Mary Bee's Burning Man Guide

Hello to all potential Burners & Veterans,

I set out to write an e-mail to try to educate a virgin friend on what was necessary & to be expected on the playa – but quickly was reminded that while HeatherLyn’s list was helpful to a veteran, it was overwhelming when i was a virgin. As a virgin, found myself without a lot of useful information. Candy Caned Rebar? Shirt Cockers? BWAH!?

The e-mail quickly turned into a dictionary & with the ticket mania & playa dreams threads scourging tribe, i deduced it would be useful to post yet another massive database. Never hurts to have more info!

And before you peruse, KEEP IN MIND – this is all subjective: what i find necessary, you may not need. I’ve found that it is better to underpack vs. overpack. I never end up using everything – the only thing that i make sure to bring an excess of is socks & underwear… But not everyone wears socks OR underpants on the playa…

This is my take on Playa necessities along with some tips, advice & links!

General Stuff I find necessary:
Bike – the popular consensus says you will curse yourself if you DO not have a bike. You can always arrange for someone to bring one to the playa for you if you fly – tribe or eplaya is good for arranging rides, etc.. The playa is gigantic & cars are not allowed unless they are a) rangers or b) entering/leaving campsites
cup w/lid – this is absolutely a necessity. It can be a bottle, whatever, just something with a LID. Camps will usually not provide cups/plates for drink, as you cart out ALL your trash. More on this in BM FAQ in links below
Bike lock – some people INSIST on having a bike lock. I haven’t locked my bike on the playa ever, but if you go out someplace huge & dark at night, someone might end up taking yours accidentally. I’d just recommend making your bike look unique & i’ve never had it stolen. Maybe sew a bunch of stuffed animals on the handlebar – something so intoxicated people KNOW it isn’t their bike
light for front & back of bike – this can be anything. glow sticks looped through the wheels, flashlight duct-taped, whateva! just something to keep lit.
glow sticks/blinkies – you NEED these at night, you must be lit! these are super cheap in downtown LA in the toy district – blinkies are $1 apiece, glow sticks are about $7 for 100. I actually brought extra & rode around on a motorized couch pelting people who weren’t lit with these & shouting “Hey! Air GIFT!” Some people were annoyed, but i meant well…
Umbrella/Parasol – not everyone thinks this is necessary, but i love having one – fashionable way to keep the sun off your face. I decorated paper parasols for myself & a friend with ribbons, glitter & paint.
Camel bak – this is one of the more expensive items, but you can buy new ones on Ebay for decent prices. This is your BEST FRIEND on the playa. Since you need to keep constantly hydrated, this is MUCH better than carrying around a bottle of water. One that holds 1.5 -2 liters is best.
q-tips – yes! i had a little eye/ear/face cleaning ritual that i did each morning. Must. get. dust. out!
eyedrops – the dust irritates the crap outta your eyes sometimes.
goggles – cheap swim goggles are the best, really. There’s tons of cute (but not as comfy) ones on ebay – goggles for painting, etc. from the hardware store. These are in case of dust storms.
Sunblock – a big fat giant duh here, but sometimes you forget the essentials
Hats
Sunglasses
Lip Balm
Lotion
Soap – preferably something biodegradable & gentle like dr. bronners or some other kind of castile soap. They’re available at trader joe’s
Baby wipes – man, i BATHED with these – they are your best FRIEND. Preferably unscented – i like the seventh generation kind best, because they don’t have irritating chemicals that get in my eyes
Earplugs – if you wanna sleep well at night, you need a pair of these
Clothes for the return trip in ziploc- this is fabulous. A dust-free outfit to wear after you shower/get off the playa? YES.
Work Gloves – some camps require help setting up, or handy for pounding rebar for your tent
Water – 2 gallons per person per day. This sounds like an assload of water, but the elevation + the elements require more water! I’d recommend buying collapsible 5 gallon plastic containers (yes, they appear to be undurable, but trust me – they work) at camping stores (they’re only about $7) and filling them up in Reno or someplace off your driving route.
According to HeatherLyn, you shouldn’t fill up in any of the small desert towns once you turn off 80- water is precious there. Filling up your water later in the trip means you’ll save on gas milage!
Duct Tape – ‘nuff said. Your best friend in case of patching something up.
Tent – in my experience, a bigger one is ideal, that way you don’t need a shade structure.
Shade Structure – okay, a BUNCH of people say you need this – IMO, you don’t. Anyway, if you’re camped with a group of people, check out their shade structure situation – they may provide a dome of some sort. I have a big tent & did not USE a shade structure last year & was fine. I don’t think you need a shade structure unless you have a pea-sized tent – it becomes a sauna after 7 am.
Cheap Portable Music Device- I would NOT bring an ipod. Buy a cheap discman just for that purpose (target has $10 ones usually). Burn cds that you don’t mind getting dust ridden
