Comments on: The First-Timer’s Guide to Participating at Burning Man http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:53:02 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Brett (New Zealand) http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-3755 Brett (New Zealand) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:26:59 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-3755 I got inspired and made the long trip from New Zealand to Burning Man in 2006. I am not sure when i will get to return, but I will. It is definitely on the list. I consider myself very well travelled and seek out international festivals (I got engaged to my wife at the Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, Thailand) but there is nothing else in the world like Burning Man. It is the closest I will ever get to experiencing life on another planet. (Planet Party?). if anything you have read here has stirred your interest, then you will love it. Just be prepared to be very dusty, sleeping in the morning and playing all night, and pack a tutu. (If you haven't got one, get one - you'll understand when you get there!). If you are a first timer, and travelling alone, the key to your enjoyment and safety is to go onto the BM website and check out all of the camp/communities. There are hundreds catering for every interest group imaginable (and more than a few you might never have thought of). Find a group that sounds like you, or sounds like fun, contact them, and learn what is involved in joining their camp. It will be a liberating and life changing experience like no other. I got inspired and made the long trip from New Zealand to Burning Man in 2006. I am not sure when i will get to return, but I will. It is definitely on the list. I consider myself very well travelled and seek out international festivals (I got engaged to my wife at the Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, Thailand) but there is nothing else in the world like Burning Man. It is the closest I will ever get to experiencing life on another planet. (Planet Party?). if anything you have read here has stirred your interest, then you will love it. Just be prepared to be very dusty, sleeping in the morning and playing all night, and pack a tutu. (If you haven’t got one, get one – you’ll understand when you get there!). If you are a first timer, and travelling alone, the key to your enjoyment and safety is to go onto the BM website and check out all of the camp/communities. There are hundreds catering for every interest group imaginable (and more than a few you might never have thought of). Find a group that sounds like you, or sounds like fun, contact them, and learn what is involved in joining their camp. It will be a liberating and life changing experience like no other.

(Report comment)

]]> By: mockingbird http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-2776 mockingbird Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:34:52 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-2776 Women are no less safe than anyone else out there, just be smart (like you would anywhere). Is your friend totally plastered and can barely walk or keep her eyes open? Make sure she's not alone. Is there some creepy guy chatting you up and you can't figure out why but you're getting a nasty vibe? Find a way to end the convo and hang with other people. And of course, if anything *does* happen (or seems about to), SCREAM! Make some noise! Tell someone, yell for help, be visible! This is an amazing community that will jump to your rescue, and even if you're walking around naked with a "bite me" sign on your butt you absolutely do not deserve to be taken advantage of so if anyone tries it, raise bloody hell! Like I said, this is stuff I would say to women anywhere in the world. You're definitely safer in black rock city by a long shot, but using some sense to keep yourself and your gal pals safe is definitely a good idea. Women are no less safe than anyone else out there, just be smart (like you would anywhere). Is your friend totally plastered and can barely walk or keep her eyes open? Make sure she’s not alone. Is there some creepy guy chatting you up and you can’t figure out why but you’re getting a nasty vibe? Find a way to end the convo and hang with other people. And of course, if anything *does* happen (or seems about to), SCREAM! Make some noise! Tell someone, yell for help, be visible! This is an amazing community that will jump to your rescue, and even if you’re walking around naked with a “bite me” sign on your butt you absolutely do not deserve to be taken advantage of so if anyone tries it, raise bloody hell!

Like I said, this is stuff I would say to women anywhere in the world. You’re definitely safer in black rock city by a long shot, but using some sense to keep yourself and your gal pals safe is definitely a good idea.

(Report comment)

]]> By: jonny http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-2721 jonny Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:51:38 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-2721 sounds great but i have heard certain bad things regarding the safety of women? anyone able to shed any light on this? sounds great but i have heard certain bad things regarding the safety of women? anyone able to shed any light on this?

