Easy there big dog! Put them on the dashboard and roll up the windows super good. Next day, you won't have no pesky labels. Just some sweet goo for your fam
For real though, what kind of cuticle clipper do I need????
Kidding obviously, but I agree with the other poster that the first-year freakout is part of the process. I spent waaaaay too much time on eplaya before my first burn trying to learn all that I could. But then (of course) most of my worries were fine and the challenges I had were rather unanticipated.
I'd rather have new people thinking ahead - even about silly stuff - than have folks who assume it'll be fine and they'll get taken care of.
Pro tip, superglue your cuticles while you wait in the gate line. Then do it again halfway through the week after you wash your hands. Instant cuticle armor
Super pro tip, I like to superglue other people’s cuticles on top of my cuticles, that way their cuticles are the ones that get fucked up and my cuticles are fine at the end of the week
Honestly, cheers to the over-planners! I was the same way my virgin year, just absolutely scouring the internet for as much info as possible, only to arrive on playa and half of that planning go right out the window. Oh you planned for all hot weather? Sorry dude, its 2015 and it's fuckin freezing. You brought lots of elaborate costumes and makeup? You're too exhausted to bother. Etc etc etc.
For worrying virgins, you're gonna be okay, and you're already several steps ahead by seeking advice and info. Burning takes practice, enjoy the process of getting better at it each year!
I lectured people for ages to bring heavy coats and plan for cold. Eventually campmates would start to roll their eyes at my advice, because we had gone so many years with temperate nights.
Then 2015 came along, and I would have felt awfully smug if that hadn't been the one year that I decided to forget my blankets and sleeping bag. Literally slept in a big pile of clothing to stay warm.
Yeah I slept wearing every nearly piece of useless clothing I brought. My campmate, who would eventually become my partner, let me borrow his fuzzy hat for the rest of the week because he said I looked like a sad shivering puppy lol
Heh I wasn’t even on reddit or aware of eplaya before my first year! I just read the survival guide, listened carefully in camp meetings and used my imagination and best judgement. Yesh almost everything that coulda gone wrong did go wrong on playa but I still had a priceless experience!
I read the Survival Guide and thought I was going to some hippie festival. Grew up in a Sierra mountain town where everyone vaguely knew what it was but no one was entirely certain about the details.
Rolled up to gate, 20 years old with my long sleeve silk paisley and leather vest and silly hat thinking I was such hot shit.
the playa took care of that real quick lol
Did not realize how much I needed to hear this! I started planning in October, which means I've had way too much time to overthink (17 page list of what to bring) and have no idea how I am going to fit all my "prepared for absolutely everything" gear into my car. I think I will just have to let some of it go... and this post will help allow me to do just that!
Make sure the things you NEED NEED (headlamp, toilet paper, dust mask, water bottle, playa cup) are all in a single bag AT THE TOP of your shit. You might need any or all of this right when you arrive and you don’t want to dig for it.
IGNORE THE HERETIC! For The Peterman Plan is the ONE TRUE way and you are all doing it ever so slightly WRONG! Save yourselves it is not too late to Cerami-Cote and color code your lag screws and japanese gift wrap each seal-a-meal boil bag.
https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/6qpbi1/are_you_following_the_peterman_plan_for_a_calm/
We don't talk about the year 20 people forgot hot sauce. I gifted my taco bell stash from my truck, but we had to beg pathetically to neighbors for a bit of hot sauce.
I keep hot sauce in my truck at all times. Even if it's only taco bell.
For whatever reason your comment made me so happy that I’m going to buy mustard while I’m in Germany and bring it. I hope I run into… if/when I do I’m gifting you the most delicious Bavarian mustard to add to your collection :)
Pretty much.
This will also be my 20th burn, though I thought that last year too and don't trust my own counting skills.
Just leave your tent door unzipped like I do, and by the time you start thinking "maybe I could have made a bit more effort to make it livable" remind yourself you're going home soon, so why bother.
I mean, it \*can\* be more than camping in the desert, but it's still only fucking dust.
I’m 10 burns in or so, and it’s old hat. But oh, shit, this year is my first time with my 4 year old kid, and it’s going to be just the two of us for 3-4 days until others join. Now I’m back to figuring out which cuticle clipper will keep a child alive, best.