Candy Caned Rebar – okay, this is something i did NOT understand & none of my veteran friends bothered to explain – i was asking like a moron in a hardware store “where is the candy-caned rebar” & was getting blank stares. Candy Caned rebar is simply rebar (heavy spike-type things) that is used for concrete in construction, but bent like a candy cane or in half. You’ve probably seen them before! Rebar is available at most hardware stores & as far as candy-caning goes, you’d have to ask around at the hardware stores about having them bent – this is NOT a feat you can accomplish yourself unless you have the proper equipment. The rebar itself is used to peg your tent down so they don’t blow away in a dust storm. I didn’t USE rebar this year, but i was surrounded by tons of tents & kept heavy stuff like my cooler inside. Plus, my flaps happened to be open during the dust storm & the air circulation went throughout the tent. Ooops. Kept it from blowing away, though. Bebop also uses rebar regularly (not candy-caned) and says it works fine – he hammers it in at an angle
Tennis balls to cover rebar- tennis balls work really well, but stuffed animals, old water bottles, etc. work as well. Anything that you can spike on the ends of the rebar & will protect people’s feet. There are many people attending the medic’s tent with horribly cut feet from rebar each year. Protect your feet!
Camp chairs – nice to keep your ass off the playa. Playa crotch is something that occurs, along with playa hair, playa foot, playa eye, you name it. Usually just an irritated rash from all the alkalinity.
Tent marker – i made a flag out of an old shower curtain & drew on it with permanent marker
Safety pins – along with duct tape, these have endless uses
Funnel – when the porta potties are far & you’ve gotta pee in your tent, there’s nothing like a good old funnel & a bottle. Sounds gross, sure – but when the closest toilet is 1/2 mile away, this is a worthwhile investment
Air mattress & inflator- this is something i love. So comfy! Just learn how to have sex on one of these, its an acquired skill – or else all your air goes “fwooomp!”
Pillows
Garbage bags
Lube/Gloves/Condoms – the gloves are a swell idea for any kind of manual play with another woman. Dust & anything your baby wipes/solar showers aren’t getting clean could cause something not so nice in her nether region, like an infection. Magnum sized condoms are good to have, justincase.
Coolers – a lot of people say two, individually I’ve only brought one & been fine. Some people like to bring two & put dry ice in one with frozen goods. Be aware that if you put FRUIT in with the dry ice, they’ll get carbonated & weird. Best to bring fruit like baby carrots & apples. Bagged spinach seems to last, as well.
Pillows – lots! i sewed a bunch on my own & have given them out. Fun to get snuggly!
Hand sanitizer- there are some outside of the porta-loos, but they tend to run dry close to the end of the week. I’d get hand sanitizer INSTEAD of the anti-bacterial babywipes. There’s nothing like an eyeful of chemicals to wake you up in the morning with your baby wipe bath!
Vinegar – this is useful for wiping off your hands/feet/washing hair. It helps when avoiding playa hand & foot. I haven’t used vinegar personally, instead i mix 2 oz olive oil + 4 drops tea tree oil
Ziploc bags – in a variety of sizes! they make teensy to body condom sized now, i hear
Plate/bowl/utensil
Tampons – for some reason, the playa usually jump-starts menstrual cycles, so even if you aren’t due for weeks, its a good idea to have some tampons or other menstrual equipment.
Sleeping Bag
Blankets
Electrolytes – I recommend something ASIDE from gatorade powder, because it has lots of sugar. My first year, my tent mate had electrolyte pills & i liked those because i didn’t have to drink anything in my water/i wouldn’t drink too many electrolytes & feel sick. There are a huge assortment of powders & supplements, just make sure you get some or else you’ll feel exhausted. I also used to sell Zipfizz & gave out many samples to burners. They ♥ it!
Mallet – for tent pegs & rebar
Bike seat cushion – unless you have buns of steel & ride your bike 24/7 (like my campmate my first year), you’ll want to purchase/borrow/sew a bike seat cover. Faux fur offers a nice padding for your buns & helps avoid chafing (if you’re wearing a short skirt, etc . – i’ve caught wind of nasty rashes). Even if you don’t sew, you can always take a piece of faux fur & safety pin/duct tape it around your seat.
Whiteboard for your tent – if you’re looking for someone or you want people to leave you notes, this is a great way to communicate
Extra set of car keys
TICKETS – a note for the wise. MY WALLET was stolen in a small town in Nevada last year on the way to BRC. I’d recommend placing the tickets SOMEPLACE safe & easily accessible in the car to avoid a snafu. Thankfully, my tickets were NOT in my wallet & some wonderful campmates let me borrow money. I knew my information (address, social security, etc.) so i was able to make a withdrawal at a bank – but remember, you cannot walk into a bank the monday after burning man! Its a good idea to memorize your information!
Boots – see links & thoughts for more INFO
Paper towels – in case the baby wipes aren’t working for spills
Plastic snap top bins- I’d suggest doing your packing in these, as opposed to suitcases, etc.. They keep the dust out & are durable.
1-ply Toilet paper – the porta-loos are serviced daily, to my recollection, but sometimes the TP runs out. Not good. Good idea to stuff a bit of this in your bike basket/camel bak/fanny pack/coat/pocket in case of an emergency.
~$10 in cash – money is only accepted TWO places on the playa: center camp cafe (for your coffee needs) & Camp Artica (the ice camp). Bring more if you have lots of coolers/daily coffee needs. I believe the money is donated to the black rock arts foundation, which funds art projects you see on the playa.

