Give your virgin self ONE piece of advice...

[graidawg]

make friends with a logistical fetishist. (did that)

[Milayna]

My biggest piece of advice to my virgin self would be

"Some of the best experiences you will have will be deeper into the city; don't limit yourself to just the Esplanade and Inner Playa"

My first year was with a huge theme camp on the Esplanade, so I spent the first 2/3 of my burn without ever really heading further back than B street or further out than the temple. But once I started wandering the back streets, I found some absolutely amazing smaller camps that had really fascinating stuff going on, or were super-friendly, or just full of legitimately interesting people. And not just bars, everything from a fake cave, to twisted croquet, to a camp that gave out grilled cheeses but only if you spoke in cat, to Ashram Galactica, to a camp that had comfy chairs lining the street and if you sat in them they would compliment you until you left, to the Dusty Swan, etc etc etc.

It's now those smaller, more "personal" experiences, I remember more than the huge art or mega-esplanade camp experiences.

I totally agree with this, as a virgin it's easy to spend way too much time on the esplanade because it's big and bright and inviting, but venturing back into the city is often far more surprising and memorable. One of my big goals this year is to spend more time in the city.

[MyDearFriend]

make friends with a logistical fetishist. (did that)

And if you are yourself a multiple-list-making type:

Hook up with someone who is cheerful, competent, strong, and completely unconcerned. Oh wait, the true logistical fetishist will have already ticked that box by this point.

Seriously, though, my advice is to just be who you are. The playa will strip you of all your self-delusions.

[swampdog]

re: comments about not spending too much time on Esplanade - also don't spend much time in Center Camp.

[BBadger]

Oh yeah, and for my particular first year: lock up your damn bike no matter how close you think it is to yourself.

[lemur]

DO NOT go to burning man with two clueless friends from art school...

one of which: has a pet horse

the other: cried when she lost her red bag because she 'went to europe' with it.

its easy to laugh at it now.. ....


example of a thing:

i needed a break from teardown/camp in general so i wanted to go for a walk:


says me: this stake broke when i was trying to get it out, youll need to dig it out, be careful, dont step on it.. you should take it out now so you dont forget about it and step on it

the girls: ok, we'll get right on it.

return to camp about an hour later ...empty.. an hour passes as i clean up junk..

girls return: just got back from the med tent, we decided to drink the last of the wine and i stepped on that stake and needed a tetanus shot

(she was wearing crocs.. and it went through it like butter)

(thinking to myself: what an idiot)

says me: are you OK?

the girL: yes, but my foot hurts.. i think we should leave sunday instead of monday

says me: ok.. i will tear down the rest of camp.

[lemur]

re: comments about not spending too much time on Esplanade - also don't spend much time in Center Camp.

i dont think ive ever been to an esplanade camp.....


but, theres more to center camp than the cafe!

heck, my tent and camp is in center camp! some of us sleep there, ya know

[unjonharley]

re: comments about not spending too much time on Esplanade - also don't spend much time in Center Camp.

i dont think ive ever been to an esplanade camp.....


but, theres more to center camp than the cafe!

heck, my tent and camp is in center camp! some of us sleep there, ya know

For us new persons.. We refer to the big tent as center camp.. You live in the circle around it...

If we get hooked just the Center Tent we will miss out on the rest of Burning Man..

[^Rhino!]

One piece of advice when you cross onto the playa at the 12-mile entrance?

Actually, it's a group of things you can do to maximize your Burningman experience, and by no means is this group a list for anyone to follow. You'll find your own way when you get there. None the less, here it is:

Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures. Have no expectations. Remain open to all facets of the experience by observing, listening, and participating. Laugh, cry, sing and dance openly. Learn to accept others and yourself. And, remember...you can't experience all of Black Rock City in a mere 8 days.

[Chowski]

Hey Virgin me:

You are going to Burning Man, and some of it is going to be awesome while some of it is going to be epically sucky, and will give you nightmares for weeks after. You are going to fight with your campmates because you assume they will want to do things you want to do. Here's how you can eliminate some of that drama:

When you are feeling up and ready to go, just go. Don't wait for Lea to put on more make-up. Because once she does, then Sara is going to want to change her leg warmers. After that, Eric and Dean are going to hole up in their tent for an hour packing the bong, after which Big D will want some of that make-up that Lea just packed away. After two more hours, Jon will start to come on to that drug that somebody gave him, causing Bill and Serena to start fighting over what they will want to do. Then a dust storm will start and nobody will go anywhere.

Just pack your bag, get on your bike, and meet up with your default world friends later. The good times of this burn will be those you spend out in the city "alone", and waiting around for other people's drama to resolve itself will do nothing but make you miss out on the thousands of crazy good times you should be having.

Your welcome,

Me, several burns later.

[MegsLegs]

Don't be so determined to prove your work ethic to your camp that you exhaust yourself under the sun and render yourself completely useless. Take breaks when you need them and remember that anyone giving you attitude for resting probably needs to drink more water themselves.

[Mojojita]

Dear Virgin Self:

It is OK to not let naked men sit on your favorite camp chair. It has now been the "sweaty balls chair" since 1999.

Love,
Me

[cherryblossom73]

Don't be so shy! I missed out on a few things that I really wanted to do because I didn't want to walk into the middle of an event by myself. I did break out a little bit towards the end of the week and joined the RHPS group helping out backstage and had a GREAT time! Need to remember this advice earlier in the week this year...

