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¥FEW DAYS IN THE DESERT
PRE-GUIDE IDEA COLLAGE BY FUCKÆ
“Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training.” Anna Freud
bWelcome to a few days in the desert.
For those people who have been to the Burningman dessert festival before, they are often asked to provide information and advice to those who haven’t. This is, for the most part, very difficult at best and futile at worst. You may often hear the phrase” You’ll just have to see for yourself”. Still, most of us want to try and share our experiences and thus help a new burner have a better time than if they just showed up. In fact, even veteran Burners can be better prepared by sharing information, experience and efforts in a way that paints pictures, conveys ideas and ultimately makes us all more interacting. After much consideration and discussion with others, I have the following insights, advice and recommendations for anyone.
Question~ “I’ve read all the official “Burningman.com” web page stuff and seen all the pictures but...
what is a few days in the desert really like, what is it really about and what is really going on? Is it a concert? A flea market? What?”
Answer~ Technically, A few days in the desert or BURNINGMAN is a festival held in the dessert, where about 35,000 people, live and camp together with nothing specific to celebrate or be festive about except witnessing what happens to you from the time you get there till the time you leave. In other words, a really big, free-form campout. You have to bring everything including water, food and shelter.
In reality, Burningman has outgrown it’s technical definition. In other words, the point of the campout may be far more important than the camping itself. This “point” however, changes from person to person. For some, it is an art festival. For others it is about “radical self expression“ otherwise known as “Art“, “an experiment in temporary community” otherwise known as “Camping“, personal exploration, spontaneous relationship experience, survival, cool gadget usage, body worship, sex, drugs, music, dancing, spirituality, humanity, scenery, entertainment or profound chaos and a whole lot of braving the elements. A painting of the dessert canvass with human creative expression , if you will. It is a an event that people feel inspired to bring a piece of furniture that has been turned into a car. It is a place where people ride bicycles decorated to look like flying saucers, animals and Elvis. It is a place where someone may perform spontaneous sock puppet shows or give cold carrots to perfect strangers or simply walk into the dessert air and sing their true song. It is a weird place, mostly on purpose. It is a place of nudity in all manner of speaking. It is a place of costumes both bright and dark. It is a place of party and profound. It is a place where you can probably get away with being , or doing, or trying that desire within you. The one you know is out of place, in the larger world. It is a place where each person goes individually inspired to experience collectively. This person to person shift of personal motivations, reasons, intentions, expectations help create the weather patterns that become the atmosphere known as Burningman..
Because our host have designed things in a way where all of these things are a possible, there isn’t a lot of arguing about what is and what is not Burningman. So ultimately, there is no way to answer this question without experiencing it yourself. Not only do you decide what Burningman is, you decide what it is for you. Essentially, each event is made up as we go along. We bring exactly to the experience what our individual gifts allow us to and the over all character of the event reflects over 35,000 different personalities who are actively camping, living, playing, celebrating, learning, dancing, painting, listening, talking, yelling, loving, lusting, looking, touching, eating, smelling, tasting and trying to do it in some vague spirit of happiness, healthy community and togetherness despite unfamiliarity.
You may decide you want to go to experience the large dancing parties that spring up (there is lots of people who bring DJ set ups). You may decide you want to go to witness the amazing variety of large scale dessert art. (there are not art police at Burningman). You may decide you want to feel the lick of the fire culture ( flame throwers, burning art, fire spinning ahh..... the allure). You may decide to feel the sun across your bare flash as you roam without destination, schedule or any attention to particular (The act of an aimless wander is a magic few dare.) Any of these things may be yours to soak in, yet.... Burningman comes with price. A community of this scale needs you contribute. You become responsible not only for experience these things. You are charged with to bringing them for others Burningman is a “Doacracy“. If you are aware of something that needs/wants/would be great to be done, you are charged to “do” it. No spectators. Everyone is participant. In this way, people are encouraged to do more than attend Burningman for consumption and be entertained. You share equal role in the show. You must bring your skills, your talents and your self into the fray. If you are a person who likes to watch from the sidelines, you’ve picked the wrong event. If you are ready to take a leap into the unknown, you are home.
Indeed some of the first words you may hear at Burningman is “ Welcome Home!”.
ÁIMAGINE
What would the world be like if it were free form the many assumptions about social order? Would it spiral out of control into selfishness and destruction, or would it finally give peace a chance?
If you can imagine all the things that happen when 35, 000 campers come to live together in the dessert under a philosophical umbrella that encourages radical self expression, discourages commercial vending, and has few formal guidelines for behavior, you’re getting close to the mark. But lets try to paint a mental picture. Imagine arriving on a very dusty flat dry lake bed to a tent city. There are roads and designated camping areas. Before you park, you notice that the majority of people you see are either dust covered nude, dust covered partial nude or dust covered costume. By week’s end you’ll be aware that the majority of the population remains permanently costumed in dust, nudity, glitter and all manner of leather and furs. The majority of camps are artfully decorated and the camps range from one to hundreds. Many of those camps will welcome you in to view their art, their science project, their music, their community experiment and all manner of interaction. Artcars, art bikes and art mobiles roam the streets and open areas of the dessert. Away from the camps, these areas of open dessert are sprinkled with random works of artwork both giant and small. This open dessert area is for exploration and wander, wonder and “your” experience. In fact, most everyplace you go is generally designed for you to be welcomed and visit. You are informally expected to be a constant participant rather than a spectator by not simply finding these things at the festival, but you in turn are found by others. This experience perpetuates a honest friendly nature that seeds smiles and hugs between strangers. It gives life to artistic inspiration and expresses itself in way that range from outright silly to thoughtful irony. It is a land that takes advantage of as much freedom as time, resource and condition permit. It is as free as it gets, in this day and age.
Author Haikem Bey describes a similar situation where a group of people decide to liberate an area of land to be a “Temporary Autonomous Zone”. A space that is dedicated for unspecified use, adventure and experience. You do not know what will happen, only that you are there to do what you will, and have what other people do, affect you in like. An empty playground that fills with people and their ideas and things and actions to whatever ends. This is not a production of passive entertainment. Anyone who shows up expecting to be catered to is in for a big disappointment. It is a experience you help create by what you interact with. If 35,000 boring people showed up, the event would be very boring. As it happens, the majority of people who show up, tend to be very creative, very expressive and incredibly interactive. They hope you will be too.
Someone once said that Burningman is a place where you go to be the person you can not be the rest of the year. This may or may not be true for you.. of course. But if it were true, then history will show that so far, most people lack radical kindness, art and celebration in their lives. Cause there has been a whole lot of that, at Burningman.
“Burningman is a festival. The object is to celebrate!” Fucko
QUESTION~ Isn’t really just an excuse for a bunch of hippies, new-agers and ravers to party?
ANSWER~ Well, maybe. But I’ve never seen ravers pick up trash after themselves. I’ve never seen new agers not protesting large-scale public intrusions to the natural environment and I’ve never seen hippies take flame throwers and destroy other people’s artwork in full view of an audience. I never witnessed a grand parade of naked people celebrating by dancing with fire, people yelling obscenities through bull horns at 3 am, and dangerous artwork spring out of the dessert floor without rhyme or reason anywhere else in the world. A temporary city filled with over 20,000 bicycles, 1,000 art cars, 30,000 wandering costumes, 500 free bars, countless spontaneous dance clubs and giant interactive artwork, art shows and artist all for more than a week. So maybe it’s just a party. Except I hate parties but I love my week in the dessert.
µAPPROACH A FEW DAYS
I suggest, the more you prepare, the less you can worry. The less time you spend worrying, the more time you can spend enjoying. The tricky part is taking your responsibilities to yourself into great account and leaving your expectations of everyone else at home. The extreme weather and intense participation means Playa life can be very harsh on a person physically, mentally and emotionally. It can also be amazing, wonderful and inspiring. Being aware of this can help you minimize your discomfort and maximize your sensitivity to enjoyment. This is a very important aspect of the event. There is no guarantee that you will love Burningman, but if your are to have a “life altering, earth shattering full on community orgasm experience“, I suggest you need to be ready for it, open to it and recognize it once it appears.
XCOMPRESSION
Many of us spend time adjusting to life on the Playa, as it can be quit different than the world we are used to most of the year. The habits of the world need time to disappear for a while so a new adventure can take place (Like deep-sea divers do before they can travel to very deep places of the earth. In your nervous system, this is called “Repetitive Expectant Neuro-Performance Adjustment“~ meaning it physically takes you nervous system a day or two to re-wire itself for different activities, i.e. sleep patterns, physical activities and responsibility concerns). Many people call it compression. It is essential to comfort, one of our primary instinctual drives. Many believe the shorter the time it takes feel comfortable at the festival, the more time can be spent enjoying it. Being well prepared physically and mentally are the biggest means you have to do this. (Like training for happiness or becoming a self happiness expert!)
pPARTICIPATION
“The giving of yourself is the greatest gift you can give to us!“ Relationships are created, neighbors meet one another, and our collective survival is challenged. A city is born and then... poof, it vanishes. Not by giant corporate event trucks and paid staff, but by us. We build it. You may want to become part of this. It is difficult to take role in the community if you here for less than 24 hours or keeping to yourself. This is generally not a spectator event. After taking care of your survival, everything else is up to you. Being outrageously decadent is great fun but it may be more amazing to be a version of awesome self and share it with others. Giving and receiving acceptance of self and other is awesome way alive! Consider Living life as art! Consider being an ultra version of yourself. ~ ULTRA ME!
For maximum enjoyment of the event, there are a few great options before hand, during and after.
Volunteer Connection~ You can join practically any volunteer camp just by showing up and saying you want to. There are no “club” requirements. Do as little or as much as you want. Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet people and become a part of the spontaneous collective of Burningman
Positive Self Manifest~ Close your eyes and imagine what kind of time you would have, if when you came home, you had the most amazing stories, awesome memories and incredible experiences. Now set out to create those times and ask people for help in doing so.
Blind Open Optimism~ Just show up and see what happens.
Revolutionary Driven~ If ever there is another moment, theme it as if it were never to be again. Compose music as if your soul would never hear it again. Create art as if ones eyes could never again thereafter hold its beauty. Express in every moment being who you truly are and what you truly feel. Take everything and send it's every form out into every world. Be publicly inspired without restraint. Be free!