Food Stuffs:
This is what i ate for the entire week last year:
Hummus/Tofurky/Spinach/Ezekial Tortilla wraps
Cereal & Soy Milk (beware! the cardboard containers get soft if left in the cooler too long – transferring to a glass bottle might be a good idea if you have room in the cooler – soy milk is also better than regular milk because it can be sealed & stored outside of cooler until opened!)
Cliff bars – ohgod, i got SO tired of these. But IMO, for the protein/vitamins/taste combo, they’re the best for your buck.
Black bean/rice/veggie salad
Tastee bites (or a trader joe’s equivalant) – if you’re in a hurry, make sure to get ones that you only have to drop & boil. The fish ones are usually nasty, too! A trick i learnt last year was to place on dashboard in early am, for warmed vittles in the afternoon!
Baby carrots
Apples
Tangerines – oh, what a LUXURY juicy fruit goodness is!
Juice Boxes
Flash lights

Other things recommended from HeatherLyn’s list:
Granola
tabouli
miso soup mix
beef jerkey
power bars
emergen-c
cup o noodles – salt is essential on the playa, it helps retain the water

Many burners recommend a variety of foods – there are a billion threads available on tribe, including a great one here. There is also an ENTIRE tribe dedicated to playa food

Below is a list of stuff i didn’t find entirely necessary to bring for survival. It is important to be thankful & to not mooch off your neighbor just because you were unprepared, though! If you don’t know what constitutes a mooch, try to figure it out. Generally, if you cannot bring something on your own, just be giving somewhere else & karma is payback (especially on the playa). Its mostly about attitude & willingness, anyway!
It is a great idea to conference with potential campmates about kitchen space! Questions to keep in mind is vegetarian vs. meat (seperate dishes?!), community camp stove, etc.. Communication helps cut down on bringing extra goods! Some camps also have communal solar showers – if this is the case, you may be requested/required to bring extra water.

