"How it Works" and "Chain of Command" Charts

Ever wonder how the alphabet soup of different groups organizing PDF interact with each other? These charts help illustrate the "Chain of Command" at PDF and "How PDF Works."

Click on the file names to download full size versions.

Attachment	Size
playa del venn diagram final.pdf	334.68 KB
playa del chain of command final.pdf	320.18 KB

BOD Annual Retreat Minutes

The Board of Directors manages the long term planning for PDF, Inc. View minutes from BOD annual working retreats 2007-2009. Minutes for the 2010/2011 meeting are forthcoming.

Attachment	Size
Retreat09.pdf	151.89 KB
PDFboardretreat2008.pdf	126.23 KB
2007_BOD_Retreat_Minutes.pdf	168.71 KB

IRS info

This "complete" document is our entire application to the IRS for nonprofit recognition. It includes corporate charter and bylaws, as well as the IRS app itself.

This "advance ruling" document is the initial IRS response granting us provisionally approved status in 2003, with final determination after five years of operations.

This "final ruling" document is the 2008 response affirming our public charity status.

Here are our IRS filings for the last few years.

2007 990EZ
2008 990EZ
2009 990EZ
2010 990EZ

1-12-12 Burning Pony Express

Happy Birthday Kreskin - Burning Pony Express
(note, this archive has corrected an error in the email. The new guidelines are for BURNING art not FLAMING art)

January 12th is the Amazing Kreskin's 77th birthday. As his site proclaims "Even now, I know what you are thinking." Since you were thinking of Playa del Fuego, here's some info about PDF planning, which happens year round. This BPE fills you in on the latest developments, invites you to a planning meeting, and gives you some charts. Until everyone you know has a subscription, please forward this to anyone who might be interested.

Subscribe here, http://playadelfuego.org/node/54
You can contact us at bpe-editor@playadelfuego.org

1. PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING Sunday, Jan. 22nd at 2 p.m.
2. B.O.D. MEMBER UPDATE
3. OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES
4. TICKET SALES DATES TBD
5. ART GRANTS DATES TBD
6. NEW BURNING ART GUIDELINES
7. "HOW IT WORKS" & "CHAIN OF COMMAND" CHARTS
8. BOARD RETREAT

1. PLANNING MEETING Sunday, Jan. 22nd at 2 p.m.
You and Kreskin both know you have good ideas and care about PDF, here's your chance to speak up! Getting on the PDF Planning Committee is as easy as making a conference call, or attending the meeting in person. That means the conference call is the Planning Meeting and everyone who calls in (even to listen) is on the Planning Committee. The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22nd at 2 p.m. in Takoma Park, MD. To call in, Dial: 1-712-432-3100. When Prompted enter the Conference code: 593879. Proposed agenda items are on the PONY, click here http://playadelfuego.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1845
The event's exact location is on the PONY, click here http://playadelfuego.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1849

2. B.O.D. MEMBER UPDATE
2011 has been a year of transition for the Playa del Fuego Board of Directors.

This year we heartily welcomed three new members, Don "Mungo Jerry" Elwell, Mary "Evl" Shaffer and Barry "Blue" Silber. Also we welcome Lauren "Ananas" Oviatt back into active membership. We look forward to your new energy, enthusiasm, and contributions.

In 2011 Playa del Fuego Board of Directors members Mike "Magorn" Galleher, Ben Sarsgard, Joanna Barnum and "Naked" Ron Vogelsang have all taken emeritus status. They will be around to advise and contribute, but will no longer be active or hold office. Thanks to each of them for their years of work in building the PDF community. Your contribution made a difference.

3. OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES
Andy Wing has stepped aside as Art Grants Coordinator and has taken over Joanna Barnum's position as Board of Directors Secretary. Oscar "O Man" Yong and Thibeaux Lincecum have stepped up to coordinate Arts Grants for 2012. Many of you know Thibeaux from the event going back several years now. In addition O Man is one of the NY Regional Contacts.

4. TICKET SALES DATES TBD
Ticket sales dates for the May 2012 Playa del Fuego will be determined at the next Planning meeting scheduled for January 22. Check back soon.

5. ART GRANTS DATES TBD
Art Grants are TBD. Pending ticket sales dates, the new Arts Grants leadership will set dates for Art Grants in 2012. Check back soon.

6. NEW BURNING ART GUIDELINES
Hot news, there are new burning art guidelines available to artists and teams that build burning art. These have been developed to allow maximum fire fun while keeping the largest number of people and their stuff safe. Check them out here http://playadelfuego.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1838

7. "HOW IT WORKS" & "CHAIN OF COMMAND" CHARTS
Ever wonder how the alphabet soup of different groups at PDF interact with each other? The community, the Planning Committee, Board of Directors, ARCs, GODs, volunteers and coordinators all work together to make PDF happen. These charts illustrate the "Chain of Command at PDF" and "How PDF Works". View them here http://playadelfuego.org/node/70.

8. BOARD RETREAT
The PDF Board will hold it's annual retreat, which is really a business meeting, in February. The Board will be planning out the longer term strategy of the organization and re-energizing for 2012. Look for minutes to be put up on the web site some time before March.

Dogs

Q: Are dogs allowed at PDF?

A: No.

General

What is a Burn?

A burn is an event related to Burning Man - it is a celebration of the spirit of radical self-expression, community, and participation. Burns are typically held several times per year, while Burning Man takes place once a year. Burns have happened in Brooklyn, NY, San Francisco, CA, Assateague Island, MD, Austin, TX, Wisconsin, Vancouver, Arizona, Florida, Thailand, and many other places the author of this faq This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it hasn't heard about yet.

I've heard of Burning Man. What's that all about?

Burning Man is a yearly outdoor arts festival that takes place in the Nevada Desert. It's hard to say exactly what Burning Man's about - it's about the creation of a cohesive, yet temporary community based on the idea that art is a public good. It's about participation. It's about respect for the earth and it's inhabitants. Go to their web site to read more about it.

How are Playa Del Fuego Burns different from Burning Man?

Burning Man takes place on public land managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management. The land we are using is privately owned by Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club (VNVMC). Also, Playa Del Fuego Burns are much smaller than Burning Man; the largest burn we've ever had was about 1000 people. Playa Del Fuego Burns are also a lot shorter than the Burning Man festival: while Burning Man takes place over the course of a week, Playa Del Fuego Burns have recently been five days and four nights, Thursday late afternoon to Monday noon. That means that you need four to five days worth of food, water, clothes, and other supplies.

Also keep in mind that VNVMC is not quite as remote as the Black Rock Desert. There are grocery stores and restaurants within driving distance. Shopping center at the cintersection of 301 and 299 includes a fast food restaurant, a major chain grocery store, a dollar store, a drug store and a local pizza parlor. There is a major chain hardware store adjacent to that shopping center with a gas station and a sit-down restaurant.

What is Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club (VNVMC)?

These are the people that own the land that the burn is being held on. We used to hold Playa Del Fuego at Assateague Island National Seashore, but we have outgrown the National Park Service's facilities.

What kinds of things happen at Playa Del Fuego Burns?

That depends entirely on you, the participant! In the past, people have brought art installations (combustible and non-), performed music, created games to play, made interactive group performance art, and all kinds of other things. Often meals will spontaneously go potluck style; a curious, chaotic free-for-all of food and drink. Giving gifts is the norm.

See Andy Wing's East Coast Burn Burn History page for pictures and a journal of our previous burns, from before we moved to VNVMC up until or most recent VNVMC burn.

What does "Leave no Trace" mean?

