Incinerated Hominid
Feb. 1st, 2005 05:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kitchen_kinkSince I'm a posting fiend today, I thought I'd mention: It seems ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
imlad and I are going to Burning Man this year.
We're a bit nervous. Neither of us are terrific outdoor types, there's a lot of equipment to worry about, there's art to make and transportation to arrange and so forth.
What I'm looking for is some people's thoughts, a kind of here's-the-most-important-things-to-know primer, and, frankly, some advice on camps. We figure that, rather than camping independently or creating our own camp, that we'd like to join someone's camp, where we have friends and could be helpful. I plan on making some costumes, as I usually do, but I'm not planning any giant art installations or anything. At least for my first time out, my chief concern is helping others and finding a way to belong.
So! Tell me! What's your experience been about? What camps should I look into maybe joining? Do you want us in your camp? How can I help? I can build and use tools, a little. I can sew, a little. We're both young, willing, able-bodied folks who just don't want to feel quite so lost during this experience.
Counting down the months...
imlad and I are going to Burning Man this year.We're a bit nervous. Neither of us are terrific outdoor types, there's a lot of equipment to worry about, there's art to make and transportation to arrange and so forth.
What I'm looking for is some people's thoughts, a kind of here's-the-most-important-things-to-know primer, and, frankly, some advice on camps. We figure that, rather than camping independently or creating our own camp, that we'd like to join someone's camp, where we have friends and could be helpful. I plan on making some costumes, as I usually do, but I'm not planning any giant art installations or anything. At least for my first time out, my chief concern is helping others and finding a way to belong.
So! Tell me! What's your experience been about? What camps should I look into maybe joining? Do you want us in your camp? How can I help? I can build and use tools, a little. I can sew, a little. We're both young, willing, able-bodied folks who just don't want to feel quite so lost during this experience.
Counting down the months...
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no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 02:34 pm (UTC)your instincts sound good. there are actually excellent pages on what to expect and what to bring on the burning man website-- you should read through those.
there are a few boston-based camps, which you surely know people from. i'm not sure m & i are going this year, so i don't feel it's my place to advise more. going with a camp is a good idea, and being willing to fetch and carry is a good resource. even more, i think, is talking a lot with folks from whichever camp in the months leading up-- bouncing project ideas and skills and resources off each other.
hm. drink lots of water, avoid direct sunlight, be strange, make art. that's my advice.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-01 02:58 pm (UTC)The playa is harsh, and as a first-timer, your main contribution will be to take good enough care of yourself that you (1) don't become a burden on anyone, and (2) don't end up in a medical tent. :) The BM site has a wonderful first timer's guide, which proved so useful to me that I didn't really need any other info.
Except on camps. Which I can't really help you with, as I don't know where we'll be camping, yet. But perhaps we'll see you there.
Camps...
Date: 2005-02-01 03:10 pm (UTC)I'm sure you've got a few friends going which should make the camp decision much easier....but I would hit at least one of the boston burner meetings too. Also think about what part of yourself you might like to develop out there....there are camps for BDSM, writing, dancing, technology, you name it.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 08:08 am (UTC)I'm going too :)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 08:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 01:24 pm (UTC)If you can, get into a named camp, one of the officially registered ones. They tend to be closer to the center and more in the action.
My other various and sundry pieces of advice:
1) Everyone makes too much of a big deal out of the heat situation. It's not that bad. If you follow commonsense rules like "stay out of the sun when possible" and "do not do anything active during the day" and "carry and drink water" you'll be fine.
2) Two things to bring that make the whole thing so much more smurfy:
a) Bikes! The event is so huge (2 or 3 miles across) that if you do not have these, you will literally spend more time walking than doing things. If you are flying in, drop by a Target or similar and buy some cheap ones. As a last resort, often there is a person selling them in the local town.
b) Walkie-talkies. Even with bikes, finding people is completely impossible. If you bring these and then get each band that your friends are on, you can actually find people, assuming they also have them.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-02 08:17 pm (UTC)Timur
Evil Temptress
Date: 2005-02-03 11:11 am (UTC)*sticks idea in a box, puts it on a shelf with a note "open in May-June 2005" note on it*
no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 07:21 pm (UTC)Cool that you guys are going!
Hope the colds etc. are better...