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Burning Man Tickets

Acquiring tickets for Burning Man can be quite a challenge. It's uncertain whether this is intentionally designed to filter out casual attendees or if it's simply how the process has evolved. This newsletter aims to assist you in navigating the complexities if you're feeling inspired to attend.

Before obtaining tickets, you must create a Burner Profile. Signing up is free and anyone can do so at profiles.burningman.org Here’s a breakdown of the different ticket options available.

Ticket Aid

There are 5,000 tickets priced at $225 each allocated through the Ticket Aid Program to support low-income attendees. Applicants need to submit proof of their financial situation. More details can be found at tickets.burningman.org.

FOMO

FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out, refers to the sensation that wealthy attendees experience—they prefer to pay a premium rather than risk missing out on cheaper tickets. A limited supply of 3,000 tickets was available for $1,500, and an additional 1,000 for $2,500. This offer has now ended.

Stewards Sale

Around 35,000 tickets, costing $475 each, are distributed to participants who play vital roles at Burning Man. This includes those engaged in artistic projects or vehicle operations. A significant emphasis is placed on fostering diversity within the event. I have a hunch that many take advantage of this by associating with friends involved in art projects without genuinely contributing.

Main Sale

To participate in the Main Sale, you must first register. The registration window is currently open and lasts for two days, from noon (Pacific Time) on March 23 to 25. Completing registration gives you a code to take part in the actual ticket sale. The sale itself occurs on March 30 and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Be prepared for tickets to sell out within moments. Even if you are ready to click as soon as the sale opens, anticipate potential disappointment.

Burning Man

I'm okay with losing in a fair system, but during the last Burning Man in 2019, they hired a team that performed poorly. Many individuals, myself included, spent three hours seeing a message indicating we were in a queue, being told not to refresh the page. It appeared that those who repeatedly clicked 'back' to refresh had the most success. In previous iterations, there were always tech-savvy individuals exploiting the system to gain an unfair advantage. It's all incredibly disheartening. A fair lottery would be a much better approach.

Even if you don't plan on attending, I recommend registering for the Main Sale and trying your luck on March 30. If you are fortunate enough to secure tickets, you could earn some serious goodwill among your Burner friends by selling them at face value.

I want to remind you that reselling Burning Man tickets for more than the purchase price is not allowed and goes against the event's core values.

As for me, I'm undecided about attending this year. I think I may leave my fate to chance in the Main Sale. I have other plans for the summer, and fitting Burning Man into my schedule might prove difficult. I’ll update you on what unfolds during the March 30 Main Sale in the newsletter on March 31.

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