Burning Man

[danaeris]

Until last night, I was not certain I would ever want to go to Burning Man.

For some reason, listening to people talk about it last night, it changed my mind. I think I would like to go someday.

Going this year, however, would be difficult.

My reasons:

1. First and foremost, the week of Burning Man is my school's first week of school. It seems to me like it would be horribly irresponsible to skip out on that.
   
2. Going for the whole week would also use up all of my sick leave for the term, leaving me with no bendiness if I get sick.
   
3. It would be awfully last minute to decide to go now; getting my hands on all the gear would be tough.
   
4. It would be expensive
   
5. Are tickets even available anymore?

What I could do this year:

I COULD take Friday off; I'd only be missing three classes rather than four, and using up only one day of sick leave out of five. I already have Monday off. Thursday I would get off at 3:40, so in fantasy perfect road trip land, we could be on the Playa by ten p.m.

I wouldn't have to be back to teach until 12:40 Tuesday, so if we left late Monday night and I needed to sleep in, that would be ok.

I just don't know how expensive this would be, or how worthwhile. Should I wait for my first BM for a time when I can be there for the whole thing?

I could probably borrow a tent from Q, and I own a sleeping bag. After that, its just comfortable clothing and a whole lot of food supplies etc., right? Edit No go on the Q tent. Hmm. I must know someone else who would be willing to lend me a tent... right? But this puts me down to just a sleeping bag.

Comments

[dicedork.livejournal.com]

At this point you probably want to plan for next year. There are a *TON* of logistical issues you'd run into at this point, not the least of which is you'd need a ticket and the ticket booth closes on Thursday.

When I was going to be taking classes last year I called all my professors prior to the first day of class and asked them if I could miss a week. They all said the same thing: "Have fun, I'm jealous, It'll be your responsibilty to catch up, but since it's the first week, you won't miss much. I won't hold the week against your attendance record." It was pretty cool.

Yes, you need a tent, you need quite a lot of stuff actually, and going in without one of several things will make the event miserable. Also you want to find a camp to camp with. The "non-affilliated" campers have to set up in the boon docks.

THAT SAID: If you can find a cheap ticket, and someone willing to share camping stuff and all you need to bring is some food, water, and (well check out http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/ that for the survival guide)....

Anyway if you can find someone that makes the trip cost effective *GO!!* Take the day off. Sacrifice the weekend. You won't regret it. It will change your life. The playa is harsh physically, but probably one of the most intense spiritual experiences you're likely ever to have. I highly recommend it if you can get the cost down.

My first week was a half week. And though I left early because physically I just wasn't aclimating and I needed to go, it was incredible, and I can't even imagine not going.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

According to the website, you can order tickets in advance and set them up as will call. I could also go pick them up at one of the in person locations; I'd just have to have $250 in cash.

There are a number of tickets for sale on Craigslist for ~$200.

For me the big expense would be the drive. If I could find someone over 25 to rent a car with me, or someone who is leaving when I want to leave who I can drive with, it would make a HUGE difference.

My housemate Q has been a burning man person for years, but he used his vacation time to go to the gay softball championships instead. So I may be able to borrow all his gear; I've already emailed him to check that possibility. If he has all the gear I need, and I can carpool with someone who isn't an evil murderer, and add myself onto someone's camp... well, you see that it could work out if if if. It could even turn out to be affordable.

[dicedork.livejournal.com]

I would check on whether will-call will stay open the whole week. I'm not sure it will.

As I said though, you can get the logistics squared away, I would HIGHLY recommend it. A half week is probably a good introduction.

[cr0wgrrl.livejournal.com]

Check out their First Timer Guide (http://www.burningman.com/first_timers). Then check out their information on preparation (http://www.burningman.com/preparation).

If you have someone to go with who can look out for you, then I'd say go. It's an amazing, difficult, exhausting, wonderful experience.

[princeofwands.livejournal.com]

http://eplaya.burningman.com/ is a good place to go looking for tickets, too.


here's their warning about and advice for combating the risk of getting forged tickets:
http://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?t=3662

You've already got a pointer to the survival guide, so you're set there.

And of course - one doesn't need to go for a whole week. In fact, in all the years I've gone before, I've never gone for longer than 4 days. This will be my first week. So, you could compromise your time-away / time on-playa conflict.

[princeofwands.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, and the retail storefront location on Haight that was selling tickets was reported this morning on KFOG as still having some - so you could just run over there and get one imediately.

[dazzlynn.livejournal.com]

You need to take the playa dust into consideration. It will most likely ruin (playafy) anything you borrow. If you were to borrow a BM tent that would be good, but if you borrowed a friend's camping tent, you would most likely ruin it. Same for your sleeping bag. Maybe not ruin, but make it pretty icky.

Same goes for a rental car. I still have playa in my car from last year. If you rent make sure you know up front what the cleaning fees will be. You'll pay out the nose for it.

I'm inclined to suggest you wait for next year. Especially since this is your first time. This is an event that most people take months to prep for.

[kshandra]

5. Are tickets even available anymore?

Yes, but only until Friday via the website (tickets.burningman.com). Their walk-in outlets (Distractions in the Haight and Berkeley Hat Company) may still be selling them this weekend - but the outlets are cash only. And you DON'T want to wait till you get there to buy a ticket. They start at $350 when the gate opens at 0001 Monday, and go up every day until they stop selling at 2300 Thursday.

I wouldn't have to be back to teach until 12:40 Tuesday, so if we left late Monday night and I needed to sleep in, that would be ok.

Monday is actually the worst day to leave BRC, now, with the addition of the Temple burn on Sunday night. It takes upwards of an hour just to get back to the main road....

I just don't know how expensive this would be, or how worthwhile.

dafydd and I went on a $350 Costco run before he left - plus the money we spent at REI, Orchard Supply, Mountain View Surplus, Redwood Trading Post...we've easily spent $1000 between us, and we already have the bulk of our infrastructure together.

Worthwhile? Absolutely. But hard on the pocketbook.

Should I wait for my first BM for a time when I can be there for the whole thing?

The whole week is optional for most folks, but arriving by Wednesday is best, IMO. (Of course, this is coming from someone who works the event and gets in two days before the gate opens, so make of that what you will.)