Survey: How Much Did You Spend On The Burning Man?

Buster Friendly · Post by **Buster Friendly** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 2:04 pm

Feel like helping me out with a little survey? Just answer the two
following questions:

1. How much money did you spend on The Burning Man Festival last year?

This is an all inclusive question so remember to put in to your
estimate:
-The cost of everything you bought for your (and your friends) stay at
the festival last year, including food, booze, drugs, water, camping
gear, clothes, costumes, make up, shiney things, blinky things, art
projects, art materials, and gifts.
-What you spent to get out to the festival, to be out there, and to get
back, including vehicle puchases, vehicle rentals, automotive repairs,
airline tickets, kennel fees, hotel rooms fees, food, and gas money.
-What you spent at the festival itself, including ice, coffee, water,
booze, drugs, sexual favors, and emergency services.

2. How much did you pay for your ticket?

I'll keep your answers private if you post them off-eplaya.

Thanks for being a participant,
B.F.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 3:03 pm

Cost of going to Burning Man

1. $150.00 in food and snacks
2. $100.00 in booze and beer
3. $200.00 in Chai fixins
4. $50.00 in cups for chai
5. $25.00 in water
6. $35.00 for new umbrella for Chai cart
7. $50.00 in new Fun Fur & material for bike and costumes
8. $25.00 in batteries for blinkies & flash lights & Cameras
9. $65.00 in oil change and valve adjustment for before trip.
10.$50.00 in photo paper and magnets for magnet gifts
11. $15.00 for 2 colorful flags used in last year's superbowl, now costumes.
12. $50.00 in Ice (purchased before and during the event)
13. $75.00 in fuel to travel to and from the event (my half of the gas)
14. $7.00 for paint to repaint chai cart
15. $40.00 in food at restaurants on the way to and from the event.
16. $150 Ticket

for a total cost of $977.00
(experience: priceless?)

Just a note: This was my 6th year and so I pretty much have everything dialed in, like my shade structure, chai cart, costumes etc. I really over did it on the food and could have survived on much less, unfortunately a lot of my food was also wasted due to eating over at friends camps when invited. Next year I plan to take less food and more booze/beer which never seems to get wasted. Also, I was fortunate in that I had a lot of Chai and ice and water donated to the Free Chai Revolution by my campmates.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 3:29 pm

over $2K

ticket was $165

Patience · Post by **Patience** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 4:54 pm

Total cost: $700

Ticket was free! (Don't ask how. The official answer is "I found it a chocolate bar wrapper.)

68barracuda · Post by **68barracuda** » Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:00 pm

Ok, ok.. I've got to ask.. Why the difference in ticket price?

Mike

Cooky · Post by **Cooky** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:23 am

$1500 including travel from Michigan and investment in theme camp.

Ticket $175 or $185 can't remember exactly.

Ticket prices vary based on (a) how early in the sales season you purchase your ticket, (b) whether you are willing to pay higher price to help keep lower price tickets available to those less able to pay, and (c) whether your ticket is gifted to you in some manner.

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Wed Jan 14, 2004 11:24 am

Buster Friendly wrote:Feel like helping me out with a little survey? Just answer the two
following questions:

1. How much money did you spend on The Burning Man Festival last year?

This is an all inclusive question so remember to put in to your
estimate:
-The cost of everything you bought for your (and your friends) stay at
the festival last year, including food, booze, drugs, water, camping
gear, clothes, costumes, make up, shiney things, blinky things, art
projects, art materials, and gifts.
-What you spent to get out to the festival, to be out there, and to get
back, including vehicle puchases, vehicle rentals, automotive repairs,
airline tickets, kennel fees, hotel rooms fees, food, and gas money.
-What you spent at the festival itself, including ice, coffee, water,
booze, drugs, sexual favors, and emergency services.

2. How much did you pay for your ticket?

I'll keep your answers private if you post them off-eplaya.

Thanks for being a participant,
B.F.

