How to explain burning man to friends?

[theCryptofishist]

It would keep me from going...

[JDCookMS]

Haha... but, you're already hooked, so isn't it a moot point?

[gyre]

For a minimal response, I say I go to the desert.

[Saguache]

"Oh! The Places You'll Go at Burning Man!"

While true, it would be a nod to chaos theory if anyone could accurately calculate where I'm stumbling after being smacked by fish. Probably requires a slide rule, particle accelerator, a thousand monkeys with type writers (keep the ribbons please), and a bit of silly putty to make a proper go at it.

[ZaphodBurner]

I know, I know, not everyone's Burning Man experience is the same and everyone takes something different from it. But, how do you explain what Burning Man is to your friends?

Don't bother. They're not going to get it.

Worse, they might not get it, and then decide to come. It turns out that of all of my Burner friends I "introduced" to BRC their first year, the ones that return are also the ones who already wanted to go, had read the site, seen pictures, heard about it and just never had somebody say "Hey... you wanna go to Burning Man with us?"

[ZaphodBurner]

Beyond Black Rock is available to watch instantly on Netflix, so I watched it last week. Not exactly the best doc I've ever seen, but what I found the most... interesting about it was the artist from NYC. His experience seemed the most fully formed and real. Shows up on playa with his sculpture damaged and cracked. Hot and pissed that he can't get placed yet. You can see that moment of "what the fuck am I doing" as he hacks at the playa trying to dig a post hole. Utter bewilderment as a random person shows up and asks to help and then the payoff... the wonderful appreciation of fellow burners comes from someone who looks at it and remarks how something that would be so big and cool in default looks insignificant out there.

Yes. Thanks for putting that segment into context. Beautiful.

You think the guy's just being a whiny bitch, and then you try to drag your own shit out to the playa and try to make it work. Mine, for example, caught on fire, freely and of its own will after I spent an entire summer building it and a day on the playa trying to make it work. In the end, all that hard work you did seems to disappear in the cityscape.

So you say, "Next year, I'm going to make everything bigger."

[mdmf007]

Video, lots of video is the only way.. I get too excited about the burn to explain.

[Colonel Monk]

Better yet, default to fight club rulez...

The first rule of Burning Man is you don't talk about Burning Man.

Seriously, can't you see the problems that all these videos and exposure are creating? While we're all facing the first year ever there's a SEVERE shortage of tickets? And all because people want to act out Dr Seuss books while tripping on acid?

I've only brought one friend to the event in several years. And I tested his ass big time first - he did all the machining work on my mutant vehicle, and so I knew he was worthy.

I have enough friends in BRC.

Stop ruining it! Shhhhhhh!

[Ugly Dougly]

Lately I have been starting with "it's not like what you've heard."
Then I start making stuff up.

[FIGJAM]

"Ask 50 Burners what it is and they will all be right..............and wrong!"

[BBadger]

If you don't want them to attend, just describe it as you would the Rainbow Gathering and tell them the only reason you go is so that you can sit on your porch and make fun of them.

My friend refrained from showing or telling me much about what went on at BM, and it was great, because everything was new and exciting. Now convincing friends to go just on that... well, that'll be your discretion.

[Colonel Monk]

My friend refrained from showing or telling me much about what went on at BM, and it was great, because everything was new and exciting. Now convincing friends to go just on that... well, that'll be your discretion.

My introduction to BM several years ago was from a friend and brother of mine who is high up in the ranger org. He was extremely tight-lipped about it. He never even tried to sell me on it, in fact, did exactly the opposite but the more I hung out with him and his wife the more I knew I had found the kind of people I want to be with.

But seriously, the old school faithful don't go around talking about how great Burning Man is or preach it to their friends. Exactly the opposite. It's like what a friend of mine from Seattle used to practice - "Seattle sucks, it rains all the time, trust me it sucks you DON'T want to move there"

If you value your BM experience, keep a tight lip about it and if people are interested they will make it there one day. Now that everyone knows about it, we can't even be guaranteed a ticket - if you think it's worth your not being able to go so that an acquaintence can come their first year, go for it - but as of this year I'm not recruiting anybody at all.