A list of goods i find nice, but not entirely necessary

Bricks to lift up coolers
Gookinaid – according to HeatherLyn, its like gatorade but harder to find!
bike pump – keep in mind, there are camps dedicated to fixin’ bikes – remember that they may be busy!
bike tire repair kit – see above
chain lube – see above
decoration for bike/tent – this is something i commented on earlier. I think it is very important, but NOT essential. Helps you to find your tent/bike when stumbling around in the dark, intoxicated. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up having a kinky threesome if you don’t decorate your tent.
spray bottle – put a few drops of peppermint oil & keep in your cooler. AHHH! great when really hot – just take care to not spray in your eye
towels – see, i don’t find this necessary because i didn’t shower ONCE on the playa. Babywipe baths did me just fine – but you may need one!
washclothes – wet with vinegar, put in small individual ziplocs & place in cooler. You or your campmates will ♥ it if you bust them out – especially good if someone is dehydrated
candles
sleeping mask
sewing kit
extra sunglasses
toiletries
beanie – for cold nights
hair ties
long pants/long johns
basic tool kit
hard candy/glucose tablets – these are a good idea to have around in case someone gets low blood sugar. This is NOT uncommon after lots of drinking/exercise/not eating enough.
Cable ties/zip ties
bungee cords
crazy glue
swiss army knife
rope
ground cover for tent
fire extinguisher
sharpies
scissors
lighter
compass – okay, i think this is completely frivolous! i see no reason that you should need a compass, but perhaps it is a geek thing.
foot mat for in front of tent
headphones
head lantern – most people SWEAR these are necessary. I’ve just used flashlights – i think they’re a bit expensive & not entirely necessary. Each person varies, though.
camp table
lantern
battery powered fan
digital camera – i leave the photography up to the pros. I don’t like to spend my time stopping every 5 minutes to photograph something amazing. Especially as a virgin, i think its a good idea to experience as opposed to record. After the burn, i spend a good deal of time on flickr & tribe finding other photos to show to my friends. Plus, in my opinion, photos can never do justice to the playa experience!
2-way radios – Are useless on the playa, because they don’t have enough channels.
batteries – these are negotiable, depending on your flashlight & other battery needs
fm radio – although there aren’t any radio stations closeby, Black Rock City has a bunch of radio stations (Paynie thinks there will be at about 30!).
Converter for car lighter – these are extremely useful, but expensive – i charged my cell phone on the way out of BRC with one of these!
Camp stove
insulated bag (for handling ice) – i like the ice on a hot, hot morning. OH YES! I’ve never seen anyone use an insulated bag?!
pots/pans
cheap plastic poncho – to my knowledge, it has rained exactly ONE year on the playa. ONE. It is always good to be prepared, but the liklihood isn’t there.
cool ties-neck wraps – i’m assuming these are something from a camping store. The washcloths i mention above would serve the same duty
sarongs
shorts
moisturizer
massage oil – the olive oil/lavender/tea tree mixture i mentioned above works great for this!
scarves
costumes
big sponge
aloe vera gel
nail clippers
moleskin (blister pads)
propane for stove
plastic drawers – these aren’t necessary, but especially if you’re female & have lots of costumes, are great for organizing in your tent. Available at target, etc.
camping espresso maker – again, i think another luxury. Unless you’re a coffee fiend. Center camp, one of the two places that accepts money on the playa provides you with coffee!
Big comfy coat or jacket – this should be large enough to fit over layers!
warm clothes to layer/sleep in – the playa is usually about 45-60 degrees at night – a big contrast to the 85-100 degree days. You need to KEEP warm!

Most people are NOT prepared for the cold nights as i mentioned above – i recommend layers! They are your friend, especially when you go dancing. Stockings, knee socks, garter belts, thigh highs, tights are generally your best lower-bodied bet – even if you are male (most women on the playa embrace gender-bending). I also like to wear gigantic, floor length petticoats (found in wedding stores), along with hand/arm warmers, cute ear flapped hats, wonky jewelery & shrugs.

Having a gigantic furry coat is great & fashionable from a playa standpoint, but are difficult to sew & expensive to have tailored. Good luck if you decide to sew one! I spent many hours screaming at my sewing machine in frustration. There are tribes dedicated to playa wear and they often have threads that help aid you in the best coat sewing ideas. I’d recommend keeping your coat SIMPLE if you do decide to sew it. The complex ideas will waste fur, time & money unless you are expert.
Sometimes you’ll be lucky & find one at a thrift store – start your searching early in the year!

My friend Medicine Man fashioned a cape, which was simpler to sew than a coat & looked swell. Plus, it allowed for a partner to fit under it easily!
If you have the right coat, you can wear skimpy clothing underneath it as well! Bright colours are also ideal for anytime playa wear, as black doesn’t stand out at night & absorbs the heat during the day.