For 2 of us, we spent around $5,000 but this included a side trip to Las Vegas and Reno and also a trip to Sydney, Nebraska where we went shopping at Cabela's. We drove across the country from Massachusetts. On the way home, we took our time and stayed at several hotels.

For our tickets- Friday got in free because he'd worked for the Rangers in 2002, and I paid $175 for mine.

sunsh1ne · Post by **sunsh1ne** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:40 pm

close to $4,500....for 2

two tickets
plane tickets from florida...roundtrip
car rental
gas
water
food
film for camera
tape for camcorder
extra contacts
homemade gift supplies
alcohol
juice
drugs
coffee
camping stove and propane
carwash and vaccum
shower at truck stop
fastfood in reno
play money for reno casino
dinner for roomate who picked us up from airport back home

all worth it !!!
next time I'll probable spend more...I need better shelter

to those who think money is an issue...its all about what you put into it, what you want to bring and how much

midgetsonparade · Post by **midgetsonparade** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 10:16 am

i think i spent something like $1000. that includes all food, water, gifts, gas, hotel, etc. i even fixed my generator and my car. i bought my ticket for $165 or $175. I was coming from southern california.

i would pay even more if i had to.

ronski · Post by **ronski** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 12:59 pm

About $1000, solo, virgin, starting from scratch, driving POV from Seattle. Everything for trip except money pissed away gambling.

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 3:25 pm

I spent roughly $1900 to attend the event including two tickets @ $200 each. I spent a little over 20K on my fire art project for 2003. In fairness, though, I have actually gotten paid to take it to other places since August. It may pay for itself, in 10 or 20 years.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:02 pm

About $2600 but some of that was for stuff that can be used year after year. And I had two tickets @ $225.

eapvar · Post by **eapvar** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 11:33 am

The only money/consumable I wish I didn't have to spend is the 200 gallons of gasoline for the 4 of us. 20 mph, 4000 miles round trip.

I won't leave a trace at BM, but getting there is another story.

One of the reasons I will take a year off of BM is that the trip there doubles the amount of driving I do in a single year. The other is that I will spend the same amount or a little less money on granite countertops for my kitchen.

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 5:10 pm

a lot

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:17 pm

About $4000 total. I've forgotten the ticket price. $440 for booze, $600 gas, $1000 truck prep, $1000+ generator, + misc.
I get to do something unlike anything else, unlike anywhere else. and generate great stories & memories.

PurplMyst · Post by **PurplMyst** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 11:55 am

Last year I did it totally last minute & very very lean.

Ticket $250
Food/booze/water $50
Glow bracelets $20
Tarp/big tent stakes $30
Gas $40
and that's it. I scrounged up costume stuff that I had around and most of the essential camping gear I already had. I was only there Fri-Mon.

This year is a bit different. So far I've got:
Ticket $175
Costumes: $150
Gift materials: $40
Bike: $75
Gear: $100
and this list grows daily.

chickenfish · Post by **chickenfish** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 5:44 pm

over 2 G's
this year i'm going to brazil or europe
it'll cost less
and I won't have to listen to crappy trance and house all night
or have dumbass jocks yelling through bullhorns all around me
or all those stupid rules

DangerMouse · Post by **DangerMouse** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:11 pm

So far for my virgin trip this year:

Ticket: $200
Gas: $200 (My Half)
Alcohol: $100
Food: $100
Water: $50? (Less I hope)
Beverages: $50
Vehicle Maintenance: $200
Hotels: $200 (My Half)

All the gear I've purchased adds up too.
Sleeping Bag: $20
Air Mattress: $20
Air Pump: $20
Sheets for Air Mattres: $20 (I hate crummy sheets)
Socks: $20
Cooler: $30
Water containers: 5 - $8 or $40
Playa shoes: $40 (2 Pair)
Solar Shower: $10
Tent: $100 (I hate cheap tents w/ roof vents! AUGH!)
Shade Structure: $50
Sunblock: $15
Hat: $30
Camelbak: $75
First Aid Kit: $10

And the list is ever growing.