³COMMUNITY GOALS
Participation without negative infringement. It is a difficult task to be as much of yourself as you can be without steeping on the toes of others, but apparently this is our task. I suggest becoming familiar with and understand the stated Principles (hypocrisies and all) behind the event beforehand and then try to forget them. They will remain in your sub-conscious and still allow you to be an amazing version of yourself without worrying about it(besides, playa nazis will remind you if you go to far).
Statement of some people’s Principles:
Radical Inclusion ~Anyone may be a part of a few days. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community (except the ticket thing).
Gifting~ A few days is devoted to acts of giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value (ex ticket).
Decommodification~ In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising (except our own). We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience (even if we fail).
Radical Self-reliance~ A few days encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
Radical Self-_expression~ (otherwise known as ART) Radical self-_expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.
Communal Effort~ Our community promotes social interaction through collective acts of gifting. We value creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that enable such interaction.
Civic Responsibility~ We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
Leaving No Trace~ Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.
Participation~ Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work and to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.
Immediacy~ Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value within our community. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.
ºCOMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY~ “There are no rules about how one must behave or express oneself at this event (save all the rules and guidelines and suggestions that serve to protect the health, safety, and experience of the community at large); rather, it is up to each participant to decide how they will contribute and what they will give to this community.”.
In general, the community (in buying a ticket) agrees to observe the following rules as follows:
Do not drive cars in camp (except registered art cars.. excuse me.. Mutant Vehicles).
Respect public boundaries (Stay out of staff area but within the big trash fence)
No commercial vending (except ice, coffee, tea at the center Cafe and T-shirts on the website)
LEAVE NO TRACE (pack it in, pack it out, absolutely no trash! Smoke in the air is ok.)
Observe fire rules (which are to numerous to keep track of.)
No Dogs (only people pretending to be animals allowed)
Your camp sound should not serious disrupt other camps (except rave camps)
No ticket no entry (unless you officially work for the BORG or sneak in)
Local, state, federal laws are still apply and can be enforced (yes, there are some cops)
No fire arms (previously.. “don’t shoot firearms at people“ but now “No Firearms“)
“Dammit! Stop telling people what to do, and inspire them instead!” Deadmanshoe
MINDFULL/EMPTY
j OPEN & WISE MIND
Open and Wise Mind ~ (Sounds all mystical don’t it?) I think it is important to approach Burningman as both a naive, curious child and a wise, experienced elder. This involves suspending judgments as you discover the wonderful differences of others while providing good care for yourself as well. This formula is my best suggestion for an approach platform to having healthy (and still wild) life in Black Rock City.
à EXPECTATION CHECK
Identifying and placing healthy expectations is a big skill that goes real far. Being honest and realistic is a great tool to stay out from drama’s negative trap. Many people practice ‘NO DRAMA” Unless of course you are acting, and then it is very much encouraged and often incited. But people who come with high expectations about being entertained, taken care of, respected, paid attention too and who expect their personal values reflected in others, are bound for disappointment. Expectations are a form of predictability and an attempt of control. A good thing in “every day life” but a disaster to playa potential. A “No Rules” society (in reality) means personal explorations, boundary adventures, unrestricted flights of inspiration and spontaneous whims (my favorite). Many people wait patiently and responsibly all year, for this one time & place they can abandon strict judgments and befriend their outrageous, awesome selves.
Û CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Forgiveness, compassion and patience. These are the corner stones of all well-achieved suggestions for starting all problem resolution. Most problems on the playa exist because of the environment. The weather and its effects are harsh. The good news is that you will be surrounded by other people whom (given history) are almost always willing and often capable of lending a helping hand, whether it be fixing a flat tire or finding a great party. But the real big problems come from people problems, which can end better than before or worst that imaginable. Many broken hearts have found open words on the playa and most of these disputes were avoidable in reaction more than in action. Real emergencies and safety issues can always be dealt with as needed but it’s the “expectation” crosses that burn bad. In our camp, we pride ourselves on two simple conflict avoidance skills;
Refuse personal intrusions in other people’s problems and all problems will
be discussed at an appropriate time, in an appropriate place, in a non-blaming manner.
“Taste is the enemy of creativity” Pablo Picasso
Å SELF CARE~ RADICAL SELF RELIANCE
You need lots of skills. The biggest of these skills is the basic one. Radical Self Reliance.
YOU MUST BRING ALL YOU NEED TO SURVIVE.
Every participant is charge with bringing with them, all the water, food, shelter, fuel, equipment and entertainment they will need for their stay. Radical self reliance, self- containment or radical self-sufficiency is more than just a knowing what to pack. It can also be a state of mind. Preparing a base, a camp, an area for self care can provide a kind of confidence. A trust that allows you to go out and explore. Go out and extend yourself. Some people take so much care for themselves, the isolate themselves off from the rest of the city. To each their own. But everyone is responsible for making sure they are taken care of, even if that means taking care of themselves. This doesn’t mean you are left to fend for yourself out there, quite the opposite. It means the better care you give yourself, the better care you can give care to others. In our camp we agree ahead of time to collectively take care of certain items, and give rise to the ability to bring more stuff instead of doubling up. I’ve included an equipment list at the end of this compilation you can use to ensure you have your basics covered. Many of the items will determine both your safety and your happiness.
wWEATHER EARTH WIND AND FUCKING FIRE
EARTH~ The Black Rock Dessert (also known as “the Playa”) is a prehistoric lake bed. It is made of an alkali clay (slightly acidic) and creates a fine duct that sticks to everything. So, it is a dusty place that no plant life grows in. The dessert is at 4000ft elevation so it takes about 24 hrs for us sea level people to acclimatize. It is wide open and hostile. Most think it Beautiful.
WIND~ The range is 0 mph to 70 mph. That means unpredictable white out dust storms that will blow away anything not secure to the ground with 12” to 36” stakes. Be careful of blow away things, trash and delicates. But mostly, the wind is very tolerable. The wind is the biggest reason that most people wear goggles at Burningman. Goggles and dust mask or scarves are highly suggested. Many of us believe that tinted goggles are a mandatory item to bring (any motorcycle shop or army surplus store) for they serve dual purpose.
FIRE~ The sun and heat are a different matter. Temperatures range from 40° f to 110°, in a single day so bring cloths for both hot days and fun cold nights. Your high adventure backpacking gear is great but big furry costumes work just as well and are much more fun, so a range of cold and warm costumes are what most of us try to achieve. But you bring what you want or can, we love you regardless. The sun has more UV up there, so bring as much sun screen, with as much SPF as you can. Staying cool is a big issue up there. Shade structures that can both brave the winds and still provide shade is an art. Think windy, shade and portable and decorative = Shade geeks.
THE SKY IS FALLING~ It can and does rain up there so a camping poncho can be useful and keeping your cloths in big ziplock bags help keep rain and playa dust from getting into your gear until you use it. After that, playa dust is there to stay. This is a good time to mention you might want to consider taking none of your expensive clothes. Playa dust only comes out with vinegar (if at all) so most of us only take gear we are willing to be destroyed or eternally covered with a fine white film of a Few Days dust. The sunsets at are among the most magnificent in the world.
»WATERHYDRATION
It is suggested that you have at least 1.5 gallons of water per person per day. This idea works pretty good. The motto “PISS CLEAR” means you drink enough water that your urine is mostly excess water. If your pee doesn’t look more like water and less like beer, chances are, you are not well hydrated. Do be careful about making sure you have some salt (a handful of salted nuts or salty soup) every day to allow for water absorption by your body. If you bring this much water with you it will provide you with enough for your drinking, cooking, and bathing. Some suggest flavoring your water as well (It makes for great showers). Do bring a portable water carrier (canteen, water bottle with strap, camelback etc.) Another trick to get your body to absorb more water is to start drinking lots of water now. By the time you get to the playa, your body will be used to producing enough salt on it’s own.
Dehydration can cause headaches, stomach cramps, abdominal pains, constipation, or flu-like symptoms. It exacerbates both heat-related and cold-related conditions (i.e. both sunstroke and hypothermia), and makes it difficult for the body to mend itself. If someone you know complains of these symptoms, or shows signs of either severe overheating or (worse) a case of the chills under the mid-day sun, get them to shade immediately and seek prompt medical help.
Some signs that you may not be drinking enough water:
· You don't carry a water bottle with you at all times.
· You sip instead of drinking deeply.
· You wait to drink until you're thirsty (too late!).
· Your urine is anything but clear and abundant.
· You become cranky.
\FOOD
Oddly enough, many do not eat much up there but that goes against better training so I always plan on at least two meals a day and provisions for extra if needed (soups, pasta etc). If everyone plans on bringing their own food and their own menu for themselves, it works really well. Some people love to cook for others and that is great. Bring enough to share but be careful of waste. Community meals “where everyone eats the same food and take turns doing chores” usually turns out horrible on the playa. Very few people eat at the same time, prepare food in the same way, or feel like doing chores making a scheduled kitchen a “recipe for disaster” (pun). The “take care of your own food” works great. Most would not suggest bringing more than a day or two of perishables. Ice coolers need to be maintain each day. Meats and fresh fruits do not last long in them. Still, it is camping. It is great to have specialty treats, many of which can be canned or dried (fruits, puddings, cakes ummm good!). Snack foods are great and great things to share. Avoid anything with melting mixes (chocolates, gummy candies get really messy, but are sometimes worth it.) Maybe you can invent methods of keeping more of this stuff out there!
@LIQUOR
“ I hardly know her!” (I know another pun but hey.. my name is Fucko.) Do plan to bring your own additives, favorite libations and relevant mixes, props and do hickies. Also try to bring some extra for donatables to the camp bar and for gifting in other camps (It can be a gift economy). There are cocktail parties. Airline shot bottles work great as gifts but you can obviously be as creative as you like. If you do drink up there, please drink more water. Alcohol dehydrates people. If you can find a nice decorative or favorite cup it makes it easier to know who’s whos as well. Oddly enough there is not a lot of drunkenness despite all the booze. It might be the altitude. But that never stops most of us from trying. More importantly, it doesn’t stop many from acting drunk, whether they are or are not.