Burning Man and Playa Del Fuego participants practice the Leave No Trace ethic. Leave No Trace means that after we've left the site, there is no indication of our ever having been there; we take out every piece of trash we brought in. Even "biodegradable waste" or "compostable waste" must be disposed of properly. That means no cigarette butts too. Nothing is left behind; no excuses. We do not descend on VNVMC every few months for the purpose of trashing it. We rely on the participants to police themselves and each other (hint: that's you! *grin*). Plan accordingly to minimize waste; it's amazing how easy trash management can be with an ounce of preparation! A note about the dumpsters: they are there because the Vets' require them. Please do not put burning or smoldering ashes or items into the dumpsters on Monday morning. Please do not bring large items and plan to dispose of them in the dumpster. You may use them to dispose of normal camping/household type trash.

A note about cigarettes: I've been told that altoids tins and the like make great personal ash trays!

Please read the Leave No Trace outdoor ethic essay. Leave No Trace is of utmost importance to continuing our celebration at VNVMC.

That all sounds amazingly cool! Can I go?

Yes. All are welcome. Please note that if you're under 21 you must not consume alcohol.

All participants under the age of 18 *must* have a designated guardian over the age of 21, it's the law! There are no exceptions.

Is it ok if I bring my kids?

We have participants of all ages, but parents reading this probably have a million questions of their own. To attempt to address these issues, we have a Parent FAQ, for parents bringing younger children with them, and a Parents with Older Children FAQ, for parents whose teenaged children wish to attend.

Great. When is the next one?

May 28th-31th 2004. Tickets are on sale now! Visit the Home Page for info.

top

--->I have artwork/baked goods/personal items I'd like to sell. How do I apply for the vending area?

There is absolutely, positively, *no vending* of any kind permitted at Playa del Fuego. PDF is an experiment in temporary community and our economy is based on gifting. Try it out!

How do I get there?

This varies greatly depending on your mode of transportation and where you're coming from. While it pains us to have to say so, the best way to get there is by car. Greyhound does not go VNVMC, and there is no public transportation to speak of. VVMC is about 3 hours from New York City, 1 hour from Philadelphia, 2 hours from Baltimore, 2 and 1/2 hours from Washington DC, about 3 and 3/4 hours from Richmond, VA, and about 5 hours from Albany, NY.

Directions can be found on the directions page.

The closest major airport is Philadelphia International Airport.

What's the cost of admission?

Check the tickets page for the current pricing tier information. everyone is a participant!---->

How can I help?

There are things you must do if you attend, and then there are things you can do if you're interested in them.

If you attend, you must:

* Help keep the campsite clean. This includes your mess and other people's mess. It's all one mess. If you're heading over to the dumpster, grab your neighbor's bag of trash too. They'd do the same for you. Furthermore, do NOT leave food or anything else behind when you leave in the hopes that someone will want it. They never do, and someone ends up having to dispose of it.
* Help out other burners in need -- be it helping pitch a tent, build an effigy, or introducing yourself to people who look lost or lonely.
* Know your limits. If you get really messed up, you wind up messing up other people's good time, because they have to take care of your dumb ass. Plus we'll never let you live it down.
* Be aware. This isn't a vacation on a caribbean island, man.
* Be prepared. Bring *everything* you could need for five days and four nights (and then add an extra of each item it you really want to be sure and have the room).
* Respect other participants and our hosts. No means no. Goes without saying, right? In case you happen to run across a fellow participant who hasn't gotten it yet or has forgotten, feel free to remind 'em that we are guests at someone else's home (many of the Vets and their families actually live there).

Things you can do, if you're interested:

* Be a greeter at the Gate. If you've been to one of our burns before, you can help us get the word out about leaving no trace and general site rules. You get to meet everybody as a greeter. E-mail gate-teamlead@playadelfuego.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for information on being a greeter!
* Be a Playa Del Fuego Ranger. We have our own set of Black Rock Ranger veterans who can help answer questions, interact with authorities, and provide communications assistance. E-mail Ranger-lead@playadelfuego.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for information on being a Ranger!
* Be on the Fire Team. Volunteering for Fire Team is a great way to see and be seen, and in the end, it will warm you three times over: once for stacking, once for burning, and once for the warm satisfaction as all your co-participants enjoy your gift! Email fire-teamlead@playadelfuego.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for information on being on the Fire Team!
* Be part of the Department of Public Works! You'll work hard, but you'll have fun. Without DPW, the event just doesn't happen, so we need your help. The DPW crew gets all the action.

How do VNVMC regulations affect us?

The VNVMC guys are amazingly cool about letting us do our thing. For instance, we can run around naked. Really! This is private land. However, there are some things we just can't do at VNVMC. Also, you don't have to take my word for it..read the policies in the VNVMC's own words! Then read on.

* Fireworks. Fireworks are an absolute no-no. Fireworks are illegal in the state of Delaware and they risk setting off an uncontrollable forest fire, which would be a very very bad thing!

* People under 21 consuming alcohol. Not cool. For real. Not only do you get a hefty fine and possibly arrested, you can single-handedly shut down the entire event by making all the people over 21 go to jail. Please for the love of God and the people who can get into serious trouble for your screwups, do not drink alcohol if you're not legally able to do so.

* Driving while intoxicated. This one's a no-brainer, right? The land owners have made it very clear that anyone who is intoxicated will not be allowed to leave the event. If you're not of age, or if you plan on driving during the evening, please save yourself a possible arrest... just don't consume alcohol.

* Random Fires. You can have a fire if it's contained and supervised in your camp. Tiki torches are OK and even encouraged as it will be quite dark out there. We have a few fire spots in the camp area and one large burn area for the bigger stuff. Do NOT leave burning fires unattended in your camp; a breeze can blow sparks into tents and cause serious fires.
* Cars & Parking.

This is pretty important. We've got a pretty good idea what the VNVMC intend for us to do now, so please read this page on the Vehicle Policy.

When planning your camp, please take this vehicle policy into account. Plan your gear storage, shade, tools and other necessities to minimize the hassle of having to walk back and forth to the parking lot. Make plans to anchor your improvised shade to something other than your car. Get a nice tent or other structure to sleep in (or find some nice warm person and share theirs!). We will try to arrange the parking lot so that people sleeping in vehicles can all park together.

* Loudness Policy. The VNVMC needs to preserve its rapport in the community. To that end, they have asked that we greatly reduce the volume of any loud activity after 12:00 am. The VNVMC have indicated that if we are unable to comply with "turn-down" then we will be required to "turn-off". Daytime noise levels, as of now, are unrestricted. This goes for musical performances, both electronic and acoustic, obnoxicators, vehicle and machinery noises, everything.

Many many thanks for your help with this!

* Going onto private VVMC areas, buildings, and sacred land. The VNVMC has some areas that are completely *off limits* to us:

o The area around the flagpole -- the flagpole is near the pavillion. It is clearly marked with a fence and a gate. Do not enter this area, and if you pass by it please do so with a sense of quietude and respect as it is a memorial and contains the ashes of the VNVMC's friends.
o The Clubhouse -- The clubhouse is a yellow and white building.
o The area to the left of the road -- As you enter the gate you will be on a gravel road. Stay on the road and to the right of the road; do NOT go wandering around to the left of the road. There are two exceptions to this and that is the portapots and the shower house: if you use the showers you may walk over but please get back onto the right side as soon as you are finished; don't dawdle around. This is the VNVMC's private living area.
o The helicopter -- Yes, there is a helicopter. This is also a memorial to the Vets' dead friends so please stay away from it and definitely DO NOT touch it.

