Grab some shade
Think about the jobs you might not want to do in the desert. Pounding posts? Digging trenches? How about cooking over a hot grill?
Sure, none of that is much fun. But how about a job where you don’t get to spend any time in the shade, but you have to make sure other people have plenty of it? That’s what the shade crew does, and that’s the essential irony of the job: You make the shade, and then you leave it.
And then you do it again.
You do it about 90 times, actually. Two seven-person crews work for a month, putting up shade they likely will never enjoy.
Not too long ago, shade duty was a really crappy assignment. That’s where they put the people nobody wanted to deal with.
But back in 2005, a core group got together and decided that really wasn’t the way they wanted to do things. So they re-thought the process, put some good leaders in charge, and changed the culture. Quiet Earp is the person in charge now, and Art, the crew leader yesterday, was around for the change, too.
And they not only changed the people, they changed the process, too. They made the shade structures simpler to build (although it’s still no walk in the park). All of them are based on a basic 12-foot x 12-foot version, which requires nine 12-foot 4×4’s to be sunk 30 inches into the ground. Then kickers and top boards are screwed on, and then the whole thing is covered with tarp that is hammered into place.
Ok, so the process is easier. But it’s not easy.
The biggest shade that the crews will build will go over Playa Info, and it will measure 60×48. On Wednesday, one crew took the truck, Priscilla, out to the Gate. They were there to put up shade so that you won’t have to stand in the blazing sun when you pick up your ticket.
It was a tight-knit group. Most of the seven people there had been working shade for the past several years, so they didn’t have to bother with the niceties of new acquaintanceship. The comments flew fast and furious. Lewdness counted. But the work never stopped.
“It’s hard, but we do it,” Art said. “And we thrust our chests out a little bit, too, because we get it done.”
Toad was on loan from the electrical crew, so of course he became the day’s target. Xeno, who’s been part of the build since 2002, took to calling him Frog. Toad was on the shade crew last year, and when his electrical team got the day off today, he decided to work with his old crew.
Montreal, Dani and Nice are veterans, but this is Eve’s first year, although you’d never know it. Talk about fitting in. She seems to have gotten it, right from the start.
“I like the fact that we’re working hard enough to earn that beer at the end of the day,” she said.
Toad was back for the day
Xeno checked in from deep in the Black Hole
At the end of every job, the last task is to nail a beer can somewhere in the structure.
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August 18th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Thanks for the hard work and the shade. Can’t wait to play find the beer can.
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August 19th, 2010 at 1:29 am
Got some hotties on that crew* Way to go scorchbusters!
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August 19th, 2010 at 1:40 am
y’all are bad ass, and my hero! thanks for trekking in early and making the playa a lil bit cooler :) love
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August 19th, 2010 at 2:06 am
I am a Burning Man Newbie, and I really appreciate all the sweat and love that you all put into making BRC a community! You all kick major butt for providing people with a basic need- shelter. Countless souls will be grateful for your work. Thank-you so much, and if I see you, I’m happy to give you a beer (or more!). Peace and Love to you all!
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August 19th, 2010 at 2:09 am
bless your shady way!
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August 19th, 2010 at 4:23 am
Some beautiful photos. And a job well done, crew.
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August 19th, 2010 at 5:08 am
Thank you providing that relief from the sun.
What can you about the dust?
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August 19th, 2010 at 5:17 am
Yeah, makes me want to give up the day job :)
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August 19th, 2010 at 6:39 am
Wish we had a burning man in cape town would love to go
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August 19th, 2010 at 7:03 am
…and thanks also for the thankless job of taking it all down after the party’s over and storing all that stuff god knows where!!!!!!
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August 19th, 2010 at 7:41 am
Exactamente, Hans!!
THANK YOU SHADE CREW!
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August 19th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Thank you for all that you do my shade brethren.
You rock it.
Hardcore.
