Hello and Welcome... What's your name? Tell me about You...

[FIGJAM]

It'a amazing what a little shade can get ya.

[Savannah]

I did find a total of three strangers in my shade last year. Imagine what would have happened if I'd been trying to lure them? I could have formed a hockey team.

[ygmir]

I have a 90' dia cargo parachute, cammo and all........

just sayin'........

[Mattthevagabond]

So hey, the names Matt! I'm 21, broke, and don't have a college degree set in mind as of yet, but I intend on heading to Burning Man in spite of this. I'd like to come into this with an open mind and more or less embracing as much of the chaos as I can, but as a self-titled greenhorn I must ask if there's any tips I may be missing out tips that aren't already covered in the first timers guide. Help please?

Welcome Matt, gotta be more specific on what your looking for tip wise.

Food?
Hydration?
Shelter?
Costumes?
Getting Laid?

Talk to us man

Okay pretty much all the above on this one hahaha.
I hiked the Appalachian Trail last year, and while I was able to wing the majority of that and had the best god damn time of my life, I wish to continue this trend by attending this
My main questions include: different ways i could participate(for example I was thinking something simple, like water and hauling around a 5 gallon jug in my pack for a week..maybe naive, but hey)
ways to get from there to San Fran/San Fran to burning man itself(note* not actually in San Francisco yet, currently in VA)
and Photography, I've seen different restrictions on it, it seems more or less like a "just be courteous of others and don't be a douche bag" rule, no?

[Mattthevagabond]

Also another thing(this sounds stupid, i know) would it be easier hitching a ride from a place like Winnemucca, or would I be better off with trying to find one from San Francisco?

[Savannah]

Hi Matt.

I urge you not to haul 5 gallons of water around in a backpack all day. Better for your health to offer drinks from your headquarters--& only if you have extra--to passersby. Don't take gifting too seriously your first time out. You will not be asked to display your gifts, or have a gift-off, and or asked for a gift. You can gift help or assistance. You can pick up trash (MOOP) if you see it blow by. You can gift your neighbor an extra hand during a critical moment of construction. You can gift a hug (ask before delivery). You can pick up a handful extra lip balms with SPF before you enter the event and gift one when you see someone with gnarly lips. It truly sucks to forget lip balm!

It's true, "don't be a douchebag" is a pretty good basic summation of the photography rules. Also known as "Don't be That Guy."
http://www.burningman.com/press/photo_guide.html

Rideshare board is here . . .
http://rideshare.burningman.com

[theCryptofishist]

Wait, you need a college degree to go to burningman? Nice to know that I'm hanging with the erudite when I dissipate.

[waterpistol]

hello y'all! i'm going to be spending time in NYC and SF before the festival... about a week in either and wanted to know if people have got information about events and stuff i could attend to make connexions and friends (as part of the pre-burn community!) also, if enough people want to do it i could hire a mini-bus or something; could prove cheap with a bit of space too! thing is, i'm travelling from the UK so will only sort it out when i'm in SF! >_< but as it's all part of the adventure let me know!

yes, this is my first go at the festival and although i'm a firefighter and volunteering as such i've also got a degree in fine art (photography) and CAN'T WAIT to take loads of good pictures (whilst following the guide Savannah has referenced on here!)

ok, cool, there you go, thanks for reading!

)

[andromeda23]

I've posted a little here are there, but mostly lurking...

I'm Andromeda. I'm sure there are 10 more people going by that name out on the playa, and that's cool. maybe we should meet up and drink 42 shots of something!

2011 will be my third burn but my first for my husband. I went in 2002 and then again in 2010. I hope to make it more of a tradition to go now!! We recently bought a camper trailer and i look forward to making her all dusty! I've been scouring the boards looking for information regarding campers and such but you know, the search function leaves a lot to be desired... I was really inspired by the Alternative Energy Zone last year and their reliance on solar and wind power. we are looking at getting the trailer done up with solar, but not this year.

about me.. I am a lot of things. including but not limited to: printmaker, weather junky, science nerd, mother, atheist, wife, vegetarian, clock-checker, nose-wiper, photographer, coffee-maker, procrastinator, 30-something. i think i might defy a few stereotypes too.

