Now that we know we're coming, we've (Sacred Spaces) have started doing our normal search for workshops, performers, musicians, etc. What we have heard back repeatedly and what we're also experiencing is that most camps that still coming had to f ocus their precious ticket allotments on their core operations and infrastructure people..and that a lot of the performers, musicians, workshop leaders, do not have tickets. Though the org has done its best to ensure that camp can actually put their structures, there is a still a huge gap between being able to build something beautiful and the non-stop insane diverse crazy activities that I feel are fundamental to the Burning Man experience. I want my surrealist dada puppet theater, zombie marches, and monkey chants thank you.
It's what I love about the burn. Anyway.. we're doing our best to reach out far and wide and try to get virgins involved with actually bringing music, workshops, etc..as well as try to find more non-theme camp burners who might have something to offer in one of these arenas. From my preliminary survey it doesn't like we're alone and it seems like we're all a bit struggling on the content side of our camps. We were able to give about 12 or so tickets to performers, musicians, and workshop leaders and that was only because we got a decent allotment from the org. I imagine smaller or medium sized camp got less tickets and are probably hurting even more. We told all our performers and musicians that they would need to play/perform every day with us because we don't have enough in our camp right now to cover our very large extensive camp. They would normally go out and do things at center camp, etc but we can't spare them. So..though my sample is small..i've spoken only a handful of camps..it's pretty 100% congruent with our experience. I wanted to open a dialogue with all the other theme camp leaders who do performative, musical, or workshop type events.. to see if this is also the case for you and brainstorm on some creative ways to 'make it all work! I feel like we are such a pivotal point, and it working is crucial ..
I think this is no way around it though - there is going to be less shit happening on the playa this year...even if it still looks the same. Thought artists can get tickets through the art program, performers/musicians/teachers/etc cannot. Call this doomsaying or not..I think its accurate.
Some things we are doing:
Active Recruitment - We're doing our best to find talented people who are not camping with us that might have something to share and appreciate the change for an Esplanade venue, have all our current campmates search out anyone with tickets they know and bring them on board if they can, convince our virgins (and all virgins) that YES they do have something to share and they should fucking share it..in fact the playa relies on them doing so..
Repeat performances - we're going to have the same musicians, DJs playing multiple times. In prior years, we would have people play 3 gigs max, and often 1 or 2 as we were seeking diversity on our stage.
More open meditation/art viewing times - We are normally jammed packed with workshops every day.. we're going to be having more time where people can just go in and meditate.
More Soiree/Theme Parties/etc - These are ways for people to connect that anyone can help create and doesn't need to be filled with talented performers..though of course we are going to work our asses off ..and have every performer in our group be there .. its just a contingency for events that can still be done if we can't find them..
Pre-recorded music - it's certainly not ideal..
Bringing back art - we're looking at bringing back some installations/sculptural works from prior years instead of making new ones..
If we can't fill all our spaces with awesome activity..we may take one or two spaces away.. so we what we do is packed.
anyway.. thoughts? suggestions? snark? empathy? What are you doing if you're a theme camp leader? And..any ideas about the bigger problem for those not in event oriented camps or camps at all?