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Thanks for posting, the progress pics are always great to view. Nice work guys Applauding the crew! Unfortunately for me I wont be able to enjoy shade until next season. :(
Looking forward to seeing more pics.
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Ahhhh shade! We salute you!
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:17 am
That’s Tits up Shade Crew! You are the deliverance! Thanks!
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Makes me wish I was back on the playa. Would love to be a member of the DPW to spend a month out there. Very cool pics too. Thanks for all the hard work!
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Thanks a million times for all you hard work that I can’t wait to stand under, not soon enough!
Love the pix
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:40 am
As crazy as it sounds, I wish I was there to help set up these structures. I just did my first stint of setting up shade structures this summer and know its not an easy chore, and usually pretty thankless….
Much love and blessings to those who brave the sun so that the rest of us won’t have to.
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August 19th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Glad to see the shade crew getting their props…but why didn’t you take your pictures on booty shorts day?!?!?!
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August 19th, 2010 at 10:31 am
pls. do come to the Brand Ur Ass & More for a big cold martini made @ the Sr. Mary Martini School @ 4:30 & E…and Tanks alot.
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August 19th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Thanks y’all!! You’re an inspiration! Way to kick ass and take names.
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August 19th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Thank you, Shade Crew! Big love and squishy hugs when I find you.
Especially Toad, my long lost tattoo twin.
*Rock Softly, And Carry a Big Spatula*
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August 19th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
There needs to be more people like you people on EARTH, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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August 19th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
thanks and I hope to give a hug on the playa!
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August 19th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Shade crew is awesome! Thanks for this great blog entry. One correction though, The Black Hole is gate *camp*, not up at the actual gate at the front of BRC.
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August 19th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Yay! Montreal! Thanks for busting (very attractive) ass to put shade up for us. Soon we will bump helmets once more… <3
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August 19th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Thanks for the fix, Frog. I’m gonna correct the copy.
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August 19th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
i want to be able to fav some of those! ;)
funny.. we left last year thinking we would never go back… but i see photos and think how could i not. sigh. next year maybe.
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August 20th, 2010 at 7:22 am
Reminds me why I like Burning Man culture so much!
Work Hard, Play Hard, Kick Ass, Repeat.
Ah…if Burners ran the world.
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August 20th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
THANK YOU, YOU ROCK!!!! I am a 60 year old lady, and last year was my 1st year to the burn. I had the best time ever and I am leaving florida the 27th of aug to get to San Francisco, and meet up with friends and treck our way to the Burn! I can not wait to give you all a big Hug!!! I learned so much last year and Iam so excited to keep learning and bringing back to the world the knowledge and spirt of the Burn forever.. thank you for the pictures and all of your hard, hot sweaty work! Love Barb
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August 20th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Awesome to see Eve on shade. I figured she’d fit in with y’all.
Miss you guys.
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August 21st, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Love ya bro. Beautiful people. Burners SHOULD run the world. XO sis
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August 23rd, 2010 at 1:04 pm
As a volunteer at Playa Info, definitely want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the best shade on the playa, keeps me coming back to volunteer there!
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August 23rd, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Burning HOT for shade .. love and kisses to all!
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August 25th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Even in my younger years I wouldn’t have been up to that kind of work. Thank you to ALL OF YOU!!!
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August 25th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Awesome. I’m another Info volunteer that is thrilled to have so much awesome shade.
Cheers!
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September 13th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Shade Bitch it was a pleasure meeting most if not all of you! Glad to have read this story it spells it out pretty good!
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September 14th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Thanks to the shade crew for helping with MegaMart at Megatropolis
-Otto Von Danger
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September 26th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Hi Curley – we had fun with you that day, too. we love ya and we love ur blog. and we kinda love our work, yup. next year, we’ll have to make sure we get you blogging a shorgy, where both crews come together and pound out some of the bigger structures together.
thanks! Dani ~ Shade, bitch! I kill ya.
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October 6th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Xeno’s lame! But and he loves boner cats!
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