Official "Not Awarded Tix" Thread

[AntiM]

As someone who is holding three tickets, I find "scrap the whole thing" to be a terrible idea. I'd imagine anyone holding tickets just now would object strenuously to such a plan.

I do feel for those who are ticketless, but really? Hand me a prize then rip it away because there isn't enough for the whole class?

[philosophiecoffee]

Boycott buying tickets from anyone selling them higher than face value. This is the only way to eliminate the scalping of Burning Man tickets. If all Burners and to-be Burners refused to buy tickets for more than face value, this would force the scalpers to simply resell their tickets at face value. Then scalpers would see that their schemes to make money on Our Event doesn't work....because We don't let it.

[Spritle712]

As someone who is holding three tickets, I find "scrap the whole thing" to be a terrible idea. I'd imagine anyone holding tickets just now would object strenuously to such a plan.

I do feel for those who are ticketless, but really? Hand me a prize then rip it away because there isn't enough for the whole class?

I hear you but, as other posters have pointed out, the Burn might not be so hot if collections of artists and creators can't get to the playa because they can't afford a $700 ticket from stub hub.

I think the posters who suggest that tickets should be individualized are right. I see no other way to keep tickets prices from rising (it also keeps counterfeiting to a minimum).

[poppasmurf63]

We're really sorry to inform you that your entry was not selected in the Main Sale to purchase Burning Man 2012 tickets. But remember this isn't the end - you still have other options for acquiring tickets!

That BLOWS. This is why I dont gamble. I agreed to pay for two tickets in any of the 3 price brackets and got NONE. Others in our group signed up for two tickets in the lowest price and got them. Worse yet they are not even coming for the whole event, just the last 3 day!

Don't like the new system, just saying...

[Faun]

The lottery has caused major vibe damage. I've read the posts and there's a cloudy tone for this years event. Mainly those who are going are going to be missing half or almost all of their group. Everyone who's going will be looking at faces who are there by chance and not from a stress free SIMPLE purchase. Fertility 2.0 now means to me that only the chosen will get through due to artificially insemination to get passed the gate. Instead of the pleasureful natural way of how normally an eager sperm gets to an egg. Things like a lottery is dangerous to our health and should be left out from something so awesome. I'd hate to see Cthulhu awakened to set things right again.
I hope all of you who have been chosen have a rockin good time and maybe just maybe I'll see you there but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[tahiti_treat]

As someone who is holding three tickets, I find "scrap the whole thing" to be a terrible idea. I'd imagine anyone holding tickets just now would object strenuously to such a plan.

I do feel for those who are ticketless, but really? Hand me a prize then rip it away because there isn't enough for the whole class?

As someone who did not get tickets, I agree with you. It would just create more shitty feelings and not solve anything. It's extremely disappointing, but I can't see a fix for this (at least not this year). There are not enough tickets, and so not everyone who wants to will get to go, plain and simple. It's difficult to accept that we can't change this through being clever or self-reliant or coming up with new ideas, but there it is.

[Simon of the Playa]

trials and tribulations? Hurdles? Obstacles?

guess what, shit happens everywhere, everyday....it's how you deal with it thats important.

you want trials and tribulations?

i dont know if you can HANDLE the trails and tribulations if this one setback is going to ruin your day/year/life.

you're the problem, not the lottery.

the pure HELL i have gone thru and BACK to go to some stupid ass camping trip in the desert would make even the most jaded of burners cringe in pain.

i do it because i love all of you stupid ass campers, and i wouldnt miss it for the WORLD.

so far, every year i have made it that i wanted to go...Because i Did not give up. Because where there is a will there IS a way.

and because i am stubborn as fuck.

It is what you Make of it, do not let anyone else tell you otherwise.

so goddammit, make it happen, and i'll meet you for a drink at that stupid ass hot noisy dusty camping trip we like to sometimes call "Home".

i'll tell you some stories that will curdle your blood.

[quantum_stardust]

Regarding the whole StubHub issue, BMORG should track down the identity of the sellers there and revoke their tickets. Since the paper tickets will not be issued until June, they still have the power to cut off the scalpers.

