Costumes and Participation...

[Bluetality]

I've been doing a lot of reading on these forums trying to gets all my beans in one bag as far as understanding what it is I need, or do not need to have/do/be prepared for, and one line that keeps getting blurred for me is costumes.

I'm all for outrageous costumes. The visual art of it alone is staggering elsewhere, and I'm sure it is even more intense at BM.

I've decided to participate in the sense that I am going to be creating and bringing art to BM. I have a thousand wonderful gifting ideas, but when I try to think of a costume...my mind goes blank, and my enthusiasm level for costumes is at a 3.5 out of 100.

I feel like I will be able to participate, and give myself to, and grow as a human without a fuzzy g-string, and a metal viking bra with nipple holes cut out (No offense to those who do that, it's just not my dig).

I suppose my question is...are costumes really required? For instance, I'm heavily tattooed from chest to toes. Couldn't I just use my skin, and personality as my costume/participation...or should I still expect someone to call me a fucking tourist.


Post Script; Phil, I'm calm. I'm really calm. Still super excited, but a hell of a lot more calm .

[theCryptofishist]

I suppose my question is...are costumes really required?

No.

[wedeliver]

I've been doing a lot of reading on these forums trying to gets all my beans in one bag as far as understanding what it is I need, or do not need to have/do/be prepared for, and one line that keeps getting blurred for me is costumes.

I'm all for outrageous costumes. The visual art of it alone is staggering elsewhere, and I'm sure it is even more intense at BM.

I've decided to participate in the sense that I am going to be creating and bringing art to BM. I have a thousand wonderful gifting ideas, but when I try to think of a costume...my mind goes blank, and my enthusiasm level for costumes is at a 3.5 out of 100.

I feel like I will be able to participate, and give myself to, and grow as a human without a fuzzy g-string, and a metal viking bra with nipple holes cut out (No offense to those who do that, it's just not my dig).

I suppose my question is...are costumes really required? For instance, I'm heavily tattooed from chest to toes. Couldn't I just use my skin, and personality as my costume/participation...or should I still expect someone to call me a fucking tourist.


Post Script; Phil, I'm calm. I'm really calm. Still super excited, but a hell of a lot more calm .

It's all about the ART. You might consider displaying your art in a manner in which you find both comfortable and fun.

If you got tats from chest to toes and some yahoo (who only has a store bought costume) calls you a fucking tourist you have the right to pee on their feet.

[Elderberry]

I've been doing a lot of reading on these forums trying to gets all my beans in one bag as far as understanding what it is I need, or do not need to have/do/be prepared for, and one line that keeps getting blurred for me is costumes....

...I suppose my question is...are costumes really required? For instance, I'm heavily tattooed from chest to toes. Couldn't I just use my skin, and personality as my costume/participation...or should I still expect someone to call me a fucking tourist. ...

Everyone is a tourist of life; how could it be otherwise? No one has ever experienced tomorrow before today.

Be yourself, that is the best contribution to make and the best costume to wear.

JK

[MikeVDS]

Many "costumes" are just desert survival gear. It looks like people are dressed "mad max" style but really "mad max style" is just similar to desert survival. Wear what you'd wear if no one cared. If you were a million miles from no where. Be comfortable. If art that you wear is your thing, go for it, otherwise just be yourself.

[phil]

> Post Script; Phil, I'm calm. I'm really calm. Still super excited, but a
> hell of a lot more calm

:-> Don't take _my_ advice, for thor's sakes! DON'T BE CALMMMMMMMM!.

You've got the best advice you'll get from the two who said be yourself.

I use the word costume, too, but really much of the playawear is not costumery. It's people being who they really are.

You have permission to be who you really are on the playa. You have that permission from the only one who can give it. Yourself. If you choose to be yourself, and that means letting your skin speak for itself, you'll get rave reviews on your 'costume' -- you, yourself. If you choose to wear clothes instead, that's fine, too. As the others have said, you may choose to be yourself.

