folks think about their plans in the frame of reality is what I do:

you could drive around the playa and playa wherever you want.

Uh, no, driving equates with mutant vehicle, which must be approved and licensed well beforehand. Do the research on the main site about driving and mobility to see why I have reservations about that idea. Mutaytor? Thye have permission. YES I know burning man isn't about permission, but I didn't make the rules, I'm just playing devil's advocate.

A 600amp generator can be rented for the week that can run a small city, they are delivered and picked up by the rental company so it is very simple and the rates are pretty good in my opinion. A refueler comes around daily.

Yes you can rent a genny; if you need power you need a genny of course as there is no power grid. What puzzles me is the refueler bit. Anyone else ever hear of a refueler service that is willing to come out to Black Rock? Whatever happened to self-sufficiency? I imagine the expense of a refueler coming out to BRC every day would be astounding. But then, I'm part of a small, self-reliant camp with limited means so I don't have the promoter's train of thought when it comes to paying for shit vs. hauling it in yourselves.

welcome home, mind the dust. Do you have your tickets, have you read the survial guide?

[AntiM]

You do quibble nicely. Teehee. The DMV rules changed last year, all preapproval now as I understand it. You're not going to make me cite the main site are you? Argh. If it is their first year maybe someone who already has a workable stage art car could work with them. That well may be simplest the initial time around.

I do think roving music is grand, especaily out on the deep playa in the middle of the darkness. A sonic jack-in-the-box as it were.

I am ticklish, but only in very specific places, and no I will not share. Eh, you don't want to see my poor tits. They're fine, a bit saggy and flat anymore, and technically I only have a tit and three quarters, but yep, I'm a happy hottie, lumps and bumps and scars and all.

heh, the funniest conversation with the ticket taker, a sweet young woman. "Do you have a license for the art car?" "What art car? That's a bike." "It has four wheels." "Yes, it does." "It has a battery." "Yes, that's for the lights. "Do you have a license?" "No, it's a bike." "But it has a battery." "That's for the lights, it doesn't have a motor. See? See the chain and the pedals?" "But, but, it has a battery ...." and so on.

Woohoo.

[wedeliver]

Well I guess I should bite my tounge, or maybe ask you to do it for me...haha.. anyway, I bow to your expert reading of the DMV rules, I'll get on my knees in respect. Thank you, cause I might not have planned right and then been very bummed when things didn't work out right with my mutant vehicle.. You are also very correct that the rules are being enforced more then in the past.. (A friend showed up at the gate about 6 years ago, no money, no ticket..and they let him in after giving him work to do.. not no more... and speaking of tits..why are there two.. I can only kiss one at a time... We got there last year on Saturday (early arrival for theme camp) and the ticket takers just seemed to be under pressure. First you couldn't gift them beer cause they arn't allowed to drink, and the girls where upset that they had to keep their shirts on. (or maybe I was upset that they were not allowed to take shirs off) but we still love them all and had a great time at the "Security Check Point", and even got to sneak in a little fun with those guys.. I talked to the powers as an advocate for dpw workers who arn't happy and I was told that the checking of the vehicles is for "your safety" and I got this image of a White House Press briefing where those protections are in place for my safety (are they worried about a terrorist attack???. I have a couple of friends who worked last year for DPW (and still bought tickets) as they drove through Gerlach on Friday they took the 3 miles road cause it is there. There was nothing blocking the road but they were stopped by security as they drove toward the gate, held at the ticket area under threat of arrest, until their story cleared.
But, I am only complaining, not mentioning how many wonderful people work to make my time good and how much I love and appreciate them.

and how fucking excited I am about my hope and fear for the future...
and.... I look forward to giving you a big hug.

I found out last year, cause I got to plug in to one, that the large theme camps that want to have power and the best price will rent one of those big white, I think they were 600amp Diesel generators, and as often as necessary a refulling truck, like they have for construction sites, will drive by and top off the tank. I heard of 4 camps that combined and had big above ground pool delivered and set up between their camps. A water truck was contracted to keep it full and I think I was told it cost $600.00 for the week. The big generators go for under $3,000 for the week, but 600amps can run easily 20 rv's using 30 amps each..all air conditioning running etc. We can also have a personal potta potty put on any site with cleaning included, for a small fee of course.

My dream art vehicle would be a ICE CREAM TRUCK.. ummmm, I have brought popsicles for a few years and they really do hit the spot on a hot day...

You do quibble nicely. Teehee. The DMV rules changed last year, all preapproval now as I understand it. You're not going to make me cite the main site are you? Argh. If it is their first year maybe someone who already has a workable stage art car could work with them. That well may be simplest the initial time around.

I do think roving music is grand, especaily out on the deep playa in the middle of the darkness. A sonic jack-in-the-box as it were.

I am ticklish, but only in very specific places, and no I will not share. Eh, you don't want to see my poor tits. They're fine, a bit saggy and flat anymore, and technically I only have a tit and three quarters, but yep, I'm a happy hottie, lumps and bumps and scars and all.

heh, the funniest conversation with the ticket taker, a sweet young woman. "Do you have a license for the art car?" "What art car? That's a bike." "It has four wheels." "Yes, it does." "It has a battery." "Yes, that's for the lights. "Do you have a license?" "No, it's a bike." "But it has a battery." "That's for the lights, it doesn't have a motor. See? See the chain and the pedals?" "But, but, it has a battery ...." and so on.

Woohoo.

[theCryptofishist]

My dream art vehicle would be a ICE CREAM TRUCK.. ummmm, I have brought popsicles for a few years and they really do hit the spot on a hot day...

Baby!

[AntiM]

An ice cream truck and live rock n' roll, ooh baby oo, yes!

Oh, I'm the niggler, not trying to curb enthusiasm, but sometimes advice to the very new needs to be rather direct and specific IMHO. When we go by the impund lot on the way in I always wonder how angry or confused or pissed off the people who had their vehicles impounded feel, as well as how the gate folk feel having to take away toys. Rules are useful, but they can suck.

Whew, those are big camps, and if the need for power is there I guess they can raise the scratch to obtain it. The refueler truck concept amazes me, seems so, so well, so much like something I wouldn't be bothered with. You're talking to one member of a small group of six to eight people who camp in Hushville where no gennys are allowed, not even a running car to charge a few batteries. Very different perspectives on the event for the two of us then. Although we're looking at smallish generators for the regionals in Utah and Vegas, they are useful little beasts.

We've brought frozen cream puffs, yummy, and sans dry ice or refrigeration. And every year we bring the shave ice machine for snowcones, but it would be near impossible if ice sales weren't available.