As far as playa fashion goes, anything goes! I’d recommend something comfortable & cool for the daytime (lingerie, nightgowns, sarongs, bikinis, tutus, tank tops, pasties, your birthday suit, etc..). Just make sure you have sun protection! I’ve come across amazing vintage nightgowns, which i love for daily playa wear. I’m also a big fan of the matching colours & accessorizing – it adds an extra funky appeal.

People have asked me “what should i wear?” I’ve thought about it for a moment & said “Something you’ve always wanted to wear, but never had the guts or opportunity to pull off!”

I’m a fan of wearing gigantic petticoats at night, which are fun, but get in the way, especially in the porta-loos – this is another important reason to layer. Often i wear tights & boy shorts over the tights underneath & discard my petticoat in order to clamber/jump/explore/use the loo. If you wear something unwieldy, just be prepared to discard it & find someplace safe/someone to hold it while you bop around.

Boots are something that get discussed to death on threads on tribe as well. At least once a year, the burning woman tribe is flooded with boot & sock suggestion threads.

As far boots go, i’ve found the most preferable is comfort & durability. Style is also a component & i’ve heard that New Rock Boots are excellent – but they are VERY expensive (Ebay is your friend!).
I’ve found that if you want height & style in a boot, try to find something that has equal toe/heel proportion (meaning that they’re close in height). If you have a boot that has an insanely high heel, but no platform on the toe, you’ll be very uncomfortable.

In the past, i’ve worn a pair of Demonia Drago boots and they were fantastique! I had to be careful when climbing ladders, but otherwise had no problem with comfort & they looked awesome. The zippers were ultimately what led to the demise of the boot, i had the zipper split MANY times & had to trash them after two burns. Lube your boot zippers with lube or olive oil to avoid splitting if they’re being fussy & i’d recommend doing this post-burn. If you order online, I’d recommend giving yourself a bunch of time in case exchanges need to occur. Melissa Gruenhagen, the owner of Retro Diva was AMAZING & sent me replacement boots ASAP. She was really nice & recommended by bunches of women on the Burning Woman Tribe.

One of my friends, Amanda, had a pair of boots she purchased cheaply from Hot Topic & have lasted three burns. I wouldn’t rule cheap boots out, just wear them a few times to break them in! I recall her mentioning blisters initially, but now they are uber comfortable!

Socks & tights are something discussed to death on threads. Target actually has great knee socks & fishnets, but do not offer plus sized tights! I’m taller, so they barely reach my crotch.

For socks, these are my favorite online stores:
Sock Dreams
Foot Traffic
We Love Colors

Cute hats & accessories:
Spunky Kitty
Da Bomb’s Etsy Shop
Gobbolino
Bunnywarez

Hair falls are popular for those who don’t want to dye/dread/bread their hair, but want a cute way to adorn them! My friend Regan makes really reasonably priced falls & she does custom orders, as well. Da Bomb makes amazing dread falls, but are in a higher price bracket. My friend, Kristen, who i originally started writing this gigantic list of tips out for, complained of having frizzy hair – i’d recommend dreading or braiding it before going to the playa. Dreading will damage your hair & isn’t necessarily reversible, depending on how you do it. Braiding is tedious & can be expensive – i’d recommend combing tribe in your area to see if you can trade/get discounts/make a friend to help you do your hair. Braiding yarn, ribbons & beads can make your braids look funky & give it functional length to pull back (in case you have shorter hair).

Hair Falls:
Regan’s Etsy Shop
Da Bomb’s Etsy Shop

If you are thinking about dying your hair an unnatural colour, Gala Darling has an excellent tutorial on her site: Gala’s guide to unnatural hair colouring. I’ve also gotten a good portion of links & inspiration from galadarling.com, so i’d recommend watching ♥Gala’s links for fashionable playawear ideas.

