Volunteer comp tickets?

[sparr]

receiving a ticket in exchange for volunteering is incredibly rare. If it does occur it usually applies to people who work with-in the organization year-round as volunteers and are highly accountable.

The FAQ does reflect the reality of comped tickets: they're not to be expected for volunteering. When or if they are given out, they're to people who are accountable and have demonstrated their abilities and dedication, possibly over many years. The criteria are purposely vague so that people don't expect tickets for their "volunteering." It is, after all, supposed to be "volunteering," right? Otherwise, people would be thinking of this more as a work-duty type thing to receive a ticket.

I'm not looking to debate the philosophy of comp ticket distribution (yet, here), so I've trimmed the rest of your post just to reply to the part I'm actually trying to talk about here.

What you've written above is wrong. The FAQ is inaccurate. It explicitly says that free tickets are "usually" for people "who work with-in the organization year-round as volunteers and are highly accountable". In this context, "usually" means "in most such cases", and "most" means "majority". From this sentence, I would expect that 51% (or more) of free tickets go to people "who work with-in the organization year-round as volunteers and are highly accountable".

So far I've gotten about ten responses to this thread and its counterparts on other sites from people who say they have gotten free tickets or free ticket offers. Zero of them have met both of those criteria, so from my very tiny sample it looks like the FAQ's "usually" is more like "0-10% of the time". Four of them have met one of the two criteria, so if the FAQ was reworded to say "or" instead of "and" then the FAQ's "usually" would still be wrong, but closer to the accurate ~40%.

If this was about the difference in 51% and 40%, I'd not care. But it's not. It's about the difference in 51-100% and what seems to be less than 10%, possibly much less.

[Simon of the Playa]

it is painful to read your bullshit anecdotal arguments and made up statistics.




its like passing a hard, dry turd.




seriously. you may think you are being clever with your trolling. you are not.



go masturbate someplace else.

[sparr]

bullshit anecdotal arguments and made up statistics

I'd appreciate more official statistics. Until they are forthcoming, all I've got is what people are willing to say here.

[Sham]

This whole thread is very unfair. Expect to volunteer at least 40 hours for two or three years before you're considered for a comped ticket. This is not a rule by any means, but rather a reality to those playing the volunteer gig just to get a ticket. As was said before, they are rare. The biggest part is that your leader gets to know you and that you're reliable to show up for those many shifts.

This entire subject is nothing that could be covered in any FAQ list, since all of it is so subjective. Very simply, don't aim or expect a free ticket because you volunteer. Make yourself invaluable for a specific department and you may get a nice surprise. That's the best way this can be explained.

[sparr]

This entire subject is nothing that could be covered in any FAQ list...

Very simply, don't aim or expect a free ticket because you volunteer. Make yourself invaluable for a specific department and you may get a nice surprise. That's the best way this can be explained.

Can't be covered? You might have covered it more accurately than the current FAQ, right there.

[BBadger]

It is stated. You're just being obtuse.

[sparr]

Let me try this one more time.

The FAQ currently says, in paraphrase, "Well over half of the free tickets go to people who meet these two criteria", when the actual state of affairs seems to be "A small fraction of the free tickets go to people who meet one of these two criteria, and most of them go to people meeting a wide range of other criteria". If someone knows they can't or won't ever meet those two criteria, this is a strong de-motivator to potential volunteering. For people whose only chance to attend would be a comped ticket, it means they won't try to attend. I was one of those people. When I am poor, I frequently volunteer at events for tickets, and simply don't go to the events that I can't afford otherwise.

In saying that, it is lying. In so lying, it is hurting some potential attendees. That's not cool.

[Meat Hunter]

Burning Man is not now and has never been for everyone.

Who knows, it might just be that BM is not a good fit for you - especially if your motive is to volunteer just so you can be gifted a ticket for the next year.

A better fit for you might be the "festivals" that you already have experience with and which you seem to enjoy.

[tamarakay]

The departments that I am familiar with don't want people who are volunteering just for the free ticket. When free ticket is the goal, people tend to not show up for shifts. This is why those departments make you work a year or two or three to show that you are in fact volunteering because this work speaks to you.

