Hello and Welcome... What's your name? Tell me about You...

[bedlamdoll]

Hi all!

My name is Erika, and I'm from Seattle. I work as an environmental scientist and in my non-work time, I sew clothes/costumes (the line is pretty thin for me), work on other assorted crafty projects (I'm starting to experiment with forced patinas on metal bits for jewelry), and pursue various geeky hobbies. And clearly don't sleep much.

After years of hearing about all the great things my friends have done at Burning Man, I'm getting ready for my first time in 2014. I'll be camping with one of my sweeties, who has been participating for 13 years or so. The board has already been really helpful already as I start to plan, and I look forward to learning more.

[theCryptofishist]

It's your first day and all, so we'll go easy, Erika, but, posting the same message multiple times in different threads or sub-fora is known as cross-posting and not encouraged. Next time, please contain your excitement.
Thank you.

[bedlamdoll]

Will do. Sorry. *slinks off*

[theCryptofishist]

*Oh crap! Slinking! Have I broken another newbie?*

[Ratty]

Welcome Bedlamdoll, I make costumes/clothes too. Making them for burning man is SO MUCH FUN. Never change the thread to match. Finished seams don't matter as much because they will be gifted or lost in a year. Anything goes!! You'll have a grand time and do take pictures. I've neglected to do that and wish I had a record of years past.

[AiroSpade]

Hey everyone I'm Lucas and was introduced to burning man just last week. Then promptly decided on going upon finding out free love, the acceptance of nudists, and everything else. I'm interested in building a mutant vehicle to go down with; pointers are greatly appreciated. I'm also looking for pointers friends and anything and everything else.

Finally thanks for taking the time to read this and see you in 2014

[Ratty]

Welcome Lucas. Bringing a mutant vehicle may be a bit ambitious for your first year. I would strongly suggest that you come your first year and get a feel for the community. You'll have the time of your life and a bicycle is all you'll need. Eplaya has years of info for you to browse and we will answer any questions that you can't find already answered. Get to know us here. See you in the dust next year.

[Ratty]

Lucas, If you are generally comfortable traveling alone then I wouldn't worry about joining a camp. However...If you are driving a long distance you should carpool or share-ride. I camp alone.

[Soylent Queen]

Hello, Burners, from a newly deflowered virgin Burner!

What a Burn. What an epic, epic Burn. I don't know where to start when it comes to thanking all the people who made it such a memorable slice of my life: Everybody at Poly Paradise, my guardian angel TomMy, greeters, artists, people who just shouted out lovely compliments when we walked down the street, Rangers, law enforcement, sluts, Polydomers, Bump Car drivers, the crews who worked to put up the most jaw-dropping, heart-moving art I've ever seen.

Thank you all. I don't know where the right forum is to say thank you all, but I'll start by saying it here, and thanking the people who run forums like this. Thank you.

Now my work is to integrate into this community more fully, and to determine how I can best give back. I don't expect anybody to hand me answers on a silver platter, and I know I've got plenty of research avenues to explore.

But if anybody can point me to where I might start with a few subjects, I'll ask this:

How do I learn how to firedance, and how can I network with the incredible fire dancers I saw at the Burn?
I know there are forums/resources on how to start a camp. Could somebody point me to where they might be?

(Yes, I know it might be precocious to think of starting a camp for 2014—only my 2nd Burn—but I think we've got an idea for a camp that would greatly benefit people like me, who are in the subset of Burners who are diabetic or others who also might benefit from a camp where the cooking is low-carb, exercise (dance!!) is encouraged, etc. At any rate, I would like to at least start thinking about how to go about starting a camp, if not for 2014, then perhaps a little later on than that.)

So again, thank you for your help, and for all that you do.

I am changed, and I have the citizens of Black Rock City to thank for it.
Soylent Queen

[Savannah]

Hi Soylent Queen! Welcome.

Here's some info about last year's Fire Conclave AfterBurn Report with links to groups. (When the 2013 AfterBurn comes out, visit the new link.)

http://afterburn.burningman.com/12/art/ ... clave.html

How to Start a Theme Camp
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 23&t=37493

More About Theme Camps
http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/

A Great thread about Diabetics on the Playa (please contribute if you like):
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=30817

[Ratty]

Soylent Queen, Good on you. Start a camp with people looking for the same thing as you. That is the recipe for success. So many camps fail to have a good time for the week because they have no 'mission statement'. Start recruiting on Elpaya. It will pull together and WIN WIN. Be honest. Ask for help and advice. This community is huge. Good luck and welcome.

