Hello again future Black Rock citizens,

Whoa, it’s the middle of June already. Back in March things really started to heat up around the Burning Man office (pun totally intended). You can imagine what June is like! (And don’t even get me started on July and August.)

It’s the time of year when our office manager Molly adds packets of pain reliever to the candy bowl. :D

Your responses just keep rolling in. I really appreciate them, thank you.

Gary “Pop Tart” Allen applied some of the 10 Principles to help a struggling town in Maine save itself. He wrote, “I think the message here is that the ripples we make on the playa and practice in real life really can change our world!”

Totally.

So, this is also the time of the year when we start getting asked for free tickets and “backstage passes.” Ha!

Burning Man is A LOT of things but it is not a music festival. We don't book acts. We don't provide live entertainment. There are no vendors, no corporate sponsorships, and definitely no “backstage passes.”

That’s not to say we don’t have VIPs out at Black Rock City. Oh, we do.

When you contribute to Burning Man, YOU are a VIP.  Each and every person who contributes to making this crazy desert thing happen is a Very (very, very) Important Person. The VIPs are the artists, the makers, the tens of thousands of volunteers --the people who make this city the beautiful living, breathing entity that it is. Guess who those people are...you! We are all volunteers.

Buying a ticket is the start, but the rest is up to you! We all become citizens of Black Rock City by contributing. 

Blogger John “Halcyon” Styn, a passionate 19-year Burner, explains it nicely:

“At Burning Man, from the get go, you are an Entertainer, you are an Audience Member, you are a Janitor, you are a Medic, you are a Tour Guide. You play every role.”

Ok, I get it, but how do I contribute exactly?

Contribute your time: There are A LOT of opportunities for you to contribute. Burning Man is what YOU bring to it, big or small.

We're in this together. Step in, step up. Join others. Whether it's your first Burn or your tenth, the best way to feel connected as a CITIZEN of Black Rock City is to join others to help make something happen.

We need your help. Your camp needs your help. Your playa neighbors need your help. Burning Man WOULD. NOT. HAPPEN. without lots and lots of citizens, like you.

Participate in other ways: Get your creativity on and help make Black Rock City even more amazing by participating. Make art. Perform. Build a Mutant Vehicle. The possibilities are limitless and they all start with you. If you’re stuck and don’t know how to participate, talk to your playa neighbors. I’m sure there’s something you can help them with...and you’ll probably make some new friends!

Speaking of “making”...

Make more (buy less): We’ve started using the Instagram hashtag #playamade (ply-ah, not play-ah which is something entirely different) to highlight cool things people like you have created.

Mia Quagliarello, a Burning Man Journal blogger, describes what the “Playa Made” project is all about on our website:

“Playa Made” means putting your wallet away and looking at what’s already around you. It means getting creative, crafty, and resourceful. It’s realizing that, together, we are creating experiences that can’t be bought, and the experience of Burning Man is all of it, from the outsized majesty of the art right down to the tiniest dangly earring gifted by a new friend.

By the way, if you’re making something for this year’s Burn, by all means use the #playamade hashtag when you share it! We will be looking to you for cool things to put a spotlight on, like this peacock tail Maggee (@maggeevsb) made out of fabric and tent poles:

How cool is *that*? Maggee wrote us, “One of my favorite parts about the playa is being able to dress exactly how I want and to tackle a project that I never thought I could accomplish.”

Yasss! VIP all the way.

There are many ways to contribute to Burning Man's culture, thank you for everything you’ve done, that you’re planning, that you’re excited to bring! Burning Man Project is a nonprofit, and your tax-deductible contributions help us to provide resources, education, and framework to empower and inspire our global community year-round. If you’re feeling financially generous, consider making a donation. We greatly appreciate your support.

Hey, congrats, you’re halfway through my pre-event emails. Three down, three to go. Thanks for tuning in.

Oh, oh, I almost forgot! When you get a few minutes, watch this feel-good video called the “Gate Love Project.” It was created as a volunteer project about Black Rock City citizens contributing their time at the Gate. 

In the off chance you missed the last email about being prepared, I’ve archived it HERE.

Charlie “Louder!” Dolman

P.S. In my next message, I’ll tell you about why, on playa, the little things matter in a big way.

You are receiving this because of your interest in and support of Burning Man Project.
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Image credit: #Playamade photo by @zarrrrrrrrrrrr

Burning Man Project • 660 Alabama St. San Francisco, CA 94110 • 415-865-3800
Burning Man Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, tax ID 45-2638273.
All contributions are fully tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.