Hey all,
So last year I shared a house with an amazing dude who has been going to the playa for the last 4 years or so. based on his and his friends expieriences, i am super fired up to go. As a first timer i know that its perfectly normal not to be super engaged in the art/ambience, but i'd really like to bring somthing to the community (even in a small way). does anyone have any suggestions for general contributions that would be manageable for a first burn?
I've also read everyone's lists of things to bring and how to prep for your first go around, but what are the first steps you all take when you begin to plan for the playa?
Thanks alot, and let me just say i really can't wait the adventure on the horizon that is burning man 07!
cheers!
P.S: anyone coming from alaska? i'll be in fairbanks starting june 07 so i'll probably make my way down from there.
first timer prep!
!
Organization is a big help. Make a list, check it thrice. For everything you "must have" bring some extra, especially dust masks and the like. Hardware for your dome/bike/tent etc.. bring extra screws and bolts. After you lay out all your shit that you need to live than you can figure out how much room you have for extras. The water alone weighs a fair amount so be careful of your vehicles load capabilites.
-
MikeVDS
- Posts: 1899
- Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:10 pm
- Burning Since: 2006
- Camp Name: Tiki Fuckos
- Location: Tiki Fuckos, Upland CA
- Contact:
If you have any artistic ability, share it. Stickers are usually fun because most of us have something we'll stick it to and be reminded of that burn. If you can draw or paint, make some stickers out of it.
Music is always great to have around a fire etc. I appreciate live music much more than pre recorded.
The first few days everyone will be setting up. Look around for a structure or art installation that looks interesting to you or has people who look interesting to you and give them a hand.
Cook a meal to share. It can be a small BBQ, pancake breakfast, or giant pot of stew.
Hemp jewelery can be easily shared, took some thought and fairly cheap to make.
Make something artistic for your camp. You could do a fountain, giant wind chimes, a wind mill or just a statue of some sort.
Set up something interactive. Maybe a couch with a small table filled with collidascopes or photobooks. Maybe a wheel of animals that make sounds that are hard to reproduce. Whatever animal you land on you have to replicate the noise of. Good examples might be a hippo, giraffe, or even elephant.
So many ideas, so little time! :)
As far as preparation I'm going to assume you camp. You'll need typical camp stuff, tent, sleeping bag, food etc. Other than that you'll want a bike and spare tubes,goggles and clothes you can have fun in for hot and cold weather. To me everything after that is just icing on the cake.
Music is always great to have around a fire etc. I appreciate live music much more than pre recorded.
The first few days everyone will be setting up. Look around for a structure or art installation that looks interesting to you or has people who look interesting to you and give them a hand.
Cook a meal to share. It can be a small BBQ, pancake breakfast, or giant pot of stew.
Hemp jewelery can be easily shared, took some thought and fairly cheap to make.
Make something artistic for your camp. You could do a fountain, giant wind chimes, a wind mill or just a statue of some sort.
Set up something interactive. Maybe a couch with a small table filled with collidascopes or photobooks. Maybe a wheel of animals that make sounds that are hard to reproduce. Whatever animal you land on you have to replicate the noise of. Good examples might be a hippo, giraffe, or even elephant.
So many ideas, so little time! :)
As far as preparation I'm going to assume you camp. You'll need typical camp stuff, tent, sleeping bag, food etc. Other than that you'll want a bike and spare tubes,goggles and clothes you can have fun in for hot and cold weather. To me everything after that is just icing on the cake.
-
StevenGoodman
- Posts: 474
- Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:52 pm
- Location: Top Secret - be eaten after entering
The quick and dirty, you will need:
A tent of some kind
Some kind of tarp to reflect the sun off the tent
Bedding
Food (less than you think)
Water (less than you think)
Electrolyte beverages (more than you think)
Booze and Beer (a great gift)
A good cooler for the food, etc.
A cup
Bicycle
A chair
Clothing for hot days and cool nights, goggles, dust mask
Sunscreen
If you are going with other people, they will probably provide:
Shade
A stove
Maybe a shower
Things you don't need, but are nice:
Costumes
Air matress/foam pad/futon
A rug for inside your tent.
Gifts
Art project
Power tools...
Gifts you can bring that aren't obvious:
Bring a set of rechargeable power tools, and go help build art.
Booze and beer, always a good choice!
A trailer for your bike, and do ice runs for people.
Extra gas for someone's generator.
A tent of some kind
Some kind of tarp to reflect the sun off the tent
Bedding
Food (less than you think)
Water (less than you think)
Electrolyte beverages (more than you think)
Booze and Beer (a great gift)
A good cooler for the food, etc.
A cup
Bicycle
A chair
Clothing for hot days and cool nights, goggles, dust mask
Sunscreen
If you are going with other people, they will probably provide:
Shade
A stove
Maybe a shower
Things you don't need, but are nice:
Costumes
Air matress/foam pad/futon
A rug for inside your tent.
Gifts
Art project
Power tools...
Gifts you can bring that aren't obvious:
Bring a set of rechargeable power tools, and go help build art.
Booze and beer, always a good choice!
A trailer for your bike, and do ice runs for people.
Extra gas for someone's generator.
Playawaste Raiders and Megaton Bar and Grill
-
akdynomite
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:01 pm
- Location: Maine/Alaska
great! thanks alot. any suggestions on shelter or where to find info on building one? i was thinking of going to parachute route, but i'd like to see some proven designs (esp. with the wind factor on the playa).
MikeVDS- love the animal idea. thanks for putting me on that train of thought... SO many ideas now!
MikeVDS- love the animal idea. thanks for putting me on that train of thought... SO many ideas now!
-
MikeVDS
- Posts: 1899
- Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:10 pm
- Burning Since: 2006
- Camp Name: Tiki Fuckos
- Location: Tiki Fuckos, Upland CA
- Contact:
No problem with the idea. I didn't have many til I went, now I have a million. BM was a great inspiration to me.
We built a dome for last years BM with a parachute covering it. I used the dome calculator at http://www.desertdomes.com. It also has tips on how to build one. I basically did what they said with a few minor changes. My brother found a parachute on e-bay. Careful when designing a dome to a parachute. It measured 34 feet diameter, but that means laid out it forms a 34 foot diameter circle, NOT a 34 foot diameter hemisphere. So when bent around a hemisphere it measured 21 foot diameter. So measure your parachute yourself before you design a dome around it. Also note that it cost around $700 in materials. That was a four frequency dome though (a V4 on desert domes). It took about 100 feet of EMT conduit. You can use less with different designs.
We built a dome for last years BM with a parachute covering it. I used the dome calculator at http://www.desertdomes.com. It also has tips on how to build one. I basically did what they said with a few minor changes. My brother found a parachute on e-bay. Careful when designing a dome to a parachute. It measured 34 feet diameter, but that means laid out it forms a 34 foot diameter circle, NOT a 34 foot diameter hemisphere. So when bent around a hemisphere it measured 21 foot diameter. So measure your parachute yourself before you design a dome around it. Also note that it cost around $700 in materials. That was a four frequency dome though (a V4 on desert domes). It took about 100 feet of EMT conduit. You can use less with different designs.