A tricky predicament!

[jnorman]

Hey guys, I found out about burning man a couple of months ago, and immediately thought it looks like one of the most amazing places to be. I realized there is a possibility I can go this year, and started doing my homework on the event. I'll basically explain the predicament I am in and ANY advice from you kind people will be extremely helpful!

I live in England, and this summer I am working at a summer camp in Pennsylvania. I finish working on the 8th of August, so would have 3 weeks to get to the playa, which would be no problem. however, when I began reading more about Burning Man I realized how self reliant you need to be, and how much preparation is needed (quite different to the green fields of Glastonbury I am used to!) As I will only be able take what I can carry, I figured going by myself is out of the question.

The only way I guess I will be able to go will be helping out with other peoples projects, which I would be thrilled to do. I looked at volunteering which seems to be a good way to get involved and meet people who can help me out. If anybody has any information on contacting Burners from different areas/advice/helpful comments that would be great. It seems like an opportunity I feel I would regret for a long time if I didn't go!

Thank you very much, Jaime

[changoloco]

Hey guys, I found out about burning man a couple of months ago, and immediately thought it looks like one of the most amazing places to be. I realized there is a possibility I can go this year, and started doing my homework on the event. I'll basically explain the predicament I am in and ANY advice from you kind people will be extremely helpful!

I live in England, and this summer I am working at a summer camp in Pennsylvania. I finish working on the 8th of August, so would have 3 weeks to get to the playa, which would be no problem. however, when I began reading more about Burning Man I realized how self reliant you need to be, and how much preparation is needed (quite different to the green fields of Glastonbury I am used to!) As I will only be able take what I can carry, I figured going by myself is out of the question.

The only way I guess I will be able to go will be helping out with other peoples projects, which I would be thrilled to do. I looked at volunteering which seems to be a good way to get involved and meet people who can help me out. If anybody has any information on contacting Burners from different areas/advice/helpful comments that would be great. It seems like an opportunity I feel I would regret for a long time if I didn't go!

Thank you very much, Jaime

Take all your notions of what you think BM is and throw them away. BM is nothing like any of the big music festivals that you have ever been to. You just need to save your money and buy the supplies you need. The community doesn't appreciate people that are there without the necessary supplies. I hope you figure it out and come see us at Nexus Galaxitron! Happy travels!

[Dr. Pyro]

If I may suggest, you should probably give us more information about you. For example, you need to be 21 or over to be part of our camp. Some camps have restrictions (ours is due to it being an open wine bar).

Do you have any special needs (dietary, physical, etc.)? What is your gender (Jamie can be a male or female name) and/or "orientation"?

What can you contribute to your fellow campmates or community? You see Jamie, just saying, "Blimey, going to this Burning Thing sounds like fun. Sign me up." just isn't going to cut it. You need to embrace both the idea of radical self-reliance and simutaniously recognize that you must contribute to the community at large. I would strongly suggest to continue your research and do some personal self-examination.

[C.f.M.]

Everybody who does is taking what they can carry.

Burning Man is NOT like "festivals."

If you need it, if you need a q-tip/sandwich/drink of water/sock you bring it.

The End.

If you're unable to provide for yourself, for the duration of the event in the harsh conditions of the open desert, use the coming year to prepare yourself for 2011.

Or, be a major dick and show up with a backpack, and mooch off people.

There's many theme camps that, for a fee, offer amenities such as kitchen area, food, showers, etc.

You'd just need to find one that fit your needs.

[theCryptofishist]

...do some personal self-examination.

That's later this month.

[jnorman]

Thanks guys, I do understand what you are saying, and imagine you get a fair few people asking the same sort of questions on here!

Basically I am a 19 year old guy, studying art at college, and wanting to use the last summer I have before I go to university to explore who I am. I'm young, and feel my life is just starting, which is an exciting but also pretty scary thing. I know if I prepare sufficiently it could be a life changing experience, and if i don't it will be pretty miserable.

