So, Does the Ticketing Experience...

[theCryptofishist]

invest us in Burningman so that we overrate its pleasures?

[junglesmacks]

I was leaning more towards "gently coddle my balls"

[maryanimal]

I was leaning more towards "gently coddle my balls"

Is that the same as coddled eggs js? hehehe

[TT120]

I think it's just part of the adventure.

Got me all worked up........

[Ano]

I've only known Burning Man with ticketing fiascos (first year was 2011), so I have to say, as much as I hate it... it puts me in the mood for the season.

In two weeks I'll be at equinox, a month after that I'm at another regional, and then one month after that another, and then another, and then another, and then home. Suddenly my bank account is draining because I need El-wire.

It's a good feeling, but preceded by lots of terrible feelings.

[Savannah]

I've only known Burning Man with ticketing fiascos (first year was 2011), so I have to say, as much as I hate it... it puts me in the mood for the season.

That was great, Ano.

[Eric]

I've only known Burning Man with ticketing fiascos (first year was 2011), so I have to say, as much as I hate it... it puts me in the mood for the season.

That was great, Ano.

Agreed! Tempered by fire to go play with fire!

[BBadger]

I think the ticketing process just a part of the natural sonata-allegro form that comprises the year surrounding the main event. Sure the nature of the ticketing process has changed, but that's just a change of theme, perhaps with darker overtones. The event isn't so much overrated, as just a part of the piece that feels the way it does because of the developed themes.

[junglesmacks]

If anyone feels that TTITD is "overrated", they are more than welcome and even invited to just not go.

[Simon of the Playa]

"keep the experience EVIL"

[media]

[FIGJAM]

[media]

[trilobyte]

Well said, Ano… though for what it's worth the first day sales have been a fiasco for as long as I've been going to the event, too.

And well said to Bbadger and junglesmacks, too. For me, anyways, it seems like every year I've participated has involved some kind of difficult struggle in order to get there, but I think that's part of the experience. If at any time somebody feels it's overrated, overblown, or just plain not worth it they're more than welcome to do something else with their time and resources. Having taken a break a couple times (either when we felt the struggle was more than we wanted or we just weren't feeling it), I've got to say I highly recommend it if that's where you're at.

[knowmad]

It makes me freak out a little because I'm not freaking out about it like some people. I have a similar issue with fear. Every time I head out to the Playa I'm a bit scared, the virgins that are not nervous and a bit worried scare me too. A camp mate told me It's probably just excitement and that I have an inability to see that as a different emotion as fear. That freaked me out a little as well.
Home, where all the freaks are.

[mgb327]

Since this will only be my third year, I am not familiar with any ticket procurement procedure that does not result in one of these being used on me.......But! I have my tickets! In 13 minutes! I lead a charmed life this week. I can hardly wait......

[sandfly]

invest us in Burningman so that we overrate its pleasures?

For me, sort of the opposite. Last year I had a ticket hassle. Then, my car broke down & I was delayed 36 hours on the way. Seemed like a different vibe @ BRC, less like a special place. After the tickets sold out unexpectedly in 2011, BMOrg had a decision to make -- give preference to prior purchasers, and let the culture evolve slowly, or embrace the sell-out hassles to discourage & filter out people who've been there before, ramping up the percent of newbies. No way for me to know how deliberate, or knowledgeable, their decision was. I'm sure the regulars tend to present more of a hassle -- feeling that this is an event that all of us have some part of instead of just a corporate art show & profitable event. Then there was BMOrg's announcement last year during Burning Man that, after seeing how things worked out, they thought the ticket process had been peachy. And, also announcing that they're supportive of those luxury packages to come comfortably, stare, & leave, which is just ticket scalping at a higher level (despite BMOrg claiming to be anti-scalping).
This year, once again, I failed to get a ticket in the primary auction. Very likely I can manage to buy one later, but (unlike last year) I'm not feeling that it's imperative that I go. Which, for BMOrg, is not important since they already, literally, have the money in the bank.