[venting, as requested]: Goddammit, shit, this sucks, FML. Been waiting 4 years working my ass off to finish my neurobiology/biochemistry degree to find the free time to go, turning down other festivals without hesitation to save up, and when time/money/intentions actually come together: DENIED. This is a great cause of pain for me and the 2/3 of my east coast burner friends who also got the 'dear john' yesterday. Now, we're all stuck in limbo, and those denied tickets are gonna swarm all over the Low Income and Open Sale tickets. The lottery was a failed experiment, theme camps are fragmented, art projects are now in jeopardy, and the scalpers still managed to stuff the lottery. The 2011 Burn didn't even sell out until a month before. What made this year any different? This lottery only created a stronger speculative market. Now we have $1500 secondhand tickets being offered as early as February instead of July. I'm less angry, and more cynical/depressed about this ordeal. [end vent]

I have not given up on the pursuit of a ticket, and will continue to envision the dust in my face.

If all else fails, BoomFest in Portugal will cost just as much as a trip Home on a scalper-priced ticket.

[Wienerschnitzel]

Well, last night wasn't the festival of elation it could have been. Our group of five only put in for the tickets we needed, and it seems that the lottery gremlins dismantled our names.

So here's a group of five raving Burgins, in the Netherlands, with no tickets. Hmm. Not really the most auspicious start, but I must say I'm strangely calm.

Sure, it sucked. We're going to have to go out on a limb with regards to planning now, moreso than we would have had to if one or all of us managed to claim their prize. But we're all going to the US regardless, and for some reason I'm confident we're all going to make it out to the Playa together. Call it a hunch or a leap of faith, but I'm sure things are going to come together. If not via STEP, then it'll be by way of the open sale in March.

What sucks more, however, is reading all these stories of passionate long-time contributors falling on the wrong side of the odds. It seems that some very active people have been dealt a very rough hand, and even though I haven't attended before and don't really know any of you, it saddens me to see that the outcome of the lottery has dampened the very same spirited hope that draws me to the event. Groups have been split, some perhaps irreparably so. Plans have been dashed. Veterans who have tickets are questioning their desire to attend.

I've also seen the comments about the potentially massive influx of first-timers and the uncertainty as to how that will pan out. I can see how that might be a problem - I hope to be among those first-timers, and my friends will attest that I can be quite the handful.

But it did get me thinking. If a whole lot of us newbies show up, doesn't that just place more responsibility on us to integrate and participate with all we can? Call me a utopian thinker or whatever fits the bill, but I'd assume this reshuffling of the deck gives the selected Burners a good deal of time to figure out ways to ease the transition, as well as giving us enough time to realize we're really going to have to put our shoulders under it and let go of any preconceived notions we might have. I mean, the whole reason I want to go is to step up to the plate and just immerse myself in this thing so many of you have been doing for years. I doubt I'm alone in this stance, so surely there's a way this can all still work?

Anyway, that should be enough no-ticket-comedown meandering for now. Good luck getting tickets to all of us who didn't get in - I hope to see you there.

[Simon of the Playa]

repeat after me...


[youtube][/youtube]

[piehole]

SIMON I HAVE DEVELOPED SOMEWHAT OF A BROMANTIC CRUSH ON YOU

[Simon of the Playa]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

[Roberto Dobbisano]

Hey! you can't use Larry's favorite pick up line...

[Finxiekins]

trials and tribulations? Hurdles? Obstacles?

guess what, shit happens everywhere, everyday....it's how you deal with it thats important.

you want trials and tribulations?

i dont know if you can HANDLE the trails and tribulations if this one setback is going to ruin your day/year/life.

you're the problem, not the lottery.

the pure HELL i have gone thru and BACK to go to some stupid ass camping trip in the desert would make even the most jaded of burners cringe in pain.

i do it because i love all of you stupid ass campers, and i wouldnt miss it for the WORLD.

so far, every year i have made it that i wanted to go...Because i Did not give up. Because where there is a will there IS a way.

and because i am stubborn as fuck.

It is what you Make of it, do not let anyone else tell you otherwise.

so goddammit, make it happen, and i'll meet you for a drink at that stupid ass hot noisy dusty camping trip we like to sometimes call "Home".

i'll tell you some stories that will curdle your blood.

*props* This isn't the end of the world! I hope that people will really latch onto their determination, because that's the way to make it this year. KEEP GOING GUYS! We can do this - Plan NOW. Come up with a plan to get tickets, ask around, make friends here, get things going for yourself! Not only will you have better chances at tickets if you make friends, but you'll also meet some pretty cool cats along the way.

