Experiencing Burning Man: What’s it worth to you?
Imagine a week in the desert without pay, without plans, and without shelling out a single dollar. Leave your wallet at home. All you’ll need to get some beer and entertainment–the essentials, really–is a laugh and a solid bear hug. Is it a scam?! Nope. It’s Burning Man.
What is Burning Man: Burning man is an epic seven-day culture-shock in the northern nook of Nevada. The main principle is “radical self-expression,” which basically means that you’re 100% free to let your freak-flag fly. You go to literally build a community. Activities include creating art, tipsy storytelling, and dressing up in all the NSFW outfits you’ve been dying to wear all year. The average ticket price is about $390 for a week of waking up camp side with friends and about 70,000 other free spirited attendees, or “burners.” With prices this steep and an entire week off of work, the team at Hummings HQ has to wonder: Is it worth it?
What’s the big deal: The thing about Burning Man is that there’s nothing like it. The other thing about Burning Man is that you’ve probably never heard of it if you’re not from northern California or Nevada. It’s elusive. It’s niche. And it is an ENTIRELY active experience. Here’s what we mean:
- At Coachella, it’s your responsibility to show up and watch your favorite artists perform live for you–not a terribly demanding task. At Burning Man, the burners are the “headliners.”
- Instead of an all entertainment lineup, Burning Man focuses on art, culture, and self-expression–whatever that means to you.
- Practically no money is exchanged for the entire week which means that there’s a lot of planning involved. Burning Man is about building community, not making a quick buck. Don’t expect to leave with branded Burning Man keychains or T-shirts, either. Your souvenirs are the memories and friendships you make.
- Oh, and there’s no cell reception.
Radical enough for you, yet?
Really, what is it like to be there: It’s dusty and DIY. Get ready to explore the desert by foot, bike, or “mutant” vehicle which you design yourself. Only the wackiest, decked out vehicles qualify as “mutant,” so make sure to take note from these burners to secure a license from the Department of Mutant Vehicles.
It’s also absolutely self-reliant. You come with everything you need and leave without a trace. That means whatever comes in with you (even trash!), leaves with you. You’ll be drinking water by the truckload because the desert is no joke. And most of all, you’ll focus on community. You’ve got a shared kitchen, 100 person soap shower, and campsite. Burning Man is life changing if you’re opening to shaking things up. So if you’re up for it, get ready to see believable sights like an enormous flaming serpent skeleton, read poetry from a larger-than-life typewriter, and say hi to some of the dustiest faces you’ll ever meet.
How much does it cost: So is it worth it to lose a week’s worth of pay, dish out hundreds of dollars for 7 days, and more (according to expert burner, Eric Michael Gerhardinger) at Burning Man? Some burners are totally on board. It’s a week full of non-stop singing, dancing, and ab-inducing giggles.
So tell us, are you cut out for Burning Man?
Others say, not so much. The crazy amount of dust alone would be enough scare off some people.
How much would you be willing to spend to have your life changed for 7 days? Take our quiz and find out if you are cut out for Burning Man :)
Originally published at tmblr.co.
