The Burner demographic...

Ke'Chara · Post by **Ke'Chara** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:52 am

Preface: I looked for a similar thread (back 10 pages) and couldn't find one.

Topic: Who are we? In the default world, what do we do? Doctors, trashmen, bakers, housewives, Starbucks baristas... they say Burners come from all walks of life, and i believe that to be true, but would like to discuss specifics. What does YOUR life look like, the other 51 weeks of the year?

I'll start - Help Desk monkey by day, belly dancer by "night".

Ok go!

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:04 am

I am not what I do.
I think people get too wrapped up in "what I do is who I am." thus loosing out on the fantastic one of a kind human being that they really are.

Therefor lets all go to burning man and do a little rediscovery.

Ke'Chara · Post by **Ke'Chara** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:06 am

I'm asking from an anthropological POV, not in the least bit insinuating that any of us are what we do.

That would be ridiculous and invalid.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:08 am

I am a couch potatoe in real life.

Frankenstipe · Post by **Frankenstipe** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:14 am

Actually what you do does define a little bit of who you are as a person, to deny this fact would be to do deny your own existence. Which wouldn't be too out of place at Burning Man I suppose, but I'll play along.

I've been Unemployed for the last 2 years and just now starting to hate it. I really would like to work again, even though most real jobs suck I just need to do something with myself that makes money.

Hell if I didn't have to make or spend money to do the things I want to do, I'd be rich. :D

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:16 am

Ok, as long as thats clear, I move cactus.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:40 am

I do whatever I can to pay my rent and afford to do BRC every year.

I'm lucky that I presently work, in a field I love, for a great bunch of folk. Emergency Operations Coordinator for our State DOT.

My theme camp is one that reminds me of earlier times. Kinda makes it easy to come up with characters. Or fall into character.

Actually, I've had very few jobs or pursuits I did NOT like, or find fascinating or fun. Most are VERY different from one another, but all were pretty much a blast - especially for an adrenaline junkie... and double that for a woman. Not many can go where I've gone... ;)

Have nice day, komrade...
bbs

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:40 am

I teach voice, direct musical ensembles and act...

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:42 am

Custodian by day on weekdays

Fire spinner by night

"Weekend Warrior" on...well weekends.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:50 am

Okay, now you're making the japanese seem less surreal anyway.
There are stranger jobs that some burners have, but that's just fucking insane.
I think you win, just on points for surreality.

The range is from homeless (as in homeless without any help and living under a bridge homeless) and all belongings in the backpack, up to anyone you might think of.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:51 am

Generally you will find more people with graduate degrees at BM than you will in the general population of the US. You will find fewer families, more empty-nesters, and fewer of some occupations such as public school teachers than in the general population.

There is also some research to indicate that the burning man experience might make you smarter. There is some evidence that traveling to a new and different place, exposure to art and other forms of creativity and increased social interaction spurs the birth of new brain cells. Now the extent to which those cells survive to adulthood is the key. As you age, the number of cells that make it from birth to maturity declines. But there might be a chemical for that ... Google P7C3. A supplement containing Acetyl L-Carnitine and Alpha-Lipoic Acid (one such is marketed under the name Juvenon) might also help those cells survive by making a healthier mitochondria in the cell.

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:59 am

FIGJAM wrote:Ok, as long as thats clear, I move cactus.

Huell Howser did a whole TV show on a cactus moving company as part of his California's Gold series.

JK

VeganChoirGirl · Post by **VeganChoirGirl** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:02 pm

OK!

Well, up until just a bit ago I was a banker (ew!) then I was laid off. Now I work for a big company as an admin. I have a double bachelors degree in music education with an emphasis in voice and opera performance.

I sing in an a capella group on the side and perform in musicals regularly.

Pretty much I work as hard as I can to pay my rent, feed me and the cat, and get to the burn.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:33 pm

I break slot machines. Mr. is a poop, sand, oil, grease relocation specialist. (Never tell a border patrolman that this is your occupation, he thought we were being smartasses and pulled us into the customs office)

Boy we iz glamorous!