[Soylent Queen]

Savvanah, thank you so much for the warm welcome and the links. This is exactly what I need! Ratty, thank you so much for the words of advice and the encouragement. That, also, is exactly what I need, and gives me the boost up to get my head wrapped around what I need to do.

Lovely forum! Lovely burners!

[blueflame111]

Hi, I'm Sarah from Florida and I'm a virgin. I spent the week of BM checking the live feed and have decided that I will attend BM 2014. It is unlikely that anyone I know will be able to attend, but I'm not going to let that hold me back. The short time I've spent thus far reading up on how to prepare, making a good shelter, joining a camp, and all of the logistics have been daunting, but fun. I can't wait to see you all on the playa next year.

[Savannah]

Hi BlueFlame!

If any of us had waited for friends or family to get it together, most of us would never have burned.

You've got plenty of time! You can do it.

[Ratty]

Welcome Blueflame, Savannah is so right. It's tough but do-able. Join a camp. Gather up the essentials and come join us at 'The Greatest Show on Earth'. Sure, there are other fab things to see and do. This particular one sticks with you long after the dust is washed off.

[theCryptofishist]

You don't have to join a camp.

I worry that newbs get herded into an unnecessary experience, a possibly harmful one.

[Savannah]

Agreed! Better to be by yourself and proud of keeping it together, than with a group you don't care for.

[willisworld]

Hi Everyone!
I am a life long hippy who was parading as the man for many years. I have recently survived 3 heart attacks and a heart operation solely caused by stress. I have since lost all of my material things except for my house, land and a car I let my daughter's mother drive. I am now redesigning my property into an organic farm from which I will share the crops with my family friends and neighbors all year long. My heart has brought me to this forum to reach out to others like me, not necessarily from said circumstances, but as like minded individuals within a community. I have lost all of my pretty party friends with their businesses who did not feel it necessary to be there for a fellow businessman in a time of need. I now know the true meaning of friends and only 1 or 2 have made it to the other side in which I now live. I have enough resources to take care of my daughter and enough time to be there with her as she grows up, but for the most part I am now off the grid.
I believe what will happen now is the law of attraction that already is bringing new friends and stronger relationships into my life. Even though I refuse to punch a clock, I somehow have more money than I can use myself. Even the most mundane things make me happy and I am now ready to keep going down the path of freedom. I live in the N.E. part of the country and I hope people feel that they can reach out to me as I reach out to all of you. I am becoming well versed in Aquaponics gardening and plan to use this form of organic gardening to grow my ability to support others who need fresh food for good health. Thanks for your time to read a little about me, I am trying to listen more so I will stop here.

Willi

[Ratty]

But, but Willi. Are you coming to the burn next year?

[amos discokat]

HI! my name is Amos Discokat.. im from Iowa.. yippie!..2014 is finally going to be my time. I first heard about burning man when I was about 11 years old, and have known I was destined to make it to the playa, have just never been at a place to do so.. now at 29, I finally have finished school, am officially a chef, and I am so damned ready to finally let go and be free and to express myself in an environment where others are like minded and will accept me for me. I want to push myself so far out of my comfort zone and I want to be free.. I want to dance naked in the moonlight and howl .. I cant wait to spread my love to everyone and to share some wonderful food with anyone around and want to find a way for myself to maintain that happiness in and out.
Please, I have been reading everything I can find about BMan online including the survival guide and others stories.. but if anyone has advice.. the steps I need to take to get myself there.. and my dear friend, who is also a first timer as well as an amputee..I will let her introduce herself but we want to know so much.. about theme camps and camping with them, being able to help cook at the camps.. what we bring if we camp with them etc.. and how the tickets work exactly.. I was going to apply for the low income, but want to know how that works.. I heard it takes a bit to find out if your accepted.. and then you risk the regular tickets being sold out? Anything you wonderful stars can share with me would be great!

[Ratty]

Welcome Amos Discokat, Boy. That's a lot of questions. Most of those you'll need to look up on this board. Luckily you have from now till Jan or Feb before the ticketing starts again. Nobody knows how the ticketing goes. (Rhymes ) It changes a bit each year. Go to the BM home page and look for a list of theme camps. Maybe you'll find a good fit for you and your friend. there are plenty of choices. Hundreds I'm sure. Search Eplaya for answers. The man burns in about 350 days. Plenty of time. Again. Welcome.

