BurningManRoadTrip
August 21, 2004 3:25 PM Subscribe
The journey to burning man. Part 1. Part 2 An interview with a Burning Man founder. Bike Ride man. Thunderdome. QT vids.
amberglow . . . you should!
Watch the trailer for the first officially-sanctioned "behind the scenes" documentary, Beyond Black Rock (flash + QT).
View the rise and fall of Black Rock City as time gets folded (QT).
Check out the amazing aeriel photos from Burning Sky.
Read Piss Clear, Black rock City's favorite alternative newspaper.
posted by donovan at 5:50 PM on August 21, 2004
Watch the trailer for the first officially-sanctioned "behind the scenes" documentary, Beyond Black Rock (flash + QT).
View the rise and fall of Black Rock City as time gets folded (QT).
Check out the amazing aeriel photos from Burning Sky.
Read Piss Clear, Black rock City's favorite alternative newspaper.
posted by donovan at 5:50 PM on August 21, 2004
one of these years maybe...maybe we could do a mefi meetup there? but i need a ride : >
posted by amberglow at 5:52 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by amberglow at 5:52 PM on August 21, 2004
Haven't the corporations already coopted Burning Man? Isn't it going to be like Coca Cola Presents Burning Man and it doesn't it cost like $250 to get in?
posted by xmutex at 5:58 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by xmutex at 5:58 PM on August 21, 2004
one hell of a price for admission, but i think it's a once in a lifetime kinda thing. or maybe twice?
posted by mrplab at 6:01 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by mrplab at 6:01 PM on August 21, 2004
Haven't the corporations already coopted Burning Man? Isn't it going to be like Coca Cola Presents Burning Man
Nope, never. No commerce is a hallmark of the event and in fact this year there's been an extra push to have people cover up, alter and generally erradicate visible corporate logos on rented trucks, etc.
and it doesn't it cost like $250 to get in?
Sliding scale for tickets, but you shouldn't think of the fee as the equivalent of, say, a concert ticket--you're really paying a city tax that covers an impressive amount of infrastructure required for safety, comfort, minimal environmental impact, and a generally amazing week off the grid with thousands of creative freaks and only a few yahoos. After the event, a report of key aspects of Burning Man (including finances) is made available.
posted by donovan at 6:16 PM on August 21, 2004
Nope, never. No commerce is a hallmark of the event and in fact this year there's been an extra push to have people cover up, alter and generally erradicate visible corporate logos on rented trucks, etc.
and it doesn't it cost like $250 to get in?
Sliding scale for tickets, but you shouldn't think of the fee as the equivalent of, say, a concert ticket--you're really paying a city tax that covers an impressive amount of infrastructure required for safety, comfort, minimal environmental impact, and a generally amazing week off the grid with thousands of creative freaks and only a few yahoos. After the event, a report of key aspects of Burning Man (including finances) is made available.
posted by donovan at 6:16 PM on August 21, 2004
Ha, I was just about to post a question to AskMe: are there any events like this, just not so National Geographic-cover shark-jumpish (and pricey, and remote...)?
posted by gottabefunky at 6:52 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by gottabefunky at 6:52 PM on August 21, 2004
i just read something about traveling events they do, but couldn't find any list or anything.
posted by amberglow at 6:55 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by amberglow at 6:55 PM on August 21, 2004
If any of you do go, I'll be at The Aerodrome, 2:00 and Jupiter. Ask for Tom.
posted by Hackworth at 8:25 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by Hackworth at 8:25 PM on August 21, 2004
Hackworth:
I'll be at 9:30 and Mercury with Necronomicone where free free snocones are doled out every day, you just have to sign a little contract first . . .
gottabefunky:
The BM Regional Network would be one place to look for information on other events (perhaps closer to you and less pricey) and the network of people making them happen, for example there's Synorgy in Utah.
posted by donovan at 8:43 PM on August 21, 2004
I'll be at 9:30 and Mercury with Necronomicone where free free snocones are doled out every day, you just have to sign a little contract first . . .
gottabefunky:
The BM Regional Network would be one place to look for information on other events (perhaps closer to you and less pricey) and the network of people making them happen, for example there's Synorgy in Utah.
posted by donovan at 8:43 PM on August 21, 2004
Haven't the corporations already coopted Burning Man? Isn't it going to be like Coca Cola Presents Burning Man and it doesn't it cost like $250 to get in?