We want to be invited back. Please comply with their wishes. And honestly, we can't stop them from hurting you if you don't.

Please, no climbing on the buildings. Why do I even have to say this?

If you have read the above, use common sense and observe the Golden Rule, you'll have no problems whatsoever. Remember, our rangers are there to help, but please don't be careless and overburden them.

I've heard something about a photography/videography policy. Can I take photos? Can people take photos of me?

All participants, whether they're photographers or not, should read the Photography and Videography Guidelines. Know your rights as a subject, and get to know photography/videography etiquette at the event. If you have questions, e-mail Rob Carlson, ' ); //--> This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it "> rob@vees.net This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

How is the site laid out?

There will be a designated "quieter" camping area. Pitch your tent there, if you wish. Further from the gate, near the stage and the pavillion is the "burnable art" area. Beyond that is the "louder" camping area, where most theme camps choose to set up. Anyone sleeping in an RV or van will be directed to camp there or along the fence to the way right as you enter.

Ok, so camping is where it's at. What do I have to do to get a ticket?

See the tickets page! And please purchase in advance, it really helps us out! :)

What luxuries can I expect at VNVMC?

Porta-johns will be provided. There will be a roll-off dumpster at the gate available for our use as well; ALL trash must go in that dumpster or else go home with a participant. There is a stage with a roof. All bands, video artists, electronic artists, and any other performers who have not brought their own performance space and would like to use the VNVMC stage will be coordinated through the stage coordinator This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . Please contact him if you want to spin, play, or whatever on the stage. The electricity on the stage is for the main stage only! The VNVMC do not permit us to run extension cords off the stage for any reason. Please don't plan on plugging in your RV or espresso machine.

There is a central pavilion with picnic tables and grills as well. Use them if you wish but bring your own charcoal and be prepared to clean up after yourself. Please do not leave food in the area assuming someone else will eat it! Flies, wasps, and local pets are attracted to all the loose food and make the area less enjoable.

The electricity in the pavillion is available for art installations which are within the boundaries of the pavillion. As with the stage, extension cords are verboten.

There is a hose where you can get water for washing, and it comes from a new well; you can drink it. There is also a shower facility at the VNVMC; the water does run hot occasionally. Please keep your showers to five minutes and save some hot water for everyone. top

The mosquitoes at Assateague were awful! Thank god we don't have to worry about that anymore!

Oh yes you do! Bring your DEET; VNVMC is in the heart of Delaware tidal marsh lands, and it can get very buggy out there. It's not as bad as Assateague, but you really want to take certain precautions, especially if you're a sweet person. :)

Okay. I've read all that, I understand what I have to do in order to have a place to stay, and I will drench myself in DEET before getting out of my car. What other hazards await me? How's the weather out there?

The third biggest concern is the weather. Plan your costumery to be as versatile as possible. Bring rain gear (if everyone brings rain gear, we can be assured of good weather!), bring warm clothes and summer clothes too. Bring clothes you think will keep you way too warm, and you'll probably be just a little bit too cold. Hats, gloves, and rain gear are all safe bets. It's one thing to walk from your car into a building in 60 degree weather, and it's quite another thing to be outside for three days straight in 60 degree weather. Bring warm clothes, thank me later.

Also, it's a good idea to have a contingency plan for heavy rain or high winds, both of which are very common and can arrive without warning. Will your tent withstand 60 mph gusts sustained for two hours or longer? What happens if it starts raining and your tent is suddenly flooded? Practice building and tearing your tent down with your tent mates so you can do it quickly and efficiently should the need arise.

Onc nice thing about being at VNVMC is that we don't have to stay clothed. Depending on the conditions, being naked is warmer than wearing wet clothes.

Now, what should I bring with me?

Just like at Burning Man, you are required to bring what you need to survive. This includes:

* Water
* Food
* Cooking and eating gear (utensils, pot, pan, stove, etc..)
* Shelter, in case you want to sleep or if it rains
* First Aid items
* Sunscreen
* Mosquito repellant
* Hot weather clothing
* Cold weather clothing
* Trash Bags (Leave no trace! Pack it in, Pack it out!)

Make sure you have enough of everything to last all four days. VNVMC and Playa Del Fuego do not provide any shelter, food, water, or other supplies nor will they be for sale at the site. In fact, nothing will be for sale at the event as money is not allowed for anything other than buying tickets or setting on fire. Barter away! Give gifts!

In addition to the basics of life, you'll want to bring things that you enjoy and can be enjoyed by others. This includes:

* Decorative things, for body or environment
* Music (but if you need electricity for your music, you must bring it yourself..there's no electricity out there)
* Gifts!
* Performance
* Costume
* Art of any sort
* Other fun things to share

Remember!!! FIREWOOD IS INCLUDED in your ticket price! We are purchasing in bulk from a local contractor. There will be enough for use in the designated fire pits or burn barrels (for burning and warmth, not for construction of art projects...) The pile you can pick from will be marked. Please do not overfeed the fires. The wood needs to last all weekend.

Can I bring my dog?

No.

You mentioned potluck meals earlier. What do I need for that?

Bring whatever tickles your fancy, whatever you specialize in. Bring your mom's lasagne. Bring some littleneck clams and a steamer. Or bring a solar oven and bake a tofu-ginger cheesecake. Bring a large salad adorned with exotic vegetables. Whatever you'd be pleased to walk around with offering people. Sharing food is a wonderful way to meet people.

In terms of cooking tools, grills, etc, when in doubt, bring your own. Many people bring grills and charcoal, and will be happy to share grill space. If you've got dietary restrictions, though, you might want to bring your own. If you're a meat-eating person, you may find out that the only grills available are vegetarian only! Or vice versa. The best way to ensure that your bases are covered is to cover all your base, dig?

And don't even think about leaving your half-eaten food lying around the camp. When you're finished cooking, put all of your food away and wash all of your dishes.

What happened to the trash barrels?

In PDFs past, in addition to the dumpster at the gate, participants were free to take advantage of a number of trash barrels spaced out around the site. The trash barrels were emptied out by hardworking and dedicated volunteer Paul Taylor. Well it's high time for participants to take the matter into their own hands!

In the spirit of not letting all these free trash barrels go to waste, there is a grassroots project in the works to share the labor and make trash management easy for everyone. Your name (or the name of your camp) will be affixed to the barrel, so participants in the Adopt-A-Barrel program can reap the rewards lavished upon them by a thankful community of generous and sexy burners. To participate, e-mail or find Kathleen Ellis This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

What are the rules concerning fires at the VNVMC?

No fires on the ground are permitted, at all. That's the basic rule. If you have burnable art, or fire of any kind for that matter, it must be either on top of something that will prevent the ground from getting scorched, or in some kind of container like a grill. There are burn barrels around the site to help keep people warm at night! Wood for these public barrels is provided.

Also, all fires, from tiki torches in camp to grills to burning effigies must be watched by some human being. If you have little candles outside your tent please blow them out when you go to sleep. We love tiki torches, but if you don't have somebody keeping an eye on them, please put them out. Rangers will extinguish fires that aren't supervised.

Fire performances, like fire poi, staff, blasts, eating, transfer, etc, will be relegated to the 'burning art' area, but this is more of a guideline than a rule. If you're a fire performer, please do what you need to do to ensure your safety and the safety of others. If you're playing with fire the assumption will be that you know what you're doing.

Incidentally, if you're a fire performer and you wanna show your stuff when the big effigy goes up Sunday night, contact Kate Gunterman This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . She's getting together a conclave-like expo of fire maniacs.

