volunteering to build brc

phat_empress · Post by **phat_empress** » Sun May 08, 2011 9:06 pm

i want to build black rock this year. im free all of august and i have a car.

last year i filled out the volunteer form with dpw and they never got back to me. someone told me that if you go out there like 3 weeks in advance, they'll just let you volunteer.

where do i go?

any info would be great. perhaps you've done this before?

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Sun May 08, 2011 10:57 pm

I'd recommend resending the app rather than just show up on the doorstep unannounced. I don't think they JUST let you go to work...ya gotta be on someone's list. Perhaps they had enough help and didn't bother letting you know, for which they should be thoroughly disciplined!

If you don't hear from someone in a reasonable amount of time, 2-3 weeks, give the San Francisco office a call.

It's still early yet, and it may be a while longer before volunteer coordinators start getting things together.

Anyone else?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:18 pm

Irregardless that DPW is overrated, it's already May and unless you've already been contacted by someone w/ the org you should make other plans.

What's lacking in building BRC is something original. That's up to you.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:19 pm

Can't speak for dpw, but we volunteer a lot and always wait until we hear something back from the lead on whatever team we volunteer for. We were told by someone with the lamplighters after we applied, to just show up for a shift, but that's during the event.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:30 pm

Holy fuck, do you need help lighting a fucking lamp????

Nation of fucking sheep.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:41 pm

Bob wrote:Holy fuck, do you need help lighting a fucking lamp????

Nation of fucking sheep.

50 bucks says you cant put up the posts, then collect more than a thousand lamps, refill them, redistribute them light them, and place them on the aforementioned posts by yourself. I bet it would take 20-30 people every day. Just a thought.

http://afterburn.burningman.com/10/comm ... hters.html

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:48 pm

I was replying to "Jkisha", not the OP, you useless org tentacle.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:52 pm

Bob wrote:I was replying to "Jkisha", not the OP, you useless org tentacle.

I think mdmf's response was appropriate, even reserved. Obviously you have never volunteered for lamplighters. Time for you to go and get yourself reupholstered.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:59 pm

Bob wrote:I was replying to "Jkisha", not the OP, you useless org tentacle.

Yeah, i got that - and I was responding to your comment. Useless org tentacle? WTF's with that?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon May 09, 2011 12:01 am

I consulted with the Lamplighters on their first shade structure in Center Camp, refined the design, requested a budget, and put a crew on building it.

Not that your bullshit has anything to do with the original post.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon May 09, 2011 12:12 am

In any case, what I'd advise anyone like phat_empress is just do your own project or connect with someone local on theirs.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon May 09, 2011 12:17 am

Bullshit huh? what a dick.

Anyways PhatEmpress - id bug the appropriate volunteer coordinator again, things do get lost in the stream. The majority of BMAN mid level managers are volunteers or part timers.

PM me if you need a name and email contact.

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon May 09, 2011 12:47 am

Bob wrote:I consulted with the Lamplighters on their first shade structure in Center Camp, refined the design, requested a budget, and put a crew on building it.

Not that your bullshit has anything to do with the original post.

LOL like your comment had anything constructive to add. Have your couch fumigated while you're at it.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon May 09, 2011 1:31 am

She wants to *build* BRC, not do a lamp shift. Please inform our dear readers how she can do that and feel like she's *building* something, you useless anonymous persons.

Post by **Sham** » Mon May 09, 2011 6:30 am

I don't understand why the lamplighters don't convert to solar and put an end to the nightly ritual. Just a thought!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon May 09, 2011 7:34 am

Actually, Lamplighters is okay, after building their Center Camp structure the first year or two they totally took it over. May is a little late to try to get on a DPW crew, especially if you live in Toronto and can't get to the desert for 'volunteer' weekends. Other groups might need help building, but they usually want you to establish a track record before they put you on their list. Which is why I suggest connecting with local projects.

But I could be wrong, maybe people like Mdmf007 and Jkisha run DPW these days.

