YOUR THEME CAMP ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT .. and other thoughts.
February/10/2012 Filed in:
commentary | back in the default
world
by clerkkent » posted on ePlaya on Fri Feb 10, 2012 1:12 pm
Many people are posting about how their theme camp only got less than 25% of the 'needed' tickets for their entire camp to go, and now the camp might not go at all (insert dramatic music) with the tone of 'you'll miss us'. I have been 7 times, and I have yet to visit a theme camp where I said to myself “Man, if this theme camp isn't here next year, this entire city is going to hell!!”. There were scores of camps that were awesome and I enjoyed my time with them. I coordinate a small theme camp and we didn't attend in 2009.. that was the year there was a severe population decrease. You don't see me running around claiming that everyone stayed home because my theme camp didn't go.
Our small camp generally has no more than 15 members, and I would estimate we've had no more than 400 quality interactive guests (people who stopped by, conversated, played around) per year (and even that is on the high side). As a participant, I would guesstimate that I've actually interacted with maybe 40 theme camps each year (interacted = walked into their camp, introduced myself, talked with people, had a drink or snack, did whatever interactive activity their camp is known for,etc). I would guesstimate that on yearly average, I've had a quality conversation with around 500 BRC citizens per year. There's 50,000 people out there, and chances are you'll barely meet 1% !!
My point? YOUR THEME CAMP ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT.
It is nice to have, but not a must have. Yes, you put a lot effort into it.. so did the 200 other theme camps, as well as the other 40,000 burners who dragged their arse to the Playa.
One issue with the current 'theme camps should get the remaining tickets' philosophy: If you're going to make theme camps deserving of special treatment, then theme camps are going to be under the microscope to ensure they justify the investment of tickets to those groups. There are some lame 'theme camps' out there.: The 'chill dome' camps. The annual 'I'm going to have a super kinky mega sexually charged sex camp' that talks a big game online, but delivers a few RVs and a few horny old guys on the playa. The “I'm going to have one painting on a post but request 5000 square feet for all the camp supporters” camps. The the 'Fortress of RVs' theme camp. There's been some camps where I walked by wondering “What the heck do they do, and why do they have so much prime real estate?”.. Some are just long in the tooth, and might benefit from a year off or merging with other camps.
If tickets are assigned to theme camps, you're gonna have a lot more griping than the current annual 'why did they get placed but we didn't?' mope-a-thon.
Many people are posting about how their theme camp only got less than 25% of the 'needed' tickets for their entire camp to go, and now the camp might not go at all (insert dramatic music) with the tone of 'you'll miss us'. I have been 7 times, and I have yet to visit a theme camp where I said to myself “Man, if this theme camp isn't here next year, this entire city is going to hell!!”. There were scores of camps that were awesome and I enjoyed my time with them. I coordinate a small theme camp and we didn't attend in 2009.. that was the year there was a severe population decrease. You don't see me running around claiming that everyone stayed home because my theme camp didn't go.
Our small camp generally has no more than 15 members, and I would estimate we've had no more than 400 quality interactive guests (people who stopped by, conversated, played around) per year (and even that is on the high side). As a participant, I would guesstimate that I've actually interacted with maybe 40 theme camps each year (interacted = walked into their camp, introduced myself, talked with people, had a drink or snack, did whatever interactive activity their camp is known for,etc). I would guesstimate that on yearly average, I've had a quality conversation with around 500 BRC citizens per year. There's 50,000 people out there, and chances are you'll barely meet 1% !!
My point? YOUR THEME CAMP ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT.
It is nice to have, but not a must have. Yes, you put a lot effort into it.. so did the 200 other theme camps, as well as the other 40,000 burners who dragged their arse to the Playa.
