BMOrg have published a blog post “How Turnkey Camps Get Placed”. They persist with trying to re-frame the issue with semantics – we prefer Commodification Camps to this Turkey camps idea that BMOrg are promoting, because it more accurately describes the problem.
There is still nothing from BMOrg on the main question the Burner community wants answered: how did Commodification Camps get all the tickets they want, when the event was sold out in 42 minutes in February? Of course, readers of this blog already know the answer: BMOrg scalped them directly. Still, the official silence on this important issue is deafening.
From burningman.com (emphasis ours):
Citizens of Black Rock City – everyone is talking about Turnkey camps and the Placement team wants you to know: we hear you! You’re speaking up on social media, talking at parties, doing deep dives at regional events. We’ve received more than 400 post-event emails and hundreds of comments through the Feedback form.
This is a good thing. Speaking your mind and sharing your opinions is the most important thing you can do right now.
We also placed about 25 Turnkey camps. We define Turnkey camps as those that offer a public space and interactivity in addition to private spaces for larger groups and are typically built by a producer, rather than a traditional camp lead…
Community evolves out of relationships and relationships are built out of communication, conflict resolution, disagreements and coming together. Talking with each other keeps us engaged and keeps us participating. The contention I hear is genuinely based on our collective caring about the community we build together. Making room for this conversation ensures the integrity of the Placement process and the integrity of the event. Placement volunteers hold our integrity above all as we enact the Ten Principles in our decisions and actions.
Of course there is more to our plans than just talking. We’re looking at tangible ways to help everyone do better. Ticketing, Early Arrival passes, our outside services program, DMV operations and of course camp placement are all being reviewed as we think about where to push and where to pull.
The Placement team dedicates thousands of volunteer hours to piecing together Black Rock City and we care intimately about how we all fit together and embody the Ten Principles.
I look forward to shedding more light on what the Placement team does and why in future posts. Until then, keep talking – we are listening.
Listening, yes. Doing anything about it, not yet. “Coming soon”.
Read the full post – and some great comments from disillusioned Burners – here.
Take Our PollIf you’re not sure what a “Commodification Camp” is, here’s just some of our other coverage on the topic:
Commodification Camps and the Tin Principles
Plug-n-Play Goes All The Way To The Top of the Pyramid
$2 Million Camps: Gentrification of Burning Man