Sparr, have you ever considered that people tell you things that are not true just because they know what you are like and just want to watch the shit show you bring? Were the free tickets these people supposedly given from the bmorg or from other burners? I have in the past gifted a ticket to someone I thought needed the assistance. Before ticket scarcity this happened quite frequently. Not so much anymore. The ticket I gifted was to an individual that was on eplaya that contributed to the board in a positive helpful way. This would rule you out immediately.

[BBadger]

The FAQ currently says, in paraphrase, "Well over half of the free tickets go to people who meet these two criteria", when the actual state of affairs seems to be "A small fraction of the free tickets go to people who meet one of these two criteria, and most of them go to people meeting a wide range of other criteria". If someone knows they can't or won't ever meet those two criteria, this is a strong de-motivator to potential volunteering. For people whose only chance to attend would be a comped ticket, it means they won't try to attend. I was one of those people. When I am poor, I frequently volunteer at events for tickets, and simply don't go to the events that I can't afford otherwise.

In saying that, it is lying. In so lying, it is hurting some potential attendees. That's not cool.

No, there is no lying. This is you drawing misguided conclusions from a combination of bad assumptions, ignorance, and poor reading comprehension.

No, this is you extrapolating from -- by your own admission -- a sample set of TEN people you talked to on various message-boards. Extrapolating to the thousands of volunteers involved in the event in many teams that you have not even encountered or possibly even be aware of, many of whom do not receive tickets for their work, concluding that they are not meeting the criteria. Not only that, but a sample set that you did not even bother to get the details about their record of service. Their involvement throughout the year. Their shifts. You know, all these things that might separate their status from a less-involved or first-year volunteer?

No, this is you assuming that "if it does occur it usually applies to people who work with-in the organization year-round as volunteers and are highly accountable" does not apply even to the people of your tiny sample set -- as if the only "volunteer" work that qualifies is on the playa proper. No, this goes on all year. Even first-time volunteers are being recruited as early as May. Some teams will not even accept first time burners because you have to be dependable enough to be recommended. A lot of prep and coordination goes into the event all throughout the year.


The fundamental aspect of what you're not "getting" -- as evidenced by your quote above -- is that this is not a trade.

This is about volunteering.


VOLUNTEERING.


This is not volunteering:

If someone knows they can't or won't ever meet those two criteria, this is a strong de-motivator to potential volunteering. For people whose only chance to attend would be a comped ticket, it means they won't try to attend. I was one of those people. When I am poor, I frequently volunteer at events for tickets, and simply don't go to the events that I can't afford otherwise.

This is plying your services for trade. This is the concept you're missing and the point we're trying to drive home: volunteer to volunteer, not for tickets or any other compensation.

If you're demotivated to "volunteer" because you're not going to be comped, you're not qualified in the first place.

[maladroit]

I know about 50 people who go to Burning Man, many doing volunteer work, and only one reliably gets a free ticket (by virtue of working for BMORG year-round as an employee on the books). Put those statistics in your Excel spreadsheet.

[gaminwench]

I'm so glad Bbadger is here.

[sparr]

Extrapolating to the thousands of volunteers involved in the event in many teams that you have not even encountered or possibly even be aware of, many of whom do not receive tickets for their work, concluding that they are not meeting the criteria.

Somehow you've read me quoting "most people who get free tickets meet X criteria" and somehow turned that into "most people who meet X criteria get free tickets". I'm not sure where that communication failure happened, but it's not something I've said.

No, this is you assuming that "if it does occur it usually applies to people who work with-in the organization year-round as volunteers and are highly accountable" does not apply even to the people of your tiny sample set -- as if the only "volunteer" work that qualifies is on the playa proper. No, this goes on all year. Even first-time volunteers are being recruited as early as May.

Can you elaborate on how it's relevant that someone is recruited in May? Of the ten people in question, none have mentioned any volunteering duties off-playa.

The fundamental aspect of what you're not "getting" -- as evidenced by your quote above -- is that this is not a trade. This is about volunteering.