One issue with the current 'theme camps should get the remaining tickets' philosophy: If you're going to make theme camps deserving of special treatment, then theme camps are going to be under the microscope to ensure they justify the investment of tickets to those groups. There are some lame 'theme camps' out there.: The 'chill dome' camps. The annual 'I'm going to have a super kinky mega sexually charged sex camp' that talks a big game online, but delivers a few RVs and a few horny old guys on the playa. The “I'm going to have one painting on a post but request 5000 square feet for all the camp supporters” camps. The the 'Fortress of RVs' theme camp. There's been some camps where I walked by wondering “What the heck do they do, and why do they have so much prime real estate?”.. Some are just long in the tooth, and might benefit from a year off or merging with other camps.
If tickets are assigned to theme camps, you're gonna have a lot more griping than the current annual 'why did they get placed but we didn't?' mope-a-thon.
On a related topic, BM Virgins: This blamestorming about virgins is ridiculous. Some veteran 'burners' talk about them like they are preemie babies that need to be under constant surveillance and require responsible adults to take care of them. First timers are equally capable of taking care of themselves, contributing to camps, making cool art and tchotchkes – I know, I used to be one. I've had first timers in my camp every year, and all have been courteous, respectful, helpful, friendly, and for the most part, 'got it'. For every unprepared virgin I've encountered, there has been one unprepared veteran burner as well. There really isn't a direct correlation between seniority and the ability to be a 'good burner' . Perhaps we should have a Logan's Run concept for 'Burnier Than Thou' veterans- once you've been to ten burns, you're too jaded and will be hunted down and strapped to the man... that'll free up some space. However, I will predict that after the immaculate weather of 2011, many will be in for a shock when 2012 is bit hotter, drier windier and dustier. Every year has its unique challenges; instead of beating a dead horse, why not bring a living horse to the water? At least -attempt- to be part of the solution, instead of armchair quarterbacking.
My Action items for my 2012 camp (thus far):
>>> Assume that you're not getting more tickets, but keep trying for them.
>>> Network with other burners and theme camps-Start finding similar camps or camps that you at least get along with, and find out what they have in terms of people and equipment.
>>> Start reaching out to 'virgins' and see if they are interested in camping with you.. they might fill in the voids left by camp alumnae, and bring something new to the mix.
>>>Stop the 'the lottery sucks' & 'woe is me and my camp' postings.. It was healthy to vent the week after the tickets were distributed (I know, I did it too), but now its just annoying. BMORG now realizes that the lottery sucked, and they've fallen on their sword (somewhat), so message received.
>>> Ask yourself: “If Burning Man in Black Rock City Nevada stopped happening, what would I do?”
That last question is a biggie, and something I've been chewing on for a couple of years. The fact of the matter is that I (and anyone else) don't 'NEED' to go to Burning Man. All those principles are useful and beneficial anywhere, anytime, with anyone. Every year at exodus, I see scores of people who drop their burning spirit (along with some MOOP) on the roadside once they hit the highway, and it irks me. Others pack it up with their costumes and store it up in the attic, out of sight , out of mind for 48 weeks of the year. Yes, the first week of September on the Playa is an awesome experience, but what makes the experience is the people. The same people can make a plush forest in Spring, an abandoned warehouse in December, or a tumbleweed infested scrubland in May just as awesome. The one year I didn't go I set up a dome in my front yard labor day weekend, neighbor kids came over to play in it, while I fixed bikes for them. Its not a thundering pyro-spectacular music fest, but it is something. And.. I do it again around June every year.. to double check the equipment, but the neighbors get to check it out too. I'd probably set something on fire too, but I'm sure the local fire prevention authority would be displeased.
So, although I'm undertaking the aforementioned action items, I'm essentially in a 'wait and see' mode for the next 2 months to see how ticket (re)distribution shakes out. BMORG is spitballing solutions to the current clusterjam (I'm assuming they are), but hopefully they're also keeping an eye out for the future. On that note, here are some of my suggested BMORG actions for 2013 and beyond:
Decentralize: Black Rock City has reached critical mass.. you may be permitted up to 70,000 people in 5 years, but unless you're planning to repave Highway 447 into a four lane highway, or reactivate train service to Gerlach, the local infrastructure can't handle it. Decentralizing the burn via regionals is a far better way to spread the philosophy. I would take it further, and have 'continentals'. Have the North American Burn in early September, but have the Australian burn in February, the European burn in Early July, etc etc. Essentially, start franchising the Burn (in a non corporate sense, of course).
