Overview
This was a Burning Man camp planning meeting where the crew discussed logistics and updates for their upcoming trip. The group reviewed camp locations, with Jesse showing his new spot on Rose Avenue in Venice Beach, and discussed transportation options including e-bikes and bike rentals from Dust Rentals and PBR groups. Filchy announced that interviews would be conducted between camp members to help everyone get to know each other before the event, and Jesse volunteered to lead one of the upcoming meetings while Filchy is in Europe. The crew addressed various practical matters including the trailer's certification process, kitchen planning with Lisa leading weekly meetings starting Thursday, and the need for a scrub room coordinator since Liz cannot attend due to surgery. Multiple first-time burners were identified in the group, and the team discussed weather expectations with Cori noting potential El Nino conditions. The conversation ended with discussions about camp infrastructure including shade structures, charging stations for e-bikes, and the importance of staying together as a group using their signature call "Swing City."
Next steps
Christine
- Send an email to Filchy about availability for Build Week.
- Attend the kitchen meeting on Thursday to discuss plumbing/shower scrub room.
Cori
- Print up the spreadsheet for the information station.
- Work on the passport sign.
Filchy
- Set up work access passes and send them out soon.
- Sort out trailer paperwork and certification process.
Jesse
- Bring a drone for the camp photo on Friday.
- Cover the camp meeting on the 3rd.
- Ask Julio if the camp can borrow the sound box for the kitchen.
- Coordinate with others to transport speakers from LA to the playa.
Lance
- Send an email to Filchy to confirm arrival day (Tuesday or Wednesday) for Build Week.
Lisa
- Reach out to Colin (from Alaska) about running the scrub room.
- Send the link for the kitchen meeting to Christine.
- Tweak the kitchen menu based on dietary restrictions.
Nicholas
- Get fabric for shade structures tomorrow.
- Proceed with shade structure plans (green rectangles for walkways, blue squares for tensegrities, yellow for the rig).
Collaboration
- All assigned for interviews: Conduct the assigned interviews to help fill out profiles and build team connections.
Summary
Camp Preparations and Planning
The group discussed camp preparations, with Corey and Lisa working on merging spreadsheets for an information station. The camp currently has 117 people listed, though many may not actually attend. Corey shared her excitement about getting their camp included in the Black Rock City Passport program, which allows visitors to collect stamps from different camps and receive rewards like free Chicken McNuggets. The team acknowledged that final details about camp logistics will not be confirmed until August.
Pandora's Eye" Artist Confirmation
Diina confirmed that the artist for the piece "Pandora's Eye" had been secured, describing it as a wooden temple filled with paintings by a New York-based artist. The group discussed plans for an upcoming event on Monday, with Diina and Colin planning to attend, though this would be Colin's first early arrival. Hunter shared that he was visiting his parents' home where his father was scheduled for surgery the next morning, and the conversation briefly touched on his mother's greenhouse containing Costa Rican orchids.
Event Participant Updates Discussion
The team discussed participant updates for an upcoming event, with Tegan confirmed to return while Jeff withdrew due to a new job. Filchy mentioned working on setting up work access passes and noted that the final participant list would be refined over the next few weeks. The group also confirmed that Mitch is joining and discussed logistics around bus arrangements, with Zachary mentioning he received his ticket.
Camp Photography Planning Discussion
The group discussed plans for taking camp photographs at an upcoming event, with Jesse volunteering to use a drone for the shots on Friday. They noted that drones are currently banned at the event, though Jesse mentioned his previous experience being arrested for drone use at Burning Man. The team also briefly touched on interview scheduling and camp logistics, including building fees and meal plans.
Burning Man Interview Initiative Planning
The team discussed a new interview initiative where camp members who haven't completed their profiles will be randomly assigned to interview each other to help build team connections before Burning Man. Filchy explained that this process would create a chain reaction of interviews among different camp members. Jesse volunteered to lead the next meeting on the third, as Filchy will be unavailable due to travel to Europe, and Zachary and Sally also offered to help with future meetings. The group agreed to track how many campers have paid their dues as a next step to help map out positions and shifts for the event.
Event Staffing and Logistics Planning
The team discussed staffing and logistics for an upcoming event. Lisa confirmed they have most leads covered, with Jenna handling DECO and Cody managing the juice bar, though they still need to find someone to replace Liz Lear who won't be attending due to surgery. The group discussed potential new additions including Colin from Alaska who expressed interest in coming during Burning Man time, and clarified the concept of partnerships which requires people to camp and travel together rather than just being friends. The team also addressed the deadline for submitting class proposals, which needed to be done in May or June, and discussed various participants' transportation plans to the event.
Burning Man Travel and Logistics
Zachary discussed his travel plans to attend a wedding in Minneapolis before Burning Man and then fly to Reno. KC shared that he would be leaving Build early to attend another wedding in Wisconsin and returning for the main event. Filchy explained the process for leaving the Playa during Build week, including the need for someone to drop you off at the exit gate and the vehicle check process. The group also discussed bike rental options available through PBR group and Das Rentals, with Filchy clarifying that these are separate from camp arrangements and require individual coordination.
E-bike Charging at Camp Discussion
The group discussed e-bike usage and charging at the camp. Filchy explained that the camp's charging grid can support 2-3 bikes at a time but not enough for 100 people simultaneously, and emphasized the importance of sharing the limited charging space fairly. Mauricio shared his experience of 7 years using e-bikes with 23,000 miles, noting that typical usage at the burn would only require charging every 2-3 days. Jesse recommended the Super 73 e-bike brand, offering a 35% discount code, and shared his successful experience using e-bikes at the burn for multiple years.
Burning Man Transportation Options Discussion
The group discussed transportation options for Burning Man, with filchy explaining that while e-bikes work well for short trips like sunset rides, they require nightly charging and aren't suitable for multiple days of use due to heat affecting battery performance. Janna shared her experience with a cheap e-bike in 2022 that needed daily charging but otherwise worked well despite a pedal issue. The discussion clarified that scooters are allowed but face restrictions on wheel size and speed, with participants recommending mountain bikes as a more reliable option given the poor road conditions on the playa.
Burning Man Weather Preparations
The group discussed weather preparations for Burning Man, with Cori noting that Reno has been experiencing monsoonal thunderstorms and predicting potential rain due to El Niño conditions. The conversation covered practical preparations including bringing galoshes, silicone shoe covers, and five-gallon buckets with kitty litter for emergency situations. Several first-time burners identified themselves in the chat, and Christine offered to help with build week preparations. The group also discussed bringing sound equipment to the camp, with Jesse offering to coordinate speaker logistics and Julio potentially providing a sound system, though they noted the trailer's reliability is still uncertain due to pending paperwork and certification issues.
Event Logistics and Kitchen Planning
The team discussed logistics for transporting equipment to the event site, with Lisa confirming plans for multiple vehicles including a reefer truck and kitchen truck, while noting the trailer would be a bonus option if available. Lisa announced the first kitchen meeting would be held Thursday at 6pm PST, with four total weekly meetings planned to discuss kitchen operations and infrastructure. The team also addressed shade structure color coding, confirming green for walkways, blue squares, and yellow for the rig, and discussed arrival timing with Lance and Shane confirming they would coordinate their Tuesday or Wednesday arrival through email.