(Report comment)

]]> By: tharp42 http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-2617 tharp42 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:58:48 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-2617 Burning Man is awesome - I there 00,01,and 02. I was a part of the Infernal Noise Brigade's camp. Amazing times all. As for the Participant vs. Observer argument goes, Burning Man was founded with the philosphy, "Participants only." It's meant that everyone should come and do or make something. Most every other festival in the world is based on passivity, on watching other people do stuff. Burning man takes away the barrier between artist and audience and makes us all artists. Burning Man is awesome – I there 00,01,and 02. I was a part of the Infernal Noise Brigade’s camp. Amazing times all.

As for the Participant vs. Observer argument goes, Burning Man was founded with the philosphy, “Participants only.” It’s meant that everyone should come and do or make something. Most every other festival in the world is based on passivity, on watching other people do stuff. Burning man takes away the barrier between artist and audience and makes us all artists.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Euphoria http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-2610 Euphoria Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:35:00 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-2610 I camped right by the Pink Mammoth last year :0) I camped right by the Pink Mammoth last year :0)

(Report comment)

]]> By: » Blog Archive » 50 Things to Do Before You Die http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-2202 » Blog Archive » 50 Things to Do Before You Die Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:02:20 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-2202 [...] Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to [...] [...] Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to [...]

(Report comment)

]]> By: wanda http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-774 wanda Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:42:07 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-774 I woud love to attend this event this year 2009. I was wondering if we could get a group from maryland yto attens? I woud love to attend this event this year 2009. I was wondering if we could get a group from maryland yto attens?

(Report comment)

]]> By: THE TRUTH http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-773 THE TRUTH Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:03:42 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-773 Keep in mind there are hundreds of plain clothes undercover cops who snoop around listening to your conversations, looking for people doing drugs. Even thouh youve gone out of your wy to be in the middle of nowhere they are still monitoring everything you do from a distance and on the ground. Keep in mind there are hundreds of plain clothes undercover cops who snoop around listening to your conversations, looking for people doing drugs. Even thouh youve gone out of your wy to be in the middle of nowhere they are still monitoring everything you do from a distance and on the ground.

(Report comment)

]]> By: liv http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-772 liv Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:36:00 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-772 So want to go.... So want to go….

(Report comment)

]]> By: Davoid / Playa Surfe http://matadornights.com/the-first-timers-guide-to-participating-at-burning-man/comment-page-1/#comment-771 Davoid / Playa Surfe Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:41:38 +0000 http://matadornights.com/?p=17#comment-771 Well, you've touched on the fabulous surface aspects of BM, but what many don't expect are the deep connections they make, both with others and themselves. The fact that the only thing sold there is ice and Center Camp Cafe drinks- no t-shirts, no food, no $8 bottles of water- shouldn't be underestimated, either. Instead, almost everyone is radically self-reliant, which paves the way for some radical sharing and gifting of anything you need and nothing you expect. My point is that what is there to be experienced underneath all of the _oh_ my_GOD_ artwork and craziness is what really makes this event unlike anything else. In short, there is a community there that you probably won't experience anywhere else, and when you let yourself become a part of it, you have a chance to see a higher form of humanity. If that doesn't get you, well, then, go for the sound and fury of a thousand fire cannons! Well, you've touched on the fabulous surface aspects of BM, but what many don't expect are the deep connections they make, both with others and themselves. The fact that the only thing sold there is ice and Center Camp Cafe drinks- no t-shirts, no food, no $8 bottles of water- shouldn't be underestimated, either. Instead, almost everyone is radically self-reliant, which paves the way for some radical sharing and gifting of anything you need and nothing you expect. My point is that what is there to be experienced underneath all of the _oh_ my_GOD_ artwork and craziness is what really makes this event unlike anything else. In short, there is a community there that you probably won't experience anywhere else, and when you let yourself become a part of it, you have a chance to see a higher form of humanity. If that doesn't get you, well, then, go for the sound and fury of a thousand fire cannons!

(Report comment)

]]>