How can I get in touch with other burners to get some collaboration on my project, and how do I announce to others about the things I'm planning for PDF?

There are several ways of drawing attention to your requests and announcements. Firstly, the Burning Pony Express, edited by Jodi Jost This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , goes out to quite a few people on a periodic basis in the months preceding each event. Send her a brief write-up and see it in the next BPE!

If you'd like to discuss your idea in a forum, or if you'd just like to meet area burners, there are many regional mailing lists. In the Baltimore/Washington metro area there is the Baltwash-Burning e-mail mailing list. Be advised that list traffic can get pretty high. There are other regional mailing lists too; check here for information about contacting locals in your area.

Boy, am I ever confused! I've got more questions! Who do I contact for the answers?

I don't think you've read the FAQ all the way through. Read it again. Read the whole thing. I mean it. None of this information is optional.

No, really, I read the whole thing. Please, I have some serious questions. Who do I ask?

Send an e-mail to the FAQ author: true This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Don't be too afraid to ask. I don't bite very hard and any questions you have help me improve this FAQ!

Did you write this lovely FAQ all by yourself?
Hell no! I get by with a little help from my friends on the PDF Planning list and from my FAQ-buddy Kathleen, who wrote the original and took over when I wasn't able. Thanks everybody!

Parents of Older Children

Your 18 year old has started talking about going to these "Burns", and you're not sure what to make of it. Is he going to arsonist's school? Will she come home only to hang around in airports handing out religious flyers? You wouldn't be much of a parent if you weren't concerned for your son or daughter's well being. This page is for you. The questions and answers are based on correspondence with a self-described over-protective parent.

First, a note about me, the author of this FAQ page. My name is Keith Engle, and I'm what we call a Playa del Fuego Ranger. The PDF Rangers contribute to the event by looking out for the safety and well being of participants. We include people trained in emergency medicine as EMT's or physicians, firefighting, and conflict resolution. I'm also the father and custodial parent of a seven year old, and I am quite comfortable bringing him to Playa del Fuego events.

Before I begin, I'm going to try to explain as well as I can what a burn is, because parents sometimes worry that burns are simply drug fueled raves or some such. They aren't. I'm 32 years old, I live in the suburbs with my seven year old son, and I'm a devout Christian. I don't think I'd exactly fit in at a rave. A burn is basically a group of people who get together to create an atmosphere where we can create and celebrate different types of art, even if we aren't all particularly talented artists. Much of the way we do things is determined by what makes this work well. We are very tolerant and accepting, but we have a few guidelines by which we work.

a) No spectators. This means that everyone who comes is a participant. There are many ways to participate, and we each choose our own way of doing so. There are musicians, sculptors, and painters for example, but there are many other ways to participate as well. Personally, I participated in the last burn I attended by rangering, teaching an Aikido class, and paying for the campsites at Assateague. For the next burn I'll be rangering and teaching again, and in addition I'll be coordinating people helping to feed the other organizers and collecting food to be donated to a charity.

b) Community building. One of the biggest negative trends sociologists see in modern society is the breakdown of community. We are so wrapped up in our daily lives that we never really get to know our neighbors, or much of anyone else outside our immediate circle. Robert Putnam writes in the book "Bowling Alone":

"Television, two-career families, suburban sprawl, generational changes in values--these and other changes in American society have meant that fewer and fewer of us find that the League of Women Voters, or the United Way, or the Shriners, or the monthly bridge club, or even a Sunday picnic with friends fits the way we have come to live. Our growing social-capital deficit threatens educational performance, safe neighborhoods, equitable tax collection, democratic responsiveness, everyday honesty, and even our health and happiness."

To fight this, we emphasize the importance of community. According to Christian author Scott Peck's book The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace "In community, instead of being ignored, denied, hidden, or changed, human differences are celebrated as gifts"(p.62). Defining aspects of community include Inclusivity, Commitment, and Consensus. For more on what I mean by community, check out http://interweavers.com/cohousing/differentdrum.cfm.

c) Radical self expression. Basically, this just means that we aren't here to say how good or bad your art is, so go ahead and really express yourself. It's the thought that counts.

d) Radical personal responsibilty. We're all grownups here, and that means that nobody is going to go along behind you and pick up your messes. If you think something should be done, it's up to you to make it happen. I've discovered that this attitude does a lot promote people getting things done, because they know that it will do no good to complain that nobody does it.

e) Leave no trace. Because this is a camping event, respect for the environment is regarded as the full responsibility of each individual attendee. This ties in to personal responsibility

So, to the questions:

Who is the central organizer and responsible person for each of the burns?

This is one of those questions that seems simple but isn't. The basic answer is "Nobody". An equally true answer is "Everybody". Another aspect of community is summed up as follows: "... another of the essential characteristics of community is a total decentralization of authority. Remember that it is antitotalitarian. Its decisions are reached by consensus. Communities have been refered to as leaderless groups. It is more accurate, however, to say that a community is a group of all leaders. "

From a legal standpoint, the insurance for our burns is purchased in the name of "Playa del Fuego" which is our incorporated non-profit.

How is the burn contracted for?

We have a person who volunteers to be the contact person for the owners of the private land the use of which we rent for the burn. That person hands the owners of the land money for rent and serves as liaison between PDF and the owners.

Is there insurance? Who is liable?

Yes, there is insurance. "Who is liable?" is another of those "it seems simple but it isn't". If you're looking for someone at whom you can point if someone gets maimed for life, where to point your finger kind of depends on how they got themselves maimed. The law basically says that first and foremost a person is liable for his or her own actions and their consequences. Liability only shifts to another party when that party has done something maliciously or recklessly to cause the injury. So, if the burn is organized such that there is an easily foreseeable risk of injury; say, we build our bonfire right next to a full gas truck and we encourage everyone to gather around it, liability would be ours for any injury that occurs. But if somebody decides they want to look in the gas tank of their car and lights a match to help them see, it's on their own heads, no matter where they happen to be parked. So the answer to the question "who is liable?" is "whoever is liable."

What does the insurance cover?

Liability insurance protects us in case somebody (or their insurance company) decides that a significant amount of damage to their person was caused by the way the event was organized and sues Syndicate Communications. The insurance company we use covers events like sporting events. We described the kinds of events that would be going on, and they called us an extremely low risk event.

Who is covered?

Any person who paid for a ticket to the burn while they are on VVMC property.

Is drug use overlooked at these events? Who patrols for use of illegal substances? Who's responsible if there is such use?

I'm going to treat these as one, since the second and third pretty much assume an answer of "no" for the first question. First, my personal experience: I've never seen anyone use any drug stronger than alcohol at a burn. I can think of four sets of parents off the top of my head who have no qualms whatsoever about bringing their young children to a burn, who definitely take their responsibility as parents very seriously. It is unknown what people do in privacy at PDF, but what someone does there is just that: private. This would be true even if we had teams of police officers patrolling night and day. Basically, it is not the responsibility of any burn organizer to know what each participant is doing every minute of the burn, nor is it legal for us to try. There is plenty to do and not enough people volunteering to do it as it is without trying to take individual responsibility away from people that way.

How can people who are at the burn be contacted?

Cell phone, although coverage is spotty in that area. There is a phone in the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club's meeting hall that is available for Rangers to use to make calls in case of medical emergency, but it is not available for incoming calls or casual outgoing calls.

Does everyone who goes to the burn camp out there?

I've never known anyone not to camp out at a Playa del Fuego Burn.

How are these events organized?