[H.G.Crosby]

Hey! you can't use Larry's favorite pick up line...

he's practical....he goes with what works.

[Finxiekins]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

...Would you be willing to take one from my husband? It'll be his first blowjob, but I'm sure with a little guidance he could blow your mind! Ahahaha!

[H.G.Crosby]

now things are getting Burny in here.....

[Leo]

I received my "too bad" email from BMorg yesterday afternoon. I'm mad as hell and hoping that I can get tickets from the STEP program or from the final release of 10,000 tickets.

In their attempt to resolve the issue of scalpers, Burning Man org has created plenty of ill-will and bigger problems with their lottery system. Last year, the sellout didn't occur until two months prior to the event. We had plenty of warning from Jack Rabbit Speaks, so it wasn't like the sell-out came out of left field. This current system lottery system has created a sense of scarcity and panic, resulting in a run on the available tickets. I wanted to be fair in playing this game, so I only requested two tickets (for me and the wife). In hindsight, I should of set up my neighbor, mother-in-law, dentist, accountant, contractor, interior designer, etc. to sign up for the lottery (on my behalf) to increase the odds of actually getting tickets. Any surplus tickets could then be returned for resale in the STEP program. Common sense tells me that I shouldn't have to commit to buying 12 tickets so I can have a chance of receiving 2 tickets.

The other issue that Burning Man org should consider ending the multiple tiers for ticket pricing and offer all tickets at the same price. This would do away with the "gold rush" mentality of everyone trying to jump in early to take advantage of a lower ticket price. Now that the demand for tickets exceeds the supply, the notion of multiple prices seems irrelevant. If they do keep the multiple prices, they should reverse the order so the first 10,000 tickets sell for $450.00, the second 10,000 tickets sell for $425.00, the third 10,000 tickets sell for $400.00 and so on. I hope we have a better ticket system for 2013.

[fdinsc]

I sure hope BMORG is documenting this situation. If not yet, get an MBA grad student who needs a research paper and bring them on board now. This will be a lesson for organizations for years to come and it is bound to get more interesting. BMORG can even go on the road with lessons learned, consultants, and even a book. At least 55,000 interested readers !

As for me, I will continue to plan and hope for the two tickets for my brother and I. The Burning Man Gods will take care of this for us all. PLEASE !

See you all on the Playa. ( I Hope)

[piehole]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

Am I getting the ticket for the beej or am I giving you the ticket for the beej?

Either way, I'm in

[havoc]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

i'd watch that.

[piehole]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

i'd watch that.

you are a fucking pervert

[Galaxo Magic]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

Am I getting the ticket for the beej or am I giving you the ticket for the beej?

Either way, I'm in

I got a video camera....

[Penumbra]

I smell a Salon des refuses.

[Finxiekins]

i'll let you blow me for an extra ticket...

Am I getting the ticket for the beej or am I giving you the ticket for the beej?

Either way, I'm in

I got a video camera....

I'll get a kickass sound system. Boom mic, anyone?

[Simon of the Playa]

i've already picked out the soundtrack....

[youtube][/youtube]

[Ratty]

Simon, My husband is among the masses that have been rejected. Your meatballs clip has cheered me. I'm actually laughing. "It just doesn't matter". YES! There will be tickets available on the STEP. YES! He will get preferential treatment to buy them. And YES! The sun will rise on his weary, dusty ass. Thank you.

[cburkey]

Why you and your friends didn't get a burning man ticket this year:

A lot of folks had a feeling the lottery was somehow unfair, but
couldn't put their finger on why.
The BM org spinning the truth and people believing it is distinctly
unhelpful to progress.
At the risk of giving good ideas to bad people. I try to explain it.
Feel free to repost to lists.

Why didn't I get a burning man ticket this year?
The short answer is the organization ran a lottery where the average
prize was in the hundreds of dollars and the entry cost was zero - a
system incredibly attractive to scalpers and entrepreneurs. 2/3 of
our camp didn’t get tickets this year and yours probably didn’t
either.

The BM org said the problem was friends and family ordering too many
tickets and we just need to redistribute them?
Taken most charitably, that is dishonest spin and misdirection. Look
around. Does your camp have extra tickets? Do your burner friends?
We’re hard-core burners. If we can’t find them, who's holding them?
Tickets will be “redistributed”, but clearly at a higher price.