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon May 09, 2011 9:07 am

Bob wrote:Actually, Lamplighters is okay, after building their Center Camp structure the first year or two they totally took it over. May is a little late to try to get on a DPW crew, especially if you live in Toronto and can't get to the desert for 'volunteer' weekends. Other groups might need help building, but they usually want you to establish a track record before they put you on their list. Which is why I suggest connecting with local projects.

But I could be wrong, maybe people like Mdmf007 and Jkisha run DPW these days.

Obviously couches don't have enough common sense to know when they have come down on the wrong side of an issue and give it a rest. But one shouldn't expect more, it's only a couch.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Mon May 09, 2011 9:10 am

I Just heard back from DMV. give em time. They do have work weekends, up at the ranch. If your on the mailing list, you should be notified. Or, call the BM headquarters and get a contact number.

The Hustler · Post by **The Hustler** » Mon May 09, 2011 10:01 am

I volunteered for Media Mecca and heard back in a timely manner. naturally I forgot to save the contact information of the person who emailed me. She said they will get in touch with their volunteers and staff in July to finalise things.

I know it's not actually building anything but I'm excited about it -- I get to do the parts of my horrible "day job" that I like in a better surrounding. I also think it may give me a pretty good view into Burning Man.

Is it me or did Bob seem to be a little angry with a simple question form the original post? Why do people who are so angry with the BM organization participate? I'm stoked people put so much time into organizing and building this thing. I'm happy to volunteer, if I could do more I would. I'm limited by my crappy income and time.

phat_empress - I looked through the volunteer thing on the Burning Man website and found Media Mecca, which it totally up my alley. I think paid BM people and certain volunteers build the infrastructure ahead of time, but maybe you can find another oportunity to volunteer. Or, like dragonpilot said, try resubmitting your application. Like with job searches or other things in life, some polite follow-through after a reasonable amount of time passes is good. There is never an excuse for poor manners.

It's my first burn, so maybe I have it all wrong and maybe it's foolish to believe what the org said about their management on the website. I'm not inclined to belive anything I hear and I don't blindly follow anything.

Jumping all over someone for asking how to travel a long way and donate time isn't really bad. More people should give of themselves, the world would be a better place.

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Mon May 09, 2011 11:36 am

Interesting thread drift.

Phat - Be aware of a couple of things:

At this time of year, the vol. coords (Volunteer Coordinators) for each department are receiving floods of offers for help from the questionnaire on the Org website.

They must sift through those and screen out people that do not have appropriate skills. Parallel to this, they are trying to contact prior volunteers & staff to see who is returning. For DPW crews, this is especially tight. Each crew lives & works together for weeks, forming a little family unit.

People with special skills (heavy equipment operators, mechanics, POL, etc) go into different crews.

Finally, they reach out to people to fill slots in the above mentioned crews. DPW almost always has many, many more volunteers than slots.

Also, if you checked many departments on the questionnaire at the Org, your chances of getting a contact back from an overloaded department go down substantially. It says "I'm willing to work for anyone" so if they're near full and you don't have specialty skill or experience, they figure you'll find a home in one of the other departments.

Disclaimer: I am not involved directly with DPW in any way. I am involved with two other departments in some way.

Hope that helps shape things up for you.

LoR

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon May 09, 2011 1:39 pm

Hey, everybody should try DPW, at least once.

Just make sure your free teeshirt has a few well-placed oil stains on it when you wear it to art parties.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Mon May 09, 2011 1:47 pm

Bob wrote:Hey, everybody should try DPW, at least once.

Just make sure your free teeshirt has a few well-placed oil stains on it when you wear it to art parties.

or at least a stencil spray painted on it. Mine was a bunny.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon May 09, 2011 2:13 pm

Shambala wrote:I don't understand why the lamplighters don't convert to solar and put an end to the nightly ritual. Just a thought!

Because they're boring, lame, and frankly don't work. The really funny thing was Larry made us put some out around the Man a few years ago (2008?), but the man was so bright that they would never turn on. heh
We had to scramble at the last minute to find extra lanterns and get them out there each night.

-Badger

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Mon May 09, 2011 2:49 pm

Oh, forgot to add two things:

One, do NOT "just show up" especially if it's pre-event. Super early and you'll just be in the way and if not used by the department, you'll have to get your ass back to Reno. That early on playa is tightly controlled because there aren't a lot of support resources.

