Destination Burning Man Blog

I just got off the phone with your new best friend, Jake from Burning Man headquarters.  They seem to like the sounds of what we're up to here in the Boogie Universal ARTS Collective, 'cause they're giving us ESPLANADE PLACEMENT!  Whooo hoooo!!!!
 
I originally submitted a request for 60 feet of Esplanade frontage with 120 feet deep for our camp, they've bumped that up to 100 feet on the Esplanade and 150' deep!  That gives us lots more room to make our private camp area more comfortable, plus gives us room for some shaded couches right on the esplanade, and more room for whatever we can come up with. 
 
While this is massively exciting, it also adds a fair amount of pressure.  For those of you that have been to the Playa, you already know that the camps on the Esplanade are uber elaborate, interactive 24/7, and generally pretty friggin' inspiring.  We're going to have to take this thing to the next level.  Most people won't even know what they're placement will be until sometime in August--we get the early heads-up to have the extra time to make sure that our camp is 100% kick-ass.  40,000 people are going to know who Boogie Universal is; I think we should make that opportunity count and leave a good impression.
 
Here are some of my immediate ideas from my hyper-swirling mind:
 
we'll need to get more serious about fund-raisers:
• we may need a bigger truck, that means more gas, more rental expenses, more money
• we may need more infrastructure--more furniture for public, more decorations, more art installations, more...

How 'bout a new lead person:  Furniture Building Initiator
• I suggest we go with the tried & true Playatech designs (you can easily build a bench out of a single piece of plywood, no joining hardware or adhesives, so it easily transport as flat pieces).  They can then be decorated and upholstered/cushioned to make them more comfortable http://www.playatech.com/index.php
• It would be ideal to also have some sort of shade structure over them--totally open to ideas....
We need talent
• I think we need to push for pulling off live sound--that's going to mean about $1,500 worth of gear that we don't have (snake, mics & mic stands, 2 more used amps)
• we need someone that knows how to run live sound, preferably more than one person as to disperse the responsibility
• VARIETY.  I think several of us share the idea that we should be more than just a rave camp, or even more than just a dance camp.  Know anyone that does theater, cabaret, spoken word, performance art, fire dancing, stripping, juggling, comedy, improv, live music, or preferably all at the same time?  We've got a lot of spots to fill... all day, all night, every day, every night--whoa.
• start talking to bands and djs.  I know Edub was interested in helping book talent, let's get together as many leads as we can, then start sorting out a schedule

Presence:
• Nils talked about getting a new banner or two printed up for us--let's get on that, as big as possible
• Louisa talked about making a sign and/or flag--it would be great to have these done well ahead of time so that we can display them at our fundraisers
• the dj booth could use some either touch up, repainting, or adding to what's there... anyone interested?
• the dj booth could really use some sort of lighting on the outside of the roof.  The way it is now, it looks cool during the day (shiny silver surface) but at night completely disappears.  It would be really cool if it had sequenced rope lights rotating around highlighting the 8 panels that make up the octagon roof.  Anyone interested?  Brock?  Chad?

Camp mates:
• With the added responsibilities, I wouldn't mind if we round up just a few more people that could help out.  I think there are enough of us committed now as a core group, that we can decide together about new memberships (then the "core" becomes bigger--we don't need to maintain a 'core' and those outside the core, we're all in this together)
couches:
• depending on our truck size/space situation, it would be very nice to have a couch or two.  keep your eyes out for a freebie that doesn't stink (it won't be coming back home).
 
Obviously, we didn't get the pyramid done in time for Critical Massive.   It's too bad, but we did our best.  We'll get to take it down there next year after its' been playa proven.
 
Ok, that's it from me for now.  Please brainstorm with me and let's make this thing absolutely friggin' awesome!
 
Super stoked,
 
Erik

Re: BU on the Esplanade

Yowza! That is some HUGE NEWS Eric......my mind is flooded with possibilities, excitement and a good dose of stress. This announcement of being placed on the Esplanade really takes the BU theme camp in a new direction and turns the volume up to 11.