[theCryptofishist]

Then there was BMOrg's announcement last year during Burning Man that, after seeing how things worked out, they thought the ticket process had been peachy.

Which is why they changed it, of course. unless it's the disgruntle talking.

[BBadger]

For me, sort of the opposite. Last year I had a ticket hassle. Then, my car broke down & I was delayed 36 hours on the way. Seemed like a different vibe @ BRC, less like a special place. After the tickets sold out unexpectedly in 2011, BMOrg had a decision to make -- give preference to prior purchasers, and let the culture evolve slowly, or embrace the sell-out hassles to discourage & filter out people who've been there before, ramping up the percent of newbies. No way for me to know how deliberate, or knowledgeable, their decision was.

That's a funny little narrative you have going there. A choice between preferential treatment based on flimsy metrics such as prior attendance, or purposely discouraging and filtering out prior attendees? Those sour grapes must contain more than just juice.

No, I think the choice was always clear: ensure that the event was open to any and all who wished to buy a ticket -- including the newbies that have every right to attend the event. When the randomness of the lottery resulted in a fragmented ticket distribution, only then were measures implemented to "direct" some of the tickets to pre-established camps.

I'm sure the regulars tend to present more of a hassle -- feeling that this is an event that all of us have some part of instead of just a corporate art show & profitable event.

I'm thinking that the "regulars" that tend to present more of a hassle are the ones that feel entitled to a ticket because of prior attendance. That the event belongs more to them than to others.

Then there was BMOrg's announcement last year during Burning Man that, after seeing how things worked out, they thought the ticket process had been peachy.

You mean the announcement that STEP had worked out, and everyone who applied to that program had received a ticket. The organizers were more than aware that the original lottery system had negatively impacted the event. It's why things have changed this year.

And, also announcing that they're supportive of those luxury packages to come comfortably, stare, & leave, which is just ticket scalping at a higher level (despite BMOrg claiming to be anti-scalping).

Supportive? No. Acknowledging their existence and exerting some manner of guidelines for their existence? Yes. It's the difference between acceptance and tolerance.

The line between "turnkey" and not is not well defined. Rather than make some ridiculous "war on turnkey camps" that would be unenforceable and arbitrary, they posted a blog post addressing camps that provide pre-paid services as a means to exert some form of control or guidelines for their operation. No, that is not being supportive, but rather accepting the reality of the situation and doing what can be done.

This year, once again, I failed to get a ticket in the primary auction. Very likely I can manage to buy one later, but (unlike last year) I'm not feeling that it's imperative that I go. Which, for BMOrg, is not important since they already, literally, have the money in the bank.

Gee, that's too bad.

[Eric]

This year, once again, I failed to get a ticket in the primary auction.

It wasn't an auction, it was first-come, first served; which was one of the biggest demands people made last year (well, other than ways to create a system where - shockingly - they ended up getting preference over others). You're the first person I've heard say they participated in the open sale & didn't get a ticket, so it's apparently a low percentage. I'm curious, what time did you log in to buy? It might be useful info to have so we can use it to use to warn people next year.

[Sunbeam56]

I didn't get tix. I will keep trying.
Roark and I were traveling - we do that - and there wasn't an opportunity.
Oddly enough, I logged into eplaya before trying to purchase, and found a thread betting on when the tix would sell out - and it had already sold out.

Thazz allrat. I understand the BLM rules.
Just sorry about it.

[Savannah]

I didn't get tix. I will keep trying.
Roark and I were traveling - we do that - and there wasn't an opportunity.
Oddly enough, I logged into eplaya before trying to purchase, and found a thread betting on when the tix would sell out - and it had already sold out.

Thazz allrat. I understand the BLM rules.
Just sorry about it.

I hope you keep trying, Sunbeam; sign up for STEP (Registration opens February 28, 2013 at 12pm (noon) PST.

Not everyone has the time or the inclination to keep chasing tickets, but almost all the people who kept trying last year got lucky, sometimes even at a discount.