2012 TICKET PRICES INCREASED TO $390! WTF???

[remi]

Hey...just put it in perspective: At $390 for 8 days...why, that's only $48.75 a day! Most of us spend that much or more daily on worthless crap! Do with less daily crap and you've bought your ticket...and more!

I may not spend 50$ a day on worthless crap, but I have gone to a bar and spent around 250$, caught an expensive cab ride home (40$) picked up some party favours (lets round that to an even 100$) and picked up a case of beer and a bottle of spiced rum on the way home (45$).

Some days I don't spend anything on worthless shit.. but somedays I spend more then the price of a ticket on a night that will never compare to a day on the playa.

EDIT: Shit, they can make a mastercard commercial about BM. 1500$ on R.V., 1000$ on booze (unless I buy it in the states.. then it'll be less then half that price!), 800$ on supplies, 500$ on gas, 390$ for a BM ticket 300$ on food, 200$ on costumes and toys.. being on the playa watching the man burn while your with the most important people in your life... priceless.

[trilobyte]

Whatever you do, remi, buy your booze in the states. Cheaper, plus no sense hauling the additional weight over the long distance. Even with a playa-load of burners passing through town, Reno's got plenty of supply to go around.

[A Jester]

Hey...just put it in perspective: At $390 for 8 days...why, that's only $48.75 a day! Most of us spend that much or more daily on worthless crap! Do with less daily crap and you've bought your ticket...and more!

I may not spend 50$ a day on worthless crap, but I have gone to a bar and spent around 250$, caught an expensive cab ride home (40$) picked up some party favours (lets round that to an even 100$) and picked up a case of beer and a bottle of spiced rum on the way home (45$).

Some days I don't spend anything on worthless shit.. but somedays I spend more then the price of a ticket on a night that will never compare to a day on the playa.

EDIT: Shit, they can make a mastercard commercial about BM. 1500$ on R.V., 1000$ on booze (unless I buy it in the states.. then it'll be less then half that price!), 800$ on supplies, 500$ on gas, 390$ for a BM ticket 300$ on food, 200$ on costumes and toys.. being on the playa watching the man burn while your with the most important people in your life... priceless.

You can get rid of VD for $100? (or 100$) Wow, I am jealous of your socialized medicine!

[dj_john69]

Fucking noobies are stupid. If you dont like the prices, dont fucking go !!! The prices go up each year. My 1st year they were $30 each. Im not complaining about the prices. Nobody is forcing me to buy my ticket and making me go.

Its NONE of your business how, when and where BMORG spends their cash. Mind your own damn business.

Pretty simple huh.

[DaveCalifornia]

This year Burning Man is instituting a huge price increase. Not including scholarship/low income tickets, they will take in over 18.2 million dollars (not 14.3 million. Kimo made an addition error) in ticket sales which represents an increase of over 22%. This concerns me not only because many of us are being priced out of the event but even more so because this represents a significant shift in priorities at Burning Man. In the past, even though Burning Man LLC has been a for profit company, it seemed that they were genuinely interested first and formost in the best interest of the community. I could understand if there was a huge increase in the cost of putting on the event, but if this were the case, it surely would have been included in the FAQ, but it is not. Unfortunately, it seems they want to exploit the fact that they sold out last year. I believe it can undermines everything our community has become if we (Burners) start to feel we are viewed as a commodity to be exploited. I am very concerned and quite saddened that Burning Man as we know it may be over.

[FIGJAM]

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[Elderberry]

This year Burning Man is instituting a huge price increase. Not including scholarship/low income tickets, they will take in over 18.2 million dollars (not 14.3 million. Kimo made an addition error) in ticket sales which represents an increase of over 22%. This concerns me not only because many of us are being priced out of the event but even more so because this represents a significant shift in priorities at Burning Man. In the past, even though Burning Man LLC has been a for profit company, it seemed that they were genuinely interested first and formost in the best interest of the community. I could understand if there was a huge increase in the cost of putting on the event, but if this were the case, it surely would have been included in the FAQ, but it is not. Unfortunately, it seems they want to exploit the fact that they sold out last year. I believe it can undermines everything our community has become if we (Burners) start to feel we are viewed as a commodity to be exploited. I am very concerned and quite saddened that Burning Man as we know it may be over.

This is not exploitation. Raising prices is a good way to keep the numbers and the demand down. And because the numbers are imposed on the business from BLM, it is also a good way to increase revenu and profit when they can't sell more tickets.

[trilobyte]

Including both this year and the first year they started charging for the event (1995), the ticket prices have increased 11 times. Periodic price increases of any long-running event are understandable, and seem fairly reasonable.

[theCryptofishist]

Between 1992 and 93 ticket prices trebled!

[DanusLight]

If you are on the playa for 7 days that's 168 hours. How much is a movie an hour? A concert? A play?

Personally, I think it's all relative. But that's just me.

[A Jester]

Fuck it, the price increase it out of control and the Org needs to be sent a lesson.

I'm not going this year unless they pay me!

[VeganChoirGirl]

This year Burning Man is instituting a huge price increase. Not including scholarship/low income tickets, they will take in over 18.2 million dollars (not 14.3 million. Kimo made an addition error) in ticket sales which represents an increase of over 22%. This concerns me not only because many of us are being priced out of the event but even more so because this represents a significant shift in priorities at Burning Man. In the past, even though Burning Man LLC has been a for profit company, it seemed that they were genuinely interested first and formost in the best interest of the community. I could understand if there was a huge increase in the cost of putting on the event, but if this were the case, it surely would have been included in the FAQ, but it is not. Unfortunately, it seems they want to exploit the fact that they sold out last year. I believe it can undermines everything our community has become if we (Burners) start to feel we are viewed as a commodity to be exploited. I am very concerned and quite saddened that Burning Man as we know it may be over.

I can understand why and how you could feel this way. Please keep this in mind:

1. While BMORG is an LLC, they have not ever been in it for the profits. It is an incredibly expensive event to put on, not to mention paying the VERY small salaries of the people who devote their lives to making our burns happen.

2. BMORG is currently in the process of becoming a non-profit. This is something they have been working towards and are very excited about.

3. We are renegotiating a new permit this year. I imagine this permit will include a HEFTY increase in fees. As our event becomes more popular it requires a LOT more infrastructure. Medical, law enforcement, water trucks, portos, pump trucks, equipment rentals, and of course, the GIANT land rental fee. This event is a STEAL for the amount that is provided and the length of time.

4. Finally, if the price of a ticket is the hurtle keeping a person from going to this event, it is NOT the one for them. There are lots of great little festivals all over the world that are more cost effective and conducive to a person who is a bit short on cash at the moment. I am not saying that those of us who aren't well off shouldn't be there, heck, I always barely scrape it together....but that is the thing, no matter what, I always scrape it together.

[Sassy Britches]

Well said, VeganChoirGirl.

I've been looking at various concert tickets this week - 1 show (2 hours +/-) big names (like (for example Sting and Roger Waters) are now at $200 for their highest price and the worse the seats get, the lowest is still well over $100. When I remember that BM isn't just a couple of hours, but a week - and consider all the infrastructure and support that needs to be put in place fresh every year - I am amazed at all the bitching about the prices.

I have also been involved with many non profit organizations. Folks, any non profit that only charges enough to cover its anticipated costs for the short term (in this case the annual BM event) is out of business soon enough. Non profit does not mean that the organization shouldn't make money - if it wants to last, if it wants to not always be on the brink, it needs to. It means that it is not in business in order to generate prodfits and equity for its owners, and there is not, for instance, distribution of dividends for its shareholders.

From Phoenix USA wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving.