I'm a newbie and have lots of questions......

[burningdesire]

Hello there,

I have heard of the burning man a couple of years ago and have always been intrigue. Well now, I would like to participate and really excited but scared at the same time.
The past couple of days I have been researching and trying to find out how it all works and came up with a couple of questions that hopefully can be answered.

1. I noticed that some structures that are build probably requires digging into the ground. Are we allowed to create holds to keep structure from collasping?
2. I am going by myself, are there going to be people that would like to help me set up?
3. I have never build an installation before, but use to be an Art major until I became a computer science major, Do I have to come up with something spectacular?
4. How do people bring all the stuff they need? It almost looks like you need a semi truck. I was planning to bring my 4x4 with a trailer.
5. In building the structure can it be from anything, such as wood, plaster...etc
6. I see that I need to bring food and water for a whole week How do people store these items and what kind of food do people bring? I am thinking of bring can food and dehydrated ready made meals.
7. Can we bring a grill for barbecue?
8. Do alot of people bring Dry Ice?
9. I noticed that there are a lot lights. How do you power these light? Do you use a power generator or solar power?
10. How much space are we allowed to use for our installation and camp?
11. Is the same place we use for our Art also our camp site? Or is it in a different location?
12. do people usually bring tents to sleep in?
13. I am assuming that there are people coming from all parts of the nations for this, just curious as to what the make up is?

I know these are alot of questions, but still important.

Thanks in advance for all your answers and will continue my investigation in this great adventure. I just wish more of my friends would like to do this with me

burningdesire

[Atar]

Hello there,

I have heard of the burning man a couple of years ago and have always been intrigue. Well now, I would like to participate and really excited but scared at the same time.
The past couple of days I have been researching and trying to find out how it all works and came up with a couple of questions that hopefully can be answered.

I'll give it a shot:

1. I noticed that some structures that are build probably requires digging into the ground. Are we allowed to create holds to keep structure from collasping?
The most common option is ankering it down with rebar. Some big art structures are allowed to be placed into the ground a bit, but the sand is placed back neatly afterwards. Leave no trace!

2. I am going by myself, are there going to be people that would like to help me set up?
If you camp in a 'camping area', which are usually the outer rings of the city, you will probaly find people that can help you set up. If you plan to make your art structure on the playa instead of doing it at home you might be better off 'enlisting' people beforehand.

3. I have never build an installation before, but use to be an Art major until I became a computer science major, Do I have to come up with something spectacular?
Only if you want it to be spectacular. I think the keyword should be 'doable' if you come alone.

4. How do people bring all the stuff they need? It almost looks like you need a semi truck. I was planning to bring my 4x4 with a trailer.
Sounds like a plan to me.

5. In building the structure can it be from anything, such as wood, plaster...etc
Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to burn it at the end you'll need to use stuff that doesn't polute. If not, make sure you can take it down rather simple. Don't use any ruffles, glitter, feathers, styrofoam, mini eyeballs, marbles, poststamps, etc. Unless you want to spend all your days chasing your MOOP (Matter Out Of Place, IE: Garbage). Just don't use stuff the wind can carry off and you'll be fine.

6. I see that I need to bring food and water for a whole week How do people store these items and what kind of food do people bring? I am thinking of bring can food and dehydrated ready made meals.
I'd advise the many survival guides that are linked to on the forums and the main site. Same goes for wind-resistant tents. Use the forum search

7. Can we bring a grill for barbecue?
If you make sure you don't burn the playa, ofcourse! Invite your neighbours!

8. Do alot of people bring Dry Ice?
I wouldn't know. Try the search

9. I noticed that there are a lot lights. How do you power these light? Do you use a power generator or solar power?
Thats the big debate. Everyone would like solar power, but they cost a lot at the initial buy. Fossile fuels are just easier and cheaper I guess.

10. How much space are we allowed to use for our installation and camp?
I believe that you can use all the space you want as long as you don't bother your neighbours with it. If you want to go big the playa might be your place to set it up. Watchtowers are cool though.

11. Is the same place we use for our Art also our camp site? Or is it in a different location?
Its a mix. Some of the best art can be found in (theme) camps, other art can be found out on the playa (the big, empty circular space around the man).

12. do people usually bring tents to sleep in?
Yep. The best way to sleep out in the day is to put some kind of shade-structure over your sleeping tent. And either find a dust-clear tent or accept that you'll find the playa dust everywhere in your tent.

13. I am assuming that there are people coming from all parts of the nations for this, just curious as to what the make up is?
Hehehe. I, myself am from Holland, I've never been to Burning Man but I'm comming over for the first time this year. There's such an enormous wealth of information stored in these forums that you just can't go wrong. Ask and you'll recieve.

I know these are alot of questions, but still important.

Thanks in advance for all your answers and will continue my investigation in this great adventure. I just wish more of my friends would like to do this with me

burningdesire

I'm comming over alone aswell, I believe you'll find that lots of people do. And still I don't have a single worry that I'll ever feel alone or unwanted.

Regards,
Bram

[burningdesire]

Great post, Thanks for the info. I have been over the site for information and also the survival guide. I guess my concern is figuring out what do build and how without endangering anyone. I am making a list of things to bring.

I welcome any other ideas and tips.

Thanks again

[skygod]

The best advice I've seen (from Chai guy? i forget) is not to use stakes/rebar and ropes, cause people trip on the ropes and gouge their ankles on the stakes. The trick is to drive the stakes/rebar straight in and then use duct tape to tape the legs of you shade structure directly to them. No ropes! No exposed stakes! Be sure to bring vise grips to get em out when its time to leave. Use saran wrap first and it makes the duct tape easy to get off.