No, xmutex. Check up on it. They will never, never allow corporate sponsorship. Technically, you're not even allowed to drive a U-haul truck in without obscuring the brand logo. And with the exception of ice and coffee, both centrally dispensed from one location, you can't exchange money for anything there. The ice is a necessity for everyone. The coffee raises money for local schools.
Tickets are expensive, but this year's began at $160. That's a lot of money, too. But it's expensive to provide roads, medical assistance, electricity, pyrotechnics, etc for 25K people. BM also gives out art grants to some of the people who build the cool shit (my friend got like $9K to build the Hand of God, which helped a lot but didn't nearly cover it). And BM have made major donations to the school districts in the area of Nevada that is host to the event, and who gracefully tolerate 25K people cruising through their tiny towns. BM has also waged lawduits against people who've exploited their photos/videos of naked people, selling them as peep shows. That takes money, but it helps to know that they try hard to create a safe environment for the folks who enjoy being naked.
If you don't wanna go, you really just shouldn't. It's hot, it's dusty. But I don't think the festival can be discredited on commercialism grounds, or as profit-hungry.
Hackworth - I'll be at the 3:00 plaza fixing bikes, pretty closeby to you. Look for the Mexican flag and the BYB sign.
posted by scarabic at 10:19 PM on August 21, 2004
No, xmutex. Check up on it. They will never, never allow corporate sponsorship. Technically, you're not even allowed to drive a U-haul truck in without obscuring the brand logo. And with the exception of ice and coffee, both centrally dispensed from one location, you can't exchange money for anything there. The ice is a necessity for everyone. The coffee raises money for local schools.
Tickets are expensive, but this year's began at $160. That's a lot of money, too. But it's expensive to provide roads, medical assistance, electricity, pyrotechnics, etc for 25K people. BM also gives out art grants to some of the people who build the cool shit (my friend got like $9K to build the Hand of God, which helped a lot but didn't nearly cover it). And BM have made major donations to the school districts in the area of Nevada that is host to the event, and who gracefully tolerate 25K people cruising through their tiny towns. BM has also waged lawduits against people who've exploited their photos/videos of naked people, selling them as peep shows. That takes money, but it helps to know that they try hard to create a safe environment for the folks who enjoy being naked.
If you don't wanna go, you really just shouldn't. It's hot, it's dusty. But I don't think the festival can be discredited on commercialism grounds, or as profit-hungry.
Hackworth - I'll be at the 3:00 plaza fixing bikes, pretty closeby to you. Look for the Mexican flag and the BYB sign.
posted by scarabic at 10:19 PM on August 21, 2004
sweet video archive, srboisvert!
I'm not too sure about that guy who says "It's my first time" and "I can't imagine not going" in the same breath :)
posted by scarabic at 10:52 PM on August 21, 2004
I'm not too sure about that guy who says "It's my first time" and "I can't imagine not going" in the same breath :)
posted by scarabic at 10:52 PM on August 21, 2004
i'm currently reading the recently published, This Is Burning Man, which is making me want to go too.
posted by tsarfan at 11:10 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by tsarfan at 11:10 PM on August 21, 2004
tsarfan: I haven't read that book, but the author Brian Doherty was recently interviewed on NV public radio with Larry Harvey and others; it's a good primer.
posted by donovan at 11:23 PM on August 21, 2004
posted by donovan at 11:23 PM on August 21, 2004
Dissenting opinion here, but Burning Man always struck me as an over-intellectualized Spring Break for science geeks. Not saying this is neccessarily a bad thing, but I wouldn't want to go to Spring Break, nor would I feel welcome there, so I imagine the same is true of Burning Man.
posted by jonmc at 9:11 AM on August 22, 2004
posted by jonmc at 9:11 AM on August 22, 2004
I'd call that more of a dissenting impression, jonmc. If you actually went there and still thought that BM==Spring Break, I'd be astonished, but I'd respect your opinion. It seems that very few folks who are down on BM have actually tried it. I have definitely known folks who had a bad time there, but often for mundane reasons like weather, or they broke up with their partner right beforehand, or something.
posted by scarabic at 10:01 AM on August 22, 2004
posted by scarabic at 10:01 AM on August 22, 2004
snocones! woohoo! if anyone wants to come looking, i'll be at the Innerspace Sound Shack (~3:30 and Earth). ask for Peter. i'll have cookies ...