[cricket2010]

A demi-virgin, on the quiet side, artsy, daydreamer/doodler, skinny, way too tall. Camping on my own in a whimsical little semi-private henna lounge. Not sure where to set up... any tips for locating a 16' diameter pink beduin/circus tent? (and a Prius towing a small U-Haul trailer) - Cricket

[Lassen Forge]

A demi-virgin, on the quiet side, artsy, daydreamer/doodler, skinny, way too tall. Camping on my own in a whimsical little semi-private henna lounge. Not sure where to set up... any tips for locating a 16' diameter pink beduin/circus tent? (and a Prius towing a small U-Haul trailer) - Cricket

Get there early and find your spot... Just be aware, you can't camp in the spots that are reserved for Theme Camps (there are signs) or other "no camping zone" spots... or of course, on the streets or anything silly... Other than that, the playa is yours!!!

Welcome to the fray, and have an AWESOME burn!!!

[Sic Pup]

A demi-virgin, on the quiet side, artsy, daydreamer/doodler, skinny, way too tall. Camping on my own in a whimsical little semi-private henna lounge. Not sure where to set up... any tips for locating a 16' diameter pink beduin/circus tent? (and a Prius towing a small U-Haul trailer) - Cricket

Welcome Cricket!

What SSB said.

I can't let that just slip by, "demi"?

Did you attend before in an unconscious state or something like that?

[trilobyte]

Please bear with us, we're deleting and moving the 'need a ticket' posts as quickly as we're finding them. Thanks to the folks who've been flagging and helping out, and to everyone else for their patience. New arrivals often have that 'kid in a candy store' circuit that shorts out when they arrive, and it seems like it's much worse than usual with tickets having sold out over the weekend.

[grapefruitjews]

Hi Burning Man

I'm a scum punk from junction city, i'm gonna get to reno on a train and hitchhike to gerlach and ride my unicycle the rest of the way. Lately I've been thinking about bringing jelly beans to gift, but each jelly bean will be stuffed with a little playa dust- i'LL do the stuffing before i get there with regular dust. man this place itches.

anywho, it's great to be here, i'm part of yellow camp, if you see us on the playa say something yellow!

-PineappleJews

[keishie]

Hello,

My name is keishie. I am a DJ, musician, and artist currently living in the mountains of NW Montana. I am hoping that this will be my first time attending BM, granted I find a ticket for a reasonable price. I look forward to reading about, and learning from your past BM experiences, and eventually sharing my own with all of you.

[starmonkey]

Hey Everyone - I'm comming back to Burning Man for my 5th year, and our tribes 1st year as a regestered Mad Scientist theam camp. Our camp is Zipties and Beer at (about) 8:30 and Engagement. Come by and visit us! Something broke on the Playa? We may be able to help. This year we have at least 1 art car, possiblely 2, possiblely a 15,000 Watt WW2 anti aircraft searchlight (if we can get/make the $#@%^# parts we need!) that has be re-comissioned for peacetime awesomness, and are performing the musical, Jesus Christ SuperStar... Ah - I forget which day - but its going to be in the guide.

[trilobyte]

That sounds awesome, starmonkey, the playa (and indeed the world) could use more mad science!

[The Hustler]

Hey Everyone - I'm comming back to Burning Man for my 5th year, and our tribes 1st year as a regestered Mad Scientist theam camp. Our camp is Zipties and Beer at (about) 8:30 and Engagement. Come by and visit us! Something broke on the Playa? We may be able to help. This year we have at least 1 art car, possiblely 2, possiblely a 15,000 Watt WW2 anti aircraft searchlight (if we can get/make the $#@%^# parts we need!) that has be re-comissioned for peacetime awesomness, and are performing the musical, Jesus Christ SuperStar... Ah - I forget which day - but its going to be in the guide.

Wow, that sounds wonderfully crazy.

The light is a bright idea.

OK, a better bad joke ... if someone asks if it's heavy, you can say "no, it's light."

[mahayanna]

Hi everybody! My name's Eve, i'm 25 and live in Paris, and this year will be my first to the burning man! I am reading you since a while and grabbed a lot of precious advices! Now i will try to get a great camp!

[Savannah]

Hi Eve! Welcome to the board.

Visit the 2011 Theme Camps forum several steps below this one. There are still Theme Camps accepting members. Write a letter to the ones you like and tell them what you have to offer, and why they'll love you.

(Make sure you get your ticket first!)

[King Corvid Lux]

Hi , Im Corvid LuX. This will be my second Burn if I get my hands on a golden ticket, I went to the Evolution Burn and found it to be home. Last year couldnt make it beacause duty called at work, This year Im free to go but missed the ticket deadline cause of finances but Ive got a good feeling a ticket will come my way because Im a true burner heart and soul. The moment I stepped onto the playa the first time I knew I was home. Ive been away a while now....Its time to go HOME.

[Savannah]

Hi Corvid! Great attitude. Good luck to ya.

[kayaloveslife]

Hi all Hopefully by September 1st I will have been to Burning Man...as of right now I have not. I don't have tickets, but I'm on a mission and have faith it'll work out. Bartender in San Francisco, moving to Panama in September and determined to experience BM for what it is before I leave! Here to check out a few things
~Kaya

[illy dilly]

An idea dawned on me this morning.
Will there be tickets for sale the day the event starts?

If I lived less than 20 hours from BRC, I would have all my shit packed up and ready to go Saturday night. Then I would spend the next 48 hours checking every craigslist city between me and BRC. Someone, will have been asking too much for their ticket, and not sold it. Or they would have tried to hold out for more money, and gotten screwed. Or at the last minute found out they can't go.
They would probably be desperately trying to sell their ticket, since the event has already started.

And lets say you don't find a ticket... screw it, you got a car full of camping gear! Go camp!

[Savannah]

An idea dawned on me this morning.
Will there be tickets for sale the day the event starts?

If I lived less than 20 hours from BRC, I would have all my shit packed up and ready to go Saturday night. Then I would spend the next 48 hours checking every craigslist city between me and BRC. Someone, will have been asking too much for their ticket, and not sold it. Or they would have tried to hold out for more money, and gotten screwed. Or at the last minute found out they can't go.
They would probably be desperately trying to sell their ticket, since the event has already started.

And lets say you don't find a ticket... screw it, you got a car full of camping gear! Go camp!

I've been thinking the same thing. If I lacked for a ticket but was otherwise willing and able, with my time off scheduled and rent paid, I would keep searching, and leave in place All Things that would make traveling suddenly a possibility.

Gotta be ready when opportunity knocks. Or when you hunt down opportunity, and drag it to the ground like a lion with a gazelle.

[jsquared]

Hello all. My heart drew me to the love radiating from this event and all the beautiful people involved in it. This year may or may not be the year I get to experience the playa but I feel that I am meant to be there and won't give up hope that a ticket will come my way.

[theCryptofishist]

Hey Everyone - I'm comming back to Burning Man for my 5th year, and our tribes 1st year as a regestered Mad Scientist theam camp.

Last year I tried to have a Mad Scientist Rampage. But I didn't make it to the playa and since no one has raved about it or ranted about it, i guess it was a big fizzle. Still, it's nice to know that there is a Mad Scientist presence on the playa.

[bubbavic]

Hello all,

Bubbavic from San Diego. =)

I'm a newb to the Playa this year. Coming with a bunch of other newbs. We won't call ourselves burners yet because we haven't earned it yet and probably can't understand what it means until we experience it. Hoping to reconnect with myself and rediscover the goodness that I know exists in our society but is just hidden under a lot of muck.

So much to learn. So much to process!

gassho!

[trilobyte]

Welcome, Bubbavic! Don't worry about the name, you'll be out there soon enough.

[HarryK]

Afternoon all,

My names Harry and I'm 25 and from UK. Caught whispers of this event from a friend of a friend and thought I'd check it out, defo want to come down for 2012!! Few questions though if anyone can help out, is it wise to come alone? I was planning on making it a solo mission and seeing how I got on. Secondly what exactly goes on music wise, is it a bit like a huge festival or is it more like a "if you wanna rock out and mash up feel free but there's enough to get on with if that's not your scene" kind of affair? And how long does the whole thing last? I'm already looking to book the time off work for 2012 and was wondering if it'd be worthwhile booking enough time off to check out Vegas aswell?

Cheers all and happy burnin for this year you lucky guys an girlies! I am sooooo jealous!