Hello. Glad to be here.

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:53 pm

Greetings.

My boss of two years has been talking about BM since the day he started - the day after he got back from the 07 burn.

I finally made the conscious decision last Thursday evening that I really do need to experience BM. I went to a DoLaB club event (Evan Bluetech was amazing) and met some absolutely wonderful people. I decided right then and there that any excuses I come up with this time just won't be good enough.

I've been reading threads here and researching (pretty intently) for a week now. I have no idea how I will participate; I'm not very artistically or mechanically inclined, but I think that I have a good soul, I'm not afraid to learn or fail or work.

I've camped in the woods or mountains my whole life so self sufficiency shouldn't be too much of a shock, and I'm REALLY enjoying my understanding of what BM is all about.

Hope to get to know some folks here that I can run into on the playa.

Cheers!
Z

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:59 pm

It's exactly like the mountains, only without verticality.

Have fun.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:21 pm

welcome
jump on in, just, be patient learning what teasing and snark is here......

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:12 am

welcome....

read this:

http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/

and this:

http://www.burningman.com/whatisburning ... iples.html

hey anyone know where the damn survival guide went to off the front page?

cant find it?

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:22 am

I've read them a couple times this week already. Of greater help though, is my boss.....a ranger of 10 years. He's been prodding me to go for a while now, so now he gets to field a thousand questions.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 2:56 pm

Hello zachass,

Worse bosses to have, for certain. Welcome to eplaya. Look around and get to know some people. Thereâ€™s a wealth of information here to dig through. And if you still canâ€™t find an answer, donâ€™t be afraid to ask.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 5:28 pm

welcome. sounds like you have the basics. A will and attitude to be helpful is a great gift to bring, takes up little space and is always appreciated.

Optic · Post by **Optic** » Sat Nov 21, 2009 7:45 pm

zachass wrote:I've read them a couple times this week already. Of greater help though, is my boss.....a ranger of 10 years. He's been prodding me to go for a while now, so now he gets to field a thousand questions.

Sounds like a pretty cool boss to have. In addition to your boss and the info on the website, there are a TON of guides/lists that people have thrown together with tips and tricks on how to save space, make the trip a little less expensive, etc, etc.

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:42 am

My boss is a very cool cat for sure. Top it off with a job I just love and I consider myself a blessed (but not in the typical religious way) person.

He's introduced me to a circle of people and lifestyle that I never knew existed. I moved to Cali from Michigan 10 years ago, and haven't met friendlier people than folks he's introduced me to - "burners" he called them.

It took me a while to warm up to the idea of going to BM, but once I dug a little deeper than 'it's a huge party in the desert' I became very intrigued.

Not exactly sure how well I'll do without a proper shower for a week, but nobody else gets one either, so at least I got that goin' for me.

I'm going to search the forum, but if anyone has a good idea for a water-catch for a solar shower, let me know? Grey water on the playa = bad.

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:17 pm

I've spent a couple hours reading about people's past experiences and looking at pictures.

I'm not an artist. But I'm very inspired by what I've seen and read. Maybe I have something in me that I've never explored.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:26 pm

Hate to break it to you, we're all artists, endowed with an innate aesthetic sense by the process of evolution.

What very few of us are is endoctrinated in the ever-changing criteria of 21-century gallery "hot" styles that leave us cold.

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:39 pm

Maybe I should have said that I don't BELIEVE I'm an artist.

I thank you for your encouragement. I think it's time to start sleeping with my notepad on my nightstand again.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:24 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:Hate to break it to you, we're all artists, endowed with an innate aesthetic sense by the process of evolution.

What very few of us are is endoctrinated in the ever-changing criteria of 21-century gallery "hot" styles that leave us cold.

Many cultures have included art as a functional part of society, industrial design appearing to predate homo sapiens.
But there is evidence that a sensitivity to the technical aspects of doing art, is in fact a physical difference.
An imbalance in the connection between the two sides of the brain can create ability.

I don't think this excludes the urge to create in others, but it may explain some behavior by artists.

Also, it has been shown that creating for reward (of any type) stifles creativity.
Something to consider.

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:33 pm

gyre wrote: Also, it has been shown that creating for reward (of any type) stifles creativity.
Something to consider.

This feels true to me. Question: is the goal of (for lack of a better term) art to solely satisfy the creator of said piece purely through self expression?

I ask because when I cook, I do so with love and the hope of making others feel good - a real visceral response. Often when I cook I can't eat because of self critique.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:41 pm

burners make good bosses 50 weeks out of the year. the other 2 weeks they throw the shop keys at you and tell you to mind the store while they burn....

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:55 pm

zachass wrote:
gyre wrote: Also, it has been shown that creating for reward (of any type) stifles creativity.
Something to consider.
This feels true to me. Question: is the goal of (for lack of a better term) art to solely satisfy the creator of said piece purely through self expression?

I ask because when I cook, I do so with love and the hope of making others feel good - a real visceral response. Often when I cook I can't eat because of self critique.

I think the goal is up to you.
But as an example, do you try crazier things when you're playing in the kitchen, or cooking for people showing up at a certain time?

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:10 pm

Mostly just playing. When I cook, it never tastes exactly the same each time.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sat Nov 28, 2009 8:47 pm

gyre wrote:It's exactly like the mountains, only without verticality.

Have fun.

Or humidity. Its dry as a popcorns fart. But like no place else. Have a blast!