So I’m going to a Canadian festival roughly modeled after Burning Man alone this week. I’ve never gone to something like this before, but expect to have a weird time (hopefully in a good sense).

Have you ever gone to something kinda like this (BM itself, a regional burn, outdoor multi-day music festival with that kind of vibe)? I’d love to hear people’s stories/hard-earned wisdom.

Edit: It was the coolest thing I have ever experienced, and I now understand why people had a hard time picking out one specific story in this thread :)

  • blarghly@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    So I’ve considered attending these sorts of things for a while. And honestly, I think I’d be a good fit, based on what I’ve read about the sort of people camps look for. I’m cooperative, easygoing, helpful, and I like contributing to common goals. I have more experience in nature/camping than 99% of people and am well versed in LNT. I have a fair bit of experience doing diy projects, and am at least somewhat competent with carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, welding, and building/deconstructing temporary structures. I’m a big wall climber and am rope access certified, and am good at solving problems of moving heavy things where I need them or using leverage and ropes to exert lots of force. And I have the sort of athleticism that lets me do manual labor in the hot sun all day. For all practical purposes, I think I’d be a great addition to most people’s camp.

    you’re a participant, an integral part of the experience for everyone else

    But this bit is honestly terrifying. Really, I never really “got” the appeal of festivals… you just show up at a place and… look at things? Talk to people? Based on pics and videos I’ve seen of these events, the art looks cool. And the people I’ve met who are burners are cool people. But I feel a kind of existential dread that once the work is done and it is time to “enjoy” the event, I’ll just end up walking around, looking at things, being like “that’s cool”, awkwardly talking to no one or having very shallow, surface level conversations, and being bored.

    So I challenge you: convince me that going to one of these events will be a good time.