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 1:28 pm

We have a bar out there each year. This will be our 5th year with The Liver's End. Last year I spent about $2,000.00 on food, ticket ($165.00) and supplies for the bar. We eat quite well out there, but we seem to go a bit overboard. This year, I will probably spend about the same, but I will allocate more for the bar and less for food. I did buy a new tent for this year ($120.00) and I will buy a new air mattress.

XS · Post by XS » Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:28 am

Last year was my virgin burn. I made the decision to attend in mid June. Let the cash out-flow begin. In a matter of weeks, I spent well over three thousand on everything from Camp needs, New tent, stove, air-bed, carpets, etc... to Tarps, PVC, rebar... to costume shit, blinkies, wings... to gourmet eats and drinks, (got to live it up y'all) to a solar panel and inverter set up and even a new camper shell for my pick up to keep everything "dust free." Ok, dust free-for-all. But at least I could lock up shit in the truck for security. I did justify most of the expenses as "earthquake or survival supplies" as I live in So Cal. Remember Northridge anyone? The epicenter was two blocks north of me, in Reseda!

Repeat after me... "Money's no object, it's for a very good friend. Me."

$pend well or be well $pent.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:01 pm

The single most expensive thing we have bought for Burning Man: the Rhoadescar (four wheeled bike, 36 gears), because I can't bike or walk much. Something like $2,000 just for that and then we dress the damn thing up. That was year two. Next year, next most expensive single item: 14 foot flat bed trailer to carry said rhoadescar, $1200. Excellent investment, heavily used for moving shit to Synorgy, for relatives, and to go get the next thing. Next thing: Strangest item I've bought for burning Man, which hasn't even made it to the playa as yet: an Amish Buggy on ebay, $400 plus gas for the drive from Utah to Ohio to pick it up. And it won't fit in the trailer with the rhoadescar, it is one or the other. But now that Larry has a CDL, he can lease and drive a semi .... oh shit. AND he's a packrat AND I'm a compulsive shopper. Oh shit. Good thng the cash flow is down to a trickle and we're fully stocked on basic camp gear, that should put the brakes on my spending/ebay habit. Worse than fucking drugs!

Best two things we already owned pre-burning man: a really good tent and an old fashioned cast-iron shave ice machine.

Most useful scavenged free shit: billboard vinyls.

Best burning man survival tool: Larry the packrat trucker.

Current savings account: laughable. Burning joy: priceless (even if I am chronically cranky and pissed at the world).

I'd likely go into shock if I added it all up. Whadda addiction. Worse than fucking drugs!

I'd go even if I only had a ticket, my tent, and a suitcase of water. And this ashtray. This ashtray and this lamp. And this chair. (I think I need to see that movie again, how did that go?)

rambling,
anti m

cowboyangel · Post by **cowboyangel** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:19 pm

I'd rather not think about it...but last year.....probably around 7-800 bucks
was it worth it? yes, even had it been twice that much!

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 11:21 am

one dollar and nine cents!

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:03 pm

Last year I dropped over $1K into the theme camp alone. When my personal expences are added up I probably spent between $2K and $3K last year. This year's budget is a total of $1.5K.

Ron

SilkenTofu · Post by **SilkenTofu** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 1:32 pm

ticket = $175.00

food/gas/water/booze/odds and ends/decorations/costumage/gifts = $800.00 to $1000.00

this is my best estimate it's hard to keep track as I am buying little things all year round as I see them or if they are on sale. It is definately easier coming from Sacramento with just about a 5 hour drive to Black Rock City.

This year we are renting a truck as my travel companion's SUV is still coughing up dust every once in a while and he won't let his car go through that again.

Survey: How Much Did You Spend On The Burning Man?

Survey: How Much Did You Spend On The Burning Man?

Re: Survey: How Much Did You Spend On The Burning Man?

not enough

$$$

way too much

Too Much $! But it's never enough.

too fucking much