VIP parties at the burn

[darthppringles]

Hey

Im sure there is already a thread about this somewhere on the board, but couldnt find it, so im starting a new one.

Anyways, I just read this article at burners.me about dancetronauts and their new project for 2013.
http://burners.me/2012/12/12/digital-ap ... /#comments

Their idea sounds awsome but one part got me confused.

[quote]"WHATSBLEM THE PRO:

Tell me about your camp.

DJ BIGSEXXY:

Our camp will probably be around 130 people, if not more. We’re only asking for $*** right now for the full two weeks, with food and drinks included, showers, bathrooms, [b]and entry to our Saturday sunset VIP thank-you party[/b], where we thank all the people that helped and allow everyone to meet our team. That’s also part of our Indiegogo reward for a donation of $*** or more.

I want the people to meet the artists that they helped fund."[/quote]

VIP parties? I have only been to the burn twice, so im no expert on this, but one of the greatest thing about burning man is radical inclusion. Doesnt vip party go against that specific principle?

What is the orgs take on this? is this allowed?


Moderator note: Removed the dollar amounts from this post, but all else is intact. ~~Sham....

[HandJamMasterC]

Aren't they talking about a private party for their fellow camp members? Whats wrong with that?

[trilobyte]

I read it as if they were planning on offering some kind of closed VIP party just for higher level donors.

Speaking for myself, if it's held in a non-public portion of their camp space, then I don't see that as so terrible. But if it's something where they shut down an otherwise public space or limit the access to only those who've paid for the special privilege, in my opinion that kind of crosses the line. I think they were doing that at The French Quarter too, the tiki bar in the shipping container was selling VIP access to their bar - deplorable, shame on that whole village for letting the group behind the tiki bar do that. Of course shame on them for yet another year of scoring red on the MOOP map, and I think they were also trying to recruit art cars to help them with a VIP party cruise (as rewards for donors) at one point.

Just because others do it doesn't make it right, of course. It's difficult to know what kind of impact that would have on placement, though I know that after last year people are more sensitive to cringeworthy fundraisers.

My advice - if a camp is engaging in something you don't care for (fundraising or otherwise), stay away from them. Whether it's a big sound camp or a bar, Black Rock City has so many other awesome things in every possible category, you can easily spend your entire week participating in things you enjoy with people/camps who don't bother you.

[theCryptofishist]

I'd make more fun of Bigsexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(yawn)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxy if I could, but not worth the effort. Thick skin doesn't begin to cover it. Thick doesn't begin to cover it.

[Ugly Dougly]

Mmmm.... as soon as you start being exclusive... you know...
Which of the other principles can we violate in order to raise funds, huh?

[theCryptofishist]

Well, I tried selling your nude photos, Dougly, but it ended up being a ransom of the Red Chief thing...

Anybody got $20 so I can get my mother a christmas present?

[MrBeardy]

This has been a growing thing it seems lately, and frankly it doesn't really make a difference to me. If someone wants to go out to burning man and have a party that I'm not invited to, honestly, I'm not really interested in getting to know them much. The reason I go out to the playa every year is to meet those people that are 100% open to anyone and everything that is put before them, not some hermit group that wants to do their own thing. That is what the rest of the year if for I think....But of course that's just my opinion, and that shouldn't matter to anyone other than me...

[knowmad]

Well, I tried selling your nude photos, Dougly, but it ended up being a ransom of the Red Chief thing...

Anybody got $20 so I can get my mother a christmas present?

I won't Stand for such out rage!
see what I did there?

[junglesmacks]

Yeah. Those damn exclusive VIP parties.


Speaking of which, I know a killer one on Thursday evenings (now Wednesdays) @ BDC..

[trilobyte]

True, though the BDC-hosted MnG event is still open to all who participate in the free-to-join message, as opposed to donors coughing up $250 a head (or whatever they end up charging).

[theCryptofishist]

Well, I tried selling your nude photos, Dougly, but it ended up being a ransom of the Red Chief thing...

Anybody got $20 so I can get my mother a christmas present?

I won't Stand for such out rage!
see what I did there?

whoops
(slinks out of thread)

[Dr. Pyro]

True, though the BDC-hosted MnG event is still open to all who participate in the free-to-join message, as opposed to donors coughing up $250 a head (or whatever they end up charging).

Because I'm so damn big-hearted, if somebody---anybody---would like to throw $250 my way, I'll be sure to be your friend at the Meet & Greet. I'll be the best friend money can buy, I swear.

[theCryptofishist]

My friendship starts at 500, but it's worth every penny.

[moonrise]

Erg, sounds messy.

I had a great time giving one of the Volcano~ fire cocktail shows in Illy's dome. Thanks for the help JS, Illy, MDF and everyone else who showed up to help and participate (and that particular show was a toned down version!! lol!) Pics coming soon...

Originally I offered this to 4 different camps, including The French Quarter. Illy was smart enough to trust me and it paid off. Now, I'm in demand at all of the BIG camps...we'll see. I might need a taller dome/pavillion etc if (when!) I add a topless stilter in the meantime we have Illy Dilly's Gnome Dome and the show is open to all. In all fairness the show invites at Illy's Gnome Dome were mostly word of mouth, online and in person.

