Ideas for Burning Sky 2010

[Ken Jobsky]

I’m enjoying the active discussion about future Burning Sky. I’d like to nudge people into converting their thoughts from an abstract “it would be really cool is someone would….” to a more substantial “This is what I plan to do to make my idea come to life next year…”

I’m sure for every person who posts here there are ten others who are reading quietly and thinking about ideas of their own. What this camp really needs is for those people to step forward and do a project for the camp.

We need new blood to take this camp to the next level and you are it!

Remember, there is no Burning Sky staff. You are the staff, and if you find the camp wanting in some areas it’s only because you haven’t stepped up to the plate yet.

Every idea needs someone to plan for it, recruit the help needed, make sure it happens on the playa, and then clean it up and store it for next year.

So I'm calling you all out...challenging everyone who is thinking about ways they think the camp can be improved…. not the same people who always do the work but some of the new folks. We all need you to step up right now and commit to a better camp next year.

I’m happy to help coordinate efforts. Either post or contact me with your intentions. If you want, just let me know that you are willing to take on a project and we’ll figure one out together for you. I have a list.

The important thing is that you take an active, participating role next year.

[David Hewel]

Once I have a sec to sit down and read through all of the posts, I will respond to this thread. I have a lot of ideas, some of which wouldn't be very hard to execute, some are pretty far out. I will be back soon to jot down my ideas and bounce back and forth with you all..

[Richard Minner]

I'd like to second the idea of more lit hoops for night ground crew, and add that if we had a bunch of them (30? 50?) I'll bet we could pretty easily enlist passersby to join the perimeter. And it would certainly draw attention to what we're doing. I have no clue about cost, but hopefully we could get several more, and maybe keep adding a few each year.

[Richard Minner]

Answering Ken's call for participation, I'm definitely on board to do Something(s), once we get a good idea what everyone thinks will be coolest and/or most effective.

And following up the "Art Installation" angle, what about an actual Permanent bit of "Art" on the playa?? I'm thinking something pointing skyward that (somehow) indicates when there are jumpers up there. Maybe a giant hand with index finger extended? Something. I'd sign up to make that happen! Maybe it shoots fire whenever someone jumps :-)   (Looking for an good excuse to get into pyro, yes.)   And oh, the art-on-playa would have all our info, of course.

Actually, I've always wanted to make an arm/hand bursting-out-of-the-ground thing. This could be it, eh?

[Richard Minner]

Another minor idea that might be an effective visual: playa dust clouds. Basically like smoke trails but kind of a fun angle on BRC perhaps. Also might be kind of dramatic for several jumpers to drop big clouds in sequence or together.

[David Hewel]

Well ok now. It's that time of the year where I start planning things out for my BM trip and I wanted to get this thread fired up again..

So after reading through everyones posts, here is what I came up with.. The camp: lots of things we could do here.. One of the main things I want to see is some more activity at BS that includes everyone (not just skydivers).. One of the ideas was setting up a video editing station in my motorhome and compiling footage from everyones jumps and making a video that I could project onto a screen in front of the camp so people could see what BM looks like from the sky.. Maybe if we organized a couple of night time gatherings at our camp this would be a good time to run a video screen.. Do a couple parties maybe? Some light music and a little bar setup where everyone could donate a bottle and a mixer each to help make a fun little party for people to come check out.. Have some games maybe? Raffle off a few observer rides? I have a game that I could bring out from a previous theme camp that I was a part of (Life size operation game that lightly shocks people when they touch the sides) lol.. Basically to pull off my ideas all I would need is a projector and I would build a custom screen to project onto.. I would be willing to drop the 5 or 600 on a projector and I have a 6000w generator that could supply the power for that and lighting under the shade structure.. Would just need to keep it gassed up..

I think if anyone has some amazing photos of skydiving at BM (Norton?), we could make some large prints and have them on display as an art installation for our camp.. I know people would dig that and it would be easy to do..

