Playa gift ideas

[karabrugger]

It will be our first burn. As for gifting something, we're really only taking extra water to give the human carcass wash an extra 10 gallons or so and then water for those in need passing buy.

Good idea? Bad idea? What do you think?

[theCryptofishist]

I was thinking about gifting some geological knowledge. I'm a geologist, and when geologists go on field trips, there is usually some type of field trip guide involved. The geologic history of the region is fascinating (at least I think so), so I was thinking about making up a little Black Rock field trip guide, just a brief geological history and perhaps some locations with especially cool geologic features in the region that people might want to check out on their way out, or on their way in in the future. Do you think anyone would like/appreciate this?

Booby Bar, in Terminal City. I want one.
You might also want to trade geo stories with a fellow named Rhino. If you stop by the Black Rock Beacon and ask they may know where he is. Damn, I wish I could remember...

[cablemonkey]

I like to give away lip balm during the day and lights at night to de-darkwadify the unenlightened.

[TomServo]

My friend's a newbie who claims he doesn't have any artistic skills (not that he needs them) and wants to know what he can gift. I've been once before but thought I'd put it out there. Any ideas?

Eye Contact and a Smile... I know... I know... 8) 8) 8)

Help, with whatever they're doing, is a good gift as well!

[ibdave]

My friend's a newbie who claims he doesn't have any artistic skills (not that he needs them) and wants to know what he can gift. I've been once before but thought I'd put it out there. Any ideas?

Eye Contact and a Smile... I know... I know...

Help, with whatever they're doing, is a good gift as well!

That with a cold drink while offering that hand to help.

[Mercedese]

I give out hand crafted necklaces which are very beautiful. People always seem amazed that I am giving them a gift just because I can and want to.... My first year at Burning Man, a lot of really wonderful people gifted me with some really lovely things just because they could.... This year, my 4th year at Burning Man, my propane tank handle broke on my barbecue and we were about to just give up and go home because we had no way to cook our food... A beautiful man named "Noodle" gave us a fresh barbecue tank and told us to just use what we needed and then give it back to him at the end of the Burn..... only at Burning Man are you gifted with such love and consideration from your fellow humans.... "Noodle" was given one of my necklaces prior to this... what goes around, comes around, love keeps giving and giving, or so I believe.

[Mercedese]

If you are looking for ideas that are not artistic... here are some gifts that have made my life easier and happier at Burning Man and a few that I have given out as well.

Chapsticks/lip balm in any flavor...

The offer of sunscreen application... Colored sunscreen is particularly fun!

A cold string cheese individual service size stick... These taste awesome!

Carry a portable mister and then spray people to cool off. The gift of watery spray... very appreciated!

Small bottles of alcohol... one shots, like you used to get on the airplane. You throw the bottles in a bag and have the person randomly pull out their shot. Suprise!

A footwashing station... you provide them with a fresh pair of socks and let them wash their feet in a big bucket of water... I always have vaseline for their feet and neosporin in case they have playa foot... I provide a chair for them to sit in and washing rags.. They do the washing but I provide the station. This is a gift of love and caring and you meet some really nice people.

A cold pear, a slice of cold watermelon or cold cantalope, cold strawberries, cold pineapple chunks on a shish-kebab stick... any cold fruit combo on a shish kebab stick!

One of the ladies on my street one year, walked around in the early evening with a large platter of meat, veggies, crackers and cheese and small plastic glasses of cold wine, balanced on her head... Wow did we love her! Her name was "Sugar Britches" and she was one of the nicest women on the playa!

Small, cold half cans of soda or ice tea.

Shots of Hot Damn 100% Proof Alcohol... This is the best alcohol in the world for curing and clearing playa throat... like Cinnamon fire. Cold Peppermint Snapps works well also.. You can then market your shots as either Fire (Hot Damn) or Ice (Peppermint) for their choosing pleasure.

Some nice wheat crackers and a big bottle of cheese whiz.. You give them a cracker or two and then decorate it with the cheese... You are a personal cheese artist!

If you have ice and spare hankerchiefs, put a few cubes of ice in the hankerchiefs and hand them out to people as an ice face wash. Let them keep the hankerchiefs as face masks or sweat bands for later.


