Let the Games Begin

[tugrik]

Vehicle issues solved? Check.
Recovered after taking a year off? Check.
Desire to build new infrastructure? Double-check.

Okay, let's start.

We're going back to BurningMan. :)

It's time to start the official head-count.

---

Over the last year revar and I have been telling those around us that we're going back. A number of you have expressed interest in coming along (as newbies) or in joining forces (veterans). With the exception of one or two people I can't honestly state who I knew was serious and who was being wistful. It's time for those who want to go with our group to stand up and be counted so we can start sizing the camp properly.

First things first: Are you a veteran or a first-timer? If you're a veteran, you know what's involved and you know how to come prepared. For the most part we'll work on integrating our efforts if you want to join up. But if you're a first-timer, please read through this list and think about it before getting back to us.

• The official dates for the festival this year are August 25th through September 1st, 2003.


• Tickets are $200 this year. ka-ching! If you don't buy them before the summer's halfway over, expect them to go up to as high as $250.


• We're going for a minimum of 5 days, biased towards the beginning of the week. This means that Revar and I may or may not stay for the burn itself (and the end-of-week insanity). If you want to stay until the last day, you may end up doing the final day or two on your own or with a smaller group.


• We've only got two vehicle seats free. One of those is reserved for Noressa if she's coming. This means you will have to have transportation to the playa. Remember that the Black Rock Desert is not kind to vehicles.


• We're only going to want people we know personally and can directly vouch for the survivability of. We've had bad experiences in the past with letting 'friends of friends' come along and rely on us for survival. If you're going to bring your own group you're going to need to make sure that group is self-sufficient. We'll still make sure there's spaces for us all to be together, but we can't really do planning/infrastructure for other big groups.


• We'll be in the Alternative Energy Zone once more. Don't plan on bringing a gas generator or on using enough equipment to require high power drain. Think 'camping', not 'rave in the desert with 5K-watt sound' :)

If you're cool with this, then by all means -- come along! Email, find us online, call, drop by in person, leave LJ comments -- any of the above. Let us know who you are, why you want to come, and what you're hoping we do as a group. Revar and I both love bringing new people out to the event. The goal is to get the group defined by mid-march if at all possible. We realize that plans change, jobs are gained and lost, and vacation balances shift -- so don't worry about commitment. If you think you can go and have a reasonable chance -- just sign on. If you gotta bail, you gotta bail. Revar and I are equipped to do the trip all on our own, so losing people isn't hard -- it's adding them at the last minute that's a problem.

Some of you reading may not know what BurningMan is, but are curious. Their main website can be found here. If you're someone that we've met iRL at least once and think you might want to come, take a little while and read their handy survival guide. This is required reading. No joke. If you're cool with what the survival guide asks of you and you have both a way to the Playa and the $200 for this year's ticket price... hop on board! The festival is amazingly fun. :)

Comments

[noressa.livejournal.com]

I'm still going!!! I don't know whether Scott will actually make it or not, as his vacation adds up slower than mine does. Last I talked with him, it was almost def. a no. John, on the other hand still had a marked interest in going. ^_^ Though the two of you should really talk it over.

Other than that, I've read their required reading as well as the suggested reading, have most of the items necessary already (and a few short shopping trips should take care of the rest of it).

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

I'd love to. Went, um, year before last, was it? I need to take a good look at my damn finances, though. Ugh. And try and think of something more interesting to do than just 'be there', cool as that is.

Getting there is an issue too, given that I don't drive, at all. Hm.

Going. Haven't worked out details.

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

Damn, man, it's your description of it that triggered my decision. I've bought the ticket, read the manual, and talked with other Burning celebrants. Got wheels (two sorts!) and have done desert camping before (but not extreme desert camping; dust, storms, crazyness yes; Buckaroo Bonzai Playa elements no.) (And never longer than 5 days, with water available and trash taken out by someone else.) Got ahold of a friend who is a Black Rock Ranger; sounds like fun to me (ok, it's the way I'm twisted. Being a acting non-authority mediator sounds like what I want to be!)

So, well, need to figure out 1. Transport 2. Camp arrangements 3. Other stuff. Would love to come in on a camp with you, but want to make a definite contribution. Love to learn more about alternative energy, too. Going to make some tents soon; do we need any? We should talk, and ride...

[kategod.livejournal.com]

I believe myself and at least a few others from Minnesota here are heading down there for BM this year.

[electricgecko.livejournal.com]

I want to goooo! I have to! I must! :D

(tsuminaki and I have been telling ourselves that we have to make it this year, regardless of what we have to do to get ready / get there.)

I'm up for it.

[octantis.livejournal.com]

I have to see this. Only problem is, I have no idea how I'm getting out there. I don't want to take my Saturn out into the desert. :/

Re: I'm up for it.

[electricgecko.livejournal.com]

I was thinking I'd take my Saturn to the desert. *shrug* Actually, if you wanted to join forces with Monique and I, conceivably, we could rent a car ('cuz you're in the 25+ age bracket!) and split the cost/gas/etc. between the three of us.

Or we could just go in my car, but a) it's kind of small and b) I do NOT look forward to cleaning it after exposure to what I hear is the all-encompassing super-fine red dust from hell... o_o

Re: I'm up for it.

[tsuminaki.livejournal.com]

Yes. Join forces with us.

^^

[kiala.livejournal.com]

Well I honestly can't say if I'll for sure be able to make it or not but I'll damn well try =>

The good news is I have a small RV at my disposal, and asside from me and SilverWing (the SO) I can sleep 2, possibly 3 others.. I can also transport quite a bit of cargo on this thing AND it's got a nice generator on it.. Just a suggestion =>

wooooOOOOooOOOOOoo

[pobig.livejournal.com]

I am transportless (I have this periodic fantasy of attending via telepresence with a teeny blimp, but the technical hurdles are, um, substantial.) and if I throw in with the Atlanta burner I know I'll be in a different camp entirely, but I hope you have a blast.