Anyone going to Burning Man?

Sarapis

Any fellow Burners out there? Would love to say 'hi' on the playa if so. Leaving on Saturday (in 2 days). Camp BIF (Bureau of Intrepid Fertility). 7:45 & Rod's Road. Look for two big murals out front and a large wooden tree with lots of stuff hanging from it. I'm known as "Dr. Yes" (or just Matt) in camp. Let me know if you'll be there! (I realize this is unlikely, who knows.)

Kresslack

A few friends and I have an annual trip/get-together and are going to Atlanta this year, but one of them brought up maybe going to Burning Man next year for the trip. I think anyone interested in art, fire, and things of a general abstract nature would enjoy it. My Art History teacher would talk about it at length and show us slideshows from his past trips. Whoever goes, take plenty of pictures!

Sarapis

I don't even know how to describe BM. It goes so far beyond just 'art, fire, and things of an abstract nature.' It's a different way of living and interacting with people for a week. Everything from the fact that commerce is not allowed (minus a very small set of exceptions) to the fact that it's in a really harsh environment (an alkaline salt flat, where nothing grows and there are no animals, plus massive dust storms) contributes to the feeling of spending a week in an alien - but awesome - place. Things like the fact that you can't buy anything but ice, coffee, and lemonade are awesome - they change how you fundamentally relate to the people around you while you're there. 

It's also pretty much the most epic party in the world, but that's just part of its appeal. The amount of sheer creativity and work that people put into Burning Man is astounding, especially considering that there aren't official 'performers'. Everyone is the same. The organization that puts on BM doesn't have any events happening. It's all up to the participants to create, and the quality of what's created is entirely dependent on the quality of what the participants create (much like roleplay in Achaea to some degree). 

I'm probably going to regret over-sharing here, but I'm not particularly shy about my life and would prefer to be open with the people playing the game(s) I'm involved with, so if you want, watch this video I shot and produced of my and my then-fiance's (now wife's) trip to Burning Man last year. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFeTTvDE_FE 

Kresslack

You need to throw that fishnet shirt in the fire haha. That was a pretty cool video. I liked the kites they had, and the fire poi. I try to go out to the river camping and do fire poi at least once a month with a few friends, it's fun and not as dangerous as a lot of people think. 

One thing I like about it from what I've heard and seen via pictures, is the way people build a lot of it, especially the contraptions and cars:

Vigo

Sounds like an amazing experience, one I hope to enjoy one day myself. I recently went to a two day rave/music festival on Soldier Field in Chicago. It was so surreal to be in such an enormous stadium with around 40,000 like minded people. Lots of hoopers, poi'ers, glovers...

Take pictures!

Sarapis

@Kresslack Heh heh, it's fun to dress completely tacky out on the playa. That white mesh shirt is a work of art in that sense!

Zahan

Me and my girl tried to go this year but we missed the registration and the "open sale" for tickets was cancelled.

Yrael

I heard from coworkers who go that the ticket sales were funky, but folks were selling at base price the few weeks leading up to now. Pretty fun that almost my entire team goes regularly or wants to, may try to go with them next year

Amunet

I have quite a few friends going. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to afford the trip. One of these days!

Sarapis

Well, all I can say is that it this year was even better than my first two years. A lot dustier, and even more fun/epic!

Kresslack

Sarapis said:

Well, all I can say is that it this year was even better than my first two years. A lot dustier, and even more fun/epic!

Pictures/video?

Sarapis

Working on making a video of it, but short on time at the moment as I'm planning how best to abuse the new simplified PK rules.

Tvistor

Oh wow, I want to go (and I normally despise parties) but there's this thing filled with water in the way.

Kresslack

Tvistor said:

Oh wow, I want to go (and I normally despise parties) but there's this thing filled with water in the way.

We've since constructed mechanical birds to carry people over such obstructions. 

Sarapis

Tvistor said:

Oh wow, I want to go (and I normally despise parties) but there's this thing filled with water in the way.

It's not really a party. I mean, it's certainly a festive atmosphere for the most part, and many, many parties happen AT Burning Man, but BM itself isn't a party. It's really hard to describe. It's a largely (but not entirely) self-organizing, autonomous, temporary city with an economy that operates on gifts rather than barter/exchange/money. That really doesn't describe it at all, but it's one way of putting it.