I think we should pow-wow this week as soon as possible -- wednesday evening at my home? The kind of camp you are describing -- uber-elaborate, 24/7, art
installations and performances -- seems to be a much more complicated and time-consuming kind of camp than what I was picturing, and I'm really curious to know if you think we have the capacity for that. Our small group of campers at Sasha's a few weeks back seem pretty mellow and modest in size, so I'm wondering if there is a hidden stash of energy/talent/time/money to pull off the dream of the Boogie Pyramid on the Esplanade? Is there a
secret plan? How many people do we have anyways?

On one hand I'm really stoked that BU and the BurningHamsters have been given this opportunity to BRING IT in such a visible way to the playa. On the other, I'm not sure that this is the kind of Burning Man experience I had in mind for 2007 and don't know if I have
the abilities or motivation to take it beyond the relatively simple/small/mellow vision that we fleshed out in our first meeting. I surely don't want to rain on anybody's parade here, but I have reservations about the size/scope/$/commitment that this Boogie Universal Camp Version 2.0 seems to demand. For instance, I like lots of time and space for wandering and explorations of the multitudinous wonders of the playa and city, and don't want to be tied down with too many commitments to a big production..... I am also interested in being a part of creating a healing, creative, groovy refuge from the craziness, and not the craziness itself!

What are other peoples thinking? Who is able to meet Wednesday 6-8ish in B'ham?

much love, moontroll

Re: BU on the Esplanade

WORD! My sentiments exactly! I've been pondering the implications of this incredible opportunity since I read the announcement yesterday and I must say that my mind is spinning, yo! I keep hearing the mantra that Scottie, Christian and I coined early on in our Playa planning - "Keep it simple, keep it green." Blowing
up on the Esplanade feels far, far from that. The question that I have now is, how can we make this work?

I'd be willing to come up to the Ham for a pow-wow on Wednesday. Can we make that happen. It seems that there is MUCH to discuss.

In the spirit of creativity and collaboration,

~ Edub

Re: BU on the Esplanade

Wednesday sounds great.  I'd love to see the crew get together again and talk about the new opportunity. 
 
I understand and share your concern Christian about wanting to keep it simple, fun, intimate and not over-burdening our experience on the Playa.  With the right planning and participation from the Playa at large, I think we can keep things going basically on auto-pilot once our camp is set-up.  I don't think that our original idea of a theme camp has been compromised, we'll just get to share it with a lot more people and have a front row seat for all the fun.
 
I've been scheming up an idea for some Playatech "porch swings."  On our Esplanade frontage, I thought it would be could to have a few chill areas where we and passersby can cozily rest their tired feet and enjoy the never ending spectacle that will be at our front door.  This helps fill the requirement for 24/7 interactivity.  We don't need to be "entertaining" 24/7 as hosts, just have a cool place available all the time.  We can do this, no prob.
 
I'm in Seattle 'till wednesday and look forward to seeing as many of you are available then.
 
Much love my friends,
 
Erik

In our last announcement, we gave you some information on the
layout of Black Rock City for 2007. This included information on
the size of the blocks, placement of plazas, number of streets, etc.

Here are the street names for this year . . .

The radial-streets are still numbered in the clock formation we
are all familiar with.  Center Camp at 6:00.  Plazas at 9:00, 7:30,
4:30, and 3:30. Camping/placement areas end at 10:00 and 2:00.
The Man at the center.

The concentric-streets begin at the Esplanade and thereafter go :

ESPLANADE
ARCTIC
BOREAL
CORAL REEF
DESERT
ESTUARY
FRESHWATER
GRASSLAND
HABITAT
INTERTIDAL
JUNGLE
KELP FOREST
LANDFILL

the "ring road" around Center Camp is
EVOLUTION

Enjoy!