Really?
Whether the BM org wants to admit it or not, secondary markets exist
and exert an influence on behavior. BM tickets have a market value of
at least $390 and are easily sold on craigslist, stubhub, & ebay.
Would you buy a ticket right now for $390 if offered? I would.
For the lottery, there are 25k real "winners" - tickets at $240, $320.
If 100k people enter, that's a *1 in 4* chance of winning an average
payout of $220 (!) (the difference between $390 and avg price of
~$280, times 2 tix)
A system with an expected payout of $55+ per entry with no entry fee
attracts scalpers and multiple entrants.

So what do you need to enter?
Unique CC#, unique email, and a semi-unique address.
The last name on the credit card should ideally match, though that's
not strictly true if CVV and Zip both clear. First name almost never
counts, my credit cards are all over the place: Al, Alvin, Al K, Alvin
KaiHau.
1. Generate as many unique "ShopSafe" credit card numbers as you want
from your credit card companies' web site. No limit. Free.
2. Gmail accounts. Free.
3. Unique addresses. My address is on Adeline st, but if addressed
to XXXX Adeline st, Unit #24 or Unit# 124, etc, I'll still get the
mail. My old address was 199 new montgomery St - 400 people live
there. Good luck figuring that out.

How about banning duplicate IP addresses?
IP address sharing is common for work/home. IP anonymizers readily
available (tor, personalvpn).

How safely, how much work, how much money?
It’s conservative to say 8 numbers/emails/address units, all the with
same last name, could be made undetected.
It'd take less than an hour and the expected payout is $440 (2 sets of
2 tickets).
The only thing really necessary is a credit limit high enough to
absorb actually winning multiple tickets. For example, a $7k limit
could net 20 tickets and a potential $2200 gain.
And I suspect all the sports and music ticket scalping operations know
how to do this on an industrial scale.

How is this different than a virtual “line”?
The primary difference from before is that is used to happen all at
once, so sure, the line was long, but a regular person could still get
in line. But now, the new system effectively benefits multiple
entrants with high credit limits, and scalpers with the machinery to
enter hundreds (or thousands) of times.
_The current system puts at considerable disadvantage the poor and
those who enter only once._

Should I have entered at a higher price?
This ticketing system looks similar to previous years, but the effects
couldn't be more different. If you really want to go, there's no
reason to not enter at $390. All entering for less means is to reduce
chances of getting a ticket or winner. And losing the lottery means a
ticket price of...$390.
Not only that, now that the lottery sold out, it's $390 and getting in
line too! Again, if you can’t afford it, you’re at a disadvantage.

What about the burner ethic of not selling for more than face value?
Previously, BM didn’t sell out. So the early tiers were a “reward”
for early commitment. It also used to be a closed community. This is
a lottery, it’s purely random and that affects perception. Secondary
markets are also completely open. In any case, if I was offered a
$240 ticket at $390 from a random on craigslist, I would buy it.

Isn’t there going to be a secure ticket exchange at face value?
This is again, misdirection at best. This addresses the problem of
counterfeit tickets and higher than face value prices, but does
nothing to ensure supply at those prices. It’s only there to distract
people from their anger.
There will be a ticket exchange in March where 10k genuine tickets
will be sold at face value ($390). I suspect it will be
oversubscribed. Where will the additional tickets for the other
exchange come from?
Worse! There’s nothing that stops your neighbor from presenting
themselves as member of the community to buy a ticket to sell on
craigslist for an extra $200.

Can't we count on community behavior alone to keep scalping in check?
Um, no. When demand exceeds supply and there are markets, it's a
whole new ball game. It's unhelpful to pretend otherwise. BM is
mainstream acceptable or even desirable now and ticket sales need to
be managed more carefully for outcomes. 53,000 tickets seems like a
lot. it isn't. It's roughly 2x the capacity of a single concert at a
large venue or 1/2 the attendance of a sports stadium game.

Do you have a better way?
They all have to do with separating people who actually want to go
from people who only want a ticket to resell and it all adds
inconvenience. That’s the point, to add friction aside from price to
reduce the size of resale markets. Printed names on tickets which
require a matching ID to enter, perhaps. No transfers, only refunds.
And the refunded tickets go back to a named waiting list with the
same restrictions – matching ID to enter or refunds only.

[Simon of the Playa]

um excuse me, do you MIND?


we are trying to make a porno here.


we've moved on.

[piehole]

I am so turned off right now