First-timer going to Burning Man needs advice

July 10, 2008 10:17 AM

First-timer thinking of going to Burning Man this year, alone - good idea? Advice?

35yo guy, would be driving down from Portland. I've wanted to do it for a while. But I'm wondering about going solo. Would going for the whole thing the first time be overwhelming and/or lonely? Is it worth it?

Also, any advice for first-timers is more than welcome - what to bring, what to expect, how to prepare, etc. I've looked over the BM website already and spoken to a few people. But I'm not really in that scene so much in day-to-day life.

posted by gottabefunky to society & culture (16 comments total)

Everyone I know that has gone, has said it sounded like the coolest thing in the world up front, but ended up being the most miserable couple day of their lives. Way too hot, not enough of anything, total freak show (gee..there's a guy laying there pased out in a lawn chair, naked, with a needle hanging out of his arm). Then I guess you have to get to the point of it all at the end....we stand around and bang on drums and burn the man? Then it's just a couple of tons of garbage in the middle of the desert that someone else has to pick up.
posted by timsteil at 10:42 AM on July 10 [4 favorites]

I've done it twice, I think I've had my fair share of fun and now I'm done, it's a big undertaking to get down there and I'd rather spend my vacation on something new. I've had some amazing experiences though and would never call it miserable (though it can certainly be exhausting). You should definitely go.

I think you will find that people are surprisingly cliquey. If you're a really social guy who can make friends easily and won't be shy about hanging around with other people at their camps, then for sure go ahead and go on your own. But I would recommend you try to find a larger camp to tag along with. Having a large group means you can pool your resources and have things like shade structures, community kitchens, art cars, showers... not to mention it gives you a group of friends to hang around with which will make the experience a lot less overwhelming and a lot more fun. There must be tons of camps from Portland, go poke around the web and find your local Burners. But you should do this as soon as possible since a lot of the bigger camps have been preparing for months and months and they might be unwilling to let someone jump in at the last minute.

As for the attitude -- I also am not in that scene and was worried I would feel like an outsider. The first time I went there I tried hard to fit in. The second time I concentrated on having fun. Not surprisingly, I had way more fun the second time! Plus people responded better. I was more genuine I guess. A lot of people think being a Burner means you have to wear kooky clothing and a dust mask and you have to make little pendant necklaces to give away and you have to spin fire or play a djembe or be an artist of some sort. Fuck that. Just go and have fun, be yourself except let yourself out a lot more than you usually do. There's nothing more to it than that. If you're trying hard to be a Burner you are doing it wrong.

One final piece of advice is go early, get there as early as you can. Like, the very first morning. The best few days are early in the week while the city is still filling up and the weekend warriors have yet to arrive. People are fresh, the city is buzzing but not crowded, you meet your neighbors as they're setting up and everyone's excited to be there. Also if you get there early you can grab a spot close to the middle where all the excitement is. By about Thursday there will be twice as many people and all the newcomers will have missed seeing the community forming around them, and the only open sites will be way out on the outer rings.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:08 AM on July 10 [2 favorites]

I've gone sort of alone two times. Both times I was loosely affiliated with a group but did my own things. This was in 00 and 01, so I'm certain things have changed dramatically in that time. I enjoyed myself both times, not in an "omg my life has changed forever!" way but I had fun, did something new and had neat new social experiences with people.

For the record, I'm not much of a drug-taker or free-lover so I mostly enjoyed playing dress-up, riding my bike in the desert, going to events that my friends were putting on, and doing a little "job" for the Burning Man crew. I volunteered at the Info Desk which, if you know anything about me, you'll know is a natural fit. It was fun, added a little structure to my days and had me both meeting people and being useful to others.

I also knew a lot of people who were there so I could walk around and be pretty assured I'd run into people I knew at some point during the day. I think you need to ask yourself what you're hoping to get out of the experience -- do you want to get laid, listen to new music, live in the desert, get your head straight, see a lot of topless girls, do wild incendiary art? -- and think about how you'd go about that. I felt lonely at times, but it was really balanced by being really intrested in all the new things to look at. I also found that I was expecting people to be super cliquey and hipsterish and that wasn't true at all. There are camps of ham radio enthusiasts and elderly nudists as well as the beautiful people types from the Bay Area. If you're someone who is pretty self-reliant and don't worry about making sure you can brush your teeth every night and think it sounds like fun, you should go.