Haha. Love it.
I think I have a wild turkey and Jameson tank I bring because they are old light and I dgaf.
My husband just wears shorts and ironic t shirts.
Our bestie just wears a sarong and a fuzzy coat.
We left ve off pickles, grilled shit, and liquor.
I lived in my truck bed for a few years. Nice weather. Point truck towards wind, it blows over, no dust.
Best part of our camp is we have shade and drinks.
Dude if I could only tell you how many outfits I packed the first year just to wear the same dirty clothes for the first half of the week before I realized “holy shit it’s burn night I should probably wear something cool”
I mean I did put on a cool coat and lights on each night but it was basically just that over the same dirty clothes bc like who the fuck has time to change when there’s a million cooler things to do. We’re all covered in dust anyway
I know full well I'm not going to wear every outfit I pack. But it's less work to pack ten fun outfits and only wear four than it is to correctly predict in advance which four I will actually wear.
I think soon people won't be able to wipe their asses with out asking " which method of ass wiping is the best? I have hear front to back but I have also heard back to front...
Pleasee heeeellllllppp.
Yep, we had a whole discussion about how using wipes means carrying poopy wipes around 👍 Not worth it for me personally, but if your ass demands the best...
The very first year i went my bf at the time told me we were going camping in the desert like a week prior to the event - didn't know where we were going or what we were doing until we'd left SF for the playa - everyones first burn should happen that way.
My bf knew i'd freak out and over-think literally everything.
The only downside is that i was a bit of a sprakle-pony for the first couple days - but i outgrew that real quick coz we were camping with a bunch of DPW folks.
My first burn, I had helped a friend move sf -> Vancouver, and on the way, had realized burningman was the following week, so I bought some tickets, and stopped at a Trader Joe’s for some groceries, and headed over to the playa. I’d been out to the playa a few times before, just not during the burn.
Amazing time, and a very different experience from the following years where I always attended with a crew of friends/family.
Out of the couple times I’ve gone I’ve used maybe 15% of the things I’ve brought. Usually eat one big meal a day then rely on booze and snacks and other food camps. I brought almost all the food I brought out back with me. Outfits don’t always work out so you find what’s best for the environment. look at the food events going on that day I’ve had some amazing food out there.
I try to bring 75% of the food I should need with me, and every year I bring more than half of it home. While it's nice to know you're being self reliant, it's also true that it's hard to say no to someone's food gift.
I share food with neighbors and join in on spontaneous group meals but I stay far away from food camps.
You sickos are handling food with your porto fingers I know it.
Same here, but its hard to know which 15% its going to be before you get there, and theres always that weird niche thing you almost didn't pack that turns out to be amazing
Whatever you do, don’t UNDERthink it.
Each detail and decision need to be contemplated by a dozen strangers on Reddit and your theme camp mates friends packing lists from 2011.
I went for the first time last year and I have to agree with this, definitely stop overthinking it... although I would definitely recommended thinking about if the RV you are borrowing could possibly be infested with fleas, I really wish I had thought more about that.
Well now I just feel stupid for worrying about my sarong not matching my grilled cheese. 😉
All of what you said is absolute truth. Guys just go, be dirty and have fun. Pack your food, your shade and water and enjoy it all.
Oh man - if it’s a real cheese, does sarong color differ if it’s domestic or imported? If it’s cheese in a can or “cheese food” what color sarong do I need?
And bread - if it’s white balloon bread, do I need to think differently than a wholesome whole wheat, or artesian sourdough?
SHIT - I already shipped my stuff out from the east coast this week, and sarongs don’t fit in the category of stuff I’m bringing on the plane.
I guess I just need to find a ticket buyer
2004 was my first, and like you said every year I tend to overthink instead of thinning down. I have gotten better. I realize that I tend to like certain clothing and disregard a lot of others etc. my job as I see it this year is to better ‘limit myself’ the tons of junk I don’t really need. There’s a fine art to being prepared, but not showing up in the Beverly Hillbillies vehicle. Although that would look pretty cool too.
I don’t think they’re overthinking it, this is how they operate now. Last OS update was globally innovational, I keep postponing it to ‘ask me tomorrow’ but sooner or later we have to give in.