I would suggest not thinking in terms of coming up with a costume. Instead, think of how best to show who you are, and your playawear may come to you more readily and more naturally. If still nothing comes to you, that's actually fine. Go and be yourself, and while you're there the inspiration may strike. Or maybe not. That's fine, too. It's Burning Man. You have permission.

[Box Burner]

I suppose my question is...are costumes really required? For instance, I'm heavily tattooed from chest to toes. Couldn't I just use my skin, and personality as my costume/participation...


Post Script; Phil, I'm calm. I'm really calm. Still super excited, but a hell of a lot more calm .

Yes you can!

Some peeps go naked and some get bodypainted. Of course I would never do that. Your tats would be a lovely costume and all those tats just need to be seen. Come by the B(o)(o)by Bar have a drink and show us your tats. You already have the perfect costume for ABC Night (anything but clothes night).

[EB]

fucking tourist...

[wedeliver]

fucking tourist...

Oh, EB wants to play! Bluetality what say you??

[Bluetality]

I suppose I'm going to have to find a way to piss on someones leg via the internet. I'm pretty crafty.


It's comforting to know I don't have to sacrifice a piece of myself, or even my own comfort to fit in in a place where everyone is supposed to fit in. There just seemed to be so much emphasis on costumes, I wondered if I would end up being shunned for my lack of *obvious visual* participation.

I can't exactly walk around with a sign that says "Hey, I created, and brought in a (very personal) 6ft steel sculpture to most likely be tagged, and urinated on, isn't that enough participation?".

I will always listen to you, Phil. You are my Yoda.

[gyre]

Tourists wear costumes.
Wear khaki.

[Bluetality]

I've actually managed to avoid wearing Khaki's for my entire life.


Maybe I'll ease my way into it with Cargo's...and work my way out of my comfort level.

[phil]

> You are my Yoda.

Oh, you've _seen_ me.

[EB]

Remember how in the Matrix where its explained to Neo that inside the Matrix everybody wears cool things because its a kind of projection of the inner-self, blah, blah, blah?

Yeah, me neither.

On point: Figure it this way: It's MUCH easier to tell somebody to self-fornicate than it is to sew/create a costume you didn't want to wear in the first place.

But if it helps, costumes are my worst "attribute", too.

EB

p.s. Dispensing advice on ePlaya being my best. Rebar pounding second, frottery third.

[Bluetality]

Phil - You couldn't possibly be the real Yoda. You're not nearly green enough!

EB - I've never seen the Matrix...but I have an idea of what you're talking about. Despite my (generally) passive nature...I have no problem (figuratively, or verbally...whichever your imagination prefers) shitting on someone who feels the need to make a complete jackass out of themselves by singling out someone who doesn't fit their Burning Man standards. I'm not even worried about being accused of being a "tourist". As someone stated previously...we're tourists in our everyday lives. I'm just trying to prepare myself so I won't be there, and someone shouts something rude at me, and I'll be standing there, mouth agape, wondering if that person really just did that.

Since you're so helpful, you're welcome to be in charge of pounding in the rebar in my camp when I arrive. I'm interested to see if I'll be able to set up my tent & shade structure that I purchased recently...I may be too short to do it alone. I'll get back to you on the 'frottery'. That may come in handy as well ;p.

[Toolmaker]

I recommend a big oversized furry monkey suit or a large bananna costume. Any animal will do so you get to meet the Animal Control peeps.

[gyre]

...I may be too short to do it alone. I'll get back to you on the 'frottery'. That may come in handy as well ;p

Too short to set up a tent?
Can you reach the ground?

[Intubater69]

I will always listen to you, Phil. You are my Yoda.

Are you saying that Phil is a short shrivelly guy with funny ears that talks strange?

[Bluetality]

Toolmaker - What about human? I can't really think of an animal more wild than them ;p.


Gyre - I'm too new to sass you back, aren't I. I'll get back to you later.


Intubater69 - I said no such thing!!!! He is so, so wise...and if he was all of those things, I think it'd make him all the more lovable.

[Fire_Moose]

Personaly, I think money and time can be spent in many better ways then making a costume. Now I'm not saying i don;t like them, just i won't ever make one. I just got my camera back recently aand was reminded of this guy dressed as this weird green monkey frog thing, it was so bad ass.