We've got the fabric for the main structure. The cables are still on order and should be here within the next week. We will be working this Sunday just outside of Ferndale on Donna's farm (her family has got 118 acres that should give us plenty of room to stretch out everything we've got going on). All are welcome to come out and help out. Good things to bring: gloves, basic hand tools like plyers & scissors, utility knives, pocket knives. If anyone has any cable cutting tools and/or grommet tools and/or rivet tools, they would be very appreciated and useful. Even if just a couple of us show up for a couple hours (or perhaps even less). Just to get some hands on work on this thing I'm sure will be enough to get the ball rolling and help get it built in a timely manner.

Today I've been experimenting a bit with rivits & grommets for the seams--both look very promising. I also picked up a bunch of string & twine we'll need for working. I'll gather my tools and be out there by noon. Luke will be coming down from B.C., I think Alex is planning on coming out, and Nils is for sure. If you feel like joining us, bring a rain jacket.

Cheers,
Erik

p.s. I reserved our truck to get our stuff to the Playa. It's a 15' box truck, the same kind we've used for Meltdown, Flight, & cabin Fever. For a 2 week rental (same price as 12 days), which gives us time for early arrival, packing, and most importantly unpacking without rushing. It will be:
$520 for the truck rental (+tax)
$.49/mi (ouch) X 1,550 miles roundtrip (aprox) = $759.50
150-200 gallons of gas @ $3-$4/gallon = $500-$775

Total: $1,900-$2,155 (aprox, depending on milage & gas prices)

The Next Day....



Let me be the first to report on a very successful first work party on the BU Pyramid.  We had an outstanding crew come out to get things underway.  Donna was kind enough to let us use her family's farmland where we had plenty of room to stretch out our huge materials.  Huge thanks to Donna, David, Edub for coming all the way from Seattle, Luke for coming all the way from Vancouver by bus, Michael, Mitch, Nils, Alex, and hopefully I didn't forget anyone.  Our productive crew figured out all of the logistics & geometry, and managed to assemble the first of four triangular panels.  This thing is going to be bullet-proof, and look beautiful at the same time!

--Erik

Construction on the Boogie Pyramid has begun!
(Edub's report)



I was up there this weekend and spent yesterday afternoon beginning construction of the Boogie Pyramid. We completed one wall of the pyramid after about 4 hours of engineering on the fly. It was a collective effort with energy, ideas and math skills contributed by Luke, Nils, Erik, Michael, Alex, David, Donna - our hostess on whose farm we are erecting the Boogie Pyramid, Mitch and yours truly, Edub.



We were stoked to have a wide open field in which to unfold the 48'x14' foot former billboards. The most notable advertisement was from McDonalds. The tagline "I'm Lovin' It" was fitting for our work party, but the amusement of it quickly wore off and the ad was forever folded into the wall of the pyramid - thankfully never to be seen again. The weather cooperated pretty well and we were only rained on intermittently. Most of the time we remained dry.

Pop rivets were the assembly method of choice once we got the huge sheets of 20 mil vinyl lined up and laid out within the 52'x60'x52' pyramid wall template that we staked and strung out in the field. We were working within a 60'x60' square that we also staked out in the field. Looking across it became clear that there would be plenty of room inside for a live Boogie Universal Higher Vibrations session or funk party. The template is now set for fabricating the other three walls of the pyramid. That work should go much faster now that we know how it all lays out.



The next work party is scheduled for Friday evening at 5. Bring a sharp pair of scissors, some gloves and some herbs to bless the spot. The vibe was positive and I was stoked on the free flow of ideas and the way that they manifested in to what we created that day. The creative collaboration among the Burning Man Boogie Universal Arts Collective crew is building momentum and ideas are becoming reality. Soon will rise the Boogie Pyramid. Prepare yourselves.

"This is so exactly like the Egyptians!" - Erik

~ Edub



More pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/destinationburningman_dot_com/

...a golden ray of light, with wheels, steering wheel and the best part - there is a trailer that attaches to the mothership with room for two more pedalers..... hee hhe he eh....can you see it now...smell the scorched playa wind....crunchy grit in the molars..... pedaling around BRC with DJ Playaduster and Edubious flowing out of the elevated sound fort and flabbergasting the masses.  This is beautiful!   The frame for the glotus lounge (glowing cause it will be black light powered my friends) has already been built for us... all we have to do is "accessorize" the unit.