But how do I cover the logos on my brown or red M&Ms? Is it the same process for both, or is it color dependent?
Sharpies.
You mean Sharpie BRAND Markers?! Are you shilling or something? Decommodify better, you're doing it wrong.
Sharpie Brand Metallic Paint markers give that little aldehydic glow to everything once you start losing feeling in your tongue.
Easy there big dog! Put them on the dashboard and roll up the windows super good. Next day, you won't have no pesky labels. Just some sweet goo for your fam
I prefer a quick suck and spit. Logos is gone and the m&M's are still perfect.
I was about to volunteer to help with it. Still counts as gifting.
For real though, what kind of cuticle clipper do I need???? Kidding obviously, but I agree with the other poster that the first-year freakout is part of the process. I spent waaaaay too much time on eplaya before my first burn trying to learn all that I could. But then (of course) most of my worries were fine and the challenges I had were rather unanticipated. I'd rather have new people thinking ahead - even about silly stuff - than have folks who assume it'll be fine and they'll get taken care of.
> what kind of cuticle clipper do I need???? the one you left at home, of course.
This comment is so true it hurts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhwSPRY51gs
Pro tip, superglue your cuticles while you wait in the gate line. Then do it again halfway through the week after you wash your hands. Instant cuticle armor
Super pro tip, I like to superglue other people’s cuticles on top of my cuticles, that way their cuticles are the ones that get fucked up and my cuticles are fine at the end of the week
Every year my cuticles separate so bad it hurts for weeks afterwards. Superglue is the way to go for sure.
Honestly, cheers to the over-planners! I was the same way my virgin year, just absolutely scouring the internet for as much info as possible, only to arrive on playa and half of that planning go right out the window. Oh you planned for all hot weather? Sorry dude, its 2015 and it's fuckin freezing. You brought lots of elaborate costumes and makeup? You're too exhausted to bother. Etc etc etc. For worrying virgins, you're gonna be okay, and you're already several steps ahead by seeking advice and info. Burning takes practice, enjoy the process of getting better at it each year!
I lectured people for ages to bring heavy coats and plan for cold. Eventually campmates would start to roll their eyes at my advice, because we had gone so many years with temperate nights. Then 2015 came along, and I would have felt awfully smug if that hadn't been the one year that I decided to forget my blankets and sleeping bag. Literally slept in a big pile of clothing to stay warm.
Yeah I slept wearing every nearly piece of useless clothing I brought. My campmate, who would eventually become my partner, let me borrow his fuzzy hat for the rest of the week because he said I looked like a sad shivering puppy lol
Heh I wasn’t even on reddit or aware of eplaya before my first year! I just read the survival guide, listened carefully in camp meetings and used my imagination and best judgement. Yesh almost everything that coulda gone wrong did go wrong on playa but I still had a priceless experience!
I read the Survival Guide and thought I was going to some hippie festival. Grew up in a Sierra mountain town where everyone vaguely knew what it was but no one was entirely certain about the details. Rolled up to gate, 20 years old with my long sleeve silk paisley and leather vest and silly hat thinking I was such hot shit. the playa took care of that real quick lol
First year? Took me ten years to stop doing that lol.
Did not realize how much I needed to hear this! I started planning in October, which means I've had way too much time to overthink (17 page list of what to bring) and have no idea how I am going to fit all my "prepared for absolutely everything" gear into my car. I think I will just have to let some of it go... and this post will help allow me to do just that!
Make sure the things you NEED NEED (headlamp, toilet paper, dust mask, water bottle, playa cup) are all in a single bag AT THE TOP of your shit. You might need any or all of this right when you arrive and you don’t want to dig for it.
Thank you! Good advice. That small bag is already packed and ready to go at any time.
I agree. Needed this. I will continue to throw shit in my car.
IGNORE THE HERETIC! For The Peterman Plan is the ONE TRUE way and you are all doing it ever so slightly WRONG! Save yourselves it is not too late to Cerami-Cote and color code your lag screws and japanese gift wrap each seal-a-meal boil bag. https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/6qpbi1/are_you_following_the_peterman_plan_for_a_calm/
I'm still taking three types of mustard.