[gyre]

;p.
Gyre - I'm too new to sass you back, aren't I. I'll get back to you later.

You can talk back as long as you can reach the typewriter.

I just didn't understand being too short to set up a tent.

[Elderberry]

I sometimes have trouble reaching the ground.

JK

[Bluetality]

Fire_Moose - Yeah, I'm doing some serious cutbacks and budgeting just to make '09 BM happen. Besides, I live in a high-elevation desert. During the summer...hell, even right now, it's hot as sin, and I generally avoid wearing a lot of clothing, and costumes seem to involve putting more stuff on. Though a monkey-frog does sound pretty rad.

Gyre - This reaching stick comes in very handy for my typewriter. My tent has some stuff on the top that needs to be tied off, and I need a step-stool to reach that, which is what I meant.

jkisha - Meh...you too? Perhaps we should start a support group.

[gyre]

There is almost always sombody around that thinks they're tall and will help out.

[Bluetality]

Maybe even you? I'll keep an eye out for the Khaki's.

[ilmarinen]

My joke with my campmates this year (2008, my first) was that I was "bringing no art and no costumes." I was infrastructure-geek for our camp, and admittedly, I did bring one item that might have been art.



And I had fun clothes--but that's just it, I dressed for fun, rather than "dressing up".

I'm all for being non-judgemental about folks choice of dress (and there is a huge variety), but then about Thursday night I think, there was this dude, walking around in a foam bear-bottle outfit--some brand name. I mean, if it was ironic, maybe I could get it, but I don't think it was. Oh, and shirtcocking, there is no good reason for that.

-B.

[Bluetality]

I actually spent a good portion of today thinking about 'shirtcocking'...mostly because I had no idea what it was. So I pretty much just sat there coming up with different scenarios that might constitute as 'shirtcocking', and finally it dawned on me! I think. God, I hope I'm not wrong. If so, I need to call some people back and tell them to put the Vaseline, rubber hoses, t-shirts, and zip-ties away.

Yeah, from what I've read, it seems like in a way, I'm catching the ass-end of Burning Man which is a shame. I've been browsing random photologs of the event, and I see a lot of thin, tanned, blonde girls sporting long dangly navel jewelry, heaps of glitter, playboy bunny cheeky shorts, and pig tails with a (hopefully ironic) broseph following close-by dressed as a pimp. That gives me very minor second thoughts. If I wanted to witness that, I could go to the local bar's annual Pimp-N-Ho Show...or just turn on MTV.

Nothing wrong with geeks, love. You're at the top of my mental food chain. Kiss Seattle for me...I grew up there, and miss it dearly.

[Toolmaker]

Toolmaker - What about human? I can't really think of an animal more wild than them ;p.

In that case you will probably want to be a part of Animal Control rather than someone they target. I will be in a big brown furry monkey suit.

PS Shirtcocking is when a shirt is worn with no pants. I don't think there is vaseline involved. If some sort of lubricant was involved I would use Wet Platinum.

[phil]

I've been browsing random photologs of the event, and I see a lot of thin, tanned, blonde girls sporting long dangly navel jewelry, heaps of glitter, playboy bunny cheeky shorts, and pig tails

That tells you more about the photographer(s) than about the event, I'm happy to say.

[Dork]

I've been attending for 8 years with minimal costumes. I very rarely hear anyone calling me a tourist. I'm sure it happens, but I'm too far away or too preoccupied to hear it. On the other hand, I've seen plenty of fully decked-out people showing up on Friday night I'd consider tourists.

Walking around with minimal clothing can indeed be considered a costume! Remember, though, you WILL need heavy clothes for night-time. My go-to favorite the last few years was a Thai silk kimono robe with however many layers underneath are required for the conditions. Surprisingly warm, colorful, and dust-resistant. You can get them real cheap on Ebay these days.

You have TONS of time to cruise thrift shops and Ebay looking for cheap, comfortable, colorful, furry items. If you aren't iinto creating an outfit, just cobble things together and go with it. A cheerful attitude goes a long way out there.