Post
by El Dutche » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:57 pm
Grettings Eplaya denizens...
My name is Dutch. I am a founding member of the Clan Destino, and after hearing about this thread at Decom, I decided to respond to set the record straight.
Lets start with the obvious:
The Clan Destino is NOT SPONSORED BY MONSTER, or hansen's, or anyone else.
We are not a corporation, an LLC, or organized for profit for any reason.
We are a group of veteran Burners and general freaksters who like to push our creative boundaries.
Anyone who knows us or has followed our groups activities or attended our events would know that we would NEVER forfeit the non-commercial nature of Burning Man or the GIFT economy. Unlike many other groups, our art cars and lounges hand out free drinks, alcoholic and otherwise, all year long, not just on the Playa. We gave away $800 worth of vodka at our last party before BM 2004 alone.
Here is the real story behind the truck:
Let me start by telling you all that a few of the top people at Hansen's are burners. They dont camp with Clan Destio, are not affiliated with us, but they are out there on the playa participating with you.
One of our core members works for hansen's, and those folks, in the spirit of the gift economy, have given us drinks to use as mixers at our bars in the past. Frankly, I think they taste disgusting, but that's beside the point. The fact of the matter is that after a series of financial loses, authorities interfering with our events, etc this year, the Clan Destino was left without the funds to purchase all of our needs in terms of infrastructure: generators, chords, lighting etc. Those folks at hansen's, who have enjoyed our performances and guiding philosophy, offered us the use of the monster truck. I can assure you that it wasnt offered in a cynical soft marketing fashion. It wasnt conditional on handing out a bunch or energy drinks or hyping the company.
We debated, fiercely, about it for many weeks. I, and others, were completely opposed to the idea. But we are a democracy, and after our chaos engineers inspected it and said it could be used effectively, we voted to do so.
We, and the folks at hansens, knew it would have to be de-logoed. And that was attempted, but sand storms and hell bent winds arent the easiest environment to work with you know. And I must say that I was extremely distressed when I rode my bike home one day to see the truck leaving in an undisguised fashion, but it was thought this would be safest, rather than doing so on the side of the road.
My apologies if it ruined Burning Man for any of you.
That's the end of my explanations, and now, here is a rant:
This kind of e forum bitching is truly pathetic. Trout, neither you nor anyone else complained about this issue on the Playa, nor do you offer any solutions. And whoever you spoke with was NOT a part of Clan Destino. You say you enjoyed our company and our drinks, then you bitch? A long and incomplete search through the threads does not reaveal anybody who is bashing our neighbors one block down, who brought TWO Ryder semi trucks and didnt cover the logos at all. And I wont go in to all the discussion, that everybody has already mentioned, about the pervasiveness of logos at Burning Man, on containers, vehicles, backpacks and camping gear, water bottles. You are truly naive if you think it is a commercial free zone. We try our best, and the Clan Destino trys harder than most, but it is unavoidable. What is worse, giving your money to a corporation by buying a bunch of beer and soda to give away, or getting it for free and giving it away? If one of your campmates could get you all rental cars or free grocceries or camping gear or whatever because they worked for a company, would you turn it down? I have given away labeled organic produce (that I grew)in the past, does this mean my farm was sponsoring my group?
The fact of the matter is that without that truck, which was given freely to us to use, we would not have had the space to haul up all of our equipment, that 50' bamboo poles to build our structures, the juice to run all the lights and DJ equipment, and air conditioner for the Silver Streak Lounge. We wouldnt have had a changing room/prep area for the performers, wouldnt have been able to put on 3 incredible shows, which entertained and inspired thousands of our fellow Burners, in such a grand fashion.
I am sure that if you spoke with any of our friends and collaborators within Gigsville, The Mutaytor, The Tuna Guys, The Chaos Bar Car, the Blue Buddha, Space Cowboys, that dangerous Viking Ship, the Eggchair/Beirgarten kids, and individuals in Moontribe13, El Circo, and a host of other camps, not to mention the BLM and the fine people that put Burning Man on, that they would vouch for our integrity and dedication to the vision of Burning Man as a community.
I had a difficult year. Bikes, costumes, and equipment were stolen from us. People grafettied our bamboo art. Alcohol was stolen. But the Burners that I respect the most enjoyed our camp and commended our efforts. Yeah things have changed in the last seven years I have been going to the Burn. Talk to my crew that have been going since 92 to see what the have to say about change. Its unavoidable, but it doesnt have to be negative. And here's the bottom line for me: When you people who are complaining about us get on the Esplanade, spend out of pocket(conservatively) $70,000 putting on a theme camp for three years, entertain with circus performances, dance, fire, music, etc, several fab art cars, an air conditioned lounge, AND give away 1000's of dollars worth of beer, vodka, soda, wine, and water - and then haul it all home with all the trash that the observers left at your camp - then I might take your complaints more seriously.
Leave no Trace
Dutch