Same thing, enough to pay for the roof over our heads, feed the pets and have a little fun...sometimes!

psychoalpha · Post by **psychoalpha** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:13 pm

I'm a generic desk jockey with a BA in political science and Middle Eastern studies. In the excruciating process of applying to a concurrent masters program in Public Administration and Environmental Studies. My dream is to go into therapeutic outdoor recreation, though.

What defines me, though, is what I do outside of work. I'm an avid dancer (people tell me I do the weirdest, but most perfect, combination of the hippie sway and hip-hop), mountaineer, rock climber, kayaker, and bike rider. I like to make things with my hands (stencils, screenprints) and am learning how to scuba dive.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:30 pm

I grew up on a farm. BA in Electrical Engineering but have been lots of things. Worked in defense electronics in SoCal until the early 90's, then went home to run the family business (auto shop) for a while when Pop took sick, then after he passed I ran the thing as sort of a monument to him for a while and then moved to the Bay area where I do network stuff because I like it and it pays well and I can do it. A person configuring BGP peering between autonomous systems across the Internet generally makes more than the engineer who designed the routers.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:34 pm

I write those instructions that nobody bothers to read, for machines and gadgets that you've probably never heard of.

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:40 pm

Did you know that Burning Man conducts a census?

Here is a link to the last one posted

http://afterburn.burningman.com/08/census/index.html

ETA: In answer to your question: Computer networking at a university

Dr Helix · Post by **Dr Helix** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:52 pm

I'm a welder by trade. Been in it 25 plus years and was taught by my Dad. Run a welding company in the Bay Area. I also worked as a riverguide (a while ago!) and do musical theater as a performer and set designer. BA in Journalism at Fresno State University. Emcee Music Festivals on occasion.

MisaBlue · Post by **MisaBlue** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:56 pm

Theater and documentary movies production manager...doing my PhD at Theater faculty on the theme Ecology in the Arts/Theater, which makes me total freak for others

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:09 pm

Worked for a software development company. We got bought out by Oracle, wanted to retire so I asked (begged) to get laid off. Got the buyout package and have been enjoying my freedom ever since.

dinks · Post by **dinks** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:29 pm

geospyder wrote:Worked for a software development company. We got bought out by Oracle, wanted to retire so I asked (begged) to get laid off. Got the buyout package and have been enjoying my freedom ever since.

I worked for a software company, got bought out by Oracle. Hated it, took a new software job elsewhere. Been happy ever since. But I have to weld and fabricate things to keep my sanity.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:31 pm

Unemployed. Was recently laid off from Retail Management due to a management shuffle. I can't work in my area of specialty (art materials for the past 15 years) because of the settlement, so I'm working on my own stuff (jewelry & paintings) while I figure out what I want to do next.

Its actually been a pretty nice vacation, but it would be nice to work outside the house....

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:35 pm

Executive Director for a nonprofit organization; also freelance as a Non-Profit/Project Consultant; Bike Flipper on the weekends; Contra Dancer when time allows.

Ke'Chara · Post by **Ke'Chara** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:57 pm

sputnik wrote:Did you know that Burning Man conducts a census?

Here is a link to the last one posted

http://afterburn.burningman.com/08/census/index.html

ETA: In answer to your question: Computer networking at a university

I did NOT know that there was a BM census, that's really cool. Thanks for the link.

snake · Post by **snake** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:58 pm

grantwriter for a nevada tribe, focusing on federal dollars. but i'm also a published poet. and i love being a gramma!

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:38 pm

nuclear medicine and research for the D.O.D. ...

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:04 pm

I wish what I liked and what I do were the same thing all the time. Sometimes they are, and those are really neat days. I find I don't really answer that question on the playa. It doesn't say a whole lot about me.

Orchid · Post by **Orchid** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:08 pm

Business Manager of a civilian-published military newspaper by day, writer and singer of electro party pop by night.

shroom · Post by **shroom** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm

I am a substitute school teacher, wife and mom who just enrolled in college. Back to school after 16 years.