Come to think of it, my answer to the first question and my opening statements answer this as well as I can

Is there any cult-like activity that goes on at these?

My first reaction to this question was to chuckle and say "heavens, no!" But then it occured to me that David Koresh's followers might have said the same thing, so I decided to look up an objective definition of "cult" and go from there. Much to my surprise the word "cult" is used in a lot of different ways, as can be seen at http://www.religioustolerance.org/cults.htm However, I found a definition that fits what came into my mind when I read this question. I present it here, and I will answer for this definition. If this answer does not satisfy you, please feel free to contact me This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it with your definition of the word and I will happily reply. http://www.xenu.net/cic/definit.html defines a cult as a group that meets the following criteria:

1. It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members.
2. It forms an elitist totalitarian society.
3. Its founder leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma.
4. It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds and recruit people
5. Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

We don't meet ANY of these criteria. We would be disgusted by any attempt at coercion of any kind. We are far from elitist. As a community, we strive to be egalitarian and accepting, the exact opposite of elitist. We have no leader or founder. We began as a few people getting together on the beach. We have no "ends" to justify, and we don't have any wealth; ticket sales are used to fund the events.

How often do people get hurt at these burns and how severe are their injuries?

There have been a few injuries in the past but we frequently have events with no injuries.

That's the long and the short of it. Thanks for everybody's help... it would not have worked without YOU.

Items one, two, and three concerned where people had parked there cars and a person who had vomited from drinking too much. This person was asessed by a Ranger trained in first aid, and was fine except that he felt silly the next day. That's it. Our biggest burn ever, with about thirty people spinning fire, and a bonfire at least 15 feet tall, and one person bumped his nose on a piece of plastic. I've been to three other burns as well, and nobody has ever been injured. This doesn't mean that nobody will ever be injured, or that we promise to keep anyone from doing anything that might be unsafe. It simply means that radical personal responsibility means expecting the best of everyone. I've found that people tend to live up, or down, to expectations.

Will there be police on site?

No. Why would there be?

What about fire safety?

We place a great deal of value on personal responsibility, but we also understand that accidents happen. When we have our bonfires, there is always at least one and usually two fully equipped firefighters on hand supervising the activities.

Can minors attend?

Anyone under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult over 21 who is willing to assume legal responsibility for the actions and well-being of the minor attendee. No exceptions, I.D. may be requested at the gate.

I have a couple questions that aren't answered above. Who should I contact?

Make absolutely sure you've read and understand the whole FAQ above. Information in the Parent FAQ and the main Playa Del Fuego Burn FAQ may also be helpful. If you still have questions, you can , email me This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Parents of Younger Children

So, a Playa del Fuego Burn sounds like your thing, but you aren’t sure if it’s something to which you can bring your five year old. You’ve got questions. Well, we’ve got answers.

Please note that in this FAQ, “parent” refers to anyone legally and, more importantly, emotionally responsible for the health, well-being, and upbringing of a child, whether a genetic parent-child relationship exists or not. From the standpoint of the law, and of responsibility, a child is anyone under the age of 18. However, parents of children under age 12 are the primary target audience for this FAQ.

Can I bring along my little one?

Children are allowed at Playa del Fuego; however, this is NOT a child-oriented event. You are your child's parent, no one else. We don't know your standards for what you do or don't want your child to see, so we can't tell you that a Burn is or isn't the place for your little ball of energy. If you have been to previous Playa del Fuego Burns, or to Burning Man, you have some idea of the sort of things to which your child could be exposed. If not, it may be a good idea to come alone for your first burn, rather than pay for a non-refundable ticket and then leave halfway through when junior asks "Mommy, what's a candy-flip?" Additionally, you can ask parents who have brought their children to past Burns what the experience was like for them. Keith Engle, Steph Bean, and Dave Diller are available for this.

One VERY important thing to remember is that YOU will be held responsible if your child enters ANY of the VVMC's sacred areas. If your child is allowed to enter the off limits areas, which are clearly marked and rather difficult to get into by accident, it is guaranteed that you will be ejected from the event immediately. Reasonable supervision of your child should be sufficient to prevent this from being a problem.

Will there be kiddie-focused events there?

Only if you make it happen. As with everything else at a No Spectators event, that's up to you. There is no Kids' Camp, nor are there activities specifically designed for children, unless YOU want them and make them happen.

Will my kids be safe? You aren't all biker pedophiles, are you?

One of the central tenets of our philosophy is radical personal responsibility. Plenty of folks at the Burns love kids, (although some might say they love them best deep fried) and we've never had any safety problems in the past. But there are going to be lots of fires at various times during the weekend, and there are several acres of land and forest in which an unsupervised child could get lost. Keeping your child safe is your responsibility. Again, if you've never been to a Burn, it may be best to come alone to your first so that you can know what you're getting into.

Can I leave my kids in my tent at night while I whoop it up with y'all till sunrise?

This is another question that you must answer for yourself. How would your child react to waking up in a strange place alone? Would he go wandering off in search of the bathroom and risk getting lost? Would she know you were right over there with the people in the cool costumes? Do you feel comfortable leaving your child alone in your tent unsupervised? Because the only supervision your child will receive during the weekend is that which you provide.

Is there babysitting?

Only if you make it happen. There will probably be wonderful people at the event who would be happy to keep an eye on your little bundle of energy while you attend to something, but Day Care Camp does not exist. If you think it should, make it.

Is there a kids' menu?

Only if you make it happen.

What do you mean, all kids must be on leashes?

Just making sure you're still reading this.

I hear certain things happen at Burning Man that I don't want my child to see. Will they happen here?

Because each event is a unique product of the vision and energy of the community, it's impossible to say what will or won't happen at a Burn. If you're worried your child will see something you don't want her to see, you'd be safest assuming she will see it if she comes, and act accordingly.

Will there be changing stations?

Only if you make it happen.

My kid is scared of (insert random practice here). Can you guarantee that no one will do this?

Nope. Again, Radical Personal Responsibility is the order of the day here.

I'm not sure my kids will like it if there aren't Disney movies, Oreos, and gumdrops; will these be provided?

Say it with me: Only if you make it happen.

If we come, and then we have to leave Friday night because my kids don't like it, can we get a refund?

Ticket sales are non-refundable. If you aren't willing to risk having to leave early, it would probably be better if you came alone.

My 14-year old kid wants to learn to spin fire cuz it looks cool. He's pretty coordinated; can he take lessons?

Your child is your responsibility, so it's between you, him, and the person you find who is willing to teach him.

So what you're saying is that my child can come along, but that I'm still his parent so he's my responsibility. That's cool. So how much is it to bring kids along?

Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free of charge. You do not need to purchase tickets ahead of time or buy tickets for them at the gate. Children ages 12 to 18 are charged the adult rate.

I have a couple questions that aren't answered above. Who should I contact?

Make absolutely sure you've read and understand the whole Parent FAQ, and the entire main Playa Del Fuego Burn FAQ. If you still have questions, you can email the authors of this FAQ, Keith Engle or Dave Diller, or email Steph Bean.

Performance

Please read the basics before reading this or contacting anyone for further questions. It will give you a better feel for the nature of the event. Please read the entire faq before asking questions and contacting representatives as described herein.

Q: What is the Stage?

A: The stage is a juiced up performance space for music, readings, experiments and tomfoolery. If you'd like to perform and you need access to electricity or just the psychological boost of being on a raised structure, the stage is your venue.

Q: What kind of performances are you guys interested in?