And  of course there is the art car.. This year I will be scheming up a few plans to rebuild parts of the art car and dialing in the electrical which was the main problem last year.. I will have the art car night ready this year with lighting and sound.. I will have more info  on that project later..

As for theme camp status, what I think is really important is maybe trying to just be recognized by burning man and maybe having them help us out by saving the spot we had? If we contact them about reserving a spot for us in the middle of 5:00 maybe they would be cool with that? I definitely think it would be a good idea to pitch at them and see if we can work something out.. What I think really matters is trying to get in the WWW and being on the map so others can find us.. I'm not sure how this would work or if BM would work with us on this, but it's definitely worth a shot...

As for actual skydiving.. The sunset eel jumps, the pyro night jumps are all AWESOME! As I was talking to Ken at the end of last year it sounded like he wanted to put more focus on these jumps, which I think is great.. Seeing more eels out there would be RAD.. I have my own ideas for making my own eel this year and have already been stocking up on smoke.. Basically anything that attracts people's attention to the sky, I think is great as it is our own little display of aerial art.. One of the ideas I had was getting all the swoopers together and do a demo on the ground during the day. Pop some smoke on em and set up a secured swoop alley so they can safely land knowing nobody will be in there way.. I think that would be a lot of fun to see and film.. I guess just putting some organized events is what i'd like to see. Maybe get them published in the WWW so people know what we are doing..

I guess those are my ideas for now.. Maybe we can recruit some more people to help out with these projects, as long as we have the volunteers, I know we can make em happen..

Here is a picture of the Operation game I have as well..
(crotch ornament not included...)

[Chris Norton]

These are great ideas David !

I'll step up and bring some laminated, large poster prints of Eels and night pyro to display near manifest. Regarding video compilations, let's talk more and brainstorm.

If you managed to get the art car night-ready again, that would be a minor miracle and SO appreciated.

More focus on eel, smoke and night pyro jumps are definitely the way to go to make an impression on the BM community at large. If we could coordinate with Dimitri and be part of a pre-burn show for the temple or the man - WOW! I think we've been moving in that direction over the last few years. Each successive year, we get more coordinated with pyro and we were tantalizingly close to being rock stars by putting on a pre-show for the aborted rocket launch. Sucks we got winded out. That said, we got TREMENDOUS positive feedback from those who saw us as the temple was lit. Our timing there was great. I think we should do it again but as part of a planned, scheduled and announced activity.

YOU have the life-size Operation game?! OMG! Bring it !!!  My first burn was 2006 and on the first night I ventured out of camp, Binkie (Herb Eskelson - R.I.P.) told me to follow him as he had something I had to see. You guessed it; the game of Operation. He and I successfully plucked a few parts out of the guy without getting shocked but we stuck around to watch others who were less fortunate. Like this guy who JUST got zapped!

(Click the picture to enlarge)

[David Hewel]

Is there any other photographers at BS that have some good shots they can donate prints of? I know Jay Kelley has a few shots, I'll contact him and see if he can send me some hi res files I can print.

The art car will be a project for sure, most of my time will be spent on that one.. I will probably get started on that thing in the spring when the snow melts. After BM I talked with Jay Humphries and he mentioned that he might want to come out this year was talking about making a trip down here to work on the van with me..

I am going to build a little editing computer in the next month or so, I think I will bring it out and maybe get a capture deck for it so I can just plug peoples cameras in and capture straight to a hard drive. It might be a good idea for people who've filmed previous years to bring those tapes so we can show old footage too. If this idea doesn't work out at the least we will have prints to display at the camp.. My goal is to show non jumpers the amazing view we get to see, not everyone gets to take an observer ride..

I know Ken has his focus on the demo jumps so that area is covered, but I am willing to help out however I can.

Yeah, the Operation game was master-minded by my buddy Wally and nobody wants to do the theme camp anymore so that thing just sits around not getting any use.. I'll give him a call about bringing it out with me this year and I'm sure he'll be stoked to see it go.. The great thing about that game is it's COMPLETELY self sufficient, just sit back and laugh at people getting zapped.. It's great!!

