Comments on: Halcyon’s Tips & Tricks #9 & #10

By: kevin

kevin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:14:46 +0000

One more comment about consensual misting: my girlfriend is deaf and wears her hearing aids on the Playa (they actually tolerate the dust quite well, amazingly). One thing hearing aids are NOT tolerant of is WATER! She’s walking around with roughly two grand worth of very delicate, intricate electronics on each ear, and some damn guy ignores me when I say DO NOT MIST US! I’ve gotten very angry about this in the past.

Please keep your misting consensual; those of us that say no aren’t just being sticks in the mud … er, playa dust … some have very good reasons for saying now.

And Halcyon, I’m loving the videos. Great comments about “costumes” vs. letting your true self out. I still don’t think I’ve achieved that yet, but I’m trying. And another tip for newbies (drawing on my own experience): being naked seems radical at first, but guess what? It’s the most boring thing you can do. At least throw on some body paints, dude! Or at least a great hat (that’s practical advice, too!).

Peace and love …

Report this comment

By: Miss_GO

Miss_GO — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:26:09 +0000

Thank you SOOOO much for your tips and tricks :) This will be my 9th year on the playa and I am definatlely going to label my bike!
You’re amazing!!!
See you in the dust!!! )”(
Miss_GO

Report this comment

By: Rapunzel

Rapunzel — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:42:37 +0000

I just wanted to thank you for the piece on consensual misting! I wish more people asked first…not all of us like it.

Report this comment

By: Halcyon

Halcyon — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:37:33 +0000

Great tip, Julianne! Supporting artists while looking cool = WIN!

Good points, Francine. Form + Function + Frivolous = Playafabulous.

Thanks, Terry & Matty! See you at Home. ((hug))

Report this comment

By: Matty Freebles

Matty Freebles — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:29:53 +0000

Halcyon! THis is amazing to see your tips and tricks on the burning man homepage!
oh how i could’ve used these prior to my virgin year! see you in the bust brother!

Report this comment

By: Terry

Terry — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:03:59 +0000

Halcyon, I always enjoy your tips! I have to say the one to label your bike is genius. I’m going to get a luggage tag, attach to my bike and put my name and address on it when I get there. Thank you! See you on the Playa! XOXO

Report this comment

By: Francis Darling

Francis Darling — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:25:58 +0000

A couple things I’ve noticed with respect to Burning Man fashions that I feel have been more along the “functional” line that I think are worth mentioning.

Top hats: While this mostly falls under the “Steampunk” theme, top hats (and similar hats) are actually great for putting goggles on if you want to keep them at the ready but not always hanging around your neck.

Faux Fur/Fun Fur: A lot of newbies will gloss over this stuff as cheesy raver gear, thinking “It’s boiling in the desert, that would suck!” Thing that people don’t realize is that it gets as extremely cold at night as it gets hot in the daytime. Faux Fur/Fun Fur actually works double duty in this respect: not only is it warm for you, but its fuzzyness will make people want to snuggle you more, which is another fantastic way to keep warm!

Blinkies, LEDs, glowsticks and EL-wire: Again, often dismissed as raver gear, at nighttime these become necessary tools. People are rolling around the playa all night, sometimes it’s cloudy or the moon isn’t out, and on the open playa there isn’t much of a street system. Decking out your person (AND YOUR BIKE) with lights making you visible will help avoid collisions. Furthermore decking out your bike in a unique design will make it easier to find from the pile of bikes by whichever theme camp you’ve stopped to check out.

Report this comment

By: Julianne

Julianne — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:36:13 +0000

Re: clothing

Once you do figure out what is the right style for you, a great resource for playa-specific wear is Etsy. You can buy directly FROM Burners and really support the community.

You can use tag “etsybrc” to find crafty burners who are super creative, most of whom would love to collaborate to make your vision for yourself come true.

For newbies though, beware trusting the tag “Burning Man”–lots of sellers will tag feathers and other MOOPy materials simply to raise sales!

See you on the playa!

Report this comment

By: John "Halcyon" Styn

John "Halcyon" Styn — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:54:31 +0000

Dusty – Thank you! That is high praise coming from you! Love your blog. <3

Report this comment

By: Dusty Bacon

Dusty Bacon — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:16:26 +0000

Halcyon, Very well put RE: Tip #9 specifically clothing at )’(. I write a Burning Man fashion blog and understand fully that there is no “right” or “wrong”, “hot” or “not” on the Playa. You cover the bases of this tricky issue well and thanks for putting in the bit about not dressing like it’s an average day in the default world.

Report this comment