A: Pretty much anything that doesn't involve human blood or animal cruelty is welcome at Playa del Fuego. We would love to have all types of musicians (DJs, live bands, solo instrumental/singer, drum circle, didgeridoo, experimental, etc.), spoken word, performance art, dancers, fire play and anything else you can think of to do on a stage. If you can simultaneously keep in mind respect for your fellow burners and their experiences, and explore the boundaries of creativity, cause others to transcend to a squishier and more passionate mind state, or just plain rock out....we want you!

Q: So, what's your setup like?

A: We have one stage (approx. 12 ft. x 25 ft. with a roof and solid back) with electricity (approx. 12 outlets). The stage has space in front of it for dancing and you can be as loud as your equipment can handle until 1 am when the stage will close to accommodate the few interested in sleep. If you have a purely visual performance that wouldn’t wake the dead (invoking is ok) you may be able to use the stage after 1am. The electricity from the stage is for STAGE USE ONLY, meaning no extra long extension cords to your margarita blender. There will be a PA system set up on the stage for open use. This will include: Rack with compressor, active cross over and amps. Two 18" EV subs, two high packs, two stage monitors.

Got anything you want to loan? Not included is what we will need for a minimal band set up: extra cables, microphones & stands, etc. If you are in a band, please bring this equipment, as it will not be provided.

Q: Can I get up on stage any time I want?

A: Absolutely not! All stage performances must be coordinated beforehand. For the upcoming Burn, the stage will be 'open' from 10am-1am, Friday-Sunday. The stage will not be open on Monday. If you wish to perform on stage, you must schedule your performance before the event, in order to guarantee your time slot.

Q: Must I perform on the stage? What if I do not want to perform during the stage time allotted to me?

A: There are almost no restrictions on performance. Anyone can perform at any time almost any place. However, you must bring ALL of your own equipment. If you need electricity you will need to bring it with you in the form of a generator or batteries. If you request and are granted a stage time slot, please be prompt and ready to perform when you are scheduled and limit your performance to your pre-allotted time slot. Performers who are not prepared, cancel their performances at the last minute or fail to finish when they are supposed to may be unwelcome on the stage at future Burns. Please have respect for other performers!

Q: What's this I hear about Domes & DJ’s?

A: Several Theme Camps will be hosting various kinds of open performances including but not limited to areas catering to DJ’s & electronic musicians. Please check the Theme Camp section of the website or join one of the many mailing lists on our Website, to find out more information.

Q: I'm a DJ. What kind of equipment should I bring? v

A: Please see the previous question and decide whether or not the stage is even where you want to be. If you decide you'd like to play on the stage assume you need to bring everything, except a PA & Speakers or contact Monk E at performance-lead@playadelfuego.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Q: I'm going to bring my own equipment and I don't want anyone else to use my stuff. Is that cool?

A: Yeah, that's cool. But you are responsible for your own stuff, so if you don't want anyone to use it, put it away when you're not using it. Neither Playa del Fuego nor the Stage Crew is responsible for your equipment, you are. Sharing is awesome, and strongly encouraged, but if you are going cry or throw things if somebody breaks your stuff, you probably shouldn't share it. It is up to you to decide.

Q: I have extra equipment that I'd love to share with people. How should I go about doing that?

A: Awesome! Please contact me at performance-lead@playadelfuego.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and tell me what you have, and when you can bring it. Things we are especially interested in are: band equipment (especially a PA mixer, mics, and cables). Keep in mind before you volunteer your stuff that there is always a chance that something might get damaged and we will not be responsible, so only share stuff with which you are willing to take that chance.

Q: I don't have any equipment, but I really want to perform. What should I do?

A: Read in detail the answer to the set-up question. All equipment described will be for open use, however you will be expected to describe your set-up needs before you are booked in a certain time slot to make sure if you need assistance, it can be provided for you. If you share others equipment, please keep in mind how cool it is that people let you use their stuff so that you can impress us all with your vast talents.

Be nice to it. Pretend it belongs to your parole officer. After all, if you aren’t nice to shared stuff, there will be no more shared stuff for anybody, and that would suck, cuz shared stuff kicks ass. If you need equipment that is not described above, you may contact me to see if I can obtain it for you or direct you to another source. This faq will be updated if people volunteer more equipment to the shared stuff pile, so check back.

Q: My band is very prestigious and cool, and we have a world wide following. Will we be compensated for our performance?

A: Nopeity-nope nope nope. Not that we don't want desperately to experience your very cool performance, but this is a Volunteer Created Event, which means nobody gets paid. Not even me. One reason is to foster the spirit of No Spectators, which seems to shrivel up and whine when group A pays money to see group B perform. It makes group A feel like they don't have to do anything but sit there and be entertained by group B. Which leads to a kinda lazy not-interactive experience. We want people to work for their fun! Another is that dealing with ideas like "art that deserves to be paid for and that that doesn't" and "what is art worth when it's money between friends" makes us feel kind of icky. And yes, we are charging for tickets for this event, but all money raised will just cover the costs for insurance, wood, the land, porta potties, and other necessities. Rest assured, none of us personally see one red cent. So if you can deal with that, then you should definitely perform. Wait, I lied, you will assuredly be compensated for your participation, just in a way that’s a little more nebulous than hard cash.

Q: But surely my group won't have to buy tickets, right? We are, after all, providing a service...

A: Actually, this is FALSE. All attendees of the PDF burn are required to purchase a ticket, even performers. Everyone is providing a service here, that's what the whole thing is about. As mentioned above, this is not a conventional event with the standard audience/performer dichotomy. The mantra of NO SPECTATORS! is very basic to our philosophy, and as everyone is a participant, we will not value one sort of participation over another by waiving anyone's costs. EVERYONE (except small children) pays. I had to buy a ticket just like all of you. And if you don't buy into event philosophy, think of it this way: we have a lot of costs, and we need the money. So please don't whine about your $30 or $40 donation. Feel free to organize a personal fundraiser in your hometown if you need help getting yourself & your gear to PDF. We hope you'll understand that everyone who is working on this burn is doing it out of love, and you will too. It will definitely be worth it.

Q: I don't have any talent, but I really want to perform. What should I do?

A: Do it anyway! Everybody has some talent even if it’s only oddly bordering on disturbingly entertaining. Spawn a new idea and get some friends or area weirdos to help you make it a reality. I mean, if you are completely tone deaf and can't carry a tune to save your life, please don't regale us with a 45 minute long solo a cappella selection from Cats (at least not on-stage). But there is most likely something interesting that you can do, and we want to see it. If you are still shy and unconfident about your performance abilities, but think that after enough 80 proof coaxing you may want to perform, read the answer to the question below about the necessity of pre-registering.

Q: For how long can I perform?

A: That depends on the nature of your performance and how long you want. Generally, performances are limited to ½ an hour to 1 hour, however if you have a large band or other complicated performance that requires a lot of set-up and break-down time, arrangements can be made. We don't discriminate towards 'quality' or 'interesting and non-painful' performers at the stage in order to let anyone who wants to perform (and can make a request before the deadline) do their thing. However, this also leaves the door open for 'experimental' or 'vomit-inducing' performances that only appeal to a small audience, which sometimes consists of only the performer themselves. My thinking is that you can stand to listen to or watch anything if it’s only for an hour, and if you can’t; you can go do something else. Hence the time limitation. Also it depends on the volume of parties interested in stage time, which I don’t know right now. Keep reading to the contact question, and we'll work something out.

Q: I'm not sure I'll be able to come. Will I still be able to perform if I don't pre-register?