I'd consider myself to be a creative, relaxed and eager to learn individual. My main passions are the "arts," music in particular is what my life revolves around. My plan to study Physics at university next year reflects my want to not be tied down to one particular area of study. I have over 250 friends on Facebook.

I know its all very well me saying this, assuring you I'm not a "moocher," and writing a CV style self analysis, but I am willing to contribute all my energy, effort and time I have to learning about the festival (should I call it a festival?) and contribute as much as I have to the community of Burning man. I guess you can't experience the true Burning Man unless you go. I would be willing to meet others 3 weeks before the Burn, and put my all into everything the Burn is and what makes it so special.

I'll print off all the info I can get hold of about it to try and give myself a clearer picture of... everything :)

Thanks again. And any advice where to start/who to contact would be great

[mdmf007]

If your here all summer you will have plenty of time to arrange your BM gig.

What you have seen in the print media is wayyyyy out there as far as BM goes.

It is not a debauchery filled orgy with drugs for a week, but sex and drugs are there like any city of 50,000 plus people. Start looking for ride-sharing now. There are lots of people from the North East there.

planning makes all the difference.

[jnorman]

Haha, cheers for the advice :)

I think most of the people I talk to the conversation goes a bit like this, "hey, I'm thinking of going to burning man this summer"

"Oh awesome! I've heard its a debauchery filled orgy with drugs for a week!"

umm...no :)

[Elorrum]

I think most of the people I talk to the conversation goes a bit like this, "hey, I'm thinking of going to burning man this summer"
"Oh awesome! I've heard its a debauchery filled orgy with drugs for a week!"

Funny, many of mt friends still think this. I have a good friend who I went to many many musical adventure weekends with who would absolutely love and get Burning Man. He is afraid that his "affiliation" with the event would harm his child custody position with the court somehow. huh?

[mdmf007]

I think most of the people I talk to the conversation goes a bit like this, "hey, I'm thinking of going to burning man this summer"
"Oh awesome! I've heard its a debauchery filled orgy with drugs for a week!"

Funny, many of mt friends still think this. I have a good friend who I went to many many musical adventure weekends with who would absolutely love and get Burning Man. He is afraid that his "affiliation" with the event would harm his child custody position with the court somehow. huh?

It very well could. Anything can be brought up in court. Sling enough mud and sometimes it sticks.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

[sunflowertravler]

Hey newbie, dont let them get you down, IM NEW too...best place to look for others to work with is on the forum of what are the themes...thats where you will find a group to hang with these yo yos, are just pulling your chain...or terribly dispossed...yea I said it...doh!!!

cheers, Sunflower a newbie as well :P

[Elliot]

Jaime, you say your life revolves around music. Do you play the piano?

[misturgrieves]

WAIT! you mean it's NOT a sex/drug fueled debauch fest???

[quote="Elliot"]:D
Jaime, you say your life revolves around music. Do you play the piano?
:D[/quote]

more musicians for the win

[Elliot]

WAIT! you mean it's NOT a sex/drug fueled debauch fest???

Where do people get such awful ideas? It's mostly chamber music, chess tournaments, scuba diving, square dancing and spelling bees. And a bit of badminton.

[ygmir]

and, I'll be there on patrol, just to make sure order is maintained:

[C.f.M.]

It's mostly chamber music, chess tournaments, scuba diving, square dancing and spelling bees. And a bit of badminton.

Except for the scuba diving, it's like a regular Tuesday morning for me.

[FIGJAM]

Sooooooo you just come for the dry heat then?

[Rising Flame]

jnorman, I am/was somewhat in a similar situation. No, not 19 y/o in a camp in PA looking forward to college. Rather I too am a virgin and felt the call of the playa but felt going totally solo would be really stupid.

So I don't know much, but here's what I learned and what has worked (so far) for me....

1 - Really study the materials... all of it. That includes the stuff from the burningman website, eplaya. i've also done a lot of other google searches to find even more info.

2. Count on brining (and removing) absolutely everything you need. Start making a list now. Search the web and find recommendations of what to bring from others. Of course coming from the east coast like me, we have to make some sacrifices, but you'll need to make sure you cover the essentials.

