Burning Man

[xcdmargo]

Hi Everyone
I'm a rookie on this site but am really loving it so far.
I'm wondering if any of you girls have ever gone to the Burning Man Festival and what you thought of it

Thanks

margo

[Karren H]

Personally I'm not in favor of catching on fire!! Lol. Ruin my pretty clothes!! isn't there a women's festival... Without al the heat and flames? Welcome to the forum!

[celeste26]

Apparently no one here has heard of "Burning Man," I have at least heard of it but have not gone. Its just no the type of place I normally go to.

[Cynthia Anne]

Never heard of it! July is 'bout here and thats 'burning enough for me! WELCOME TO YOU!

[GingerLeigh]

Something about men being on fire does not appeal to me. Does it involve a bundle of sticks, a crucifix, and a poor witch tied to a stake? If not then no, I've never heard of it. Elaborate.

Ginger

[Starr]

While the Burning Man takes place in the NV desert even this southern girl is aware of the Burning Man Festival. It has been covered on several Cable TV Channels with documentaries and from what i have read and saw on those programs it looks like a very wild time. One day i would love to experenice the festival if nothing more then just a day and night. A large wooden man is built in the desert and on the last night of the festival he is set a fire to end the Frestival. It takes place miles from anywhere so if you are looking for a nightly room with AC you can forget that, unless you brought it with you.. If you are an adventurous sort, check it out on the web.

[AllieSF]

You need to officially sign up for it and prove that you have a place to stay there. It is held in the high desert north (I think) from Reno, Nevada. The location goes from a population of zero to maybe over 30,000 people and is laid out like a city. There is an entry fee that is not cheap. I have met people that have come from other countries in Europe just to attend. Google it and see what are the requirements. It is normally hot during the day and cool to cold at night, always dusty, you need to take in what ever you want to eat and drink and the costumes are outrageous with a lot of casual crossdressing for the event. I see all kinds of "Burning Man" costumes and clothes for sale on Craigslist all the time. Some of it looks like the old styles from the hippie movement back in the 70's mostly thrift store treasures. You really need to prepare to stay there for the week to 2 weeks that the event is held. The main event has always been the burning of the big wooden structure, normally a man on the last night. It is also getting commercial, which led a few years ago to the burning of the statute several days before it was planned in protest to the commercialism. I have never been there but would like to try it once.

[Maria Blackwood]

I know people who used to go. They say it's becoming to mainstream.

Mind you these people I know are non mainstream as in "around the orbit of Pluto", but still.

[Marcia Blue]

I have friend who have attended Burning Man. Sounds like quite the party. The artsy, hippie, counter culture, are the majority of attendees. The site is also an excellent rocket launching site. I also have friends who fly high power rocks in the same area.

Burning Man is held in the Black Rock Desert, a dry lake bed, or playa. The lake bed is often not completely dry, those who wander off the beaten path my get stuck. The nearest tow truck usually comes out of Reno. You also must watch out for sand serpents. Sand serpents, are like a wash board section of road, only they can be over 18 inches high. Driving around the playa at night is not recommended. The Bureau of Land Management watches over this area. You can visit, but what ever you bring in you are required to take out. This includes water, no water is on site, it must be brought in. Wind often creates dust and sand storms that can be blinding. The temps during the day can be very warm, and become very cool/cold at night. Rain is pretty much a non worry.

The closest town is Gerlach, NV. Bruno's Country Club is the only local place for lodging. The name is deceiving Bruno's is not really a country club, but closer to a no-tell hotel. Bruno's is usually sold out for this event a year or more in advance.

[Tina B.]

Always wanted to go, but never made it, maybe someday.
Tina

[Sedona]

If that's your scene, you should go for it! Going dressed won't be a problem, except for needing to lug along all kinds of things to keep yourself looking fabulous. A good friend of mine has been many times (I've never been). She said that while it's gotten more "mainstream," people ten years from now will reflect on how 2011 is when it "used to NOT be mainstream." You know how that works.

Take a look through some of the published photography from the Playa, trust me, your basic crossdresser will not be on most people's "weird" radar.

