Will Call the bung hole of BM

maryanimal · Post by **maryanimal** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:05 pm

Last year was my first experience with will call. I was in and out in 30 minutes. The staff was friendly and efficient. The dust storm made it a bit difficult to maneuver back into line, BUT there were these awesome volunteers, risking their lives by possibly not being seen in the dust storm, fervently trying to get folks back in line with no one getting hurt. And it's all part of the experience!

So, my parting words are this, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. We'll all get to wipe our feet on the welcome mat.

CornMan · Post by **CornMan** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:23 pm

I'll do will call for the first time this year, but my getting early entry passes might make my experience different than those who enter after the 6:00 Sunday opening. Last year, I was expecting the worst flustercluck in BM history, but they did a fine job pulling it all together.

Token · Post by **Token** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:31 pm

I've done will call 8 of the ten years going.

I love it!

As soon as we get close to the box office I jump out, grab my will call cooler with ice cold beers and drinks and go mingle.

The party starts at will call.

ACfromSAC · Post by **ACfromSAC** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:46 pm

Token wrote:I've done will call 8 of the ten years going.

I love it!

As soon as we get close to the box office I jump out, grab my will call cooler with ice cold beers and drinks and go mingle.

The party starts at will call.

GENIUS. Will call was far from enjoyable for me last year (only year I've done will call). It took me over 90 minutes to get my tickets as well. If I had a cooler full of beers, it would've felt more like 70.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:01 pm

My experience with will call has been pleasant, rarely wait more than 15 minutes. I usually have to leave tickets for other mates there and have no problem changing names and have changed them again when someone ducks out.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:53 pm

Waiting in line?
???
I got to will call once and it was closed.
"What do you mean "closed"?"

They went to bed.

So I had to go to D lot, and the rest of the car is stuck there too, unless someone adopts you.
Line?
haahahahaha

Most of the time I've been through will call, there has been two people in front of me.
Not too terrible.

9ah · Post by **9ah** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:29 pm

What year was that gyre? I haven't heard of folks complaining that will call was closed.... other than the gate being closed completely as they looked for the teen last year.

C187 · Post by **C187** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:04 am

Or he could be talking about the sliver pre-event when Will Call isn't open 24/7 yet. Otherwise Will Call and Gate shut down for lost kids, and bad dust.

There is a lot for Will Call, and instructions posted and/or on the radio on what lane(s) to be in if you need to go to Will Call. The issue comes in when people ignore them, jump lanes, and treat the lot like a grand post abstract expressionist painting in parking. Just relax, and follow instructions. You'll get your ticket, get back in line, and then finally be at Burning Man when you pass greeters.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:05 am

Will Call is just another part of the event. It is what you make it. Personally, just standing on the playa is enough to calm me down. If your really in a rush to have experiences, you're missing the ones staring you in the face.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:39 am

There is no more will call "lane".

They have created a gap at the point just before gate where they do the search and make sure everybody has tickets.

At that point if you need will call, you are diverted to the will call lot.

I was the 20th vehicle in line when gate opened last year and about 1/3 of the vehicles from all lanes went to will call.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:53 am

2007 maybe?
They did say it had been dusty earlier.

I think it was early arrival, but just barely.
Sunday morning maybe?
Or early sunday night?
A lot of people in line.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:06 am

the gap is called "apex", and we only stop you there, to make sure you have (but we don't take) tickets, and if you need will call. If you need will call, we direct and give you a traffic break, to get across to the will call lot. When done there, you are allowed back out at the point you exited.
We also keep the backlog at Gate itself (where tickets are taken and searches done) reasonable. Apex is a few hundred yards before Gate.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:27 am

ygmir wrote:the gap is called "apex", and we only stop you there, to make sure you have (but we don't take) tickets, and if you need will call. If you need will call, we direct and give you a traffic break, to get across to the will call lot. When done there, you are allowed back out at the point you exited.
We also keep the backlog at Gate itself (where tickets are taken and searches done) reasonable. Apex is a few hundred yards before Gate.

Hey, Thanks...

9ah · Post by **9ah** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:40 pm

I hadn't even thought about EA gate times... Planning for daytime arrival, looking forward to a short, fun wait.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:29 pm

It won't be like monday morning.

You could spend whole minutes in the will call line.

9ah · Post by **9ah** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:08 pm

If I arrive on Monday morning that means I walked from Reno.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:59 pm

Stopping at Will Call is value added...you get to get out and stretch, chat it up with others, share a smoke, watch the freak show...always loved it! The D-lot was even better!