After about two weeks prior to the event, the closure zone is in effect with Gate and Perimeter enforcing it. At that point, there's REALLY no point in just showing up. Without a ticket and an early arrival barcode, you ain't gettin' in. No way, no how.

LoR

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon May 09, 2011 7:20 pm

I think you might be accepted on short notice, if they can use you and want to use you, but they may not have a budget to allow for anyone else, even if they really, really want you.
This may or may not be an issue, but it would mean not being able to eat with everyone else, and maybe other issues.
The biggest problem might be early passes, though in my experience it is less of an issue.

Definitely better to make arrangements ahead of time.

If you don't get on where you want, look for other departments or projects.
Someone will be happy to see you.

Fuck, come help me move.
We'll blow up something fun.
It is time to pull the cannon out again.

What most departments want to know ~

Can you do anything useful?

Will you do something else, if you have to?

Will you show up, or in some cases, try to show up, or let them know when you can't?

Some people can't manage even these very generous requirements for a week.

Post by **Sham** » Mon May 09, 2011 8:14 pm

capjbadger wrote:
Shambala wrote:I don't understand why the lamplighters don't convert to solar and put an end to the nightly ritual. Just a thought!
Because they're boring, lame, and frankly don't work.

-Badger

I think you're being a bit hard on those Lamplighters. Sure, some can be boring lame and lazy, but it's not fair to paint them all with the same broad brush.

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon May 09, 2011 9:42 pm

Just go camp out at Trego hot spring for a month before the fiesta.

You get the same pay grade and benefits but don't have to do anything.

VeganChoirGirl · Post by **VeganChoirGirl** » Mon May 09, 2011 10:16 pm

phat_empress wrote:i want to build black rock this year. im free all of august and i have a car.

last year i filled out the volunteer form with dpw and they never got back to me. someone told me that if you go out there like 3 weeks in advance, they'll just let you volunteer.

where do i go?

any info would be great. perhaps you've done this before?

Please do not just show up. This will end in two things:

1. you leave and don't cause too much trouble
2. you leave and take up the time of someone who is working their ass off to get the city open for you and other participants.

However, DO send out some emails. My ap slipped through a while back and when my department was notified, there WAS room for me and I was accepted.

One more thing:

DPW is a very tight crew. It's not as if they NEVER take new people, but they rarely do. Mostly they bring in old crew and friends of friends. When you have to work THAT hard, it's very important to know for sure that the people you are bringing in are good, hard workers with the skills they say they have.

Please don't take this to mean that you don't have those skills.

Please check out the other volunteer opportunities on playa and contact some other groups.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon May 09, 2011 11:11 pm

VeganChoirGirl wrote:
phat_empress wrote:i want to build black rock this year. im free all of august and i have a car.
One more thing:

DPW is a very tight crew. It's not as if they NEVER take new people, but they rarely do. Mostly they bring in old crew and friends of friends. When you have to work THAT hard, it's very important to know for sure that the people you are bringing in are good, hard workers with the skills they say they have....
DPW's afterburn report lists 30% new peeps.

From the 2010 afterburn:
The main build crew was made up of 260 hands this year, about 70% of whom were returning crewmembers. The new 30% were a mix of new faces ... some recruits from different regional events, and some folks entirely new to the process. DPW is extremely fortunate in that so many people want to join the crew each year. More than 500 people applied to be a part of DPW 2010. While DPW canâ€™t take everyone, an effort is made each year to bring some entirely new blood into the mix, and to learn from their fresh perspectives and experience.

Lord Of Ruin · Post by **Lord Of Ruin** » Tue May 10, 2011 12:06 pm

MDFM: Yea....but that 30% of new DPW people, about 90% are really "known" people...other BM departments, friends of long time DPW crew members, people who do DPW things at regionals, etc.

That number may make it seem like they take 30% new peeps each year via questionaire. It just ain't so....but for good reason.

Gate, now...we will take a lot of new people each year. And Exodus is perenially in need of people that can stay late.

LoR

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