[Chai Guy]

I started reading atar's responses, most of which were pretty good, but I thought I'd just offer my own set of opinions, here they are:

1. I noticed that some structures that are build probably requires digging into the ground. Are we allowed to create holds to keep structure from collasping?

Do you mean "holes" or "holds"? Small "post holes" are generally ok, but be sure to save the dirt you excavate in a plastic bag, otherwise that dirt will blow away in the wind and when you leave, you'll be left with holes that will cause major problems later on. As for "Holds" those are usually created by driving pieces of rebar into the ground. When installing rebar be sure to cap it with a tennis ball or water bottle, or commercially available caps to prevent people from impaling themselves on them.

2. I am going by myself, are there going to be people that would like to help me set up?

That all depends on what you have planned to set up. Offering a cold beer in exchange for helping you put up a small tent is probably no problem, asking random strangers to help you build a 25ft. tall wooden windmill, probably not so much.

3. I have never build an installation before, but use to be an Art major until I became a computer science major, Do I have to come up with something spectacular?

If by "spectacular" you mean huge, then NO. In fact, the best ideas are generally those that work on a smaller, more intimate scale. I saw a guy last year that turned himself into a vending machine with different snacks hanging off his costume. It was absolutely brilliant and if you weren't looking closely you would have missed it. Another favorite of mine was a couple with a card table, a large tin full of home made chocolate chip cookies and a cattle prod. It was called "Get a shock, get a cookie!".

4. How do people bring all the stuff they need? It almost looks like you need a semi truck. I was planning to bring my 4x4 with a trailer.

Some people bring SEVERAL semi trucks. The reality is that for your first time you'll probably need much less than you think. In fact, if you're not going to be living in the trailer, I'd leave it at home. Here is a nice little packing list for you: http://www.cieux.com/bm/things.html

5. In building the structure can it be from anything, such as wood, plaster...etc

As long as it "Leaves No Trace" and you can haul it out and haul it home, then yes. Remember, the winds can gust up to 70 mph+ out there. For the definitive work on the subject of structures at the event go here:
http://www.geocities.com/potatotrap/tech/bluetarp.htm

6. I see that I need to bring food and water for a whole week How do people store these items and what kind of food do people bring? I am thinking of bring can food and dehydrated ready made meals.

Some people don't bring fresh foods and just take MRE's or dehyrdated stuff. I just bring frozen meals from Trader Joe's and fry them up in a single skillet, for lunches I bring fresh stuff that lasts like cucumbers, and sprouts and hummus. Here are some good links for ideas on food at the event:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/quickMeals.html
http://www.cieux.com/bm/foodPlaya.html

7. Can we bring a grill for barbecue?

Yes, but I'd leave the charcoal one at home and bring propane.

8. Do alot of people bring Dry Ice?

Yes. It works best to have 2 coolers, one for dry ice and one for regular ice. Keep the dry ice cooler closed except for the one time per day you open to take out you meal for that day. Make sure that everything that goes into the dry ice cooler is already frozen (not just cold). Remember that anything you put in the dry ice cooler will freeze, so keep any fresh fruits or veggies out of there. for my info on dry ice go here:
http://www.dryiceinfo.com/

9. I noticed that there are a lot lights. How do you power these light? Do you use a power generator or solar power?

Some people use solar, some people use wind, some people use generators. For information on Solar and Wind Power on the playa go here:
http://www.ae-zone.org/

10. How much space are we allowed to use for our installation and camp?

If you register your theme camp you'll be given an alloted amount of space based on your needs. If you just show up and camp then you'll have to kind of work that out with your neighbors. If you NEED a certain amount of space for a project, then it's a good idea to register your camp. If it's just you and a tent, you should have no problem just showing up and finding enough space.

11. Is the same place we use for our Art also our camp site? Or is it in a different location?

That depends, some people place their art on the playa, other people have their art work in their camp. If you'd like to place your art on the playa consider registering with the Artery which can be a valuable resource in finding an appropriate place for your art as well as helping you with certain logistics.

12. do people usually bring tents to sleep in?

Some people sleep in tents, some in RV's some people sleep in their cars or vans. Some people build shade structures to sleep in.

13. I am assuming that there are people coming from all parts of the nations for this, just curious as to what the make up is?

Check the census on the burningman.com site, but yes people come from all over the world to this event.

[Bob]

You could start here and read people's own stories about how they prepare, on their own websites:

http://www.burningman.com/blackrockcity ... n_the_web/

[burningdesire]

Wow, thanks everyone. I am really getting excited about all this. THere are alot of information out there. Too much. I don't even know where to start. In a way this reminds me of RAGBRAI, a bike ride that I do every year across the state of Iowa. It is one week long party. Lots of fun.

Now, I read alot about bringing a bike lock and putting your valuables in the car. Has there ever been an incident that occured in past burn? I am assuming just like everything, one must be careful

THanks again

[regionalchaos]

Wow, thanks everyone. I am really getting excited about all this. THere are alot of information out there. Too much. I don't even know where to start. In a way this reminds me of RAGBRAI, a bike ride that I do every year across the state of Iowa. It is one week long party. Lots of fun.

Now, I read alot about bringing a bike lock and putting your valuables in the car. Has there ever been an incident that occured in past burn? I am assuming just like everything, one must be careful

THanks again

It is a city of 30-40 thousand people. Anything that would normally happen in a city that size will likely happen in black rock.

[theCryptofishist]

But with more flame throwers.

[Chai Guy]

and fun fur (which is not always a good combination).