It seems that very few folks who are down on BM have actually tried it.
can i get a triple amen? i've known a few people who didn't have a great time (almost always b/c of their traveling companions, however), but i've never met anyone who has gone and said "that was weak."
are there any events like this, just not so National Geographic-cover shark-jumpish (and pricey, and remote...)?
honestly, i don't think so ... but start your own! i'd love to do a non-commercial art festival in a forest somewhere. i'm really not a huge fan of the fire, or the desert for that matter.
somebody should start a MeTa meetup thread, but i'm gonna be so busy the next week i'm not sure if i'll be back b4 i leave. 3:30 and Earth! cookies!
btw, i saw Brian Doherty read at the Odeon last week and picked up a copy of TIBM. the book is good. he has a very Reason-esque (i think he also writes for them), libertarian/anarchistic view of the whole thing. the writing is a little too dry for me, but it's a good intro to the event.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:45 AM on August 22, 2004
It seems that very few folks who are down on BM have actually tried it.
can i get a triple amen? i've known a few people who didn't have a great time (almost always b/c of their traveling companions, however), but i've never met anyone who has gone and said "that was weak."
are there any events like this, just not so National Geographic-cover shark-jumpish (and pricey, and remote...)?
honestly, i don't think so ... but start your own! i'd love to do a non-commercial art festival in a forest somewhere. i'm really not a huge fan of the fire, or the desert for that matter.
somebody should start a MeTa meetup thread, but i'm gonna be so busy the next week i'm not sure if i'll be back b4 i leave. 3:30 and Earth! cookies!
btw, i saw Brian Doherty read at the Odeon last week and picked up a copy of TIBM. the book is good. he has a very Reason-esque (i think he also writes for them), libertarian/anarchistic view of the whole thing. the writing is a little too dry for me, but it's a good intro to the event.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:45 AM on August 22, 2004
well, if someone needs to set a time and place, I say tuesday at the man, noonish.
posted by Hackworth at 11:54 AM on August 22, 2004
posted by Hackworth at 11:54 AM on August 22, 2004
well, if someone needs to set a time and place, I say tuesday at the man, noonish.
I'd love to do that, but I have a shift at Camp Arctica slinging ice at that time.
take pics and stuff for the rest of us : >
If the everpresent dust doesn't kill my camera...
posted by DaShiv at 1:30 PM on August 22, 2004
I'd love to do that, but I have a shift at Camp Arctica slinging ice at that time.
take pics and stuff for the rest of us : >
If the everpresent dust doesn't kill my camera...
posted by DaShiv at 1:30 PM on August 22, 2004
Dissenting opinion here, but Burning Man always struck me as an over-intellectualized Spring Break for science geeks.
I am not a great champion of burning man, but I have been to it, and that description is not accurate at any level, serious or in fun.
posted by bingo at 9:18 PM on August 22, 2004
I am not a great champion of burning man, but I have been to it, and that description is not accurate at any level, serious or in fun.
posted by bingo at 9:18 PM on August 22, 2004
Burning Man according to MeFi.
jonmc, take heart that way back in the year 2000 folks were already thinking Burning Man had turned itself into Spring Break . . .
posted by donovan at 1:00 AM on August 23, 2004
jonmc, take heart that way back in the year 2000 folks were already thinking Burning Man had turned itself into Spring Break . . .
posted by donovan at 1:00 AM on August 23, 2004
I'm planning on going next year. For all those thinking of travelling from europe http://euroburners.org/index.html. At the end of June the Euroburners organised a long weekend in Spain in the attempt of setting up a European burn on a regular basis . Unfortunately there is no link on their webpage to this yet. Discussion list has been very useful tho for resourcing
posted by floanna at 2:57 AM on August 23, 2004
posted by floanna at 2:57 AM on August 23, 2004
One of the neat things about BM is that it's the one time that a lot of smaller subcultures all get together. There are lots of alt communities that hold events out there year 'round. BM is kind of the megalopolis of all of them. I have no doubt that it will be disbanded eventually, but in the meantime it's a good way to build communities and connections between communities. Someday we won't need it anymore.
posted by scarabic at 10:26 AM on August 23, 2004
posted by scarabic at 10:26 AM on August 23, 2004
well, if someone needs to set a time and place, I say tuesday at the man, noonish.
I'll try to make that. I'll have a Mexican flag bandana hanging from my belt for easy identification.
posted by scarabic at 10:45 AM on August 24, 2004
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posted by amberglow at 5:11 PM on August 21, 2004