As for my one friend I brought - to be honest, if I hadn't already pulled off all the logistics and all he probably would not have done it. He's hooked now of course, but after two years of fostering his career I have cut him loose "you're on your own man".

Probably, I should not have ushered him up there even the first year - I think to sink or swim as a newb is the way to figure it out.

[graidawg]

i have 3 responses when people ask me about BM

if you want to go GO, just not this year its sold out.

its everything you can possibly imagine, and a bit you cant all at once for seven days then i spent 4 months recuperating, just in time to start palnning to go again.

or i write poetry

This one time,

I saw an octopus were there was no sea,and a man that needs a pee

met a woman on her knees, and a trawler built for wheels

saw a lightshow on the ground, and heard a temples infected sound

spent a week in the burning sun, oh my gosh it was such fun

this one time,

I past a tent full of doors, and one with ponys on the walls

got advice on getting laid, from a lovely sexy babe

shared a beer with added lime, and chatted to pass the time

at a city that leaves no trace, such a friendly exciting place

this one time

I rode a shark lit in blue, and found some wine in a loo

shaved my head in the dark, in a kinky venture park

fished for hippies from a pier, here’s a clue the bait was beer

there is no place i would rather go, to the camp and wine bistro

this one time

I met a fox and all the rest, with a bunny in a dress

rode a cart with the moon, then shared a gas balloon

saw the time a mile away, and with a goddess had a play

all of this and far far more, in a place that is no more

this one time

I saw a swing with added bling, and this most amazing thing

saw a lion waking past,and some zebra running fast

a wooden horse full of fire, and a dreams funeral pyre

I never felt I was alone, in a place I now call home

this one time


or

can you Describe burning Man to me

describe the sky to one that cant see.

oh, well its blue

they can’t see blue, or grey or even the clouds, its just like that to you.

what is it happens at Black Rock City?

I didn’t see it all, more is the pity

what did you do?

things that where different from things you would do

what did you see?

i saw things different, for you are not me

who did you meet?

some people that where there in the street

what is it like?

you’ll never forget, like riding a bike

what should i wear?

whatever you like, or possibly go bare

what would i do?

I do not know, for i am not you

did you have fun?

not nearly enough, but them i’m not done

oh can you tell me more?

I ran and played, sometimes I strayed.

I went for a walk and then had a talk

where i ordered a hug, then saw a car like a bug

found things then lost them then found them again, set fire to myself (and that was a pain)

saw some great art and some not so fine, but mostly i had a whale of a time

Is that all that you done?

i just cant remember all that went on

where did you roam?

I went to a place that is called Home

is it for me?

i dont know why dont we see?





to my l’il Dawgies

[Ugly Dougly]

It's too much fun, you wouldn't like it.

[knowmad]

Mostly I just smile and looked like some sort of blissed out vegetable. then say yeah it's pretty cool. It's too much like explaining what water is to a fish. or a desert to a walrus. then there's the person who asks "you’ve been to burning man haven't you?" I say, yes and my soul now has new scars and is larger in places it never was before. often the look a little scared and I realize they want to ask how to get there, but the know already that they would first want to leave defaultia with no guarantee they’ll ever make it back or if they do they will be able to go back to the ho-hum life they once knew.

[Sage Venkman]

Explaining Burning Man with words is like dancing about architecture.

[knowmad]

Explaining Burning Man with words is like dancing about architecture.

Fuckin AWESOME!

[Drawingablank]

Explaining Burning Man with words is like dancing about architecture.

Nice, I have found a new Sig.

[RedHeaven]

Oddly, I have not had to explain burning man to friends in a few years. Many of them are not burners, but they know, and they have heard, and many many times over, enough to where they want to punch the next douche who mutters the words B Man to them.
The ones that I don't even know who are on other music forums, I have resorted to the oh so jaded and snarky sounding "It Sucks, Don't Go"