Burning Man in the Dessert of Nevada

[Wild Bill]

This topic came up in another post about traveling to this event. After an hour of reading the event web page I have to comment. I would invite past attendees to post up their experiences, of clean legal fun. It is too far for me to attend, I would have rather gone to Minden from Chicago for the tear drop event. Being a prude that does not like large, drunken, "free spirited" crowds, does not sound like this event would be for me, Even with all the Drinking and sex. No fishing in the dessert, bring your own water. No showers available, no power, generators running and exhaust, no in or out privlages unless you pay 20 bucks, limited sanitation, dust storms, 100 plus degree heat in the afternoon and 40's at night,. Someone please convince me that this is a fun event thru your experiences. Bill

[Gage]

Well Bill, it is a fun event but not for you. So just stay home and camp in your drive way where you won't have to put up with a lot of people (crowds).

[Jim.M]

No fishing in the dessert, bring your own water. No showers available, no power, generators running and exhaust, no in or out privlages unless you pay 20 bucks, limited sanitation, dust storms, 100 plus degree heat in the afternoon and 40's at night,. Someone please convince me that this is a fun event thru your experiences.

Bill, there is fishing in the desert, especially Northern Nevada. Just not at the burning man locale because it is a dry lake bed. Oh, sometimes it rains (thunderstorm) and then the dry lake bed turns into a mud lake bed. This change does not impede the fun, though!

Let's see:

Showers: available if you have one in your trailer. To cater to the rich who aren't tenting, there are honey wagons driving through the festival who will empty your holding tanks for a fee. So good showers and sanitation are available if you bring them. Just have enough water in your holding tanks to last!

Generators: run them as long as you want. hopefully yours is loud and will drown out the annoying music your neighbor is blaring out 24x7. An A/C cooled trailer never felt better than after 100 degrees.

Crowds: not crowded at all... the playa is really big place. make sure you bring a bicycle for riding from place to place.

Peace and quiet: not gonna happen, except early in the morning (a few hours before sunrise till an hour so after sunrise). You can always ride your bike to the art installations out in the hinterlands... it will be quiet there. It's also generally quiet and peaceful at the Temple.

[Wild Bill]

Sounds like a drunken, drug fest for wanna be or has been hippie liberals that like big crowds, smoke dope and want to do what ever they want to for a week, legal or not . The web site reminds you that silence is not to be considered consent for sex. So if you want to be raped, this might be the place to go. If I were to ever go, I would sell aspirin, water, the morning after pill, do O2 refills for all the old hippies that have smoked all their lives and maybe even set up a hoe house, and bar. Would pay for all my gas and trips the rest of the year! Plus I am too old to stay up all night unless I am working. You are right again gage, not for me.

[kinto]

wild bill,

let me get this straight... though you've never actually *been to* burning man, you *know* a lot about it based on website research?

sorry professor, but i will not be attending your classes!

[Wild Bill]

I would invite past attendees to post up their experiences, of clean legal fun. (quote) Ass u me You have been there then, I would like to hear what it is all about. From the web page I *know* nothing about an actual experience of being there and am interested in hearing from people to see what it is all about so that I will better understand what the draw is and why people would want to spend a week in the Desert for the experience. Sounds like an interesting social event, condusive to the direction the United States is moving in Values. You can actually glean a lot of information from a web page that you can spend hours upon hours reading.

[Blotto Bros]

Wild Bill,

Burning Man is for the attendees much the same as Sturgis is to bikers, Detroit auto show is to gear heads and Comicon is to a pop culture junkie. I agree that its not for me but we all like unique things. I notice from your profile that you like old cars...thats great for you...but NOT my thing. I would never put down or belittle any old car event simply for the reason that I would not enjoy it. More power to anyone who attends the event and please have a safe trip!!

[tupelosue]

Wild Bill! I am preparing for my 8th trip to Burning Man. I think it is a fabulous experience. I recommend it to all my friends to try at least once. Many have taken me up, and keep returning. Others say it was a good experience, but haven't been back.

I have not used drugs (well, maybe just that one little brownie...), have not been drunk, raped, or arrested.

I have seen incredibly creative art work, art cars, entertainment. Have received gifts from complete strangers (purse, popsicles, mojitos, foot washings, gasoline, battery jumps, to mention a few) The unconditional love and gifting that exists on the playa does not happen on the ordinary streets of America, to my knowledge.

Showers are also available by running along behind the water trucks that water the dusty streets, some people bring in their own porta potties, and there are free meals, drinks, and music going on 24/7. You would not be allowed to sell all those items, the only things being sold are ice, and coffee shop items (coffee, tea, lemonade) no other selling is allowed. It is a barter or gift economy, and many of the camps receive donations, and return it to the community.

It is a harsh environment, and preparation is important not only for survival but to have a good time.

There will be a few teardrops camping together at Trailer Trash CAmp, located approx 4:15 and G. Ticket holders welcome to come visit us!! or stay!!

May you have a good burn, wherever you are!

[notned]

http://www.skatinplace.com/MalcomatBurningMan.htm

[Wild Bill]

Tupelosue, Thanks for the reponse, that was what I was looking for, some insight from someone who HAS been there to be able to learn more about this festival. Knowing that you cannot believe everything that you read in the papers or on the net, wanted to hear about this community experience. Thanks Oh and Kinto, welcome to the forum, your build photos in your album indicate you are working on a trailer, good luck with that. If I can make it to retirement, and have more time to travel, I am adding to my bucket list from some of the places that forum members have visited. Cannot believe all that is on the glossy brochures. Bill

[madjack]

Well Bill, it is a fun event but not for you. So just stay home and camp in your drive way where you won't have to put up with a lot of people (crowds).

...mostly complete agreement here...I have never been and probably will never go...I hate deserts, dust and a lack of trees/shade and running water...I believe you miss the point of Burningman...it is about FREEDOM...freedom from societies strictures, freedom to just enjoy life, freedom to be creative, freedom to enjoy others creativity, freedom to just BE and to be with like minded people...it is upto you to take in(or not) what you want and it is upto you to determine what you take/give from the experience...it is one of those things that if you just don't get, it is probably best you stay away...it is definitely not a "mainstream" experience..........
madjack

[tupelosue]

MJ, well said.

[madjack]

...thank you Sue, coming from you, that is well appreciated...like I said, haven't been, probably never will but, I do understand..........
madjack

[robfisher]

If you don't already have your tickets you'd better have plenty of money to go this year. Burning Man has for the first time in its history sold out. Their BLM permit caps out at 50,000 people. Last night I saw two tickets sell on ebay for for over $1800. Now the buy it now price is between 1000 and 2000 per ticket.

Guess I won't be making one of the last minute runs after all.

Oh that "freedom" thing has become quite a discussion in the top ranks. They are having a "moment of truth" with reality, contemplating how they can continue to keep something so popular "free"

[JuneBug]

The Rainbow Family Gatherings are in a separate but parallel universe. Links are here.

I'm not into large gatherings, but the people who like these things REALLY like them. They definitely fill some type of unmet need for social/communal life in our larger society.