+FIRST AID
It is suggested to get a small first aid kit for yourself filled with your favorite dinosaur band-aids. Some keep a bigger one in camp. It is suggested to bring lots of UVF and SPF lotion for your skin (I mean a very big bottle), aloe gel or other burn cream. Aspirin/Ibuprofen/ Acetaminophen are life savers for altitude headaches and nose & eye drops (saline solution) are highly recommended. The playa dust has a way of drying out the skin and the sun has a way of burning people (Not in the good way, like BAD is GOOD when it’s “I’M BAD“, but like when it sucks.) In case of emergency, get help! There is a medical tent at Burningman with an ambulance.
±DAS FOOT
Your feet will be working overtime so it is suggested treating them well or getting someone else to treat them well for you. Most do not plan on walking around barefoot (even if you are otherwise nude, yea!) even if you are used to it. The Playa is an alkali lakebed and will leave you poor footies dry and burned after only a few hours. Boots are great, soft shoes are fine. It does rain occasionally so pointed hells tend to sink in the mud (although it never stops me from wearing them. I’m just saying don’t plan on using your Stiletto's as your sole footwear.) There are foot soaps and lotions that will help protect your feet. Morning foot lotions & wearing socks as much as possible is very helpful. Try to remember that, just because your wearing shoes doesn’t mean you can’t paint your toenails. You might also consider getting a good tan before you go.
ÊGARBAGE
THERE IS NO GARBAGE SERVICE AT BURNINGMAN. You must pack out everything you pack in. The motto is “Leave No Trace“. It is one of the conditions that The Bureau of Land Management uses to permit us to be in the Black Rock Dessert.
ÄPOTTY
There are Port O Potties. It is one of the reasons we pay for a ticket. They are cleaned daily and adequate. You may want to bring your own Toilet Paper. If you are squeamish about Port o potties, plan on bringing your own toilet that you can pack out your own waste.
hSHOWER
The playa makes people really grimy, really fast. It’s a combination of the alklide dust in the air, sweat and exposure to both. Portable solar camping showers (buy one cheap at any camping goods store, even Target) a have at it. Some people prefer to sponge bath in the privacy of their tent but most wash fully or partial nude out in the open (both very acceptable, yea!). Bring a sponge or wash cloth, a towel and some biodegradable soap (Dr Bronner’s works great.)
WASTE WATER~ Showers mean soapy water. You don’t want to endure the wrath of the Playa Nazis buy dumping it on the ground or trying to bury it in a hole. Some people build elaborate evaporation ponds. Some people use a small kiddy pool as a catch and then put the waste water in containers (milk jugs or other). Some of us have learned to use a spray bottle as a shower on a tarp (very little water that evaporate quickly).
ãCOSTUMES
Much of A Few Days is involved with Radical Self Expression. For many, this involves the use of costumes (including lack of). The wilder the wilder! Go postal! Be eclectic, be electric! But mostly just have fun with it. As far as costumes go, anything goes, and I mean anything. Mix and match, little or lots but please do be careful about anything that will fall off of you and become trash (ie. Feather boas are generally considered taboo and will incite trash lectures from the do-gooder playa nazis). There are both day and night time activities and adventures so colors are great both day and night and anything that glows, lights you up or makes you shinny are easy ways of being visually loud (if you can enjoy it). Paint your skin, carry a puppet, light yourself with EL wire, be your favorite fictional character or whatever. Soft furry costumes are great at night and most of us like to have one soft outfit for times of great community. Costumes are not mandatory nor determine how valuable you are. (Stripper and S&M costumes that glow in the dark rock!)
ÀMAKE UP
It is suggested to bring lots. Not only can you wear it, but we can borrow it! Make up also helps protect your skin and if your get make up with sun block in it, you are on your way to happiness. Make up helps some of us in and out of the moment and it also makes for great pictures our children will love to laugh at many years from now. Hair colors, henna, body paint, temp tattoos, and costume jewelry, are great cheap ways to decorate oneself. Anyone with long hair may want to prepare for what we call “playa dreads”. This is caused by the enormous amounts of wind, playa dust and sweat. Pony tails, braids and hats are all useful but to be honest, “ playa hair” looks great on anybody and is easily washed away if it isn’t.
¥BICYCLE
Bike, a Bike, my kingdom for a Bike. The only way to get any real distance, in any reasonable amount of time is by Bike. A Few Days is a bicycle city. The city itself is miles long and the multi attractional playa is miles across. Most people bring a decent working junk bike that can get thrashed by the playa (and by decoration). Big tires are best. Make sure you have a very comfortable seat. No matter how much you ride, the soft bumpy playa has a way of creating bruised tailbones in a day’s time. Many of us use a stuffed animal or pillow and some duct tape. Decorate your bike any way you like but again, making sure nothing can fall off of it (ie. feathers, loose ribbons, etc. create trash) will keep you from public scrutiny. Bike Lights are considered a highly necessary item. At night you will be riding with thousands of other bikes in a very dark dessert, in many a sandstorm. It is easy to lose your way, lose you friends and be run over by other bikes and art cars, all of whom have drivers with questionable perception abilities. Lights and reflective tapes are highly recommended and make it easier for you to find (especially if you stop somewhere to bust a move). Also bring a bike lock. A cable with a pad lock is best because you can secure your bike to your friends. Make multiple keys and if you do lose your keys, light cables allow for being cut off. (Kryptonites do not allow for any of these things.). There are thieves on the playa, but mostly we worry about someone who is too high to tell the difference and POOF! A borrowing has left you bike-less. It has happened to us before. A clip on umbrella is an awesome thing.
ÖLIGHTING
1 or 400 flashlights is recommended. 5 is best. Do try to have at least 2-3. Headlamps work the best for most. It can be very dark on the playa despite all the amazing lighting efforts there. The truth is that flashlights have poor ability to make it through a drunken, high or even an energetic evening. Lost or broken is a very common experience. Glow sticks, battery lights, EL wire, portable floresants, LED are just fantastic (although glowsticks create trash). Some recommend, for the cheap goer, a trip to the toy store (educationals are best) and pick up a light saber, ray gun, or other lighted toy. Basically anything that lights you up at night and the stuff around you, is great. Bicycle strobes, rave toys, glow necklaces, are all great ways to participate in all the night festivities. You may need lanterns in camp. Some people opt for fire instead of bulb, and you can to.
ÊSLEEPING
Do bring a tent, if you have one. If not, do not fret, you can find another I’ll bet. If you plan on buying one, try to get one with fully closable vents (as the playa dust blows in and covers everything even while you are trying to sleep). But make sure it has vents (the heat is unbearable without). Also, 12” stakes or two ’ rebar are pretty much mandatory (those 6 “ones that come with the tents don’t do shit to keep your whole tent flying away in the 40 to 70mph winds). Many recommend bringing an air mattress (and air pump) or sleeping cot (although it’s hard to get busy on a sleeping cot. I know it’s been done, I’m just saying it’s difficult.) and any sleeping bag (for when it gets cold) and sheets and blankets for when it is hot. Since you are technically on vacation, you may feel encouraged to bring you to bring your favorite pillows, stuffed animals and bedtime stories. It may help to keep your sleeping stuff in a plastic trash bag during the day (to keep out the dust, at least for a day or two, till you give up trying to stay dust free). A little decorative fabric goes a long way in creating a not-so camping experience and incense and door mats are awesome ways to spice things up. I even know of a guy who hangs small replicas of famous paintings up in his tent. Earplugs are great! The parties run 24/7 out on the playa so if there happens to be a rave going on next door and it’s 6am and time for you to refresh your physical self, earplugs can save your sanity (If you have any to begin with and plan on keeping it).
¿SEX
Figure out what you want. Love? Sex? Your wildest fantasies? Go for it! Just be respectful. Just because people are walking around naked does not necessarily mean they wish *you* were naked in a small enclosed space with them. Learn to take “no” as to mean “not with you” and don't be afraid to use the "n" word yourself (nooky?).
It is always a great idea to be well stocked with sex toys, protection and lube, because;
1. Many unsuspecting people have been known to make unexpected snap decisions on the subject.
2. You may want to share goodies with a friend in need who is in a nearby decision.
3. Even nuns masturbate at A Few Days.
The moral of the story is “Be Prepared” regardless of your predisposition on the subject.
Most think you deserve to be a sexually happy as you desire, without guilt... period.
yCOMPANY, COMMUNITY AND COMPANION
It takes about two minutes to become over-stimulated at Burningman. Between the people, the sights and the sounds, you will find yourself in a place where the rules have changed and few things are what they seem. Add in a couple of days of exertion in the heat, sleep deprivation, mild dehydration and decreased appetite, and you may find yourself feeling a bit edgy. Taking it out on those people who are closest to you is an easy thing to do. My best advise is when you feel angry, moody, or mildly unpleasant or find yourself getting ready to pitch a hissy fit....
STOP!
Get out of the sun.
Drink some water.
Eat some food.
Take a nap.
Then... say you are sorry.
You will feel better, I promise.
Æ PEOPLE UN-FRIENDLY PYA
Like dogs, some people just are not comfortable (at all) in the desert. Do yourself a favor, and leave them at home. Pressuring or convincing someone into going, is a sign they probably won’t like it.
±KNOW THY CAMPMATES
This is your home for a few days. As such, it can be as comfortable as possible. This bonding time can be incredibly fun, provided you gel with everyone in your camp. The best way to do this is to get to know them before you go. Campouts, BBQ’s, emails intros are all ways to get to know each other a bit better. Interacting helps convey intentions, values and styles. This helps expectations for going too far off the map. With any organized group, people tend to fall into their natural roles but more importantly, “does everybody in your group has similar goals?” Like Dog People v. Cat People, the People Who Want Party All Night and Eat Food Out of a Can should not camp with the People Who Prepare Elaborate Meals and Do Yoga Every Morning. Not that these people won’t get along, only that surprises in this area tend to be negative and are largely avoidable. Consider thinking ahead and save the headache.
