Holding space for other camps etiquette????

Oga Sonic · Post by **Oga Sonic** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:00 am

The amount of land grabbing grows every year. In 2003, we arrived by late morning on Monday planning to save space only to be relegated to the boonies. Two years ago, we arrived at the opening of the gate for the explicit purpose of saving enough space for the entire camp. Imagine our surprise, annoyance and frustration to find all of our preferred addresses occuped. So we contacted the BMOrg to ask why.

He basically said sometimes it was the Theme Camps saving space for late arrivals/friends/a second camp to get away from their Theme Camp.

The majority of reserved space is attributed to volunteers who arrive very early for multiple reasons e.g. build the city. In general, the reserved space for "non-registered" camps wasn't considered an issue.

For everyone irritated by land grabbing, perhaps you should volunteer OR register your own theme camps. This is truly the only way to save prime real estate The majority of organizations provide their volunteers with perks and BM is no exception.

I have to wonder though......if you were camping with several people arriving throughout the week, what would you do? Set up camp just for the few early arrivals and hope the rest of your campmates had room to join you? Or would you save them some space???

This Woman · Post by **This Woman** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:21 am

I think Drangonfly's is a good standard for ettiquette. Not that I'd do anything more snort should I happen upon a camp that fell on the wrong side of it. I would also snort if it were one tent holding enough space for a roller rink.

Oga, we map our camp's needs prior to departure, and the first members that arrive stake enough room for the entire camp. However, since staking is done in straight lines, there is always room, not for other theme camps, but for small individual camps to go here or there. Since we introduce ourselves to neighbors practically as we are getting out of our vehicles, there has never been an issue about the space we take. They tell us what is planned but not yet built, etc, and we work around it. Similarly, when our camp is up and new attendees pull their vehicle up to our lines and ask what's available, introductions are made all round, and then discussion of their needs and how they can fit in or around our camp.

So maybe the best advise for GoGo is meet your neighbors. Don't be shy. Let your needs be known and understand the importance of the needs of others.

Sean_til_Dawn · Post by **Sean_til_Dawn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:18 pm

Unattended tape and stakes are MOOP and will be secured and disposed of properly.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:29 pm

Stupid question:
Is there a simple formula for x person + x square footage?
Or is it shade structure + kitchen + xRVs + xTents?

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:03 pm

I have always used 150 sf / person for a "packed" camp, and 300 sf / person for a "loose" camp. Note that not everyone can drive a vehicle and exist in 150 sf.

Tumbleweed · Post by **Tumbleweed** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:55 pm

Oga Sonic wrote:I have to wonder though......if you were camping with several people arriving throughout the week, what would you do? Set up camp just for the few early arrivals and hope the rest of your campmates had room to join you? Or would you save them some space???

This is the dilemma I find myself faced with. I will be arriving alone on Monday afternoon, and the rest of my group (5 more people) will arrive on Tuesday afternoon. Myself, I have a pickup truck and a shade structure, so I will be setting up and living in the chosen space. The rest of the group will bring another shade structure and an RV. What about holding space for them? Cool or uncool? (Granted, previous comments seem to suggest that I'll be out in the boonies anyway if I arrive on Monday afternoon.)

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:42 pm

As long as you (or your camp) are there to hold it, go for it!

IMHO, the real issue is when people rope off large areas with no one there to hold it...

And yes, you will probably be in "the boonies", but apparently this year that could be a good thing, so don't worry.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:12 am

I 2nd that. the no no is to hold huge tracts or to hold land that you aren't using but your friends will be in for in 3 days. Holding enough for an rv and shade shelter and a couple of tents for 24-30 hours. Meh.

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:24 am

FATHER:
Stop that! Stop that! You're not going into a song while I'm here. Now listen, lad. In twenty minutes, you're getting married to a girl whose father owns the biggest tracts of open land in Britain.
HERBERT:
B-- but I don't want land.
FATHER:
Listen, Alice,--
HERBERT:
Herbert.
FATHER:
'Erbert. We live in a bloody swamp. We need all the land we can get.
HERBERT:
But-- but I don't like her.
FATHER:
Don't like her?! What's wrong with her?! She's beautiful. She's rich. She's got huge... tracts o' land!
HERBERT:
I know, but I want the-- the girl that I marry to have...
[music]
...a certain,... special... something!
FATHER:
Cut that out! Cut that out! Look, you're marrying Princess Lucky, so you'd better get used to the idea!
[smack]
Guards! Make sure the Prince doesn't leave this room until I come and get him.
GUARD #1:
Not to leave the room even if you come and get him.
GUARD #2:
Hic!

Tumbleweed · Post by **Tumbleweed** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:22 am

dragonfly Jafe wrote:And yes, you will probably be in "the boonies", but apparently this year that could be a good thing, so don't worry.

Yeah, actually I'm not bothered about the boonies. I'll probably spend most of my time out and about on the playa anyway. Thanks to you and Crypto for the feedback. I feel better now.