[Chris Norton]

Is there any other photographers at BS that have some good shots they can donate prints of? I know Jay Kelley has a few shots, I'll contact him and see if he can send me some hi res files I can print.

Thom van Os

I am going to build a little editing computer in the next month or so, I think I will bring it out and maybe get a capture deck for it so I can just plug peoples cameras in and capture straight to a hard drive. It might be a good idea for people who've filmed previous years to bring those tapes so we can show old footage too. If this idea doesn't work out at the least we will have prints to display at the camp.. My goal is to show non jumpers the amazing view we get to see, not everyone gets to take an observer ride..

I have footage from previous years and I'd be happy to send it to you ahead of time. Just PM me with a mailing address and an email. I have a compiled and edited piece from a 3rd party, non-skydiving production company, raw footage on DVD and footage on mini-DV. While not complete, it is more than just my own stuff.

I know Ken has his focus on the demo jumps so that area is covered, but I am willing to help out however I can.

Ground crew help is ALWAYS needed to cordon off a landing area from the spectators. Lighting assistance with both the runway for the jump plane and the landing area for the skydivers is also a priority. I'm spelling this out for anyone else who might read this and find it in their heart to give back by pitching in. 

Yeah, the Operation game was master-minded by my buddy Wally and nobody wants to do the theme camp anymore so that thing just sits around not getting any use.. I'll give him a call about bringing it out with me this year and I'm sure he'll be stoked to see it go.. The great thing about that game is it's COMPLETELY self sufficient, just sit back and laugh at people getting zapped.. It's great!!

A-W-E-S-O-M-E !!!! That's exactly how I remember it 

[Chris Giesbrecht]

I've got a projector I can donate to this cause. 

I think a camp party with music + games + drinks + skydiving video is a great idea.  Right after sunset... I'm in!

[Sean DuParc]

What is the camp vehicle?  I think I saw a pic of it and it has been dressed up to look like a plane.  What about trying to make it a big cloud? Maybe attach some misters to the sides of it that we could turn on when we stop.  That would draw ppl towards it for sure and that is kind of what it feels like to be inside of a cloud.  Maybe get really crazy and add some fog machines to pour off the sides?? Whoever is riding on it could have rigs on, goggles etc or even just empty containers. 

[Christopher Olsen]

If there are any other wingsuit flyers we could do smoke formations during the day and pyro formations at night:) Last year I was asked to do night jumps and said no, I remember the regret I felt as I watched the pyro burn the night sky. 
FJ

[Jamison Kraus]

hey all,  I have never been to Burning man but would love to come jump with you guys this year.  I am pretty much a full time wingsuiter these days and would love to contribute in any way I can.  I've done some night jumps in my wingsuit where I put glow sticks in the wings.  Would be pretty cool if you used a bunch of high intensity ones.

Jamison

[Sonia Shepherd]

Rig rack for airport greeters.

Did you (or anyone else that desired the same thing) have anything in particular in mind.  I would certainly be able to bite this one off (and bring it with me to camp & bring it back home with me, afterwards).

Does anyone have anything in mind, beyond a stand with poles and shade of some sorts to keep 10+ rigs off the ground & out of the elements, between use?

Sonia

[Ken Jobsky]

A rig rack sounds great, Sonia.  Julie and Mike bought a rig rack one year but it ended up and a local DZ and we never saw it again!

For my two cents, I'v built one and what worked is a saw horse type of structure with some solid galvanized pipes mounted horizontally. It is a real pain to store unless you can break it down, fold it, whatever - something I wish I would have done.

As mentioned, we also need a shade structure for the greeters and waiting jumpers. I was thinking that we might as well cover the entire fuel island as a contribution to the airport. When I mentioned this to the airport folks last year they said it would be great but they would be concerned for it blowing down (duh) and hitting a plane (ouch), so we would have to make it bomb proof. Are you (or anybody) interested in taking that project on? There would be some money for supplies - just need someone who wants to figure it out, build it, and store it.