¿PLAYA TIME
People who operate on strict placement and time schedules, are surrounded by others (the majority) who are not. If people don’t show up when or do what they said they would, you might be better off forgiving them beforehand. The Playa has a beautiful way of being spontaneous and awesomely distracting. Allowing for this in everything you do is a wonderful way to get along with the fluid changes and sidetracks of everything there. Factor in the unpredictable weather, environment and hydration and most problems become very apparent a head of time. I suggest we don't take it personally. We just learn to dance with it.
WTRUST
Open, honest and clearly understanding. The desert is considered a bad place for controlling others, demands of respect, being pushy and making expectations of others. These are recipes for disaster. Reality check and honesty (especially with the self) is a great policy. If you truly love a person, you will want them to be happy, even if that happiness does not reflect your interests. Tolerance, forgiveness and understanding.
One of the worst hypocrisies we have at Burningman is the one where we tell people to aspire for freedom, acceptance and discovery, and then tell them “the rules, the suggestions and the goals”. Most of us wish that there was a way to dump all this bullshit beforehand, and just show up with “TRUST”. Trust that everyone either knows how to take care of themselves or will quickly figure it out. This experience would be priceless. On this level can the items that are vital for enjoying our vast and burgeoning experience at Burningman become personal.
Burningman is trusting you.
PLAYA EQUIPMENT LIST
Things many people would rather you not bring:
· Feathers of any kind e.g., boas anything that will break up and/or blow away in the wind (trees, twigs, loose paper, etc~ they shed, no matter what you do - try marabou instead). Excess packaging from foods (For example, remove outer box from cereals and just bring the inner bag.) Basically anything that can makes lots of trash that you can take care of before hand.
PERSONAL (GATTA HAVE) ITEMS
TICKET Tent (12”stakes)
Transportation Food
Warm clothes for cold nights(jacket, hats, gloves, long shirts) 1.5 gallons of H2O (per person /per day)
Cool clothes for hot days (sarongs, skirts, shorts, nothing..) Utensils /hard plate/bowel
Flashlights / head lamps and spare batteries Drinking Cup (re-useable)
Wash kit (bio-degradable soap/ tooth paste/brush etc.) First-aid kit.
A wide brim hat. 2 big trash bag
Sunglasses Sleeping bag (blankets, pillows)
Goggles Enough food/beverages (? 2 meals a day)
Particle/dust mask/scarf Portable water bottle/canteen with strap / Camelback
Prescription drugs/contact lenses /aspirin etc. Lip balm
Sunscreen/sunblock lotion Towel/wash cloths
Aloe gel (for sunburn) Camping chair
Boots/shoes Bottle /can opener
cute underwear/ socks/ PJ’s Pocket knife
SUGGESTIONS & STRONG SUGGESTIONS
* BICYCLE (rig some kind of basket on your bike ) Shade structures, umbrellas, parasols, sheets
Tire repair kit (small) * Small day pack (for roaming around)
* Bike lock (cable with extra keys) * Air Mattress
* Bike lights (flashers etc..) * Earplugs
* Costumes Small personal radio (shower radios are also good for outside)
* Watertight protective bags ( zip-type for your cloths) Rope and/or string.
Sewing kit. Cooler
Musical instruments * Handy wipes
* Spray bottle (for misting) * Duct tape
Gifts to give to new friends Lantern
* Extra set of car & bike keys Mirror
* Camera/ lots of film Journal
* Sex Preparations Make up
Walkie Talkie * Light sticks/ light toys etc.
Camping stove, fuel Small tool kit
Favorite toys , games, books Favorite liquor/tea/coffee/water flavoring
POCKETS ON EVERYTHING Favorite deserts/food treats
Decorative fabric Sense of adventure
EVERYTHING IN BINS ~ PLASTIC BAGS/ SCOTCH GUARD EVERYTHING ~ KEEP SLEEPING GEAR PACKED DURING DAY ~
BREAK IN YOU FOOTWEAR BEFORE ~ PHONES DON’T WORK ~ BRING ONLY COPIED CD’S ~ BRING EXTRA KEYS ~
RE-PACKAGE ALL YOU FOOD WITHOUT EXTRA TRASH ~ ZIP TIES ARE GODLY~ PROTECTIVE CAP ON REBAR STAKES ~
KEEP CLEAN CLOTHS SEALED IN A BAG WITH SOME EXTRA CASH FOR THE TRIP HOME ~
QINSPIRA
One of the best things about Burning Man is all the amazing unexpected things you encounter at random and the way it changes you. You can become one of those unexpected things for others if you try. The following is a list of some concepts ideas and projects that have been inter inspired with me and mine since our Burningman. Maybe it will inspire you to add to it’s pool.
2000 2004 2007
~ irony exploitation ~ excessive survival ~ mockery art camping
~ furniture cars ~ art car demolition ~ temporary brilliance treking
~ foam parties ~ klownology ~ radical backpacking
~ disorder planning ~ insane spectacle ~ mobile self expression
~ decorated naked people ~ fetish illumination ~ tent gallery
~ dangerous bonfires ~ flash art mob ~ backpack a go go
~ unexpected sights ~ 24 hr art ~ pirate radio rave
~ moment liberation ~ alternative energy ~ canopy camping
~ outdoor canvass ~ interactive performance ~ mystery orienteering
~ purposely blurred vision ~ art rave ~ sex doll rafting / surfing
~ bike chariots ~ extreme chef ~ critical campsite
~ portable expressive living ~ recycle costumes ~ port o party
~ innovative inner dialogue ~ armature designer jewelry ~ micro culture jamming
~ boundary technology ~ billboard liberation ~ irony campout
~ physical indulgence ~ nonsense graffiti ~ nonsense portage and haulage
~ celebration explosion ~ body art ~ cavebration
~ mankind on brainstorm ~ kinetic csound ~ theme camp of one
~ sobriety tripping ~ massive moment sculpture ~ silliness expedition
~ flammable arts ~ collective consciousness ~ DIY rave
~ dance naked ~ unauthority ~ High Adventure Formal Dining
~ extreme decomodification ~disposession ~ backpack disco
You are cordially invited (as if this was necessary of something :)) to a gathering of pirates mayhem jockeys and free spirits to a fucko raid of the bman tribe on the three days of ticket sales (January 16~10 pm).
Every year people get their panties in a bunch and start taking things too seriously, so I thought it would be a perfect window to set a reminding tone. A reminded that .... I don’t know but a reminder.
For this raid I thought I could help set a launching tone through the following two inspirations.
Numero uno~
While in the military, before we went into combat, we used to play this game. The object was to try to infect your fellow members while really inappropriate songs stuck in their heads. This way, as they jumped off the plane , or whatever, they would have a horrible song running. Jingle bells, old mc donald are hysterical to plant into wartime. We got creative with it, sneaking lyrics into regular conversation like” Hey when I get back My girlfreind is gonna meet me at the airport, she’ll be comming around the mountain when she comes.” and so on.
soo..........
" Song Lyrics" responses. To participate, simply respond to every thread and every response with use of carefully and not so carefully excreted song lyrics. Start cutting and pasting now to have a stockpile of quotable responses.
If you run out, just make shit up. It’s not like anybody knows obscure music anyways.
Secondrundo
My other idea in keeping with the “American Dream Theme” was to prompt a " Fucko Trial" I thought I would accuse fellow tribsters, or whomever of borism, humorlessness, assholism and on and on and run every thread into the ground with wild testimony, bribed witnesses, crocked attorneys etc. etc.
I would love your help in these matters and would appreciate your particular brand of participation.
Thank you for your consideration and
Happy trails to you.
ALL YOUR BURNINGMAN ARE BELONG TO US
Some Burningman experiences often require more a state of mind that a set of rules. Read between the lines and find yourself.
Some Burningman DJ's use a...... Bullhorn
Some Burningman Artist take their trash home and Burn their art.
Some Burningman Participants don't make REAL BURNINGMAN LIST (beat ya too it hahahaha)
Some Burningman Organizers pay for their own ticket
Some Burningman DPW build things that make no sense in an area of no usefulness.
Some Burningman Reporters are too high to report actual news.
Some Burningman Radio is an assault to one's comformity. (comfort / conform)
Some Burningman Sports is trying to sleep in that fucking heat.
Some Burningman Advice is never mentioning Burningman.com
Some Burningman Love is coping a feel off everyone you hug.
Some Burningman Is painting your ass red and having your friend chase you around with two rubber horns duct taped to their bike.
Some Burningman Means trying to see how much you can feel like that person, who when afraid, is afraid who you will become if set free.
Some Burningman Makes no Clear sence!
Some Burningman Wants you trying not to be affected by anything around you for as long as possible and being grateful when you fail.
Some Burningman Clothing designers use fire retardant materials to make G string undies.
Some Burningman Chefs Cook better on the Playa than they do at home.
Some Burningman Has a soundtrack...whether music is playing or not.
Some Burningman Faith is knowing the point is to interfere.
Some Burningman People not only maintain a sense of humor and irony, they can hear the terms of endearment in an insult.
Some Burningman Consumers know it's ok to SHOP for "BURNER" shit, it's just lame to SELL or MARKET.... "BURNER" shit.
Some Burningman Advocates know to DO more and CRITICIZE less... unless it's funny to do more criticizing or the criticizing is funny.
Some Burningman Students are audible dyslexic, vision repaired and especially misabled.
There is no such thing as Burningman.
move along.
¥FEW DAYS IN THE DESERT
PRE-GUIDE IDEA COLLAGE BY FUCKÆ
“Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training.” Anna Freud
bWelcome to a few days in the desert.
For those people who have been to the Burningman dessert festival before, they are often asked to provide information and advice to those who haven’t. This is, for the most part, very difficult at best and futile at worst. You may often hear the phrase” You’ll just have to see for yourself”. Still, most of us want to try and share our experiences and thus help a new burner have a better time than if they just showed up. In fact, even veteran Burners can be better prepared by sharing information, experience and efforts in a way that paints pictures, conveys ideas and ultimately makes us all more interacting. After much consideration and discussion with others, I have the following insights, advice and recommendations for anyone.
Question~ “I’ve read all the official “Burningman.com” web page stuff and seen all the pictures but...
what is a few days in the desert really like, what is it really about and what is really going on? Is it a concert? A flea market? What?”