I really don't want to debate philosophy here. At this time, I do not have a position on the subject of appropriate motivations for volunteering. I am *only* talking about the accuracy of the statements made in the FAQ as applies to the current distribution of free tickets. Since my comments above about my own situation seem to be distracting you, I'll stop commenting on that point.

[sparr]

I know about 50 people who go to Burning Man, many doing volunteer work, and only one reliably gets a free ticket (by virtue of working for BMORG year-round as an employee on the books). Put those statistics in your Excel spreadsheet.

Great. You've [somewhat] successfully defended the use of the word "rare" in the FAQ. Now, on to the next sentence, where the much more concrete falsehood is found...

[maladroit]

There is no "success" in this pile of shit thread you've somehow squeezed out of thin air.

I could go into an argument over the semantics of "usually" and personal perspective of the writer versus centuries of combined playa experience clarifying it for you. Or I could put my shoes in a corner until the poop dries off enough to chip it out of the treads.

[BBadger]

Extrapolating to the thousands of volunteers involved in the event in many teams that you have not even encountered or possibly even be aware of, many of whom do not receive tickets for their work, concluding that they are not meeting the criteria.

Somehow you've read me quoting "most people who get free tickets meet X criteria" and somehow turned that into "most people who meet X criteria get free tickets". I'm not sure where that communication failure happened, but it's not something I've said.

Re-read what you quoted me saying above. It is referring to the former, and even the quote follows the same format.

Can you elaborate on how it's relevant that someone is recruited in May? Of the ten people in question, none have mentioned any volunteering duties off-playa.

That one-of-two criterion, specifically that ticket receiving volunteers are not involved year round, are not being met by the volunteers.

I really don't want to debate philosophy here. At this time, I do not have a position on the subject of appropriate motivations for volunteering. I am *only* talking about the accuracy of the statements made in the FAQ as applies to the current distribution of free tickets. Since my comments above about my own situation seem to be distracting you, I'll stop commenting on that point.

This isn't about philosophy. This is about definitions. "Volunteering" means expecting nothing in return. The FAQ clearly states to not expect a free ticket for your "volunteering." That's all there is to it.

This is the real problem here. You're treating this volunteering in the same manner as a for-trade agreement where the "agreement" details how you receive X for Y. You're expecting this FAQ to make some sort of accurate policy statement, or a guideline you can follow. The FAQ is not, however, a rule-book or a binding agreement. The "usually"s, "generally"s and "more than halfs" quoted in the FAQ are not guidelines, thresholds, or absolute values, but just recounted information. At best, those statements are data observed. At worst, it was just made up to drive home the point that tickets are comped to people who are well-involved in BM's operations.

Whatever the statements, they are not to be used as predictors, let alone guarantees, of future ticket disburses. Likewise, any other data you have, including your sample set of 10 that claims that they've always received free tickets, or even having in-hand a detailed record of every ticket given out to volunteers, matters not at all. They're only records, and don't set policy for the future.

It also doesn't matter that those who receive tickets "usually" fulfill certain criteria. The fact is, this isn't about any particular criteria. The FAQ is merely describing the qualities that most comped ticket recipient have. They're pretty standard for any kind of work-reliance situation. Again, it's to communicate that volunteers who have received tickets are generally well involved in the event.


Remember, it's a volunteer job. Get that through your head. Expect nothing for what you do unless personally guaranteed. If you want any kinds of guarantees you need to work with the specific volunteer teams and if conditions arise where you're guaranteed a ticket for volunteering, you'll be told then. The FAQ, meanwhile is just to tell you to volunteer first, and then opportunities for comped tickets may present themselves for reasons that are beyond the scope of the FAQ.

[Elderberry]

Good thing he doesn't know about the wristbands.

[Sham]

It is stated. You're just being obtuse.

[Simon of the Playa]

sparr is a waste of fucking time.

his photo is fake too, btw...

seriously people, don't bother.

