No Burning Man For You! (Unless You Already Bought Your Ticket)

Photo from Burning Man 2010: AP/Reno Gazette Journal

We suppose that only the most JV, flaky, and virginal among you Burners would wait until late July to buy your Burning Man tickets, but if you did, sucks for you! For the first time in the dusty, druggy event's 25-year history, the thing is completely sold out, one month ahead of time. Organizers are capping ticket sales now, in compliance with their land use permit, and there will be no more sold, even at the gate.

This of course gives a whole month for the market value of these tickets to skyrocket, especially given the douchebag contingent that has invaded the once more pseudo-hippyish festival. Former frat boys pulling in six figures who decide to buy some furry underpants and make some spontaneous playa plans will likely be glad to drop a grand or two to get through the gates. But here's where the organizers' announcement gets precious:

"If you choose to purchase tickets from a third party, please take precautions to ensure their authenticity before you purchase them to avoid counterfeits and scams. If you are selling your ticket, we strongly encourage you to sell it at face value, or better yet, gift it!"

Also, there's already someone on craigslist preaching calmness, and telling everyone to hold on to their money and not "turn BRC into Coachella" (too late!):

Be patient. Come on burners, you're smarter than this. Save your cash, wait patiently. Scalpers can only sell to people who will buy from them. Don't turn BRC into Coachella. There's no need. If you can control yourselves, we'll all get a chance to go. Lots of people end up with conflicts and are sound of conscience enough to sell at face value. Keep your burner spirit with you. Stay grounded. Be connected and honest.

So, you hear that, kids? Stay grounded. Don't let the scalpers win. Or, better yet, just don't go to Burning Man. Your dust-free crotch will thank you.

PREVIOUSLY: Burning Man 2010: Scenes from the Playa

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By Jay Barmann in Arts+Events on July 26, 2011 9:40 AM

Comments [rss]

njudah

Comic Con has more fun things, isn't in the desert and has A/C. That said, I love BM because it means every year I get a free birthday present for a week!!

MoistPup

Based on how the first day of ticket sales went, I suspect that scalpers are holding a HUGE number of tickets. I further suspect they'll be losing a shit ton of money if people refuse to pay more than face value.

Mike Tattoo

“Former frat boys pulling in six figures who decide to buy some furry underpants and make some spontaneous playa plans will likely be glad to drop a grand or two to get through the gates. ..”

And that’s a bad thing?

Piss Clear had a cover story 10 (12?) years ago about how “Are dot.comers running Burning Man?!?!”

Ha! Dot.comers. Remember those guys.

It was a great article that said in it’s essence Burning Man has always been about people that have a considerable amount of disposable cash to burn on the playa, so where it’s easy(to the point of being lazy) to make fun of the douchebag in furry pants that spent a few thousand dollars to be there, but about the dreadlocked dude that spent over $10,000 to be there and build something just to destroy it at the end of the week, or the other guy with tribal tattoos that spend several tens of thousands of dollars to bring his rave camp there, ect, ect.

But isn’t it weird that for being in a recession /depression 2011 is turning out to
be the year where all the major conventions and festivals are selling out and
selling out quick. Coachella, Comic Con, Burning Man, lord knows how many
others ….

Sonya

Burning Man's not specifically a "druggie" event, but having been four times, I can pretty safely say that yup, the majority of folks are on drugs at some point on the playa. Just one of the things that makes me think Burning Man is pretty fun, and extremely glad it's such a temporary state of affairs.

desertgypsy

heyJay, its not a druggie event. you sound so lame and uncool writing that. Some people may be on drugs, but certainly not all are, and not the majority. If you have not been, you couldn't know. Peace.

dantsea

And from what butthurt blog entry did you rush over from in order to defend your druggie event?

bruiser

Don't hate the game, hate the playa.

fizzandpop

Don't hate the game, hate the Lannisters

fizzandpop

The Mole People left behind a tunnel system that's still intact. Use that. Anyhoo, unless someone can guarantee that this year's Burning Man is 100% Game of Thrones-themed, then I'm not going.

Tendernob

To paraphrase Yogi Berra, nobody goes to Burning Man anymore, it's too crowded. Also, this: http://www.theonion.com/articl...

Tendernob

Don't worry, burners! Tickets are available from anyone dressed in black. Just drive up to the trash fence and ask. Or, if that fails, I'm sure someone has room in the back of their truck, under a blanket. Trust me.