In addition, start focusing the creative 'star power' (e.g Larry Harvey) on the off-shoots BM-BRC has now taken on a life of its own, and will truck along under its own power, provided there is professional event management to take care of the daily maintenance. I assume that's what the non-profit conversion and Burning Man Project are gearing for, but can't say for sure.
Work on communication: There were many volunteers communicating goings on which was okay, but it seems to be one way trickle down communication, along the lines of information dissemination. I didn't get the vibe that questions, feedback and suggestions were being floated upstream. The Black Rocki Information ministers (recall the Iraqi information Minister) were essentially stating 'This is the way it will be'. It was quite offputting.
Solution: Start anointing Ambassadors. Yes, all BRC citizens are ambassadors for Burning Man, but have a some 'official' Ambassadors that are visiting constituents, taking notes, surveying inperson and online chatter and have direct contact with the BMORG chain of command. It gets disheartening to express ideas to people, who then respond with a sheepish 'I'm just a volunteer'.. start empowering people.
Retire the ticket price tiers:. They served a purpose once, when revenue was required earlier in the year, but now that you blow through 20,000 tickets in a day, that says that either people are willing to pay any price, or that tickets are priced too low. I suspect that a majority of the lottery ticket entries were gunning for the $240 bracket to save some money.
The 'please save the lower priced ticket for lower income people' philosophy was tossed out the door during the lottery, as people who entered for the $390 bracket were eligible for the $320 and $240 brackets.. what was going on with that? In addition, having a ticket at $210 that will be worth $240 in one day and $280 in two days is a quick way to attract scalpers. Flat rate pricing allows all goers to budget to one figure (say $300 per ticket), rather than playing the 'I'll try for a $240 ticket but if I don't get one I'll try to borrow some money to get a $320 ticket, unless that doesn't work then I'll see what I can do for a $390 ticket' game. In addition, weeding out scalpers will be easier.. since all tickets would be $300, any one selling a ticket for $420 would be immediately spotted. This year, if someone is selling a ticket for $420, they -might- have paid $420 for it, or they -might- have paid $240 for it.. making a $180 profit. EGAD! The 'please don't buy tickets from scalpers & profiteers' slogan is nice, but if someone is prepared to pay $420 for a valid ticket, I doubt they're going to reconsider when they're holding the ticket in their hand and they find out that the person bought it at a lower tier. In addition, there are 'gift' tickets floating around that were earned in exchange for some vital labor.. should those tickets not be sold for cash ever?
Reevaluate the relationship with InTicketing: In my mind they are now 0-2 in 2011 and 2012. The ticket server crash in 2011 was never really addressed as far as 'We've upgraded the hardware and we're ready for anything that hits us!”.. instead it seems the process was totally reconfigured to accommodate the existing hardware. If they were a band of hardworking volunteers, I would be more understanding, but they are a for-profit enterprise, raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees from burners... thus they are a supplier of services, and should be evaluated as such.. and be swapped out if needed. BM has upgraded port-o-potty services.. where would we be if were still using the same level of toilet service from twelve years ago?
I'm expecting the usual 'why don't you volunteer then you can make suggestions and then you'll see how hard it is” vitriol. I realize it is hard.. but, drop me a line.. I'm easily accessible, you contact me here via the email interface. I live an hour away from Market street in SF. I'll take BART in on a weekend and pop by BMHQ. I'll do what I have the personal bandwidth to do. Right now, it is: plan a camp, and write some essays. But let me know how I can help.
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