I'd agree with PercussivePaul, just having a group to loosely affiliate with means you can share some supplies and responsibilities and it's not too late to find people in your area who are going, but it's just a suggestion not an "do this or DIE" sort of thing. I also agree, go early. The last few days are zooey and full of people planning on going to a 24 hour rave, not really people plugged in to the rest of the whole experience. Have fun in any case, feel free to MeMail me if you want more suggestions.
posted by jessamyn at 11:24 AM on July 10 [1 favorite]

Play Shade (midway down the page -Java version to play it in your browser) for your worst case scenario (walkthrough). But only if you like interactive fiction.
posted by nanojath at 11:25 AM on July 10

Been there, done it, don't need to see it twice. Gladly I went early when there were few rules.

Sounds like a bloated load of pomposity and expense.

Fly to Paris instead.
posted by Ponderance at 11:28 AM on July 10

Wear a condom. I know of several Burning Babies.
posted by lemuria at 11:36 AM on July 10

Tips
posted by hortense at 12:26 PM on July 10

Well, you say you've been to the BM site, but I will reiterate - because it really tells you just about everything about being a first-timer - read the First Timer's Guide. It tells you exactly what to bring, what to expect, how to prepare, etc. That guide was written by real people, after all, who have all been first-timers at one point or another. It's not written for insiders.

I strongly, strongly, strongly encourage you to get in touch with your local Portland Burners for first-hand advice and socializing. You have plenty of time to get to know people before heading out there. They're also on Tribe as Portland Burners. And there's always the ePlaya, where they also have a first-timers' message board, I believe.

Yes, it can be intimidating to be out there on your own. You have to be particularly proactive in your desire to socialize. Walk up to people, start conversations, volunteer, hang out in Center Camp, help your neighbors with their projects (bring a set of work gloves!). Try finding some fellow Oregonians to camp with. Joining an established camp is a great way to get your feet wet - and have some built-in tour guides to show you around.

Fundamentally, Burning Man is a mirror: it's exactly what you make of it. if you go out there expecting the worst, that's what you'll get. There is plenty of negative energy to balance the good. BM is like Thanksgiving for me: a time to reconnect with my extended family and friends and celebrate our relationships in a massive, art- and joy-fueled environment. Yes, it's easy to be cynical about it, but why waste your energy?
posted by mykescipark at 12:37 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]

I have not gone myself, but two people I know went (separately, in different years) by themselves. One of them is one of those absurdly social people, who makes new friends every time he takes the bus and knows everyone's name and so on. He had a blast, came home sunburned and feeling completely satisfied with the conversations and so on he had had.

The other person was kind of the opposite, very reserved, not so outgoing, and had an, at best, ok time. She felt very much that the people were very cliquish, not interested in talking to her because she wasn't already in a group, except for all the guys who were trolling for poon and were happy to offer her drinks. She felt very shut out and excluded, like all the neat stuff was happening and she wasn't quite invited.

She described to me the experience of walking past all these camps that were like wagon trains circled for the night -- all closed off and inward-looking. But then the other guy had told me about how great it was to wander from camp to camp meeting people and hanging out and chatting -- and those were the same physical and social arrangements of people.

So anecdotally at least it is completely possible to arrive knowing almost no one and have a complete blast -- either because you are social and love meeting people or because you are comfortable being the fly on the wall and just hanging out while stuff is going on. But if you aren't good at meeting people, but want that social experience, people may or may not draw you in to their preexisting circles.
posted by Forktine at 1:02 PM on July 10

I recommend volunteering as well. You don't have to do it all week, just sign up for a couple of shifts. You'll meet people, and have a sense of purpose that can really mitigate feeling aimless and sick of it all. The times I went that were crummy were the times that I was not involved in a big project and/or working in the cafe (back when the cafe was run by three people, and in my 3am to 7am shift the only people that came for coffee were the cops, firemen and rangers; and the stone cold crazy freaks). I think the one thing I'd really be concerned about with going by myself is making sure all my stuff was secure from windstorm and theft, since you won't necessarily have anyone to watch it. Keep valuables in your trunk, lock your bike, batten down the hatches when you wander off. Also: bring things to share, like cookies, or celery sticks, or whatever. Do NOT bring a watermelon, unless you're happy to eat it all yourself. I've seen more abandoned watermelon on Monday morning than just about anything else.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:04 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]

The other person was kind of the opposite, very reserved, not so outgoing, and had an, at best, ok time. She felt very much that the people were very cliquish, not interested in talking to her because she wasn't already in a group, except for all the guys who were trolling for poon and were happy to offer her drinks. She felt very shut out and excluded, like all the neat stuff was happening and she wasn't quite invited.