Answer~ Technically, A few days in the desert or BURNINGMAN is a festival held in the dessert, where about 35,000 people, live and camp together with nothing specific to celebrate or be festive about except witnessing what happens to you from the time you get there till the time you leave. In other words, a really big, free-form campout. You have to bring everything including water, food and shelter.
In reality, Burningman has outgrown it’s technical definition. In other words, the point of the campout may be far more important than the camping itself. This “point” however, changes from person to person. For some, it is an art festival. For others it is about “radical self expression“ otherwise known as “Art“, “an experiment in temporary community” otherwise known as “Camping“, personal exploration, spontaneous relationship experience, survival, cool gadget usage, body worship, sex, drugs, music, dancing, spirituality, humanity, scenery, entertainment or profound chaos and a whole lot of braving the elements. A painting of the dessert canvass with human creative expression , if you will. It is a an event that people feel inspired to bring a piece of furniture that has been turned into a car. It is a place where people ride bicycles decorated to look like flying saucers, animals and Elvis. It is a place where someone may perform spontaneous sock puppet shows or give cold carrots to perfect strangers or simply walk into the dessert air and sing their true song. It is a weird place, mostly on purpose. It is a place of nudity in all manner of speaking. It is a place of costumes both bright and dark. It is a place of party and profound. It is a place where you can probably get away with being , or doing, or trying that desire within you. The one you know is out of place, in the larger world. It is a place where each person goes individually inspired to experience collectively. This person to person shift of personal motivations, reasons, intentions, expectations help create the weather patterns that become the atmosphere known as Burningman..
Because our host have designed things in a way where all of these things are a possible, there isn’t a lot of arguing about what is and what is not Burningman. So ultimately, there is no way to answer this question without experiencing it yourself. Not only do you decide what Burningman is, you decide what it is for you. Essentially, each event is made up as we go along. We bring exactly to the experience what our individual gifts allow us to and the over all character of the event reflects over 35,000 different personalities who are actively camping, living, playing, celebrating, learning, dancing, painting, listening, talking, yelling, loving, lusting, looking, touching, eating, smelling, tasting and trying to do it in some vague spirit of happiness, healthy community and togetherness despite unfamiliarity.
You may decide you want to go to experience the large dancing parties that spring up (there is lots of people who bring DJ set ups). You may decide you want to go to witness the amazing variety of large scale dessert art. (there are not art police at Burningman). You may decide you want to feel the lick of the fire culture ( flame throwers, burning art, fire spinning ahh..... the allure). You may decide to feel the sun across your bare flash as you roam without destination, schedule or any attention to particular (The act of an aimless wander is a magic few dare.) Any of these things may be yours to soak in, yet.... Burningman comes with price. A community of this scale needs you contribute. You become responsible not only for experience these things. You are charged with to bringing them for others Burningman is a “Doacracy“. If you are aware of something that needs/wants/would be great to be done, you are charged to “do” it. No spectators. Everyone is participant. In this way, people are encouraged to do more than attend Burningman for consumption and be entertained. You share equal role in the show. You must bring your skills, your talents and your self into the fray. If you are a person who likes to watch from the sidelines, you’ve picked the wrong event. If you are ready to take a leap into the unknown, you are home.
Indeed some of the first words you may hear at Burningman is “ Welcome Home!”.
ÁIMAGINE
What would the world be like if it were free form the many assumptions about social order? Would it spiral out of control into selfishness and destruction, or would it finally give peace a chance?
If you can imagine all the things that happen when 35, 000 campers come to live together in the dessert under a philosophical umbrella that encourages radical self expression, discourages commercial vending, and has few formal guidelines for behavior, you’re getting close to the mark. But lets try to paint a mental picture. Imagine arriving on a very dusty flat dry lake bed to a tent city. There are roads and designated camping areas. Before you park, you notice that the majority of people you see are either dust covered nude, dust covered partial nude or dust covered costume. By week’s end you’ll be aware that the majority of the population remains permanently costumed in dust, nudity, glitter and all manner of leather and furs. The majority of camps are artfully decorated and the camps range from one to hundreds. Many of those camps will welcome you in to view their art, their science project, their music, their community experiment and all manner of interaction. Artcars, art bikes and art mobiles roam the streets and open areas of the dessert. Away from the camps, these areas of open dessert are sprinkled with random works of artwork both giant and small. This open dessert area is for exploration and wander, wonder and “your” experience. In fact, most everyplace you go is generally designed for you to be welcomed and visit. You are informally expected to be a constant participant rather than a spectator by not simply finding these things at the festival, but you in turn are found by others. This experience perpetuates a honest friendly nature that seeds smiles and hugs between strangers. It gives life to artistic inspiration and expresses itself in way that range from outright silly to thoughtful irony. It is a land that takes advantage of as much freedom as time, resource and condition permit. It is as free as it gets, in this day and age.
Author Haikem Bey describes a similar situation where a group of people decide to liberate an area of land to be a “Temporary Autonomous Zone”. A space that is dedicated for unspecified use, adventure and experience. You do not know what will happen, only that you are there to do what you will, and have what other people do, affect you in like. An empty playground that fills with people and their ideas and things and actions to whatever ends. This is not a production of passive entertainment. Anyone who shows up expecting to be catered to is in for a big disappointment. It is a experience you help create by what you interact with. If 35,000 boring people showed up, the event would be very boring. As it happens, the majority of people who show up, tend to be very creative, very expressive and incredibly interactive. They hope you will be too.
Someone once said that Burningman is a place where you go to be the person you can not be the rest of the year. This may or may not be true for you.. of course. But if it were true, then history will show that so far, most people lack radical kindness, art and celebration in their lives. Cause there has been a whole lot of that, at Burningman.
“Burningman is a festival. The object is to celebrate!” Fucko
QUESTION~ Isn’t really just an excuse for a bunch of hippies, new-agers and ravers to party?
ANSWER~ Well, maybe. But I’ve never seen ravers pick up trash after themselves. I’ve never seen new agers not protesting large-scale public intrusions to the natural environment and I’ve never seen hippies take flame throwers and destroy other people’s artwork in full view of an audience. I never witnessed a grand parade of naked people celebrating by dancing with fire, people yelling obscenities through bull horns at 3 am, and dangerous artwork spring out of the dessert floor without rhyme or reason anywhere else in the world. A temporary city filled with over 20,000 bicycles, 1,000 art cars, 30,000 wandering costumes, 500 free bars, countless spontaneous dance clubs and giant interactive artwork, art shows and artist all for more than a week. So maybe it’s just a party. Except I hate parties but I love my week in the dessert.
µAPPROACH A FEW DAYS
I suggest, the more you prepare, the less you can worry. The less time you spend worrying, the more time you can spend enjoying. The tricky part is taking your responsibilities to yourself into great account and leaving your expectations of everyone else at home. The extreme weather and intense participation means Playa life can be very harsh on a person physically, mentally and emotionally. It can also be amazing, wonderful and inspiring. Being aware of this can help you minimize your discomfort and maximize your sensitivity to enjoyment. This is a very important aspect of the event. There is no guarantee that you will love Burningman, but if your are to have a “life altering, earth shattering full on community orgasm experience“, I suggest you need to be ready for it, open to it and recognize it once it appears.
XCOMPRESSION
Many of us spend time adjusting to life on the Playa, as it can be quit different than the world we are used to most of the year. The habits of the world need time to disappear for a while so a new adventure can take place (Like deep-sea divers do before they can travel to very deep places of the earth. In your nervous system, this is called “Repetitive Expectant Neuro-Performance Adjustment“~ meaning it physically takes you nervous system a day or two to re-wire itself for different activities, i.e. sleep patterns, physical activities and responsibility concerns). Many people call it compression. It is essential to comfort, one of our primary instinctual drives. Many believe the shorter the time it takes feel comfortable at the festival, the more time can be spent enjoying it. Being well prepared physically and mentally are the biggest means you have to do this. (Like training for happiness or becoming a self happiness expert!)
pPARTICIPATION
“The giving of yourself is the greatest gift you can give to us!“ Relationships are created, neighbors meet one another, and our collective survival is challenged. A city is born and then... poof, it vanishes. Not by giant corporate event trucks and paid staff, but by us. We build it. You may want to become part of this. It is difficult to take role in the community if you here for less than 24 hours or keeping to yourself. This is generally not a spectator event. After taking care of your survival, everything else is up to you. Being outrageously decadent is great fun but it may be more amazing to be a version of awesome self and share it with others. Giving and receiving acceptance of self and other is awesome way alive! Consider Living life as art! Consider being an ultra version of yourself. ~ ULTRA ME!
For maximum enjoyment of the event, there are a few great options before hand, during and after.
Volunteer Connection~ You can join practically any volunteer camp just by showing up and saying you want to. There are no “club” requirements. Do as little or as much as you want. Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet people and become a part of the spontaneous collective of Burningman
Positive Self Manifest~ Close your eyes and imagine what kind of time you would have, if when you came home, you had the most amazing stories, awesome memories and incredible experiences. Now set out to create those times and ask people for help in doing so.
Blind Open Optimism~ Just show up and see what happens.
Revolutionary Driven~ If ever there is another moment, theme it as if it were never to be again. Compose music as if your soul would never hear it again. Create art as if ones eyes could never again thereafter hold its beauty. Express in every moment being who you truly are and what you truly feel. Take everything and send it's every form out into every world. Be publicly inspired without restraint. Be free!
³COMMUNITY GOALS
Participation without negative infringement. It is a difficult task to be as much of yourself as you can be without steeping on the toes of others, but apparently this is our task. I suggest becoming familiar with and understand the stated Principles (hypocrisies and all) behind the event beforehand and then try to forget them. They will remain in your sub-conscious and still allow you to be an amazing version of yourself without worrying about it(besides, playa nazis will remind you if you go to far).
Statement of some people’s Principles:
Radical Inclusion ~Anyone may be a part of a few days. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community (except the ticket thing).
Gifting~ A few days is devoted to acts of giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value (ex ticket).
Decommodification~ In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising (except our own). We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience (even if we fail).
Radical Self-reliance~ A few days encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources.