Well those are all the things I can think of. There are many wonderful things to give, but sincerity is the single most important thing... and being friendly.. Almost everyone at Burning Man is there because they love their fellow humankind... so they are receptive to meeting you and experiencing you as a person.

[SouthernExposure]

This was my first physical burn and I had plenty of time to come up with gift ideas and make them.

I made about 20 of the evaporative coolng neckerchiefs using water absorbing crystals and funky cotton fabric from the clearance bin at the fabric store. They worked like a charm in the 0% humidity of the playa.

I also made a 2 piece plaster mold and cast recycled plastic fishing worms into a figure that I called "Burning Rubber Man". Some had copper wires inside so that they became bendable action figures, sort of like Gumby. Although they were plastic, the recipients seemed genuinely grateful. Might be interested in finding out if the Playa Restoration crew found any.

2012!

SE

[beachlife]

A simple gift I received once at just the perfect time was a cinnamon toothpick. Thank you!

I brought these last year, and was astonished how many times I was asked, skeptically, what they were laced with. Being 100% sober 6 of the 8 days it took me a bit to comprehend their apprehension. The toothpicks were pretty awesome, gets pretty gritty up there

[FIGJAM]

The best gift this year will be helping people ancor thier camps down.

Point at stuff that will blow away and help secure it.

Help. help. help!!!

[Savannah]

Thank you for being awesome, FIGJAM. You will *doubtlessly* prevent some injuries.

[FIGJAM]

I did'nt say I was going to do it!!!

I'll be sitting over here in my helmet watching the show!

[Savannah]

[ambird]

The best gift we received this year was help from some awesome neighbors as we put up our shade structure in the wind. Last year's weather allowed for just two people to assemble the carport, but support from our community was necessary this year! Everyone was so nice, and it was a great way to get to know each other at the beginning of the week.

I had a ton of great conversations or small interactions with people, and that was when gifts were exchanged. It seems to make a lot more sense to observe what someone might need and help with that, rather than standing somewhere and handing out an item to everyone who walks by. For example, I rode by a girl who was unlit on the open playa and tossed her a blinkie, and I gave a sharpie to a guy who was unsuccessfully looking for a working marker at the Temple. These folks were so grateful to receive thoughtful, needed gifts! We also shared our abundance of water with some Sparkleponies that were camped nearby, and mooped their site when they left it a mess

[Snow]

I was thinking about gifting some geological knowledge. I'm a geologist, and when geologists go on field trips, there is usually some type of field trip guide involved. The geologic history of the region is fascinating (at least I think so), so I was thinking about making up a little Black Rock field trip guide, just a brief geological history and perhaps some locations with especially cool geologic features in the region that people might want to check out on their way out, or on their way in in the future. Do you think anyone would like/appreciate this?

hi from a fellow geologist. my parents gave out crystals and fossils we've collected. the are also several geologic talks over the week. one strange pairing was geologists and gynecologists discussing playa dust

[9ah]

Received: Chapstick... Stickers (I'm one of those)... Lighters... Jewelry... A smile

Given: Hugs... Chapstick... Temporary tattoos... Alcohol

[Rice]

I was thinking about gifting some geological knowledge. I'm a geologist, and when geologists go on field trips, there is usually some type of field trip guide involved. The geologic history of the region is fascinating (at least I think so), so I was thinking about making up a little Black Rock field trip guide, just a brief geological history and perhaps some locations with especially cool geologic features in the region that people might want to check out on their way out, or on their way in in the future. Do you think anyone would like/appreciate this?

hi from a fellow geologist. my parents gave out crystals and fossils we've collected. the are also several geologic talks over the week. one strange pairing was geologists and gynecologists discussing playa dust

Last burn (2012) there were a few Earth Guardian presentations on the geology of Black Rock Desert. Perhaps you should get in touch with this group to see where you fit?? http://earthguardians.net/

[Ratty]

Cold pickles are always welcome. (That's what she said).

I'm saving the little, empty honey bears from my work. Any suggestions what I can do with several hundred of them?

[theCryptofishist]

Hm. You could (at expense) make hundreds of 2-part resin bears. With glitter or color inside... Maybe with a "man" inside. The bear that ate the man...