This is where all you cyberfriends enter.... you know your parents/kids/grandparents/friends garages are full of much needed "accessories" for our mobile sound system.  Even if we could borrow, with oaths of solemn integrity, some of these items (especially the **    ** items) for a week it would sure help keep our tires inflated.  We have agents from Whitehorn to Selkirk.... oops sorry about the code there.... all over western Washington and a few undercovers hiding out in the Spokompton/Panhandle of Idaho.  If your in Washington, Idaho or Western Montana then dig it out and we'll come pick it up if we can use it :)  Keep posted for updates on the Glotus Lounge and it's destination to burning man.  The bike/trailer combo is costing $500 (after much barter debauchery) so if you just feel like dropping a dime in our piggy bank then that is always relished too!  Gotta go..... gotta find a welder!
 
Scotty "Hekter" Gonzallass
 
List of materials needed/wanted for Glotus Lounge:
**Stereo System/ I-Pod compatible**
**Golf cart sized trailer**
**Generator (1,500 - 2,000 watt)**  borrow one?? Honda is best.
Black lights (2-4) with ballasts
Primer/Paint - black light reflective
Headlights/Taillights
Deep cycle battery/cable to lights/stereo
El wire

Materials for lotusing it out:
White fabric
Shapeable poles
Someone who can sew
 
and an RV to take it all in... just kidding... well not really.

Contact us if you can help out with any of these items: destinationburningman@gmail.com

Edub and I would surely love to do some of our music during these sessions, maybe with day of reggae/dub, another day of world beat or mid-tempo space music. Simultaneously, BU'ers could be hosting yoga or massage or juggling lessons or Sonosphere sessions. I'd like to do some traditional Chinese oolong tea servings on a couple afternoons. I could see Edub leading some drumming workshops. What else? Hopefully everybody would want to share something. I smell bundles of sage burning and hear chimes....

Another idea related to this kind of space would be to have "Universal Freak Delight/Higher Vibrations" go ALL DAY saturday with deep holiness leading up to the BURN.

There's some ideas to hopefully spark other ideas and get wheels turning. I'd be happy to try and create the structure of a schedule for these sessions. Let's talk about 'em in person. I'm out of town next weekend and can't do the work party, but have the weekend
of June 15-17 open and would love to host the next BU camp meeting/potluck one of those nights....

love, moontroll

ps. "Universal Freak Delight" comes from an old funk song I heard this weekend by Morris Day & the Time!

Re: Higher Vibrations

i was planning on bringing my massage table down. this sounds like a lovely idea. henna?
--plantarfasciatus

Re: Higher Vibrations

Aaaaah yeah, Christian! I'm feelin' that - you know! I LOVE the idea of creating INTENTIONAL space for our eclectic crew to share our gifts with each other and any passing spirits that are drawn into our muse.

This sounds like the beginning of a vision session that can help to define what we are going to with/in/beneath the Boogie Pyramid. I hereby nominate moontroll to be our BU Camp Activities Coordinator. I am happy to play the role of co-coordinator in that role. All in favor say "aaaaah yeah"!

Holla if you here me! I haven't heard too many different voice in our forum. If your reading, put something out to the crew. It all contributes to the energy of the Collective! Ya heard!!!

In the spirit of creativity and community,
Edub

Re: Higher Vibrations

Those are some great thoughts Christian. I'm super stoked for some Higher Vibrational Universal Freak Delight energizing/healing/bonding time under the pyramid. "Aaaah yeah" :)
--Michael Evergreen

I'm going to buy a couple of masks for the burn. I've found a number of sites that sell em. Here's a couple of examples. Either of you interested?


http://fantasyguilde.com/masks/grn/greenie.html



http://www.masksbymorgan.com/

~ E