[xcdmargo]

Thanks ladies
The festival sounds like one of those cool things I'd like to do once in my life. And of course I'd want to go dressed :)
I've seen and read much about it in the last couple of years so I'm somewaht familiar with it. I'm trying to find out if there is cross dressing or trans group that has a camping area I could camp with.
I'm thinking it would be fun for a day or two

Thanks

margo

[Fab Karen]

If you google it you can find tons of pictures & videos of it. A friend went to it the other year, another aspect to it is sometimes there are dust storms, and everything & everyone gets a coating of dust ( inside a trailer being the best place to be during one ). btw they use a ton of gas to create the "burning man."

[RADER]

Do they call the Fire Department???????
Rader

[L'eggs n' heels]

I think what we're into is pretty tame by Burning Man standards, I think Burning Man is about being extreme just to be extreme. Never went there but I have friends in Frisco who ran a paper there for while, and for the first time in ten years, they're not going, too big, too commercial, not fun anymore, too many frat boys, etc.

It would also be hard to keep looking good with all that playa dust, it's a type of sand that's as fine as talcum powder and it gets in everything. Not to mention the desert heat make you sweat off your make-up every half hour.

[Intertwined]

This is a Flickr link to one of my favorite sculptures I have seen at Burning Man
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elainevdw/1324586983/

[docrobbysherry]

Most anyone who's live in Cal. for any period of time is acquainted with Burning Man. It started out MANY years ago as a word of mouth, no rules, drug culture party!

Over the years, it has morphed into the huge commercial party with rules, it is today! I know a number of people that attended the early years and a few, recently.

While I've ALWAYS LOVED a good party, (50's Bal Week in Newport, 60's Cinco in Ensenada, Octoberfest), I just can't handle day time temps of well over 100 degrees! I pass!

[Amanda Styles]

I edited video footage from Burning Man Fest from 1999 and 2000 for a documentary shot by someone who has been there several times.

After 1999 the arrests there skyrocketed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Man#1997_to_present

imho it has gone downhill since 1999

[AmyGaleRT]

I've never been, but I have friends who are repeat Burners. One was even interviewed by CNN one year.

You'd think it'd be awesome for girls like us, as seeing a crossdresser at Burning Man would probably be about the least weird thing you'd see all day. But, from the accounts I've seen, the climate conditions there are, shall we say, less than ideal for those of us who need heavy-duty foundation garments. I'd worry about getting heat stroke just from my own clothes! Also, I'm pretty sure that heels and the playa floor aren't a very stable combination.

That said, it is probably the single most offbeat event you'll ever visit...way more so than a World Science Fiction Convention, for instance. If you have the means, and are aware of the hazards, it probably should be experienced at least once.

[Loni]

with all the rain and snow this year it may not happen as a lot of the dry lakes in northern NV are not dry right now. some have a couple feet of water in them.
but the black rock lake bed is very very big so it could be dry...on top. but just a inch or three under it could just be quicksand.
at one time it was a very off beat thing, only for the strange and way out there. but now it is turning into a yuppie thing.

.

[Shelly67]

Never been , but I'd love to . Theres so many other festivals of the hedonistic variety I'd love to attend as well . Over here Glastonbury holds the attention of every persons ideal . But , it's gaining a reputation of being over commercialised beyond reason . Oh well ....... praps one day I'll hit one of the Ozora festivals one day .. :

http://youtu.be/j6jou-TvjAU

[TGMarla]

Here in New Mexico, we have an annual event known as "The Burning of Zozobra", which is the name given to Old Man Gloom. The burning is supposed to exorcise the people of all the bad things in their lives. It's quite popular. So much so that this year they are for the first time limiting tickets to the event to only 25,000 people. I've never gone, and if I did, I doubt I'd do it en femmme.

[Stephenie S]

Going "dressed"?

If you can maintain yourself without the need for running water, electricity, and air conditioning for several days, then go. Just remember it takes place out in the desert, miles from what most of us consider the essential elements of civilization.

Many people now take campers and RVs to Burning Man. If you have one, you might enjoy it.

Stephie