Volunteering

[RayMcKay]

Hey, I was just wondering what different kinds of volunteering positions are available? 2012 will be my first year, and I wouldn't mind helping out with everything.

[Drawingablank]

There are many things you can volunteer for but I believe the accepted wisdom for first timers is to wait and volunteer on the playa, rather than commit yourself ahead of time. That was my plan for my first time and I was so beat down by the environment and insufficient fitness that I never managed to make it to anyplace to volunteer - at least I didn't cause problems by pre booking my volunteer efforts. You may have the best of intentions, but it's hard to plan what's gonna happen on playa time if you've never been there.

There are several groups that take volunteers on the spot such as lamplighters, post office, and iirc the portapotty project but those who know more about these and others will be replying shortly I'm sure.

[Elderberry]

Tons of things to get involved with http://www.burningman.com/participate/volunteer.html But this link was readily available on the main web site. Which then begs the question: If you are planning on going to TTITD, have you done all the rest of your preliminary reading?

[trilobyte]

Sign up to the Jack Rabbit Speaks newsletter and your local regional group's mailing list, they'll have information in the spring about volunteering/participating with different departments, I believe.

As a rule, though, in your first year you shouldn't plan or schedule volunteer shifts in advance. For starters, your presence on the playa is a gift to the community - just worry about getting out there in one piece and enjoying the experience. Second, as you'll probably discover over the course of the next ten months, getting out there takes a lot more than most people imagine. Regardless of the experience you may have with camping or anything else related... Burning Man is something else. If you sign up for a bunch of stuff, you may find yourself in a situation where things get overwhelming as the event approaches (or you get out there). Then there's also a certain 'holy shit' factor, where new folks who are prepared and ready to go get out there and just get completely lost (in a very good way), and for one reason or another have incredible difficulty honoring any of those commitments (which then sucks for the group that was in need of help).

Don't worry though, there will be plenty of opportunities for volunteering and pitching in on the playa. Head to Playa Info (next to Center Camp) on any given day, I believe there's a temporary job service that helps put volunteers in touch with artists and projects that can use a hand immediately. There's also the Lamplighters (also near Center Camp), hit them up on any afternoon and you can help them light the streets of Black Rock City. And there's BRCPO - the post office, which can also put volunteers to work every day, delivering packages and messages to points all around Black Rock City. I'm sure there are other 'on the day' volunteer options too.

Good luck, and hope to see you out there

[robbidobbs]

I preferentially look for virgins to go on Poop Patrol.
Feel free to review "all about participating in the pottie project" for more information.
When: any time you can jump in my car. The shift is 4 hours long - more or less. And you get fed at Kommissary.
Where: find me at Terminal City in the morning or when you come on by. Drink other people's beer while you're waiting.
What: cruise the city distributing tp and listening to my bullshit
Why: because it's the best job on the Playa!

Enjoy your year of anticipation. Read everything.

Thanks for jumping in.

[RayMcKay]

Excellent! I'll check those links out and take the advice you guys give me. Is there any rules about cameras? Some music festivals I've been too, didn't want me using an SLR for the little videos I like to make.

[Savannah]

You'll want to fill out a Personal Use Agreement at "Playa Info" in Center Camp.

Lots of photography info here, useful for professionals and others alike:
http://www.burningman.com/press/

Of particular interest:

Personal Use of Video Cameras
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... meras.html

Etiquette and general stuff:
http://www.burningman.com/press/photo_guide.html

[britzbitz]

Listneing to BMIR during the Burn this year was fantastic and painful.

But, painful as it was, it made me realize that I must volunteer at Media Mecca. *fingers crossed*

I actually sent in an application DURING Burning Man, because I couldn't wait.

[gyre]

Don't restrict yourself to areas of professional skill you already have.

[lazerfox]

I preferentially look for virgins to go on Poop Patrol.
Feel free to review "all about participating in the pottie project" for more information.
When: any time you can jump in my car. The shift is 4 hours long - more or less. And you get fed at Kommissary.
Where: find me at Terminal City in the morning or when you come on by. Drink other people's beer while you're waiting.
What: cruise the city distributing tp and listening to my bullshit
Why: because it's the best job on the Playa!

Enjoy your year of anticipation. Read everything.

Thanks for jumping in.

Where do I sign up for 2012!?

[robbidobbs]

There isn't a formal signup, just jump in my car. In the morning Gonzo and I leave at 7am sharp. I mozy thru TC occasionally, but I monitor the entire city so no set schedule. If you see me, and it's daylight, you're in. I totally want your help lazerfox! It's a sweet gig!

BTW: Gonzo's from Orlando. He'll be just tickled if you can join us.