3. There's probably a local/regional burning man group and email list that you can join. Join it. Where I live they even put on a "Burning Man for Beginners" seminar, which was helpful. Besides learning much needed info, this group combined with the message boards very well might help you find your campmates.

4. Consider joining a theme camp (official or unofficial). Nice thing about it is that even if someone backs out for a very good reason, you'll still have a home. Don't count on mooching from them, but rather giving as you said your time and effort to enhance the camp. Big recommendation... focus on a camp that you think will fit into well. That said, once you get there, count on throwing all pre-concieved notions of the camp out, accept it as it is and contribute.

It's still over 3 months away and can definitely be done. The more you read and interact the more you'll find your way to the playa.

Good luck and hope to see you there!

[AntiM]

WAIT! you mean it's NOT a sex/drug fueled debauch fest???

Where do people get such awful ideas? It's mostly chamber music, chess tournaments, scuba diving, square dancing and spelling bees. And a bit of badminton.

But you can find all those things there is you try or arrange it. Except scuba diving, and even then, you can get that at the Utah burn in the Utah West Desert. We have our regional at Seabase and they certify scuba in the deep salt water spring-fed pools.

Or not.

Welcome eHome.

[ygmir]

WAIT! you mean it's NOT a sex/drug fueled debauch fest???

Where do people get such awful ideas? It's mostly chamber music, chess tournaments, scuba diving, square dancing and spelling bees. And a bit of badminton.

But you can find all those things there is you try or arrange it. Except scuba diving, and even then, you can get that at the Utah burn in the Utah West Desert. We have our regional at Seabase and they certify scuba in the deep salt water spring-fed pools.

Or not.

Welcome eHome.

dang, ......there goes the "secret code phrase"..........

[C.f.M.]

Sooooooo you just come for the dry heat then?

I'm stalking barbarians.

[jnorman]

Haha, the more you guys chat about it and the more I read about it, the more Burning man feels like home already :)

Elliot, I can play piano, as well as many an instrument, though I'm not an expert. What sort of thing are you running?

[Elliot]

What sort of thing are you running?

Well, at the moment, some sort of Old Pianos' Home. And I'll be bringing some of them on a little field trip to Nevada in August.

Perhaps foremost, I'm building a Mutant Vehicle, and it will have a piano onboard. Everyone welcome to play. We also have an opera singer who is looking for a bit of piano accompaniment. She's here on E-playa, under the moniker C.O.L.A.H. She posted in the Art & Performance section.

Oh,... and for the pianos I cannot get repaired well enough to play at Burning Man, we hope to drop a couple of them from great heights and that sort of thing.

[Oso]

Elliot - sound great. Would I be allowed to play ANYTHING on the piano.... even old show or broadway tunes?

[theCryptofishist]

Elliot - sound great. Would I be allowed to play ANYTHING on the piano.... even old show or broadway tunes?

We prefer you play craps and monopoly on the piano.

[Elliot]

Oso, yes absolutely! Broadway, Bluegrass -- anything at all. What I'm hoping to bring to BRC is variety -- and I don't seem to be alone in this hope. Every year we get several threads here on the forum promoting all kinds of real music, but it is difficult to compete with the terrorism of nuclear techno. Perhaps we are finally making headway!

As for the gambling that Fishy is looking for, listen for Ragtime sounds, and head for the smoky back room. Tell the bouncer that Walt sent you.

[ygmir]

Elliot - sound great. Would I be allowed to play ANYTHING on the piano.... even old show or broadway tunes?

In Prague, I saw people playing on a piano.....and, there was no music at all........

[Plumeria]

[quote="theCryptofishist"][quote="Oso"]Elliot - sound great. Would I be allowed to play ANYTHING on the piano.... even old show or broadway tunes?[/quote]
We prefer you play craps and monopoly on the piano.[/quote]

What about monopoly deal? hehe

[Oso]

Last time.... well..... it was not good. The piano had been drinking and I kinda ended up under the piano.