A: There is a good chance the schedule will not completely fill up. The best thing to do is check the events board, at the pavilion, which will have a copy of the stage schedule and sign your self up to your desired slot. If you know you will need technical assistance you should find Monk E or Malcolm so we can be certain to help you.

Q: I'm not much of a performer, but I’d still like to help with the stage. I am, however, reliable, helpful, and good at getting stuff done. Is there anything I can do to help?

A: Oh my, yes. See once we get out there, we want everything to run as smoothly as possible, meaning people taking and leaving the stage on time and getting help set up and broken down. Frankly, I don't want to spend the entire event trying to rouse people out of the smoke in their tents so they can take the stage or dragging people off after their time is done. So I will need a crew of stagehands to help me manage this business. As well as people with creative ideas for stage décor. If interested, please contact with the subject 'I want to be a stage hand' and tell me who you are and when you will be willing to work, or what you want to help with. This is not hard, but serious, so don't volunteer unless you are really willing to spend that time helping the performers, and have some sort of time piece to which you can refer.

Q: Wow, this sounds cool. Who do I contact to sign up?

A: Send an email to performance-lead@playadelfuego.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it please put "pdf performance request" as the subject to your email. In the body of the email, identify yourself, give a brief synopsis of the nature of your performance, and give a realistic time range for your performance, including setup and breakdown. By range I mean tell me the absolute shortest amount of time for which you could perform to the longest that you would want to if we have the time, keeping in mind, we probably won't. Also please give a wishful approximation as to the day and time of day you want to perform. Please be flexible, We will schedule basically first come, first serve, so if you have a very specific time you want to be on stage, email us now (and I can tell you now that Saturday and Sunday night time is going to go first)! Also, and this is important, If you are not going to attend the entire event, tell us when you won't be there! Because we will try to schedule people as close to the time/day that they want, but if we can't, we don't want to schedule you for a time you won't be there! We will try to be as accommodating as possible, but please don't yell at us if we can't get you what you want. Once the schedule is figured out, emails will be sent out telling you, your time slot, and we will at least tell you we got your email as soon as we get it. Once we get out there please be as punctual as possible and play nice with the other performers. I will kick you off stage if you are exceeding your time slot, or being an asshole. We all want to have a good time. See you all there.

Q: Who wrote this stupid, lame-attempt-at-being-funny faq, anyway?

A: Alicia Miziolek, Its not THAT lame. and I revised it Malcolm Pettus. Thanks for reading through this long FAQ, I hope to see you all there.

Photographers and Videographers

At this point there will be no proactive camera tagging at the event. Instead, please understand and respect the following four guidelines.

1. Comissatores nudes caveant. Let the naked revellers be wary.

It is illegal for someone to use your likeness for their own gain, YOU are ultimately responsible for your actions. If you don't want to be CAUGHT in a compromising position, don't BE in a compromising position. If you want to be nude at the event, but don't wish to be photographed, either stay in your camp or politely ask individual photographers to stop. If they refuse, find a Ranger to mediate.

2. Your camp is your castle.

If you don't want cameras in your tent, camp, dome, or RV, you have that right (and the backing of the law) to request that of anyone who enters in your area. You as the owner(s) of the camp are ultimately responsible for keeping an eye out and escorting folks back out of your camp if they don't agree. In the event of a conflict, Rangers can help mediate.

3. Don't be a sneaky photographer.

If they can't see you or aren't in a position to object to your photography, DON'T TAKE THE PICTURE. There will be plenty of cool things to photograph and video throughout the weekend if you seek the participants permission. Go up afterwards and ask them if they're cool with being photographed by you. Sneakiness will result in bad karma. Excessive bad karma may result in being asked to leave the event.

4. Respect other's wishes.

If someone asks you to stop photographing them, their decision is FINAL. You may be asked to leave the event if you don't respect the rights of others.
Your Rights as a Subject

Ranger Vees
In the United States, every person has the right to control and specify how their image is used in the media. This legal protection means that a photographer cannot snap a photo of you standing on a street corner and use it for anything other than journalistic purposes. This protects anyone from having our images used without our knowledge to promote a product or a candidate that they do not support. These personal privacy rights have been established and upheld over the years in the courts.

Unless a person's image is being used for bona fide journalistic purposes, publishers do not have the right to reproduce it without their consent. Since media are not welcome at the event in any official capacity, you can safely assume that if your image is taken it will be used only for non-profit and artistic purposes.

Any photographer or videographer participating in this event has been requested to ask permission from every person who appears in their images. If you feel uncomfortable with the attention of a particular photographer, please first ask that person to stop and (if possible) erase any pictures you find objectionable. If the photographer is uncooperative, you have the right to talk to a Playa del Fuego Ranger who will evaluate the situation and possibly ask that person to leave.

You do NOT have to sign any waiver or talent release form that is presented to you. While nobody will stop you if you wish to enter into an agreement with a photographer, we do not endorse any for-profit use of photographs by anyone on site over the weekend. Keep in mind that if you sign a waiver form and you find later that your picture has been taken and used in a way you don't agree with, you may have little or no recourse against the publisher. On the other hand, without a signed waiver you may be entitled to after-the-fact ownership rights to published materials which led to financial gain for the publisher. Courts have often awarded the subjects of such photos partial ownership and a share of the profits from those materials.

Please remember your rights:

* There are no journalists on duty here, so you have the right to stop any recording device used to take pictures of yourself or your projects.
* You do not have to sign any waiver forms presented to you, and as organizers we suggest you don't.
* You have the right to change your mind at any time before or after the event about the use of your image. Ask the photographer or videographer for their contact information to follow up.
* You have the rights to pursue damages if your image is used in a for-profit way that you disapprove of.
* You have the right to call on a Playa del Fuego Ranger to settle the dispute if you cannot come to terms with an over-eager or uncooperative photographer.

Some sections taken from http://www.uwex.edu/ces/webdev/wbtm/digitalphoto.html
Your Rights as a Photographer

Digital photography and video equipment have experienced significant gains in popularity. This equipment makes it possible to capture a still or moving image and publish it on the Internet in a matter of minutes. Publishing still and video images carries with it significant legal and ethical responsibilities when the images include people.

The safest choice is simply to avoid publishing images that include people at all. However, it's understood that the people who participate in the event are a large source of amazing photographic material. Typically the approach in this situation would be to to obtain a signed release form from people appearing on camera at the time the photos or video are shot. However, we are asking all photographers and videographers to refrain from taking any pictures which may be used later for profit or as elements of a larger body of work so we would also ask you not to put anyone in the situation of having to decide on the spot whether or not to sign a waiver.

A more practical approach for this weekend is:

* Ask every one of your subjects for permission to photograph them beforehand.
* If it's possible with your equipment, offer to review the results along with them once you are finished. If not, offer to send them a copy of the images for approval before you publish them in any other context or presentation.
* Be prepared to delete or erase any photographs or video on request of any of the subjects in those segments at any time during the event.
* Please be ready to provide your own contact information, and a web address where the photos will be placed if you are uploading them to the Internet. As part of this, be prepared to remove images from the web at any point in the future, on request of the subject.
* If they are willing, get the contact information of your subjects and contact them if you publish your material (again, not for profit only).
* Offer your subjects a way to obtain an inexpensive copy of your video or photographs if they desire.
* If you are asked by another participant to stop taking pictures of them or certain art projects, STOP. Discuss with them what they would consider reasonable picture-taking. If an agreement can't be reached, WALK AWAY and don't take any more pictures of them or their art.

