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About this year’s line up
...and some other thoughts while we're here...
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Last year when we published our ’08 line up we also published a concurrent ‘long form’ of the schedule to provide a back story on who each performer was, why we booked them, and their submitted bio. That proved to be a laborious task we didn’t feel like repeating so this year we just linked each name and wanted to provide this note about the line up.
(read on below)
We have about 78 slots filled over 75 hours. Most of the names you see are OT camp members who of course get the most slots since they bust ass to make the camp happen. Wednesday-Saturday we include invited international guests to add to the flavor and because we like showcasing some world class talent amidst our very talented residents. We do not, and have never paid any dj to play for us. This comes up as a question every year because people have a hard time believing these globetrotting superstars in their world such as Armin, Tiesto, Carl, etc would play for free. But – not only do they, but they also pay their own way to BM just like the rest of us. The accusation we pay dj’s is actually quite laughable. We can hardly fund our production and end every single year in debt, where the hell would we get money to pay anyone? Even if we could, obviously we wouldn’t, that’s not what this is about.
The past couple years, we let all dj’s know who have ever played for us, that regardless of who they are, if they want to play again they need to play an Opulent Temple fundraiser to help us get there. The call was answered, as guys like Carl Cox, Christopher Lawrence, DJ Dan, Lee Coombs, etc. played our parties over the year that allows us to be here again. (All but one played the fundraiser for free as well, so it wasn't like we pay them in SF to get them for free at OT. In the one case we paid a Dj fee it was at a 75% discount.) First time invited guests get a pass, but just once. We turned down other returning top tier talent this year because they couldn’t schedule something with us.
We've gotten flack from some in the community who feel ‘big name’ dj’s goes against the spirit of Burning Man. In this view, it seems if someone is popular they are therefore commercial, and this is a non-commercial event. Others, probably most who come to the event in large part for the dance and music experience, are excited at the prospect to see some of the world’s best talent at one of the world’s best parties. This is obviously our view, and we don’t feel one’s popularity should ban them from playing Burning Man, especially of course because they play for free like everyone else. And of course, as said, in the case of the returners, they contribute as well. This comes up most with the trance dj's because the underground police tend to hate mass appeal trance. Year in and out, we might have 1-2 nights out of 6 nights programmed that includes progressive trance. If that is not your things, that's OK, come back another night.
There is also the matter that as a subtext of our efforts, the camp is a platform to spread a message, a vision. You can read about that HERE if you’re curious. In addition to the fact we like the music of the people we ask to play, the big names also draw attention to who we are and why we do what we do, and that is part of the mission. Agree with it or not, we have an agenda beyond a cool party. It’s OK, you don’t have to like it.
And lastly, there is the simple fact that this is our camp, and we work hard to be able to make it how we want it. So, within reason, if we want to have Paris Hilton do a naked harmonica set with dancing midgets, that’s our prerogative. We encourage those that don’t like what we do to simply attend another of the plethora of options in BRC. Or better yet, start your own camp and have it as you like it. One of the best comments I’ve ever read on a message board on this topic was someone stating that we are just doing our thing, and others are welcome to do theirs. So true!
Other errata…
I’ve heard some pundits call us a progressive house & trance camp. They obviously haven’t visited since 2004.
I’ve had people ask me why don’t we play more dubstep? Our residents that bust ass to be part of the camp get to play whatever they want. It’s quite a range, and four of them (Coz, Dulce, Icon & Jeff Taisch) regularly include dubstep in their sets. If you’re a primarily dubstep DJ who wants to play OT, you can do what everyone else has done, put in your time to get a slot. We also have noted that dubstep seems to be pretty well represented out there without us showcasing it.
Opulent Temple has been blamed for some of the lemons who show up to BM because we book ‘rave dj’s’. From what I understand, so called lemons have been showing up long before we were there, and will likely continue to do so long after we’re gone. And in a different light, I think BM can be a great opportunity to educate the lemons on conscious partying, actions, and interactions. This means we can’t always just party with professionals, but take time to show and tell right action when necessary. This is exhausting and we put a lot of our people power into being vibe patrol on the dance floor because we think it’s important.
We’ve been criticized for being too loud. On the one hand, sorry, we are placed in the area of the city where we get to be loud. On the other hand, we are aware of community standards and we do care, and we DO turn it down as the night goes on and the crowds dwindle so that by sunrise the system is operating at 50% capacity.
We’ve been criticized for our MOOP ratings in 2006 & 2007. We dedicate a tremendous amount of resources into cleaning up the mess left by the nightly crowds. It’s actually quite discouraging, all the trash left behind each night at a LNT event. Daily trash & MOOP sweeps, recycling, end of the week line sweeps, magnetic rakes, the full monty. We have to bring up a half empty 24 foot truck to have room to cart off the trash left behind by the end of the week. We were ‘yellow’ in ’08 and will continue to work to improve cleaning up the mess left at our camp.
We’ve been criticized for being too political. Juxtaposed with the criticism of being too commercial for some of the dj’s we have play, that is quite ironic. That’s mainly my thing, and I’m guilty as charged. I feel we don’t have the luxury to sit back and just party, but instead the party should be used as a platform to educate, provoke, inspire, and share and the like. The world is too fucked up, and our community is too talented to be disengaged, even at Burning Man.
We've been accused of being 'too big'. We admittedly tend to have a go-big-or-go-home attitude. If that isn't a playa creed, I don't know what is.
We've even been criticized for posting our schedule so people know who is playing when. Not sure what to say to that one...
We’ve been criticized for paying DJ’s. Um, did I mentioned we don't pay DJ’s ?
OK, enough of all this, thanks for listening. Some of you love to hate, most of you love to love. Either way, let the beat drop. We'll see you in the desert.
~Syd
July 31, 2009 11:25 PM, by Syd Gris |
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