And, I want to mention the second show planned was to be at The (hard working & beautiful) Swish Embassy, but a wind storm blew that plan up
Thank you Swish Embassy family and crew, you are one of the BEST and should be rewarded with damned good placement IMHO.

I would've done The Volcano~ show at BDC&WB but our open and inviting living room camp frontage isn't designed quite right. So for now, the show will roam from dome to dome and perhaps that HUGE pavillion camp smart enough to invite me, haha.

VIP private parties, awkward....slowly walks out backwards in a confused, embarrassed manner

[junglesmacks]

True, though the BDC-hosted MnG event is still open to all who participate in the free-to-join message, as opposed to donors coughing up $250 a head (or whatever they end up charging).

Good point.

Although, it does remain a private party regardless of the membership criteria. Not saying that this is wrong or that I disagree with it, just providing a reminder of perspective..

[Ugly Dougly]

Is a party private just because you hadn't heard of it, or if nobody has expressly invited you, or because there's a velvet rope and a goon at the door?

[maladroit]

If private parties at Burning Man are the ones I haven't been invited to, haven't paid camp dues, or I'm not physically nearby....that accounts for maybe 99.99% of them.

[HandJamMasterC]

Is a party private just because you hadn't heard of it, or if nobody has expressly invited you, or because there's a velvet rope and a goon at the door?

Hell, we have a velvet rope and a cute " goon " for the public events..........

[Dr. Dust]

darthppringles, Thank you for re-opening this discussion!

In my opinion, it violates the principle of radical inclusion,

however, to play devil's advocate...

If the funds raised contribute to the "public" part of a theme camp experience (i.e. expensive art installation, sound system, pyrotechnics, etc.), then in some sense, attracting generous donors with a VIP experience is simply radical inclusion taken to the next level. Why not mobilize all community resources to reach such a goal?

Again, I think it's bullshit and I do not approve. I think this theme camp should simply set up a kickstarter and apply for a BMORG art grant since they claim to have so much to offer. That being said, I don't have a theme camp, and I'm relatively new to Burning Man myself so I don't know. At the end of the day, I don't really care either. The last place I'd want to be at Burning Man is the VIP party I had to buy my way into, and I'm sure you probably feel the same.

The problem is that it sets a dangerous precedent.

Can anyone else think of a plausible legitimate explanation for why this might be okay after all?

[knowmad]

I try to keep my parties private.
But my privates like to party!

[Nipple]

Is a party private just because you hadn't heard of it, or if nobody has expressly invited you, or because there's a velvet rope and a goon at the door?

I seem to recall my entry to the M&G was met with a frisking that would have made a TSA agent flinch.

At least, I think that lady was from the M&G.

[ygmir]

Is a party private just because you hadn't heard of it, or if nobody has expressly invited you, or because there's a velvet rope and a goon at the door?

I seem to recall my entry to the M&G was met with a frisking that would have made a TSA agent flinch.

At least, I think that lady was from the M&G.

did her gloves and speculum have the BDC monogram?

[theCryptofishist]

Is a party private just because you hadn't heard of it, or if nobody has expressly invited you, or because there's a velvet rope and a goon at the door?

I seem to recall my entry to the M&G was met with a frisking that would have made a TSA agent flinch.

At least, I think that lady was from the M&G.

did her gloves and speculum have the BDC monogram?

Was the patdown pleasurable or intrusive?

[Nipple]

Yg: A gentleman never tells!

Fishus: Yes and yes!

[trilobyte]

Dr. Dust, Burning Man does not police every party at every camp to ensure that it meets some invisible minimum requirement. One of the things that makes Burning Man so unique and special (in my personal opinion) is that while there are guidelines and expectations, there are very few in the way of actual rules and regulations. And when given such freedoms, the vast majority choose to do the right thing. Not bcause they have to, but because they want to.

It still remains to be seen what this camp will actually do, if anything. We haven't seen particulars of any fundraising efforts, so far it's just babble on a blog. If they do end up running something that crosses some sort of line in the fundraising or ten principles department, it would likely negatively affect their camp's placement (the placement team could either not give them the location they're looking for or even deny placement altogether), assuming that once registration opens up in February they go that route (which would be necessary if they hope to get to the playa and start setting up before the start of the event). You can be sure, though, that they'll be on the placement team's radar.

[theCryptofishist]

I hadn't read this before. (the link, I mean.)
Um, the Colosseum as a sanctuary? I thought it was an ultra-violent place where people and animals were ruthlessly slaughtered.

Must have been some different Flavians.

[Ugly Dougly]

True, but they wouldn't show up to be slaughtered if you called it the slaughterhouse.

[theCryptofishist]

Yeah, but any of us on this board would dance at a place called the slaughterhouse.

[Nipple]

A duty-dance.

[Playa Hater]

Sounds like they are just throwing a thank you party for the people who donated to the art. I agree with trilobyte on this. I don't see it as a problem as long as they aren't taking over an otherwise public space.