5 things you need to know about Burning Man

Ever heard of the festival Burning Man? Of course you have, it's the infamous festival where crazy art and special individuals gather to celebrate self-expression. Now, if you plan on attending the event sometime soon, you should be aware of some of its norms and cultures. 

Source: Steve Brown - "Spark: A Burning Man Story"

Burning Man is an annual event that takes place in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, where proper attire varies from funky costumes to no clothing whatsoever. It is a festival that some say is "indescribable" until you have actually attended the event, and over 60,000 people from around the world come to celebrate this festival of community spirit and self-reliance.

For the newcomers, you hit the jackpot! In celebration of our release of "Spark: A Burning Man Story", Passion River Films is going to share with you some of the information you need to know prior to attending the festival. Whether you are just curious to know more about Burning Man or actually plan on going for your first time, this blog post will be very insightful for you.

Here are a couple of facts about Burning Man that you should know:

1) You must, must, must, must bring your own food, water, and shelter

Source: http://festpop.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gift5-640x480.jpg

No food, water, or shelter is provided at Burning Man. You need to bring all the necessary supplies to withstand the hot weather, the dry atmosphere, and anything else to help you get through the week-long festival.

2) It is a "Gift" economy

Source: https://futurereality.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/bmmoney.jpg

At Burning Man, gift giving is highly encouraged to build a stronger community. People attending the event share with one another whatever they can, from homemade bracelets to hot dogs. Also, the act of giving the gift must be unconditional and is done without the expectation of anything in return. So there is no need to bring cash unless you plan on paying for transportation or going to a hotel after the event.


3) The later the better

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Don't come to Burning Man early. If you arrive at the festival before the start time, it may take you even longer to get in. You'll be stuck in a car in the middle of a hot, arid desert for hours, plus you can't wait on the side of the road due to safety hazards, which places more stress on the workers who are setting up for the festival. So plan your transportation accordingly since it is actually better to come late than early.  

4) "Leave no trace"

Source: http://www.bellenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Burning-Man-2011-the-burners-left-the-desert-with-no-trace-that-they-were-there.jpg

After the festival is over, everyone needs to pick up every single item off the ground. Burning Man emphasizes on having a clean environment, so even if an item isn't yours, just pick it up and take it with you. 

5) Just have fun

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Most importantly, have fun when attending Burning Man. It is a festival supporting creativity, the "why not's", and the ability to become anything you desire. Try out new things that you would never have seen yourself doing and take the time to go on a journey of self-discovery.

Want to learn more about Burning Man? Our film "Spark: A Burning Man Story" brings you behind-the-scenes, where you will discover how official staff and crew members prepare for the week-long festival. 

Check out the trailer for the film here.

Here is a handy guideline for you Burning Man enthusiasts to help you better prepare for the festival, if you plan on going: Burning Man Survival Guide (courtesy of the official Burning Man website)

Eric Jung

E: eric@passionriver.com
P: 732-321-0711