Anyone here going?

-J.

Sadly, no....but I hope to eventually....

Woodstock for Generation S(lack)? Why not simply pop "Train Spotters" into the DVD player, light the sofa on fire, drink too much bad liquor and ingest illegal substances of questionable origins, all the while listening to an incoherent blend of reggae and techno music -- thereby saving the cost of the pilgrimage?

Sad to say, but I live in Reno and have never been to the Burning Man. All those people being in one place just is not my cup of tea.

Stuart

I'd love to but it would be a bit of a long bike ride....

Wish we was goin this year but theys snakes on the phones

I go every year, except this one. Jeff McBride does it every year too, but I think he has an Atlantic city thing this year. Last year we did a alchemy circle. Jeff ran his high energy fire dance, and I held a healing fire outside.

Later this year Jeff is releasing a series of DVDs that he filmed out there last year. Should be fun. You might get to see me poking around the back of the crowd. He filmed a routine of mine, but I am not sure if it will make the final cut. He did a cool floating fan off an aboriginal looking guy's wind instrument.

My wife and I are part of the organization that runs the Texas version. (it is really great too) http://www.burningflipside.com Been putting on some killer magic shows there for years.


Leland, the Burning Man is a life changing experience for most of the people that go. I can tell by your attitude that you have not been. Give it a chance before you bad mouth it. Slackers and hippies rarely make it to the Man. It truly is the cutting edge of art and performance out there. I even met my wife out there! It has been my preferred place to perform since 1997. I have even been credited with being the first magic act out there!

Hiya, Sensei:

Do you remember that scene between Tony Curtis and Laurence Olivier in "Spartacus?" Some people like snails, others do not; I am one to whom snails do not appeal. And, while personal experience has its value, it is not always required in order to make an informed decision.

Enjoy your experience with Burning Man, but it is one I neither wish nor need to share.

Best regards,
Leland

In Zen it is said that experience proceeds knowledge.

No story you heard can describe the Man. No picture captures it. No experience is like it.

It is fair enough it does not appeal to some, but still since they know little of it, they speak from a uninformed position.


Were else can you see -

Dr. Megavolt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH17nt1FEbs
Really pretty lights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCMMry754cY
Fire tornados http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txq-tHOMxAM
giant flaming dragons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeI4T6Fef7g
Peter hudson's Stunning illusion art http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT5N4UA2CIw
The Belgians http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmv-wAxQ6Rw
mantis pupptry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PORxJCF-Mg


Plus the playa's favorite Magi - Sensei Strange - except this year



Walk In Peace

Sorry I didn't jump on this thread sooner. I have been going every year since 97 and I volunteer with the organization (my avatar is from the event) Although now that I live in Austin, I havent been the last two years. Burning man is very much a big part of my soul. Not so much the event itself, but rather the location. The Black Rock Desert is a truly amazing piece of land and watching the sun rise over the distant mountains on a quiet summer morning is one of my most fondest memories.

Leland - I'd say that your assesement of the event is truthful, but a bit narrow-sighted. There is far more going on out there than naked, drugged-up hippies banging on drums and spinning fire (although there is quite a bit of that as well)

I would gather to bet that Babba would probably LOVE this place.

If I weren't living so far away in Europe, this would be an event I wouldn't want to miss. Too bad.

Thanks for the clips SenseiStrange.
So amazing. Such art!

So it seems that entire neighborhoods, blocks and main streets get set up over the week. Does this usually get handled well?
Looks like the early arrivals arrive to desert. Is the land share handled smoothly?

It just looks quite incredible.

More stories please gents.

My Burning Man experience was incredibly magical!

Talk about "sensory overload"!!! There is soooooooo much to see and do and be involved with.

It's really not the crazed-out drug fest people think. I was delighted to see some of the greatest art I have ever laid eyes on, wonderful music, numerous gifted and talented performers, and the most kind and generous acts a person could experience. I didn't see drama anywhere except for when a pyro firebombed "The Man" early and made both Burning Man history and the National News!

Synchronicty was there in full force and I met a lot of like-minded people, made some great friends and became involved with a plethora of ultra cool activities, groups and their camps. I was performing quite often, I didn't meet any other magicians, but I'm sure they were there somewhere among the 45,000 (?) people gathered. I got 30 minutes on stage at the City Center and presented spoon bending and PK for a few hundred people. It was a blast! There was actually a spoon bending camp and the facilitator (a woman from LA) brought over 1,000 spoons for people to bend

That's just the tip of the iceberg. I could write a book about all the magic, synchronistic unfoldings, and wonder I experienced while there (7 days). When they burned the Man (they remade the original), I was in the front row and awestruck by the many hundred performers. It was like Cirque Du Soleil X 10!!! I'm not kidding! They were fantastic.

I'll be there next year, for sure. I got a lot out of the experience and it comes highly recommended to everyone!

Best,
Jerome.

Sounds amazing Jerome!

I've wanted to go since I first heard about it...hope I get the chance someday

Thanks Jerome. Fantastic!