Some sections taken from http://www.uwex.edu/ces/webdev/wbtm/digitalphoto.html

Ticket Sales Queue

Common Ticket Queue Questions

As the queue has evolved (and some bugs fixed) over the last couple of years, we’ve gotten several questions repeatedly as people try to figure out what is going on (and how they can better their odds, naturally!) Here are the most common questions and answers to them. Hopefully, if you understand how the system works a little better, things will go more smoothly for everyone!

Please note: This is written for 9pm sales time. For 12 noon sales, replace “9:00” with “12:00” in your head!

Will you be emulating BM's new model, since they've demonstrated how to sell lots of tickets quickly?

No. Gotcha!

What happens if I hit reload right as sales open at 9:00:00?

You slow the server waaay the heck down as it has to process the spike in requests, but it doesn’t gain you anything at this point over waiting patiently. Really! Keep reading. As long as you are there in the first minute, you are in the first group.

How does the queue work? What happens if I click on the queue page hours before sales open? Does this help me get a lower spot in line, as if I was standing in line at TicketMonster for concert tickets?

You can click on the link for the queue whenever you want (once the link is available), but “earlier” doesn’t gain you anything, as all the magic happens automatically between 9:00:00 and 9:00:59 without regard to how much earlier you showed up. If you're there ahead of time, cool, but you don't gain any special advantage with it. Before sales open, it's just a placeholder to show you are interested in getting into the queue, until the queue opens and everyone gets randomly sorted into it.

The most important piece to understand here is that everyone that is on the queue page before 9:01:00 has an equal shot at tickets – there is no benefit to reloading at 9:00:00 anymore (that bug got fixed). Everyone who is on the queue page in the first minute will be assigned a random number – there is no “who can reload fastest” advantage here anymore, since now it’s randomized for fairness. That random number then determines your position in the queue.

Huh? That doesn’t make sense. Everyone knows the low positions go to the people with the fasterest interwebs connections who come in right at the first millisecond by hammering reload fifty bajillion like a jerk, right?

Not anymore. We’ve tried hard to level the playing field at this point for both YOUR benefit and the server. Clearly, given the demand, not everyone can come in right at the very very first millisecond, so we’ve made it so that you don’t have to.

So, what happens is that the very first time you click on the link for the queue, your connection is set to auto-refresh every 60 seconds. For example, if you click on the queue link at 8:47:36, you're not really in line yet since the queue isn’t open, and your browser then automatically refreshes at 36 seconds into the minute, at 8:48:36, 8:49:36, etc – on up to 9:00:36. If there are 600 people doing this, then their connections will all automatically refresh sometime between 9:00:00 and 9:00:59 - depending on when they initially loaded the page. Statistically, if everyone lets the system do its work, it is likely that there are about 10 people’s browsers auto-reloading in each second. This helps distribute the load on the server, as 10 connections every second for a minute is a lot easier for it to deal with than 600 requests all in the first second. Again, someone who has a browser that auto-reloads at 9:00:01 has the exact same odds of getting a low queue number as one that auto-reload at either 9:00:28 or 9:00:59.

Why did my queue position increase as I sat? Is that a bug? What the heck is going on here, are people getting in front of me again, like a couple of years ago?

No, it wasn’t a bug in functioning this time, but it was a bug in that the numbers were being shown too early (Note from Ben: this bug is now fixed). Here’s what happens to fill the queue. Remember, it’s all random numbers being assigned in the first minute:

Say the first 10 people that auto-reload on the server in the first second between 9:00:00 and 9:00:01 get assigned random numbers 80, 350, 275, 50, 10, 300, 150, 90, 400, and 25. Say you put these in increasing numerical order, and you are the sixth one to get assigned a queue position, and you randomly get #300. At this snapshot in time, the server would have told you that you are "#8 of 10" because it has only processed 10 connections, and #300 is eighth in order in that list. Woohoo, you say, I’m number eight!

Not so fast! A second later, it's processed another ten, and now those people's random numbers are interspersed. Someone that got a random number lower than 300 but one second after you is now "in front of you", which is fine, because you were all standing there beating on the gate at the same time anyways, and no one was actually “in line” yet. This LOOKS misleading though, because now there are actually 20 people processed in line, and maybe you are now seeing you are "#16 of 20". It looks like you just slid backwards in line, although what really happened is the holes got filled in with the people that randomly got a better lottery number than you.

This process continues throughout the first minute until all the people that were milling randomly at the gates before the queue opened have randomly-assigned places, and at this point the queue is accurate, and you should see you are around "#300 of 800" - which looks like total crap if you think you started out as "#8 of 10"... when the only real problem is you got a high random number and other people slotted in around you. No one bumped you like a couple of years ago, they just had better luck of the draw this time around.

So, since going from "#8 of 10" to "#400 of 600" is very misleading – lots of people complained about it, and understandably so, since it looked really bad to have your number dropping like a stone in the first minute – then the system has been tweaked so it won’t tell you your actual position in the queue until it has finished randomly assigning numbers to everyone there in the first minute and your actual position is set. Once that’s done and those numbers are all filled in, it will tell you where you are. Hang tight!

Is there any way I can get a low queue number?

Not really, unless you can control space and time on a quantum level (in which case we should really talk!). You’re given a random number and it pays no attention to when you came in, who you are, what ISP you use, how awesome your camp is going to be, or how many DJs you keep under your bed for late night tuneage (just don't feed them after midnight).

What happens if I come in at 9:01:02?

The process starts over and a new set of random numbers are drawn for everyone between 9:01:00 and 9:01:59. Those numbers will start to be serviced after everyone who was there on time gets processed. It’s the same system, just bumped back a minute – you have the same chances as everyone else between 9:01:00 and 9:01:59, but you ARE behind everyone who got there before 9:01:00, and all of those in the initial crunch will make their way through the queue before the next batch is handled.

In other words, get there in the first minute if you want first shot!

I have two roommates and we all want to get in the queue, but when we do we all get the same queue number. What gives?

The queue is set up so that one house is one position, basically. Since you can buy six tickets in one purchase, your housemates are all covered, and you have the same odds of a decent queue number as all the other houses coming in for a spot in line. If you want to go to Starbucks, feel free, but be sure you don't go to a Starbucks with other people sitting in the queue or you'll have the same problem as if you had just stayed home!

Previous Burning Pony Expresses

A peek back into a bit of the history of PDF.

Attachment	Size
Volume 1-2 Apr 2002	7.28 KB
Volume 1-3 May 2002	5.88 KB
Volume 1-4 May 2002	21.42 KB
Volume 2-1 Sep 2002	9.81 KB
Volume 2-2 Sep 2002	8.09 KB
Volume 2-Event Oct 2002	7.15 KB
Volume 2-3 Oct 2002	9.06 KB
Volume 3-1 Mar 2003	6.22 KB
Volume 3-3 May 2003	8.6 KB
Volume 3-2 Apr 2003	7.44 KB
Volume 3-Event May 2003	20.89 KB
Volume 4-1 Sep 2003	8.85 KB
Volume 5-1 Apr 2004	6.8 KB
Volume 5-2 May 2004	8.63 KB
Volume 5-Event May 2004	9.43 KB
Volume 6-1 Sep 2004	8.94 KB
Volume 6-Event Oct 2004	5 KB
Volume 7-1 Feb 2005	8.19 KB
Volume 8-1 Sep 2005	9.63 KB
October 2005	23.79 KB
March 2009	5.78 KB
May 2009	12.85 KB
July 2009	7.33 KB
Mar 2010	9.46 KB
Apr 2010	12.75 KB
May 2010	14.21 KB
Jun 2010	9.6 KB
Jul 2010	7.31 KB
Aug 2010	5.04 KB