[lemur]

For us new persons.. We refer to the big tent as center camp.. You live in the circle around it...

If we get hooked just the Center Tent we will miss out on the rest of Burning Man..

i guess i was just thinking: theres lotsa neat camps in that 'circle' ...probably 30 of them, maybe more..

these camps tend to be pretty darn interactive and enjoyable.

[happydragon]

Let go of unrealistic expectations sooner.... I expected to have my life radically changed and my soul saved magically as soon as I made that playa angel and rang the bell. Took my until Wednesday to get over myself and stop expecting the Playa to magically fix me.

So... on thursday, as soon as I got out of my own way, the Playa radically changed my life, saved my soul, and magically fixed me. Or at least set me back onto a path I had fallen off of decades ago and started me heading in the right direction again.

[GreyCoyote]

Diabetic? Eat a mini can of Beanie-Weenies each day. Slow carbs and protein that will last a long time and support a sagging basal. Keeps you regular, too.

Not a diabetic? Spend your first day within 500 feet of home base until it gets dark. Meet your neighbors, as in *really* meet them. Once the "neighborhood" feels like "home" and your head is full of stories, go exploring after dark. Follow the wierdness and embrace the dust.

[gaminwench]

As the sun sets on your first evening in BRC, walk down your nearest radial street to the Esplanade and continue onto the open playa ~200 yards. Turn around. Admire the city and locate Esplanade camps, lights, shapes and tall blinky things that will guide you back to your camp in the dark.

[BetaBox]

don't make a monkey hut.

[knowmad]

Pssst!
That hundred dollar bill that you thought blew out the window blew back into one of the rear windows and is under that big moopie playa box the crew will leave for you to clean up, You'll find it durring SeaCompression though; It's all good.

[MikeGyver]

As the sun sets on your first evening in BRC, walk down your nearest radial street to the Esplanade and continue onto the open playa ~200 yards. Turn around. Admire the city and locate Esplanade camps, lights, shapes and tall blinky things that will guide you back to your camp in the dark.

Make sure your reference light isn't an Art-car! I made that mistake last year.

don't make a monkey hut.

Making a monkey hut depends on how much time you spend in your tent/at camp. If your one of the people that want to sleep all day then they have uses, if you get up before 10 in the morning and don't spend time at camp then you wont get much use out of it other than a wind block at night.

[swampdog]

don't make a monkey hut.

Make a monkey hut. Monkey huts rock

[Drawingablank]

don't make a monkey hut.

Make a monkey hut. Monkey huts rock

I agree - Monkey huts rule.

Edit - At least if you do them correctly they rule - half assed, not following instructions monkey huts suck ass.

[caffeineslinger]

Bring a pair of proven comfortable shoes and plan on taking an extra day off when you get back.

[BeeWeeDee]

Have fun. Whatever happens just let it be.

[BetaBox]

[quote="Drawingablank"][quote="swampdog"][quote="BetaBox"]don't make a monkey hut.[/quote]

Make a monkey hut. Monkey huts rock[/quote]
I agree - Monkey huts rule.

Edit - At least if you do them correctly they rule - half assed, not following instructions monkey huts suck ass.[/quote]
Monkey huts are OK, but when do you see DPW using them?

Cons:
• inefficient use of space
• the tubing flexes under extreme heat and wind
• they tend to trap heat and the tarp can act like giant conductor. Yes, I've used the reflective kind.
• harder to make completely bombproof
• feel isolated from campmates
• I hate ducking my head when walking around
• I think it's a waste of a tarp to cut holes in it
• I can't use it to hang a double hammock for two fat people
• PVC is not burnable
• kind of ugly

Pros: easy, light and portable

[ygmir]

make arrangements for intense decompression after......knowing it can take a month!!

[Oldguy]

Take a water break every hour, all you can gulp. If you need help, ask anyone. There is no need to suffer, and burden someone else later.

I hate putting folks in body-bags...

[msj2u]

Keep a flashlight in your glove box, because getting in after dark and needing the blue rooms is no fun in the dark!!


MSJ

[swampdog]

betabox - most of your problems with a monkey hut can be resolved by using shade cloth instead of tarps. You get the advantage of breeze & shade both. It's also sturdier that way, it doesn't have to take the full force of the wind. As far as burning the pvc - take it home and use it again, I've been using the same PVC for 5 years. And building a shade structure strong enough to support a big hammock is a few levels harder/more expensive than building a monkey hut.

As far as a monkey hut "separating you from other campers" - I've always found it to be a shareable space that's a comfortable hang out for my neighbors. YMMV.

As far as DPW using monkey huts, they have different needs than most burners - they are out there longer, and have more infrastructure, tools, resources to build something more sturdy.

Granted, a monkey hut isn't the solution for everyone, but it's one of the easiest, cheapest ways to get decent sturdy shade for your tent & camp. Some people gonna love 'em, some people gonna hate 'em.

[SmashyMcSpoodle]

Work on getting past your coffee addiction now so you won't have to go stand in line every single day at Centre camp. I'm sure I missed a hell of a lot of neat stuff by going there all the time.
I've been working on tapering my coffee drinking for about 3 months now. I'm still an addict but now I don't need it every day. I really feel better in so many ways! I lost my sweet tooth!! Amazing shit.


Don't bring those expensive ski goggles because the dusty wind scrapes the lenses.