Radical Self-_expression~ (otherwise known as ART) Radical self-_expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.
Communal Effort~ Our community promotes social interaction through collective acts of gifting. We value creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that enable such interaction.
Civic Responsibility~ We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
Leaving No Trace~ Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.
Participation~ Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work and to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.
Immediacy~ Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value within our community. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.
ºCOMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY~ “There are no rules about how one must behave or express oneself at this event (save all the rules and guidelines and suggestions that serve to protect the health, safety, and experience of the community at large); rather, it is up to each participant to decide how they will contribute and what they will give to this community.”.
In general, the community (in buying a ticket) agrees to observe the following rules as follows:
Do not drive cars in camp (except registered art cars.. excuse me.. Mutant Vehicles).
Respect public boundaries (Stay out of staff area but within the big trash fence)
No commercial vending (except ice, coffee, tea at the center Cafe and T-shirts on the website)
LEAVE NO TRACE (pack it in, pack it out, absolutely no trash! Smoke in the air is ok.)
Observe fire rules (which are to numerous to keep track of.)
No Dogs (only people pretending to be animals allowed)
Your camp sound should not serious disrupt other camps (except rave camps)
No ticket no entry (unless you officially work for the BORG or sneak in)
Local, state, federal laws are still apply and can be enforced (yes, there are some cops)
No fire arms (previously.. “don’t shoot firearms at people“ but now “No Firearms“)
“Dammit! Stop telling people what to do, and inspire them instead!” Deadmanshoe
MINDFULL/EMPTY
j OPEN & WISE MIND
Open and Wise Mind ~ (Sounds all mystical don’t it?) I think it is important to approach Burningman as both a naive, curious child and a wise, experienced elder. This involves suspending judgments as you discover the wonderful differences of others while providing good care for yourself as well. This formula is my best suggestion for an approach platform to having healthy (and still wild) life in Black Rock City.
à EXPECTATION CHECK
Identifying and placing healthy expectations is a big skill that goes real far. Being honest and realistic is a great tool to stay out from drama’s negative trap. Many people practice ‘NO DRAMA” Unless of course you are acting, and then it is very much encouraged and often incited. But people who come with high expectations about being entertained, taken care of, respected, paid attention too and who expect their personal values reflected in others, are bound for disappointment. Expectations are a form of predictability and an attempt of control. A good thing in “every day life” but a disaster to playa potential. A “No Rules” society (in reality) means personal explorations, boundary adventures, unrestricted flights of inspiration and spontaneous whims (my favorite). Many people wait patiently and responsibly all year, for this one time & place they can abandon strict judgments and befriend their outrageous, awesome selves.
Û CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Forgiveness, compassion and patience. These are the corner stones of all well-achieved suggestions for starting all problem resolution. Most problems on the playa exist because of the environment. The weather and its effects are harsh. The good news is that you will be surrounded by other people whom (given history) are almost always willing and often capable of lending a helping hand, whether it be fixing a flat tire or finding a great party. But the real big problems come from people problems, which can end better than before or worst that imaginable. Many broken hearts have found open words on the playa and most of these disputes were avoidable in reaction more than in action. Real emergencies and safety issues can always be dealt with as needed but it’s the “expectation” crosses that burn bad. In our camp, we pride ourselves on two simple conflict avoidance skills;
Refuse personal intrusions in other people’s problems and all problems will
be discussed at an appropriate time, in an appropriate place, in a non-blaming manner.
“Taste is the enemy of creativity” Pablo Picasso
Å SELF CARE~ RADICAL SELF RELIANCE
You need lots of skills. The biggest of these skills is the basic one. Radical Self Reliance.
YOU MUST BRING ALL YOU NEED TO SURVIVE.
Every participant is charge with bringing with them, all the water, food, shelter, fuel, equipment and entertainment they will need for their stay. Radical self reliance, self- containment or radical self-sufficiency is more than just a knowing what to pack. It can also be a state of mind. Preparing a base, a camp, an area for self care can provide a kind of confidence. A trust that allows you to go out and explore. Go out and extend yourself. Some people take so much care for themselves, the isolate themselves off from the rest of the city. To each their own. But everyone is responsible for making sure they are taken care of, even if that means taking care of themselves. This doesn’t mean you are left to fend for yourself out there, quite the opposite. It means the better care you give yourself, the better care you can give care to others. In our camp we agree ahead of time to collectively take care of certain items, and give rise to the ability to bring more stuff instead of doubling up. I’ve included an equipment list at the end of this compilation you can use to ensure you have your basics covered. Many of the items will determine both your safety and your happiness.
wWEATHER EARTH WIND AND FUCKING FIRE
EARTH~ The Black Rock Dessert (also known as “the Playa”) is a prehistoric lake bed. It is made of an alkali clay (slightly acidic) and creates a fine duct that sticks to everything. So, it is a dusty place that no plant life grows in. The dessert is at 4000ft elevation so it takes about 24 hrs for us sea level people to acclimatize. It is wide open and hostile. Most think it Beautiful.
WIND~ The range is 0 mph to 70 mph. That means unpredictable white out dust storms that will blow away anything not secure to the ground with 12” to 36” stakes. Be careful of blow away things, trash and delicates. But mostly, the wind is very tolerable. The wind is the biggest reason that most people wear goggles at Burningman. Goggles and dust mask or scarves are highly suggested. Many of us believe that tinted goggles are a mandatory item to bring (any motorcycle shop or army surplus store) for they serve dual purpose.
FIRE~ The sun and heat are a different matter. Temperatures range from 40° f to 110°, in a single day so bring cloths for both hot days and fun cold nights. Your high adventure backpacking gear is great but big furry costumes work just as well and are much more fun, so a range of cold and warm costumes are what most of us try to achieve. But you bring what you want or can, we love you regardless. The sun has more UV up there, so bring as much sun screen, with as much SPF as you can. Staying cool is a big issue up there. Shade structures that can both brave the winds and still provide shade is an art. Think windy, shade and portable and decorative = Shade geeks.
THE SKY IS FALLING~ It can and does rain up there so a camping poncho can be useful and keeping your cloths in big ziplock bags help keep rain and playa dust from getting into your gear until you use it. After that, playa dust is there to stay. This is a good time to mention you might want to consider taking none of your expensive clothes. Playa dust only comes out with vinegar (if at all) so most of us only take gear we are willing to be destroyed or eternally covered with a fine white film of a Few Days dust. The sunsets at are among the most magnificent in the world.
»WATERHYDRATION
It is suggested that you have at least 1.5 gallons of water per person per day. This idea works pretty good. The motto “PISS CLEAR” means you drink enough water that your urine is mostly excess water. If your pee doesn’t look more like water and less like beer, chances are, you are not well hydrated. Do be careful about making sure you have some salt (a handful of salted nuts or salty soup) every day to allow for water absorption by your body. If you bring this much water with you it will provide you with enough for your drinking, cooking, and bathing. Some suggest flavoring your water as well (It makes for great showers). Do bring a portable water carrier (canteen, water bottle with strap, camelback etc.) Another trick to get your body to absorb more water is to start drinking lots of water now. By the time you get to the playa, your body will be used to producing enough salt on it’s own.
Dehydration can cause headaches, stomach cramps, abdominal pains, constipation, or flu-like symptoms. It exacerbates both heat-related and cold-related conditions (i.e. both sunstroke and hypothermia), and makes it difficult for the body to mend itself. If someone you know complains of these symptoms, or shows signs of either severe overheating or (worse) a case of the chills under the mid-day sun, get them to shade immediately and seek prompt medical help.
Some signs that you may not be drinking enough water:
· You don't carry a water bottle with you at all times.
· You sip instead of drinking deeply.
· You wait to drink until you're thirsty (too late!).
· Your urine is anything but clear and abundant.
· You become cranky.
\FOOD
Oddly enough, many do not eat much up there but that goes against better training so I always plan on at least two meals a day and provisions for extra if needed (soups, pasta etc). If everyone plans on bringing their own food and their own menu for themselves, it works really well. Some people love to cook for others and that is great. Bring enough to share but be careful of waste. Community meals “where everyone eats the same food and take turns doing chores” usually turns out horrible on the playa. Very few people eat at the same time, prepare food in the same way, or feel like doing chores making a scheduled kitchen a “recipe for disaster” (pun). The “take care of your own food” works great. Most would not suggest bringing more than a day or two of perishables. Ice coolers need to be maintain each day. Meats and fresh fruits do not last long in them. Still, it is camping. It is great to have specialty treats, many of which can be canned or dried (fruits, puddings, cakes ummm good!). Snack foods are great and great things to share. Avoid anything with melting mixes (chocolates, gummy candies get really messy, but are sometimes worth it.) Maybe you can invent methods of keeping more of this stuff out there!
@LIQUOR
“ I hardly know her!” (I know another pun but hey.. my name is Fucko.) Do plan to bring your own additives, favorite libations and relevant mixes, props and do hickies. Also try to bring some extra for donatables to the camp bar and for gifting in other camps (It can be a gift economy). There are cocktail parties. Airline shot bottles work great as gifts but you can obviously be as creative as you like. If you do drink up there, please drink more water. Alcohol dehydrates people. If you can find a nice decorative or favorite cup it makes it easier to know who’s whos as well. Oddly enough there is not a lot of drunkenness despite all the booze. It might be the altitude. But that never stops most of us from trying. More importantly, it doesn’t stop many from acting drunk, whether they are or are not.
+FIRST AID
It is suggested to get a small first aid kit for yourself filled with your favorite dinosaur band-aids. Some keep a bigger one in camp. It is suggested to bring lots of UVF and SPF lotion for your skin (I mean a very big bottle), aloe gel or other burn cream. Aspirin/Ibuprofen/ Acetaminophen are life savers for altitude headaches and nose & eye drops (saline solution) are highly recommended. The playa dust has a way of drying out the skin and the sun has a way of burning people (Not in the good way, like BAD is GOOD when it’s “I’M BAD“, but like when it sucks.) In case of emergency, get help! There is a medical tent at Burningman with an ambulance.