[RahRah]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are looking forward to going to our first burning man next year - 2014! Just wanted to pop in and finally post a hello - I've been on the ePlaya since 2012, just reading and waiting and hoping we'd get to go sometime soon....and that's now next year!

[Savannah]

Hi Amos!

Aim for regular tickets . . . Low Income indeed have a long wait, sell later than regular tickets, are unpredictable in distribution, and truly are for folks who cannot even consider participating in the main sale. If you can ask yourself the question, you're not the droid they're looking for.

Camps are totally optional, individually-run, and vary quite a bit. Some cost a lot and provide a lot, some cost nothing and are largely social, and then there's the Group of Friends style camp where you do exactly what you want. Anyone can be a camp. It's only if you want placement that you need to register.

Tons of information here. The more digging you do, the nicer we are when you get stuck, because it means you're probably a decent neighbor on the playa. Welcome!

[Ratty]

Welcome Rahrah and hubbie. So glad you joined us. Now, you have a whole year to figure it out and build up the excitement. Start gathering the necessities as you find them. Read tons of fun stuff here and call it research. Get to know us and we will help those who help themselves. Welcome.

[MissKittyfromthefort]

Miss Kitty also known as just Kitty here reporting in from the Fort Hope everyone is well and have adjusted back to your defaultness. I'm also known as Heather here in good ole Fort Wayne IN.. I made my first journey across country to live in Black Rock City this year. What an adventure it was. Transmission on our van blew up in the middle of Nebraska, left our rebar sitting next to our abandoned van in Nebraska, and had popped bike tires from nasty burs we road over in Nebraska transferring everything from a trailer to a box truck. BUT I AM STILL SMILING! Best trip ever. Wouldn't change a thing. All apart of the journey. Please to meet you all and look forward to exchanging thoughts, gibberish, nonsense, brilliant lightbulb ideas, art, blah blah blah =^..^= Kitty over and out

[Savannah]

Hi MissKittyfromthefort!

Congratulations on a great first Burn.

[BullDoGG]

Hello everyone,
My name is Troy and have recently found out about BM. I found the ePlaya and have spent much time reading the many varied topics in it, watching the hilarious and educational beginners video, and learning everything I can to make my first BM next year as epic as I know it can be. So far, I am planning to volunteer, as I feel the need to work for the community as well as experience it. I live in Washington state and do PC repair work. Don't know how to explain it, just found BM and felt like I needed to be there next year. I will be looking for a regional group close to me so I can get to know some local burners and take advantage of their sage advice. Theme camps seem like a lot of fun, but I think volunteering if I can and getting the lay of the land on my first burn is the smartest way to go for me. I welcome advice, tips and tricks, bad jokes, jelly doughnuts, and anything else that might help me make next year rock. Hope to see you on the playa.

Peace

[Ratty]

Miss Kitty, Welcome. I'm sorry you had a lousy time getting there. I had a very memorable time in cour de alene Idaho when my VW blew up. It's all part of the package. I hope you hang around on Eplaya and get to know us. We'll meet you in peerson next year? "Better than the experience. Better than the memory. The anticipation." the Simpsons.

[Savannah]

Hello everyone,
My name is Troy and have recently found out about BM. I found the ePlaya and have spent much time reading the many varied topics in it, watching the hilarious and educational beginners video, and learning everything I can to make my first BM next year as epic as I know it can be. So far, I am planning to volunteer, as I feel the need to work for the community as well as experience it. I live in Washington state and do PC repair work. Don't know how to explain it, just found BM and felt like I needed to be there next year. I will be looking for a regional group close to me so I can get to know some local burners and take advantage of their sage advice. Theme camps seem like a lot of fun, but I think volunteering if I can and getting the lay of the land on my first burn is the smartest way to go for me. I welcome advice, tips and tricks, bad jokes, jelly doughnuts, and anything else that might help me make next year rock. Hope to see you on the playa.

Peace

Hi Troy! Volunteering but steering clear of theme camps with mandatory requirements is my preferred way of doing things, too. You can still visit theme camps every day if you want to. Welcome!

[Ratty]

Welcome Troy, You are going about it just right. Research, questions and more research. Volunteering is the BEST way to be a part of the community. Also, look for events in your neighborhood. Decompression? Regional burns or gatherings. I'm a Greeter. (Lots of fun). My campmate is with Census. (Bean counter). Centercamp has a station where you can volunteer after you arrive. subscribe to the newsletter. Jackrabbit speaks. It has ALL the info all year. Welcome.