Reducing your costs getting to Burning Man

Tadhgh · Post by **Tadhgh** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 3:57 am

G'day -

If you are interested in reducing your costs to Burning Man, and if you have a car/ride organised: I am very happy to contribute $300 to your petrol / Burning Man costs in exchange for a ride to the event from Reno, or $400 from San Francisco. I am a solo Burning Man first-timer from Australia who has been looking forward to this for AGES...I will have a small trailer with my gear (and some room therein for your surplus stuff too, if you need it...). I am coming all the way from Australia just for this event!!! I want to head out to the playa anywhere from 29-31 August 2009. I also have an international licence and can share the driving if needed. I'll find my own way back to "civilisation" after the event, so I only need your help one-way. If you are able to help me please email me at [email protected]

Best wishes, and happy burning...Tadhgh

Post by **Elderberry** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:39 am

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:07 am

Tadhgh wrote:I want to head out to the playa anywhere from 29-31 August 2009.

You won't get in before the 31st.

Tadhgh · Post by **Tadhgh** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:29 pm

As I understand it, a person who is on a camp-list can get into the event early for purposes of setting up. Is that still the case??

cheers

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:36 pm

Hi, Tadhgh,

Be sure to post here, too:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 985#456985

Good luck. You'll have a ball. Stop by on the Friday before the burn and Louise and I will give you clothes! :->

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:23 pm

Tadhgh wrote:As I understand it, a person who is on a camp-list can get into the event early for purposes of setting up. Is that still the case??

cheers

No. There are a certain number of early arrival passes that are given to each camp--by request. The person in charge of the camp needs to request them and give them to the people who will be doing the setup.

JK

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:44 pm

The Burningman Organization usually doesn't give out as many passes as camps would like, which means that those who do get in early are trusted to put up as much infrastructure as possible or they are the camp leaders and can get away with abusing the system. My point was that somebody who simply joined a message board wasn't likely to have become trusted enough to get one of those golden tickets.

Tadhgh · Post by **Tadhgh** » Fri May 01, 2009 1:49 am

OK guys, that's all good info - thanks.

On a more general topic (since this is my first time there): this is completely subjective but what in your view are the stand-out events or precincts within BRC??

Also, I intend to be a busy volunteer, partly as way of contributing to the event but also as a means of getting more immediately involved. Are there some volunteer opportunities that are more likely than others to achieve this?

cheers

T

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri May 01, 2009 9:52 am

I'll offer a suggestion on the volunteer issue: Don't.

Now that's only a suggestion. Let me assure you that you're going to be totally blown away. You think you know you'll be blown away, but you're wrong. It's more. More blown away. So don't waste your time volunteering. Instead, go soak up the ambience.

Make a list of the stand-out events, the best precincts, all the stuff you want to see. But you won't do a thing on your list. Don't give gifts, don't contribute, don't get involved.

Be prepared to accomplish zero goals and still have the best time you've ever had. Next year you can volunteer.

But you're free to do as you wish. Have a wonderful time.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri May 01, 2009 9:59 am

I recommend a light volunteer gig for your first year. Lamplighters are awesome and so is Greeters. Working the Ice can be a nice way to keep sort of cool during the day too.

Once you can make a week out there than worry about hanging out for a month. The real early folks really work their asses off. Some of the late departures work their ass off too picking up all those cig butts from assclowns that are too lazy to keep a tin handy.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Fri May 01, 2009 10:14 am

phil wrote:I'll offer a suggestion on the volunteer issue: Don't.

Now that's only a suggestion. Let me assure you that you're going to be totally blown away. You think you know you'll be blown away, but you're wrong. It's more. More blown away. So don't waste your time volunteering. Instead, go soak up the ambience.

Be prepared to accomplish zero goals and still have the best time you've ever had. Next year you can volunteer.

But you're free to do as you wish. Have a wonderful time.

Tadhgh, welcome to eplaya. I'd have to second what Phil said about your first year. 08 was my first year and I just wanted to go and just figure out what the hell Burning Man is all about. And after a jaw-dropping first time, I still don't know

Getting there from Australia will be a big enough journey, and the time spent on the playa will def. ratchet that up a bit so I'd not worry about doing anything but soaking it all up. Once you do get there and your def. committed to volunteering I'd take Toolmakers advice and check out Lamplighters or Artica. From what I've heard and read they are both mellow gigs and a great way to meet peeps. For my 2nd yr I will do a bit of volling but I still need to get a handle on this fantastic event

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Fri May 01, 2009 11:23 am

phil wrote:. Don't give gifts, don't contribute, don't get involved.

.

I thought this was a joke until the above citizen agreed with it.Not only does it contradict the spirit of BRC but this camper is coming from Australia for God's sake.Chances of there being a"next year"are problematic for anyone coming a great distance.Gifts I can live without but contribute and get involved to your hearts content.BRC will be the better for it.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Fri May 01, 2009 12:31 pm

The happy medium is to volunteer by helping your neighbors put up their camps, do chores, etc as needed. I know that there have been times that no matter how well prepared, I was very grateful for assistance of my neighbors and passers-by.

Do stop in and say hello to people as you pass their camps, join in when people are engaged in some silly activity, belly up to a local bar. After all, you are the entertainment!

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Fri May 01, 2009 12:56 pm

I agree. You don't have to commit to anything prior to the event. You can just show up and see how it goes. There will be PLENTY of opportinities to "lend a hand" once you get there. Like last year when my friend and I tried to put up our shade in the wind storm.. we were both hanging onto it for dear life.. and just before we went airborn 4 people showed up and helped. they were laughing their asses off.. but we REALLY appreciated to assistance.

Tadhgh · Post by **Tadhgh** » Mon May 04, 2009 1:46 am

OK, it's good to get a range of advice on all this. I think I'll keep my options open until I get there and see how it goes. I do like the gifting idea because even at my previous festival I found it a great way to engage with strangers. Also I think it's important, if I might be relying upon the assistance of others, to be able to reciprocate with something.

BTW - if I am not getting ahead of my self - what do you know of other festivals/events in the US which might of interest to a new burner? Next year I want to save more money and come for longer, taking in BRC but also going to some of the other gatherings, as far from the mainstream as possible.

Cheers guys

T

Reducing your costs getting to Burning Man

Reducing your costs getting to Burning Man

Re: Reducing your costs getting to Burning Man

early arrivals

Re: early arrivals

BRC

first-timer