±DAS FOOT
Your feet will be working overtime so it is suggested treating them well or getting someone else to treat them well for you. Most do not plan on walking around barefoot (even if you are otherwise nude, yea!) even if you are used to it. The Playa is an alkali lakebed and will leave you poor footies dry and burned after only a few hours. Boots are great, soft shoes are fine. It does rain occasionally so pointed hells tend to sink in the mud (although it never stops me from wearing them. I’m just saying don’t plan on using your Stiletto's as your sole footwear.) There are foot soaps and lotions that will help protect your feet. Morning foot lotions & wearing socks as much as possible is very helpful. Try to remember that, just because your wearing shoes doesn’t mean you can’t paint your toenails. You might also consider getting a good tan before you go.
ÊGARBAGE
THERE IS NO GARBAGE SERVICE AT BURNINGMAN. You must pack out everything you pack in. The motto is “Leave No Trace“. It is one of the conditions that The Bureau of Land Management uses to permit us to be in the Black Rock Dessert.
ÄPOTTY
There are Port O Potties. It is one of the reasons we pay for a ticket. They are cleaned daily and adequate. You may want to bring your own Toilet Paper. If you are squeamish about Port o potties, plan on bringing your own toilet that you can pack out your own waste.
hSHOWER
The playa makes people really grimy, really fast. It’s a combination of the alklide dust in the air, sweat and exposure to both. Portable solar camping showers (buy one cheap at any camping goods store, even Target) a have at it. Some people prefer to sponge bath in the privacy of their tent but most wash fully or partial nude out in the open (both very acceptable, yea!). Bring a sponge or wash cloth, a towel and some biodegradable soap (Dr Bronner’s works great.)
WASTE WATER~ Showers mean soapy water. You don’t want to endure the wrath of the Playa Nazis buy dumping it on the ground or trying to bury it in a hole. Some people build elaborate evaporation ponds. Some people use a small kiddy pool as a catch and then put the waste water in containers (milk jugs or other). Some of us have learned to use a spray bottle as a shower on a tarp (very little water that evaporate quickly).
ãCOSTUMES
Much of A Few Days is involved with Radical Self Expression. For many, this involves the use of costumes (including lack of). The wilder the wilder! Go postal! Be eclectic, be electric! But mostly just have fun with it. As far as costumes go, anything goes, and I mean anything. Mix and match, little or lots but please do be careful about anything that will fall off of you and become trash (ie. Feather boas are generally considered taboo and will incite trash lectures from the do-gooder playa nazis). There are both day and night time activities and adventures so colors are great both day and night and anything that glows, lights you up or makes you shinny are easy ways of being visually loud (if you can enjoy it). Paint your skin, carry a puppet, light yourself with EL wire, be your favorite fictional character or whatever. Soft furry costumes are great at night and most of us like to have one soft outfit for times of great community. Costumes are not mandatory nor determine how valuable you are. (Stripper and S&M costumes that glow in the dark rock!)
ÀMAKE UP
It is suggested to bring lots. Not only can you wear it, but we can borrow it! Make up also helps protect your skin and if your get make up with sun block in it, you are on your way to happiness. Make up helps some of us in and out of the moment and it also makes for great pictures our children will love to laugh at many years from now. Hair colors, henna, body paint, temp tattoos, and costume jewelry, are great cheap ways to decorate oneself. Anyone with long hair may want to prepare for what we call “playa dreads”. This is caused by the enormous amounts of wind, playa dust and sweat. Pony tails, braids and hats are all useful but to be honest, “ playa hair” looks great on anybody and is easily washed away if it isn’t.
¥BICYCLE
Bike, a Bike, my kingdom for a Bike. The only way to get any real distance, in any reasonable amount of time is by Bike. A Few Days is a bicycle city. The city itself is miles long and the multi attractional playa is miles across. Most people bring a decent working junk bike that can get thrashed by the playa (and by decoration). Big tires are best. Make sure you have a very comfortable seat. No matter how much you ride, the soft bumpy playa has a way of creating bruised tailbones in a day’s time. Many of us use a stuffed animal or pillow and some duct tape. Decorate your bike any way you like but again, making sure nothing can fall off of it (ie. feathers, loose ribbons, etc. create trash) will keep you from public scrutiny. Bike Lights are considered a highly necessary item. At night you will be riding with thousands of other bikes in a very dark dessert, in many a sandstorm. It is easy to lose your way, lose you friends and be run over by other bikes and art cars, all of whom have drivers with questionable perception abilities. Lights and reflective tapes are highly recommended and make it easier for you to find (especially if you stop somewhere to bust a move). Also bring a bike lock. A cable with a pad lock is best because you can secure your bike to your friends. Make multiple keys and if you do lose your keys, light cables allow for being cut off. (Kryptonites do not allow for any of these things.). There are thieves on the playa, but mostly we worry about someone who is too high to tell the difference and POOF! A borrowing has left you bike-less. It has happened to us before. A clip on umbrella is an awesome thing.
ÖLIGHTING
1 or 400 flashlights is recommended. 5 is best. Do try to have at least 2-3. Headlamps work the best for most. It can be very dark on the playa despite all the amazing lighting efforts there. The truth is that flashlights have poor ability to make it through a drunken, high or even an energetic evening. Lost or broken is a very common experience. Glow sticks, battery lights, EL wire, portable floresants, LED are just fantastic (although glowsticks create trash). Some recommend, for the cheap goer, a trip to the toy store (educationals are best) and pick up a light saber, ray gun, or other lighted toy. Basically anything that lights you up at night and the stuff around you, is great. Bicycle strobes, rave toys, glow necklaces, are all great ways to participate in all the night festivities. You may need lanterns in camp. Some people opt for fire instead of bulb, and you can to.
ÊSLEEPING
Do bring a tent, if you have one. If not, do not fret, you can find another I’ll bet. If you plan on buying one, try to get one with fully closable vents (as the playa dust blows in and covers everything even while you are trying to sleep). But make sure it has vents (the heat is unbearable without). Also, 12” stakes or two ’ rebar are pretty much mandatory (those 6 “ones that come with the tents don’t do shit to keep your whole tent flying away in the 40 to 70mph winds). Many recommend bringing an air mattress (and air pump) or sleeping cot (although it’s hard to get busy on a sleeping cot. I know it’s been done, I’m just saying it’s difficult.) and any sleeping bag (for when it gets cold) and sheets and blankets for when it is hot. Since you are technically on vacation, you may feel encouraged to bring you to bring your favorite pillows, stuffed animals and bedtime stories. It may help to keep your sleeping stuff in a plastic trash bag during the day (to keep out the dust, at least for a day or two, till you give up trying to stay dust free). A little decorative fabric goes a long way in creating a not-so camping experience and incense and door mats are awesome ways to spice things up. I even know of a guy who hangs small replicas of famous paintings up in his tent. Earplugs are great! The parties run 24/7 out on the playa so if there happens to be a rave going on next door and it’s 6am and time for you to refresh your physical self, earplugs can save your sanity (If you have any to begin with and plan on keeping it).
¿SEX
Figure out what you want. Love? Sex? Your wildest fantasies? Go for it! Just be respectful. Just because people are walking around naked does not necessarily mean they wish *you* were naked in a small enclosed space with them. Learn to take “no” as to mean “not with you” and don't be afraid to use the "n" word yourself (nooky?).
It is always a great idea to be well stocked with sex toys, protection and lube, because;
1. Many unsuspecting people have been known to make unexpected snap decisions on the subject.
2. You may want to share goodies with a friend in need who is in a nearby decision.
3. Even nuns masturbate at A Few Days.
The moral of the story is “Be Prepared” regardless of your predisposition on the subject.
Most think you deserve to be a sexually happy as you desire, without guilt... period.
yCOMPANY, COMMUNITY AND COMPANION
It takes about two minutes to become over-stimulated at Burningman. Between the people, the sights and the sounds, you will find yourself in a place where the rules have changed and few things are what they seem. Add in a couple of days of exertion in the heat, sleep deprivation, mild dehydration and decreased appetite, and you may find yourself feeling a bit edgy. Taking it out on those people who are closest to you is an easy thing to do. My best advise is when you feel angry, moody, or mildly unpleasant or find yourself getting ready to pitch a hissy fit....
STOP!
Get out of the sun.
Drink some water.
Eat some food.
Take a nap.
Then... say you are sorry.
You will feel better, I promise.
Æ PEOPLE UN-FRIENDLY PYA
Like dogs, some people just are not comfortable (at all) in the desert. Do yourself a favor, and leave them at home. Pressuring or convincing someone into going, is a sign they probably won’t like it.
±KNOW THY CAMPMATES
This is your home for a few days. As such, it can be as comfortable as possible. This bonding time can be incredibly fun, provided you gel with everyone in your camp. The best way to do this is to get to know them before you go. Campouts, BBQ’s, emails intros are all ways to get to know each other a bit better. Interacting helps convey intentions, values and styles. This helps expectations for going too far off the map. With any organized group, people tend to fall into their natural roles but more importantly, “does everybody in your group has similar goals?” Like Dog People v. Cat People, the People Who Want Party All Night and Eat Food Out of a Can should not camp with the People Who Prepare Elaborate Meals and Do Yoga Every Morning. Not that these people won’t get along, only that surprises in this area tend to be negative and are largely avoidable. Consider thinking ahead and save the headache.
¿PLAYA TIME
People who operate on strict placement and time schedules, are surrounded by others (the majority) who are not. If people don’t show up when or do what they said they would, you might be better off forgiving them beforehand. The Playa has a beautiful way of being spontaneous and awesomely distracting. Allowing for this in everything you do is a wonderful way to get along with the fluid changes and sidetracks of everything there. Factor in the unpredictable weather, environment and hydration and most problems become very apparent a head of time. I suggest we don't take it personally. We just learn to dance with it.
WTRUST
Open, honest and clearly understanding. The desert is considered a bad place for controlling others, demands of respect, being pushy and making expectations of others. These are recipes for disaster. Reality check and honesty (especially with the self) is a great policy. If you truly love a person, you will want them to be happy, even if that happiness does not reflect your interests. Tolerance, forgiveness and understanding.