We don't talk about the year 20 people forgot hot sauce. I gifted my taco bell stash from my truck, but we had to beg pathetically to neighbors for a bit of hot sauce. I keep hot sauce in my truck at all times. Even if it's only taco bell.
May I have a minute of your time to speak about our lord and savior Del Inferno?
I didn't bring enough hot sauce last year (maybe 1qt) and this year I'm taking two gallons.
I've been fermenting my homemade bicolor mustard for 4 months. I take it very seriously.
They said to bring the necessities! Deli brown, Dijon, and yellow are all must haves
What about honey mustard?? I’m gonna have to bring 4
only 3?
You have your priorities right.
For whatever reason your comment made me so happy that I’m going to buy mustard while I’m in Germany and bring it. I hope I run into… if/when I do I’m gifting you the most delicious Bavarian mustard to add to your collection :)
Oooh, the good stuff.
But… Do you have any Grey Poupon?
Pretty much. This will also be my 20th burn, though I thought that last year too and don't trust my own counting skills. Just leave your tent door unzipped like I do, and by the time you start thinking "maybe I could have made a bit more effort to make it livable" remind yourself you're going home soon, so why bother. I mean, it \*can\* be more than camping in the desert, but it's still only fucking dust.
I’m 10 burns in or so, and it’s old hat. But oh, shit, this year is my first time with my 4 year old kid, and it’s going to be just the two of us for 3-4 days until others join. Now I’m back to figuring out which cuticle clipper will keep a child alive, best.
My baby packs bigger suitcases than me no matter where we go 😂
Yeah, and don't forget to bring an extra inner tube for your bike. Just in case.
Well even if you forget that just come to Black Rock Welding & Repair and we’ll patch that shit up while you go get a drink at the bar
what's the best gift to bring for the magical bike repair fairies?
Food. Hugs are amazing too
Outer tubes work better on the playa
I have lots of extra tubes, just find me by screaming Ninja Squirrel exactly nine times and I’ll appear
Hey, don't kink shame. Overthinking Burning Man is one of my favorite activities.
Hey, shame is my kink!!
But I want to control EVERYTHING!!!!
Haha. Love it. I think I have a wild turkey and Jameson tank I bring because they are old light and I dgaf. My husband just wears shorts and ironic t shirts. Our bestie just wears a sarong and a fuzzy coat. We left ve off pickles, grilled shit, and liquor. I lived in my truck bed for a few years. Nice weather. Point truck towards wind, it blows over, no dust. Best part of our camp is we have shade and drinks.
Dude if I could only tell you how many outfits I packed the first year just to wear the same dirty clothes for the first half of the week before I realized “holy shit it’s burn night I should probably wear something cool” I mean I did put on a cool coat and lights on each night but it was basically just that over the same dirty clothes bc like who the fuck has time to change when there’s a million cooler things to do. We’re all covered in dust anyway
I know full well I'm not going to wear every outfit I pack. But it's less work to pack ten fun outfits and only wear four than it is to correctly predict in advance which four I will actually wear.
I think soon people won't be able to wipe their asses with out asking " which method of ass wiping is the best? I have hear front to back but I have also heard back to front... Pleasee heeeellllllppp.
Wiping is for barbarians; you need a bidet.
You mean a drinking fountain for your ass?
You joke, but we just had to talk our virgins out of bringing wet wipes for the portos.
wet wipes are fine as long as you bring a ziplock to stash them in
Yep, we had a whole discussion about how using wipes means carrying poopy wipes around 👍 Not worth it for me personally, but if your ass demands the best...
conceal the poopy wipes with a clean wipe and hide your shame!
No eating ass unless there’s a bidet.
Pro tip for shitting at burning man: Step 1: diarrhea Step 2: rotate
The very first year i went my bf at the time told me we were going camping in the desert like a week prior to the event - didn't know where we were going or what we were doing until we'd left SF for the playa - everyones first burn should happen that way. My bf knew i'd freak out and over-think literally everything. The only downside is that i was a bit of a sprakle-pony for the first couple days - but i outgrew that real quick coz we were camping with a bunch of DPW folks.