Useful/Fun Links to read up on before attending the playa include:

Dehydration
Burning Man FAQ
Burning Man 2007 Virgins Tribe
Burning Man Tribe
Eplaya
Malcolm in the Middle’s take on Burning Man

& before i sign off, i have a bit of advice to offer – this has been passed on by many a burner:

♥ Try to be self-sufficient. Not just in terms of what you bring, but in your experience. If you are a first year burner, i personally think it will create a more enlightening experience if you go alone as opposed to with your best friend/significant other/family member. Many times people end up breaking up on the playa or huge fights are sparked. My thoughts? I believe that if you go with someone who knows you very well, their concept of you + their presence will in some way alter the way you percieve & respond to the stimuli. In my opinion, Burning Man is about recreating yourself & experiencing new things. Even if your significant other GOES to burning man, i’d recommend camping seperately. This is something that has been passed on to me by several knowledgable burners. I’m glad i listened!

♥Put yourself out there. If you decide to camp alone, try to talk to people & make a concerted effort to get to know anyone who sparks your interest. I haven’t run across anyone on the playa yet who mocked me, so if you wanna say “Hi” to someone, do so!

♥ Let people know about your whereabouts in case of an emergency: the best way to be reached is to e-mail playa info: 911@burningman.com – more on emergency contact here.

♥ You can send & recieve mail on the playa through the BRCPO. The BRCPO has stamps, along with postcards, but i’d recommend bringing some of each. Also, you’re gonna need to barter with your disgruntled postal worker! Anything, and i mean ANYTHING goes. If you’d like to recieve mail on the playa, here’s the address:
Your Name (the name your campmates know you by)
Your Camp
Your Location (streets are designated by number & name – so if you’re at 2:00 & Pluto, that’s what you mark here)
c/o BRCPO
Burning Man
Gerlach, NV 89412

♥ Last year, I brought a mailbox & a campmate helped me mount it. I also brought a load of stationary & pencils & affixed them to the side of the mailbox so people could leave notes. This was a great way to communicate! I loved checking the mail each day & my favorite note said “squirrels will eat me!”
Be careful about eating anything left in the mailbox, though!

♥ Use your best judgement about drinking or eating anything handed to you by a stranger. I’ve met people who have been drugged on the playa by accepting random drinks before the man burned.

♥ Jumping off of moving vehicles, no matter how slowly they are moving, is generally not a good idea.

♥ If in trouble, shout “RANGER!” Even if someone isn’t a ranger, people know that this means trouble & will usually come to your aid swiftly.

♥ if you are using illegal substances (goddess FORBID!?!), make sure to use them discreetly – remember, there are undercover cops. If someone approaches you asking for something illegal… Well, i know burners who have been lucky to get off with hefty fines!

♥ unwrap everything that you possibly can before packing. It helps cut down on bulk & trash that you have to cart out. Remember – you MUST pack out everything you bring in. Including tampons, baby wipes, used condoms, food scraps. The theme is GREEN MAN this year – i think buying biodegradable, organic & less packaging & processing is something you should do every year – but if buying green is your way of contributing to the theme, please do so!

♥ Camps provide a certain experience that camping alone does not & i recommend talking to a few before deciding. Some veteran burners have told me that the Esplanade (the busiest street on the outside of the U) isn’t a good place to camp for newbs. The camps are generally bigger, sometimes have higher fees & required toil. For first years, I think camps that are low to no toil are a good call, as it allows one for more time to explore. I think this is especially important as a first-year burner! If you prefer structure, snoop around on the internets.

♥ & for fun, a bit of burning man terminology. What’s a shirt cocker? MOOP?

Note that this post MAY seem overwhelming, especially in light of skepticism about one’s ability to survive in a harsh environment + a gigantic list of items to bring — I’ve found that i can fit the necessary items in half a car by packing carefully (it seems a lot more significant than it really is). Gather your items slowly over the year – go to garage sales, thrift stores & borrow from friends/family. Don’t leave everything ‘til the last minute, or things are significantly more expensive & less available.
I know that you’re potentially worried about survival & being happy in the harsh environment, but i see it as a testament to life: If you are able to overcome the discomfort on the playa & see all the amazing art, people & love & know you are doing it for YOU, know that you will do just fine! In both years attending the playa, i’ve witnessed ONE person that seemed truly miserable, and the rest seemed to be having a great time. It is really up to you & what you manifest!

Many thanks to HeatherLyn, who provided the initial list! Thanks to Earth Goddess & Medicine Man who inspired me to attend Burning Man my first year!

& thank you to kreeton for being interested in attending BM 07’ & inspiring me to write this in the first place!

If you have any notes, thoughts, links, anything! you’d like to add, please let me know! & feel free to pass this on!