One of the worst hypocrisies we have at Burningman is the one where we tell people to aspire for freedom, acceptance and discovery, and then tell them “the rules, the suggestions and the goals”. Most of us wish that there was a way to dump all this bullshit beforehand, and just show up with “TRUST”. Trust that everyone either knows how to take care of themselves or will quickly figure it out. This experience would be priceless. On this level can the items that are vital for enjoying our vast and burgeoning experience at Burningman become personal.
Burningman is trusting you.
PLAYA EQUIPMENT LIST
Things many people would rather you not bring:
· Feathers of any kind e.g., boas anything that will break up and/or blow away in the wind (trees, twigs, loose paper, etc~ they shed, no matter what you do - try marabou instead). Excess packaging from foods (For example, remove outer box from cereals and just bring the inner bag.) Basically anything that can makes lots of trash that you can take care of before hand.
PERSONAL (GATTA HAVE) ITEMS
TICKET Tent (12”stakes)
Transportation Food
Warm clothes for cold nights(jacket, hats, gloves, long shirts) 1.5 gallons of H2O (per person /per day)
Cool clothes for hot days (sarongs, skirts, shorts, nothing..) Utensils /hard plate/bowel
Flashlights / head lamps and spare batteries Drinking Cup (re-useable)
Wash kit (bio-degradable soap/ tooth paste/brush etc.) First-aid kit.
A wide brim hat. 2 big trash bag
Sunglasses Sleeping bag (blankets, pillows)
Goggles Enough food/beverages (? 2 meals a day)
Particle/dust mask/scarf Portable water bottle/canteen with strap / Camelback
Prescription drugs/contact lenses /aspirin etc. Lip balm
Sunscreen/sunblock lotion Towel/wash cloths
Aloe gel (for sunburn) Camping chair
Boots/shoes Bottle /can opener
cute underwear/ socks/ PJ’s Pocket knife
SUGGESTIONS & STRONG SUGGESTIONS
* BICYCLE (rig some kind of basket on your bike ) Shade structures, umbrellas, parasols, sheets
Tire repair kit (small) * Small day pack (for roaming around)
* Bike lock (cable with extra keys) * Air Mattress
* Bike lights (flashers etc..) * Earplugs
* Costumes Small personal radio (shower radios are also good for outside)
* Watertight protective bags ( zip-type for your cloths) Rope and/or string.
Sewing kit. Cooler
Musical instruments * Handy wipes
* Spray bottle (for misting) * Duct tape
Gifts to give to new friends Lantern
* Extra set of car & bike keys Mirror
* Camera/ lots of film Journal
* Sex Preparations Make up
Walkie Talkie * Light sticks/ light toys etc.
Camping stove, fuel Small tool kit
Favorite toys , games, books Favorite liquor/tea/coffee/water flavoring
POCKETS ON EVERYTHING Favorite deserts/food treats
Decorative fabric Sense of adventure
EVERYTHING IN BINS ~ PLASTIC BAGS/ SCOTCH GUARD EVERYTHING ~ KEEP SLEEPING GEAR PACKED DURING DAY ~
BREAK IN YOU FOOTWEAR BEFORE ~ PHONES DON’T WORK ~ BRING ONLY COPIED CD’S ~ BRING EXTRA KEYS ~
RE-PACKAGE ALL YOU FOOD WITHOUT EXTRA TRASH ~ ZIP TIES ARE GODLY~ PROTECTIVE CAP ON REBAR STAKES ~
KEEP CLEAN CLOTHS SEALED IN A BAG WITH SOME EXTRA CASH FOR THE TRIP HOME ~
QINSPIRA
One of the best things about Burning Man is all the amazing unexpected things you encounter at random and the way it changes you. You can become one of those unexpected things for others if you try. The following is a list of some concepts ideas and projects that have been inter inspired with me and mine since our Burningman. Maybe it will inspire you to add to it’s pool.
2000 2004 2007
~ irony exploitation ~ excessive survival ~ mockery art camping
~ furniture cars ~ art car demolition ~ temporary brilliance treking
~ foam parties ~ klownology ~ radical backpacking
~ disorder planning ~ insane spectacle ~ mobile self expression
~ decorated naked people ~ fetish illumination ~ tent gallery
~ dangerous bonfires ~ flash art mob ~ backpack a go go
~ unexpected sights ~ 24 hr art ~ pirate radio rave
~ moment liberation ~ alternative energy ~ canopy camping
~ outdoor canvass ~ interactive performance ~ mystery orienteering
~ purposely blurred vision ~ art rave ~ sex doll rafting / surfing
~ bike chariots ~ extreme chef ~ critical campsite
~ portable expressive living ~ recycle costumes ~ port o party
~ innovative inner dialogue ~ armature designer jewelry ~ micro culture jamming
~ boundary technology ~ billboard liberation ~ irony campout
~ physical indulgence ~ nonsense graffiti ~ nonsense portage and haulage
~ celebration explosion ~ body art ~ cavebration
~ mankind on brainstorm ~ kinetic csound ~ theme camp of one
~ sobriety tripping ~ massive moment sculpture ~ silliness expedition
~ flammable arts ~ collective consciousness ~ DIY rave
~ dance naked ~ unauthority ~ High Adventure Formal Dining
~ extreme decomodification ~disposession ~ backpack disco
You are cordially invited (as if this was necessary of something :)) to a gathering of pirates mayhem jockeys and free spirits to a fucko raid of the bman tribe on the three days of ticket sales (January 16~10 pm).
Every year people get their panties in a bunch and start taking things too seriously, so I thought it would be a perfect window to set a reminding tone. A reminded that .... I don’t know but a reminder.
For this raid I thought I could help set a launching tone through the following two inspirations.
Numero uno~
While in the military, before we went into combat, we used to play this game. The object was to try to infect your fellow members while really inappropriate songs stuck in their heads. This way, as they jumped off the plane , or whatever, they would have a horrible song running. Jingle bells, old mc donald are hysterical to plant into wartime. We got creative with it, sneaking lyrics into regular conversation like” Hey when I get back My girlfreind is gonna meet me at the airport, she’ll be comming around the mountain when she comes.” and so on.
soo..........
" Song Lyrics" responses. To participate, simply respond to every thread and every response with use of carefully and not so carefully excreted song lyrics. Start cutting and pasting now to have a stockpile of quotable responses.
If you run out, just make shit up. It’s not like anybody knows obscure music anyways.
Secondrundo
My other idea in keeping with the “American Dream Theme” was to prompt a " Fucko Trial" I thought I would accuse fellow tribsters, or whomever of borism, humorlessness, assholism and on and on and run every thread into the ground with wild testimony, bribed witnesses, crocked attorneys etc. etc.
I would love your help in these matters and would appreciate your particular brand of participation.
Thank you for your consideration and
Happy trails to you.
ALL YOUR BURNINGMAN ARE BELONG TO US
Some Burningman experiences often require more a state of mind that a set of rules. Read between the lines and find yourself.
Some Burningman DJ's use a...... Bullhorn
Some Burningman Artist take their trash home and Burn their art.
Some Burningman Participants don't make REAL BURNINGMAN LIST (beat ya too it hahahaha)
Some Burningman Organizers pay for their own ticket
Some Burningman DPW build things that make no sense in an area of no usefulness.
Some Burningman Reporters are too high to report actual news.
Some Burningman Radio is an assault to one's comformity. (comfort / conform)
Some Burningman Sports is trying to sleep in that fucking heat.
Some Burningman Advice is never mentioning Burningman.com
Some Burningman Love is coping a feel off everyone you hug.
Some Burningman Is painting your ass red and having your friend chase you around with two rubber horns duct taped to their bike.
Some Burningman Means trying to see how much you can feel like that person, who when afraid, is afraid who you will become if set free.
Some Burningman Makes no Clear sence!
Some Burningman Wants you trying not to be affected by anything around you for as long as possible and being grateful when you fail.
Some Burningman Clothing designers use fire retardant materials to make G string undies.
Some Burningman Chefs Cook better on the Playa than they do at home.
Some Burningman Has a soundtrack...whether music is playing or not.
Some Burningman Faith is knowing the point is to interfere.
Some Burningman People not only maintain a sense of humor and irony, they can hear the terms of endearment in an insult.
Some Burningman Consumers know it's ok to SHOP for "BURNER" shit, it's just lame to SELL or MARKET.... "BURNER" shit.
Some Burningman Advocates know to DO more and CRITICIZE less... unless it's funny to do more criticizing or the criticizing is funny.
Some Burningman Students are audible dyslexic, vision repaired and especially misabled.
There is no such thing as Burningman.
posted by:
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SF Bay Area
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Re: snark attack
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 2:10 PMFko- you spelt 'desert' wrong.
Have you herd of spell check? Do you want people to take you seriously? -
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Re: snark attack
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 2:23 PM
tomcat
lucky for me I neither need to spell correctly nor
am paticularly impared by a want to be taken seriously.
Tomcat~"tam-kat" n: a male domestic cat. In this case.... overly domesticated. -
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Unsu...
Desert vs Dessert
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 2:35 PMFuck, they're both great! I'll go to a desert festival. A dessert festival or a dessert festival in a desert. Lack of humor is a hanging offense 'round here! Roll me in chocolate and dust! Crimson and clover, over and over...... -
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Re: Desert vs Dessert
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 3:02 PMtomcat will be official charged on the 16th for selling false intellectual goods (spell check does not pick up words that are used incorrectly but are spelled correctly )
and for being obtuse, overly domesticated and a lack of common sense.
Crimson and clover, over and over......
yea....la lala lala la
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Re: snark attack
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 4:00 PMLooks like we've jumped the snark... -
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Unsu...
Fko' s Guilty too!!
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 4:55 PMHang 'em all! If you had read Tomcat's post you would have seen the keyword 'herd' we all know that only WILD cats travel in herds and they are impossible to control! Just what we need at Burning Man - herds of flamethrowing wild cats!
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a faithful trip.....
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shark attack!!!
Tue, January 8, 2008 - 7:37 AM -
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Re: shark attack!!!
Tue, January 8, 2008 - 12:06 PMI love chicks with dicks!
in a bareback mountian kind of way.
hee haw!
There coming to take me away ho ho he he ha ha
www.youtube.com/watch -
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Unsu...
Re: shark attack!!!
Tue, January 8, 2008 - 12:19 PM
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