Vigo

It sounds all kind of up my alley. Has anyone ever heard of Electric Forest?(which is decidedly much more like a large party.)

They decorate a forest up in Michigan with lights, illusions, all manner of images. Add a few of the world's best DJ's and...that's Electric Forest. This picture doesn't do it justice.

Zeon

Sarapis said:

Tvistor said:

Oh wow, I want to go (and I normally despise parties) but there's this thing filled with water in the way.

It's not really a party. I mean, it's certainly a festive atmosphere for the most part, and many, many parties happen AT Burning Man, but BM itself isn't a party. It's really hard to describe. It's a largely (but not entirely) self-organizing, autonomous, temporary city with an economy that operates on gifts rather than barter/exchange/money. That really doesn't describe it at all, but it's one way of putting it.

Was curious as to what most people bring as their gift goods. Food, drugs, and those that serve as both were the things that came to mind right away. Would you say most people bring everything they need for the days they'll be there, or are people truly active participants in the Burning Man economy?

Sarapis

Zeon said:

Sarapis said:

Tvistor said:

Oh wow, I want to go (and I normally despise parties) but there's this thing filled with water in the way.

It's not really a party. I mean, it's certainly a festive atmosphere for the most part, and many, many parties happen AT Burning Man, but BM itself isn't a party. It's really hard to describe. It's a largely (but not entirely) self-organizing, autonomous, temporary city with an economy that operates on gifts rather than barter/exchange/money. That really doesn't describe it at all, but it's one way of putting it.

Was curious as to what most people bring as their gift goods. Food, drugs, and those that serve as both were the things that came to mind right away. Would you say most people bring everything they need for the days they'll be there, or are people truly active participants in the Burning Man economy?

One of the 10 principles of Burning Man is Radical Self-Reliance, so you are definitely expected to bring everything you need. Having said that, there is a lot of gifting out there. You can walk around and get anything from free drinks at bars that attendees set up to ice cream to gourmet cocktails to grilled cheese, etc. The whole feeling is one of not being a commercial victim, which is different from almost every other aspect of public life, where people (including Iron Realms) are looking to get you to buy things much of the time.

It's not as if you'll be in life-endangering trouble if you didn't bring the necessities either. People will take care of you. They might just be annoyed about it, and it doesn't feel good to be a burden on your friends/neighbors.

Sarapis

Here's a video I just finished about Burning Man this year!

Sarapis

I thought some of you might find this amusing too, and it only requires 40 secs of your time. Darthstep! (It's in the longer video, but that one is, well, long).

Rakon

Hey look, I caught a picture of Matt at BM.

Taomao

I've never been, but David Best does phenomenal work. 

Gyrth

Any 2013 Burners out there?

  

Sarapis

Yep, got tix, will be on the playa for 7-9 days.

Can't wait to go home again.

Tanaar

Watched first video.

Wookie.

Also, was that @Sarapis shirtless in a kilt? Mine eyes!  ...I watched that part three times. Much better than Cooper's legs. Also, nice ink evident later.

Watched the second video.

+1 Darthstep. More shirtless Sarapis. Some adorbs kids. Looks like an event I'd enjoy.

Gyrth

Burner virgin, checking in.  Got tickets and joined a tribe with a community kitchen and a bus named Walter.  Pretty stoked.  

Sarapis

You're going to have a great time.

Xith

Best known for commercialising MUDs.

Values the non-commercialism of Burning Man.

Sarapis

Xith said:

Best known for commercialising MUDs.

Values the non-commercialism of Burning Man.

Not really true actually. Commercial MUDs have been around since the 80s, mainly in the form of pay-by-the-hour games (Sometimes as much as $5/hour, and $5 back then was worth considerably more than now). I'm known for inventing the free-to-play w/ virtual goods model for games, not for commercializing MUDs.

I do value the fact that at Burning Man you're not being marketed to....but boy, you sure pay a lot (tickets, supplies, travel, etc) to go there and then not pay anything for the time you're there.

Xith

MUDs with business models then... or like- commerce of..

Fine, Sarapis, spoil my cleverness.

Jonathin

Holy dear god almighty,

this looks so freakishly awesome.

Also, I paused on the guy just jumping on a trampoline and laughed for a minute. 

ETA2: Want to go next year for sure.