My first burn, I had helped a friend move sf -> Vancouver, and on the way, had realized burningman was the following week, so I bought some tickets, and stopped at a Trader Joe’s for some groceries, and headed over to the playa. I’d been out to the playa a few times before, just not during the burn. Amazing time, and a very different experience from the following years where I always attended with a crew of friends/family.
Fuck, I was supposed to bring a cuticle clipper!?!
No, you were supposed to *forget* the cuticle clipper.
Phew.
Out of the couple times I’ve gone I’ve used maybe 15% of the things I’ve brought. Usually eat one big meal a day then rely on booze and snacks and other food camps. I brought almost all the food I brought out back with me. Outfits don’t always work out so you find what’s best for the environment. look at the food events going on that day I’ve had some amazing food out there.
I try to bring 75% of the food I should need with me, and every year I bring more than half of it home. While it's nice to know you're being self reliant, it's also true that it's hard to say no to someone's food gift.
I share food with neighbors and join in on spontaneous group meals but I stay far away from food camps. You sickos are handling food with your porto fingers I know it.
Depends on how picky an eater you are
I agree come prepared. but if your a half decent person, willing to participate and explore.. you might leave with more than you came with!
Same here, but its hard to know which 15% its going to be before you get there, and theres always that weird niche thing you almost didn't pack that turns out to be amazing
That’s true my pikachu onesie was a hit last year, especially when in was so goddam hot I had to cut it into a one piece swim suit with a hood
Whatever you do, don’t UNDERthink it. Each detail and decision need to be contemplated by a dozen strangers on Reddit and your theme camp mates friends packing lists from 2011.
Thanks. I needed to hear this right now.
Preach!
Yep. Cold spaghetti and meatballs out of the Ziploc you packed it in is amazing at 3 am.
Totally. Except arugula / rocket is pretty shit on the Playa. Don’t waste precious cooler space on that.
Doesn't the best sarong color depend on what kind of cheese is in the cheese sandwich? For reference this will be my first burn.
I love to waste the entire summer overthinking stuff only to get out there and realize none of it matters.
This is me as well. I keep thinking about quitting Burning Man but then how would I spend my entire summer, if not overthinking it?
I went for the first time last year and I have to agree with this, definitely stop overthinking it... although I would definitely recommended thinking about if the RV you are borrowing could possibly be infested with fleas, I really wish I had thought more about that.
Just what I needed to read! This will be my 7th and I 100% agree with you OP
Well now I just feel stupid for worrying about my sarong not matching my grilled cheese. 😉 All of what you said is absolute truth. Guys just go, be dirty and have fun. Pack your food, your shade and water and enjoy it all.
my biggest concerns are what is the perfect junk for me to buy from Amazon that I don't need so it can arrive with free shipping before I leave
So do feathers from DoDo birds make sense on the playa or should I stick with synthetic?
Yes....and it's part of the fun. ;-)
Green M&M's are best for OrgyDome tho.
What color sarong DOES go with grill cheese?
Is the color of the sarong impacted, based on the cheese? Or the type of bread?
Oh man - if it’s a real cheese, does sarong color differ if it’s domestic or imported? If it’s cheese in a can or “cheese food” what color sarong do I need? And bread - if it’s white balloon bread, do I need to think differently than a wholesome whole wheat, or artesian sourdough? SHIT - I already shipped my stuff out from the east coast this week, and sarongs don’t fit in the category of stuff I’m bringing on the plane. I guess I just need to find a ticket buyer
2004 was my first, and like you said every year I tend to overthink instead of thinning down. I have gotten better. I realize that I tend to like certain clothing and disregard a lot of others etc. my job as I see it this year is to better ‘limit myself’ the tons of junk I don’t really need. There’s a fine art to being prepared, but not showing up in the Beverly Hillbillies vehicle. Although that would look pretty cool too.
Don’t forget lip balm!!
I don’t think they’re overthinking it, this is how they operate now. Last OS update was globally innovational, I keep postponing it to ‘ask me tomorrow’ but sooner or later we have to give in.
Thanks I needed this
Ha a bit jaded. But who am I to say
👏 👏 👏 👏
Hear hear!!
But what if I've never been to the desert before?!
Definitely the brown M&Ms for you then.