[Captain Goddammit]

I am a volunteer for one of the BM departments. Most of the work I do starts months before the event.
I do not receive a free ticket.
I don't give a crap about getting one, the ticket is nowhere near the biggest expense of going to Burning Man.
I work where I do because it's something I know about and care about, enough to do it on my own time.

[AntiM]

All my volunteer duties are off playa. I get to read every bullshit post here, all year. Every year. Many ticketless years, I always buy a ticket early each year because I never know if and when the policy will swing toward or away from a gift ticket. The ticket is not the point, and the policies of every different department is fluid. Getting the job done because we love the fucking event is the point.

Can you volunteer for a free ticket? Maybe. Eventually. If you don't piss off the people who might be interested in gifting one to you.

My regional cannot afford gift tickets, even for those who volunteer to organize and be responsible in big ways. Used to, but that money is being turned toward art. There may be a few artist tickets, but you have to be motivated, talented, and lucky to get one. We still put on an event, we still find ways to help people get there. But no volunteer tickets anymore.

[Captain Goddammit]

That's pretty much all the FAQ you need to know about being a volunfuckingteer

[ygmir]

I"m told if you volunteer to be a crossing guard at Trego, you don't even need a ticket. The gig starts at "early man" and ends on the Tuesday after Man Burn.

[EspressoDude]

USS is looking for volunteers

[Bless]

I've heard that certain ePlaya Admins get a comped ticket. Maybe that's a volunteer position for which sparr should apply?

[Simon of the Playa]

why volunteer when you can get paid?

[ygmir]

for transperency: I do some work for the event out there.

[Sham]

I've heard that certain ePlaya Admins get a comped ticket. Maybe that's a volunteer position for which sparr should apply?

Wow, if a ticket is offered, it comes out to 56 cents an hour. We volunteer to moderate here, and a ticket is never expected.

[ygmir]

I've heard that certain ePlaya Admins get a comped ticket. Maybe that's a volunteer position for which sparr should apply?

Wow, if a ticket is offered, it comes out to 56 cents an hour. We volunteer to moderate here, and a ticket is never expected.

what about the reacharounds? you never mention the reacharounds?

[Ano]

I get a comped ticket... but the work I do involves 35+ (usually 48 for me) hours of hard work, including one shift starting at midnight or 6am, travel time to/from shift (which adds up), expectation to show up sober and ready for ANYTHING (I had to work during the rain in 2014, which included getting dirty and wet and miserable. I've worked through 65mph+ dust storms, for hours, and been stranded at my shift for hours longer than it was scheduled) and one shift during the burn weekend/exodus. The job is 100% of the time so far outside the city that I can't even hear it, and can only see the outline. I'm also expected to be somewhat on-call in case of massive emergencies (like rain). I've "missed" tons of excellent things happening inside the city because I'm too busy doing work to keep the city afloat. Year round, I work for my department at regionals, and I also attend a meeting or two every year (based on need), along with basic recruiting efforts because I want friends who kick ass to work with me.

The work is insanely tiring to a nearly ridiculous point. I've come home from shifts aching and tired, more fatigued than an all-night session riding my bike drunkenly chasing shinies or dancing like an idiot in front of a sound system until 9am. It's mentally and physically exhausting - and I fucking love it.

I never, ever entered my position expecting a ticket. It was offered to me because I busted my ass for my first year, working 42 hours, two graveyard shifts, staying late, and missing one of the major burns.

In fact, many org-based positions can volunteer to get a ticket for the next year after you start volunteering - if you truly bust your ass. Even Greeters - and I'm not 100% sure of their requirements off hand, but it is basically to greet every single day at the Burn, including a few ridiculous shift times (like starting at 3am), through major events, and not missing a single shift. It's also up to the department in question to decide if you're willing - I know at least one person who had their staff pass pulled because they basically did the bare minimum and gave little shit.

Earning a ticket isn't something you should expect. It's something that happens if you're dedicated and willing to basically turn a chunk of your Burn into Working Man.

I've taken a personal vow to be less snarky and less of an asshole, trying to change parts of my life, but fuck it - you sound like the kind of volunteer that would get their staff access/reduced price ticket pulled because you showed up for a ticket, not for the work.