Yes, this definitely happens. I think moreso now than in the past, because so many people go with and meet people they've been going with. You might find the people in walk-in camping more generally welcoming- if I were going alone, that's where I'd camp. Plus you won't find yourself next to an RV generator, or have someone drive onto your bike in the middle of the night because they absolutely must park their car next to their friends' tiki bar.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:09 PM on July 10

If you're comfortable camping in "unusual" conditions (I did wilderness survival in the Boy Scouts) and you're with people of a similar bent, then camping at Burning Man is easy peasy. If you're not comfortable then you're increasing the chances that you'll be a liability to others. If others in your group are not, then there's a greater chance that you'll be taking care of them and compensating for their ignorance.

I went twice (96 and 97, IIRC) and had a great time both times.
posted by plinth at 1:16 PM on July 10

N-thing going early and volunteering some way. It can get so crowded and "touristy" (people who are there just to check it out and party but not really to get involved) on the weekend. Volunteering will help to meet people if that's what you want, but also feel like you contributed, which can be challenging for a first timer. Otherwise, especially being alone, you might feel like a spectator and wonder the whole time how the hell you can participate. Also, have an idea of what you intend to get out of the experience, while leaving expectations at home.

One of my favorite food/bev tips is to freeze plastic bottles of water, juice, whatever and put these in your cooler. That way, it doesn't leave a soggy mess in your cooler and your drinks might stay cold a couple of days. Oh, and ziplocs are great to keep things (clothes, food) somewhat free from dust. But, really, you have to embrace the dust!

As for "is it worth it?"...depends what you want out of it. I went 6yrs, haven't gone since 2005, and each one of those years was worth it. Stopped going when it didn't feel worth it anymore (for various reasons)...and yes, it is A LOT of prep, effort, time, money, resources, etc. What made it worth it for me is being a part of a dynamic community, being with friends, meeting new people, the art and creativity.
posted by hazel at 1:42 PM on July 10

I should also note that they aren't doing ticket sales at the gate this year, which will hopefully discourage a certain percentage of weekend warrior, at least.
posted by mykescipark at 2:36 PM on July 10

I went last year for the first time loosely affiliated with a group. Most of the people in my camp I didn't know well before I went, but I was involved with a fire art project on playa. I spent a lot of time hanging out by myself, which I was fine with, but having a camp that felt like home and people who I knew somewhat definitely made me feel more grounded than I would have been camping on my own.

Working on the art project was also a big plus for me; I felt like I was contributing to the event which was very satisfying. It also gave me something to do and was a way to meet a lot of people. I also recommend going early - it's fun to see how things go and it feels more manageable and less crazy than later in the week.

Overall my experience last year was fantastic and I would highly recommend it. I too felt like I was not really in that scene, and I was pleasantly surprised how diverse the community there is. I'm going again this year, and am working on two big art projects, so I guess I'm in the class of people who found it (at least a little) "life-changing".

If I were in your position I'd try and volunteer with a group or a camp, but if you're very outgoing probably camping by yourself will be fine.

You should definitely go - best case, you have a fantastic time; worst case you pack up and leave early.
posted by pombe at 3:20 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]

Everyone I know that has gone, has said it sounded like the coolest thing in the world up front, but ended up being the most miserable couple day of their lives. Way too hot, not enough of anything, total freak show (gee..there's a guy laying there pased out in a lawn chair, naked, with a needle hanging out of his arm). Then I guess you have to get to the point of it all at the end....we stand around and bang on drums and burn the man? Then it's just a couple of tons of garbage in the middle of the desert that someone else has to pick up.

Yes! This is exactly what BM is like. Which is why ALL OF YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY!
posted by telstar at 10:36 PM on August 15