Describe BM 2004 for us loser non-attendees

[devilgrrl]

I had to miss Burning Man 2004 but would love to here everyone stories.

What were the coolest art projects - theme camps - art cars - music, etc...? How was the weather? Tell us everything!

I hope everyone had the time of their lives and got home safely!

[Karma]

It was better last year !

(j/k)
^_^

[devilgrrl]

Last year was a bit of a personal downer for me. Perhaps that there wasn't as many big art projects than previous years and it was pretty hot. :shrug:

Good to hear that you had fun.

[cowboyangel]

This year was fabulous for me , I guess if you take it on a personal level...this one was full of magical encounters, and lots of heart felt stuff and real stories of truly interesting people.....I'm working on a radio doc about this....
Love, CA

[Greenlight]

I had to miss Burning Man 2004 :cry: but would love to here everyone stories.

What were the coolest art projects - theme camps - art cars - music, etc...? How was the weather? Tell us everything!

I hope everyone had the time of their lives and got home safely! :D

This was my first Burn. Everybody of course has their own unique experience, but since I have no preconceived notions of how an experience "should" be, I'll tell you random things that impressed me:

The Temple: One of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen in my life. I missed the Sunday night burn, and I have a feeling I'd've been really depressed by it.

The Temple Bus: Designed to look like the Temple (intricate wood carvings and all), with a slide on the side for easy exit. Also served the tastiest margaritas I've ever had.

DMV Rookie Of The Year: Tank Girl, the mobile movie theater complete with nine stadium-style seats, somehow grafted onto a Cadillac. Genius. (Though I feel for the guy who passed by on his bike yelling "Watch TV at home!")

The Esplanade, both day and night. Since I hadn't been before, I can't say whether it's good or bad that the population explosion (and therefore increase in physical size) of the festival is good or bad. But since this was my first time seeing the mind-blowing expanse of the Esplanade-- which by day was like a Coney Island boardwalk over looking an ocean of playa, and by night was like the Vegas strip, Times Square and Bourbon Street rolled together-- I have to say it was the greatest displays of spontaneous human creativity and ingenuity I've ever seen in my life. (And that's saying a lot, living in Manhattan.)

And kudos to the creator of the little round hut just "north" of the 9 o'clock promenade, halfway between the city and the Man. Just as I was getting worn down at 2 AM from all the walking, I stumble into the hut and find a playroom with soft floors and a slew of stuffed animals. As I was walking out, another guy walked in and said "Oh man! What a great chill room!" Amen.

I also probably had a very unique experience, since I was part of a vocal group (first called Purgatory Blend, later called AcaPlaya) that roamed from bar to venue to camp to bar to venue to camp, singing for whoever would hear us, and in return getting showered with theme-camp necklaces and all-around appreciation and affection. I know that BM is an anti-ego atmosphere, but it's always nice to be appreciated. :D

Thursday night was easily the coldest; I'd say it got down to 40ºF. Even the New Yorkers amongst us (including myself) were complaining, and that's saying a lot. Sunday seemed to be shaping up to be the hottest day, but I took off by 11 AM. The wind was horrific on Wednesday, and many structured were damaged or enitrely blown away that day; Seven Steps To Heaven was closed off for wind damage, and they were in a covered dome!

And Rule Britannia claimed our camp as a commonwealth of Gigsville. The limey bastards.

-- warren

[Tay]

It sucked - tell everyone you know not to come next year.

[Tristan]

Not very hot during the day, and *very* cold nights, down in the low 40's. That's the coldest nights I've seen (over 5 BM events). Cools days too, very few people running after the water trucks.

I agree, it was better last year, and it was much better in 1999 and 2001. There are more and more kids and (consequently?) less and less dangerous napalm-throwing machines

[stuart]

last year was better

I made up a bunch of these shirts to poke fun at all of the jaded old timers and unfortunately found myself turning into one of them.

Weather was a huge factor this year. Most will note the mid-week dust storms but for those of us up there early the rain was also a factor. If I or my neighbors are any indication the foul weather cost us about 3 days and about 30% of our total completion. Tooling around early on yielded very dissapointing results.

[Rian Jackson]

More yahoos this year. More art vandalism (mine, my friend’s, a stranger’s, the temple – that’s all I actually know of) more MOOP more potty problems more photographic assholes more graffiti, etc., though maybe I just didn’t notice it this year.

However, I spent most of my time with my local community and a few other outstanding individuals, so the calibre of my interactions was far higher. Weather was challenging in some ways, but I think it made a difference what you did with it. For many of us, it just meant hunkering down and spending time together. I loved it.

Burns were sub par, but then we watched them from afar, all the better to heckle ravers.

More community cohesiveness in our local. Less good fire art. More blinkies. More people stupidly not lit at night. Fewer deaths (camp doc said NONE as of Monday). Better music. More live music. Possibly more interactive art.

Everyone’s gonna have a different take. And, as the sign said, ‘It was better next year.’ (Courtesy of Arson Island Resort)

[stuart]

are you here to tell me you watched the burn some 30' in front of me?

[stuart]

I think it made a difference what you did with it

sure, I get that. But when you have many months invested in a piece of art that is the focal point of your camp and the weather diminishes it it's hard to sit around the campfire and feel good about it.

[_tears_]

2003 was much better.

2004 was a strange year, the vibe was odd. We sat around at our camp and talked about it, i thought it was just me at first, but apperently it wasnt.

I may possibly take next year off, and go on another adventure and return in 2006, but who knows, my longing for the playa may become too strong.

[Sobretta Franjipan]

THE MAN DIDN'T BURN THIS YEAR!

It was the fucking coolest thing when he actually LEVITATED approx. 30 feet over the burning dome that was his pedestal presumably going into the vault of heaven.

How you jaded people don't think that was the coolest? I'm worried for you.

[Rob the Wop]

THE MAN DIDN'T BURN THIS YEAR!

It was the fucking coolest thing when he actually LEVITATED approx. 30 feet over the burning dome that was his pedestal presumably going into the vault of heaven.

How you jaded people don't think that was the coolest? I'm worried for you.

Speaking from a jaded perspective, they took our guns away.
What's the use in a levitating Man ifins ya can't shoot at it?
I'll git him to the Vault o Hevin' reals quick.

[Kiba]

It was the shizznay! That aside, don't ask us what happened, go next year and SEE! ^_^ Any description that can be made will fall short of the reality.