[lazerfox]

There isn't a formal signup, just jump in my car. In the morning Gonzo and I leave at 7am sharp. I mozy thru TC occasionally, but I monitor the entire city so no set schedule. If you see me, and it's daylight, you're in. I totally want your help lazerfox! It's a sweet gig!

BTW: Gonzo's from Orlando. He'll be just tickled if you can join us.

O-Town in the house...although by next year I should (hopefully) no longer be a resident of Orlando. Planning on moving out of state in June 2012. And uh...I don't think I've seen pics of you So I'll need to figure out how to recognize you

[junglesmacks]

BTW: Gonzo's from Orlando. He'll be just tickled if you can join us.

Wait WHAT?!

[robbidobbs]

PlayaMobile.jpg

By my car...

[CapSmashy]

Poop patrol is AWESOME!

You'll see large areas of the city that you probably would have never gotten around to visiting.

[JDCookMS]

There isn't a formal signup, just jump in my car. In the morning Gonzo and I leave at 7am sharp. I mozy thru TC occasionally, but I monitor the entire city so no set schedule. If you see me, and it's daylight, you're in. I totally want your help lazerfox! It's a sweet gig!

BTW: Gonzo's from Orlando. He'll be just tickled if you can join us.

Are you going to be doing it this coming year? It definitely sounds like an experience.

[theCryptofishist]

This year and every year for the forseeable future.

That's an educated guess. I have no formal roll as her spokesfish.

[lemur]

this is the last year of the porta potty program

in 2013 burning man you will need to bring your own shitter.



you can pick up your 5 gallon buckets at first camp.. while they last.

[JDCookMS]

this is the last year of the porta potty program

in 2013 burning man you will need to bring your own shitter.


you can pick up your 5 gallon buckets at first camp.. while they last.

.... I am hoping that you're joking, because that sounds terrible. ...and by terrible I mean that it sucks because next year I'll have to spend more money and that'll take more organization.

It also means that I have definitely got to hit robbidobbs up this year, just in case. I figure, this is going to be a whole new experience, so why not try out stuff that I've never done before/would never normally do, eh?

[Savannah]

Yes, Lemur is @#$%ing with you.

[JDCookMS]

Yes, Lemur is @#$%ing with you.

Messing with the birgin....that's not nice. lol

[lazerfox]

Yes, Lemur is @#$%ing with you.

Messing with the birgin....that's not nice. lol

It's more of a rite of passage...

[JDCookMS]

Sorry, I was joking and there's not an edit button (that I see, at least). Although I haven't been yet, I do believe that if the porta potty people decided to stop servicing BRC then it would definitely affect the event in a negative fashion. But, I'm just ready to go

[trilobyte]

You only have a short window of time in which you can edit a post - after that, no more edit button.

[ygmir]

Sorry, I was joking and there's not an edit button (that I see, at least). Although I haven't been yet, I do believe that if the porta potty people decided to stop servicing BRC then it would definitely affect the event in a negative fashion. But, I'm just ready to go

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... op#p496230

[JDCookMS]

Sorry, I was joking and there's not an edit button (that I see, at least). Although I haven't been yet, I do believe that if the porta potty people decided to stop servicing BRC then it would definitely affect the event in a negative fashion. But, I'm just ready to go

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... op#p496230

Well played dear sir. That is pretty amazing.... amazing enough to even get a bump.

[ygmir]

Sorry, I was joking and there's not an edit button (that I see, at least). Although I haven't been yet, I do believe that if the porta potty people decided to stop servicing BRC then it would definitely affect the event in a negative fashion. But, I'm just ready to go

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... op#p496230

Well played dear sir. That is pretty amazing.... amazing enough to even get a bump.

*nods and tips hat*

[robbidobbs]

There isn't a formal signup, just jump in my car. In the morning Gonzo and I leave at 7am sharp. I mozy thru TC occasionally, but I monitor the entire city so no set schedule. If you see me, and it's daylight, you're in. I totally want your help lazerfox! It's a sweet gig!

BTW: Gonzo's from Orlando. He'll be just tickled if you can join us.

Are you going to be doing it this coming year? It definitely sounds like an experience.

Yes, it is an experience that many have looked back upon as their life changing look at how the great experience that is BurningMan is.

That said, feel free to find me in Terminal City to go out and enjoy the excrementory enlightenment that is the Pottie Project.

[gyre]

[quote="JDCookMS"] I do believe that if the porta potty people decided to stop servicing BRC then it would definitely affect the event in a negative fashion. [/quote]

This is why it is such an important volunteer gig.

[zombiegrease]

id love to help