[9ah]

What size are they? They wouldn't work as ashtrays, but they could be little MOOP containers for ppls packs. Maybe paint them different colors or something.

[Savannah]

Did they have honey in them before, or are they just surplus bears that have never had honey in them?

[ygmir]

if they are squeezable bears, they could be filled will all sorts of things, from edibles to personal hygiene products, or combinations thereof.

stop it!! things like mouthwash and eye wash, or rum.......I know what some of you were thinking!!

[TomServo]

ANYTHING THAT CLIPS, PINS OR STRAPS TO YOUR PERSON, MAKES AN INCREDIBLE GIFT!

Don't let it hit the ground.

[JayBobBoy]

I'll be doing the same gifting I do every year. I always bring an extra beer or two wherever I go for thirsty wanderers. I always make a few "Cups on a Necklace" to hand out. I carry a few extra face masks for those who are caught unprepared, and my favorite of all...

I carry my old fashioned Polaroid camera and take/give pictures for groups who would not otherwise have one taken. I have made some great friends this way. Everyone loves a polaroid picture! And you can be sure it won't end up on the net!

The key is to offer something thoughtful, useful and/or just plain fun!

[Ratty]

Last year I was gifted a great polaroid pic. The new cameras print out duplicates for everybody. Great gift!!

The bears had honey, they aren't really squeezable. They are hard clear plastic. If they were the kind that had a protruding spout on top I would make bear bongs. I suppose I still could but that's alot of bongs that would end up moop.

[theCryptofishist]

Yeah, molds for casting something bear-shaped...

[Ratty]

On my first burn I had a guy stop and help me put up my shade structure. I was camping alone, (after dropping off my ride-share guy in Gig's Ville), we were 'early entry' so there weren't a ton of people to help and I will never forget him. It was the perfect gift.

Since then I've made it a point to get off my bike and lend a hand.

[Earthwalker]

(Burgin here)

Just curious if these are stupid ideas:

-lighters
-cigs
-small sanitizer bottles
-wet wipes
-dust masks
-gum
-travel size mouthwash (only if I'm about to kiss them)

Sound reasonable? I just want to ensure I'm contributing. I will be in a camp of awesome people who were kind enough to allow me to join them, even though we've never met in person. My biggest "gift" will be to be an awesome campmate (respectful, help cook, help clean, don't be an ass, etc.). I also plan on doing anything I can to help people who are lost, too drunk, just looking for a friend/companion to walk around with, etc.

Thanks!

[Savannah]

(Burgin here)

Just curious if these are stupid ideas:

-lighters
-cigs
-small sanitizer bottles
-wet wipes
-dust masks
-gum
-travel size mouthwash (only if I'm about to kiss them)

Sound reasonable? I just want to ensure I'm contributing. I will be in a camp of awesome people who were kind enough to allow me to join them, even though we've never met in person. My biggest "gift" will be to be an awesome campmate (respectful, help cook, help clean, don't be an ass, etc.). I also plan on doing anything I can to help people who are lost, too drunk, just looking for a friend/companion to walk around with, etc.

Thanks!

Those are all nice. The first three items are probably the ones people will be happiest about. Having little extras of things and keeping your ears and eyes open for people in need is one good way to gift.

[VultureChow]

(Burgin here)

Just curious if these are stupid ideas:

-lighters
-cigs
-small sanitizer bottles
-wet wipes
-dust masks
-gum
-travel size mouthwash (only if I'm about to kiss them)

Sound reasonable? I just want to ensure I'm contributing. I will be in a camp of awesome people who were kind enough to allow me to join them, even though we've never met in person. My biggest "gift" will be to be an awesome campmate (respectful, help cook, help clean, don't be an ass, etc.). I also plan on doing anything I can to help people who are lost, too drunk, just looking for a friend/companion to walk around with, etc.

Thanks!

Those sound fine, but don't go nuts with the amounts. As a virgin, you nailed your biggest gift. Participation. The best gift you can give is to not be too big a burden. I only qualify that because no matter what, except in the super rare case of the stealth virgin, you will absolutely need help. I thought I was prepared last year, and still needed a lot of help. Volunteer, offer drinks and food and have a good time. In many cases your delight and awe will be the best gift you can give some of the more experienced burners.