Is there still a D-Lot? Last 3 years the Gate has opened at 6 PM on Sunday. Is Gate tossing folks who arrive before 6 into a D-Lot ??

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:51 pm

Triken wound up there last year.

kiss-o-matic · Post by **kiss-o-matic** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:21 pm

Gate doesn't want you to leave your car to get your tickets after many, many instances in which someone left their car and could not find it. Cell reception is slim to none, and people get separated.

Touche'. Haha. I didn't really think of that. :-/

I usually have to leave tickets for other mates there and have no problem changing names and have changed them again when someone ducks out.

This was also our other problem. The 4th of a 4-pack was many hours behind the first three. They were supposed to leave it at the gate under his name, but they were told they couldn't do that... which I'm quite sure they could have. So, maybe the planets were just in the wrong alignment for us. I've opted out of WC this year. Fingers crossed for a smooth entry.

engineer2012 · Post by **engineer2012** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 12:48 pm

gyre wrote:It won't be like monday morning.

You could spend whole minutes in the will call line.

First burn las year. At 8 AM Monday morning left the road into the desset, straight to the Will Call parking lot, no trafic jam. Took me about 20 à 25 minutes. Then in line for ticket pick up, 90 minutes. And a lot of fun. People screaming out lout when they got their tickets. Nice conversation with others waiting in line. Then about another hour in total to reach the spot where we camped all week, this includes the line for gate, greaters (hit the bell and made a playa angel) and the last miles to BRC.

All and all, about 3 hours total. I was expecting at least 5 or 6 hours. And the fun we had at Will Call, all part of the experience. The excitement when tickets are in hand after 90 minutes in line. No words can describe the feeling.

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 1:02 pm

Token wrote: The party starts at will call.

sig worthy.

engineer2012 · Post by **engineer2012** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 1:03 pm

Simon of the Playa wrote:
Token wrote: The party starts at will call.

sig worthy.

Confirmed

ironmonkey · Post by **ironmonkey** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 6:32 pm

Question:

If the week starts on Monday, but the gates open on Sunday at 6pm, does that mean we could show up Sunday and camp in brc that night?

If not and we have will call tickets waiting, does it make sense to show up on Sunday to get our tickets then come back Monday to actual get in?

Thanks.

Signed,
excited virgin :-}

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:14 pm

Burning Man starts at midnight Sun/Mon. Some times the gate will open at 6 Sunday evening.. If you figure it will take six hours to find your camping area, set up camp and go to sleep.. Then you have started Burning Man around midnight.. The BLM wants money per head per day.. So the gate has to hold or pay.. Paying would mean a lot of money.. I have been asking the question: Will a line be opened to will call earlyer than gate. My drive time puts me at the road exit about 4;00..
I would be very happy to do will call then sit on my ass for a while.. Do not stop and park along the road.. It is a hazard and you can/will be ticketed.. Do not try to camp along the roads.. Health forced be me off the road once.. I needed to eat a bit and nap.. Cop was going to ticket me for camping..

Police presents is in total over kill.. So each cop is trying to find some thing to do.. Don't let them "do" you.

Post by **trilobyte** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:56 pm

Do not show up before the event to pick up tickets for after the gates open. That would be a significant waste of time and gas (2ish hours each way to Reno).

The gates will officially open at 6pm on Sunday evening. Plan to arrive at or after 6pm, and you'll be fine. Any amount of time you spend waiting in a queue would be significantly less than the time it took to drive to and from the event from Reno. If you're arriving in town a little beforehand, use the time to either finish preparing (a local resource guide will be coming in the JRS soon), or to just relax a bit. Many hotels have pools, and I think there's a water slide joint along I-80 somewhere (I've never really cared for casinos).

maryanimal · Post by **maryanimal** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:33 pm

So is the D lot like a time out place for showing up too early? If so, how long do you keep you corralled in there after the gates open?

Post by **trilobyte** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:16 am

It's a place where time as you know it has no meaning. Every minute is an eternity, and every vehicle that passes while you wait is like a dagger in your heart. Especially if you're one of those people who really really really wants to be first.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:26 am

I'd rather be next.

maryanimal · Post by **maryanimal** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:01 pm

trilobyte wrote:It's a place where time as you know it has no meaning. Every minute is an eternity, and every vehicle that passes while you wait is like a dagger in your heart. Especially if you're one of those people who really really really wants to be first.

Yikes! I'm happy I won't be that early! Most likely I'll be in town a tad bit early and stop for a bite to eat!

ironmonkey · Post by **ironmonkey** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:41 pm

So I'm still a bit unclear. Is it possible to camp in brc Sunday evening?

Will Call the bung hole of BM

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