I am offering $1000 via PayPal to anyone the first person that can give me a copy of the 1996 Burning Man Helco Contract, called “Standard Short Form Contract for Purchase of Soul”. The contract is discussed and shown in this presentation around 1:57:00:
There are some interesting Helco photos in this FlickRiver set
Crimson Rose hails Satan (Flash Hopkins) while Larry Harvey explains the devil in the details to a reporter. Note the shadow black cross on the wall
I can’t quite make out clause 1 but the sections appear to be:
- CONSIDERATION
- DISCLAIMER
- NO COOLING OFF PERIOD
- TERM OF CONTRACT
- WARRANTIES BY SELLER
- OWNERSHIP AND LIEN RIGHTS
- AGENCY
- TAXES AND FEES
- INDEMNITY
- TIME OF ESSENCE
- VENUE AND JURISDICTION
- ENTIRE AGREEMENT
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
From the table with the skull on it (very Masonic) it seems like there is also some sort of certificate which was presented, in addition to a copy of the contract. It may well be that BMorg kept all the contracts and did not give the signers a copy. I have had more than one reader over the years tell me that they have a copy, but I have not yet been able to get an original document. I hope the reward will inspire someone to come forward with this important piece of Burner history.
Image: YouTube
Another contract for the sale of souls was handed out at Burning Man in 1998 by the Church of Mez – see Transhumanist Former Cult Leader Says Burners Responsible For Innovation.
the terrain was alien, the people were all different colors, there were huge and frightening creatures, and the name of the place – Black Rock City – doesn’t appear on any map at all.
We worked really hard on our vacation this year. So hard I’m amazed we all stayed friends through the vacation! We bought a rocket ship disguised as a bus and got it all gussied up for the trip. We got ourselves a big old tent and a giant scaffolding to make a tower with and packed ’em up. We nabbed lotsa couches and carpeting and loaded ’em on the roof rack to decorate with. And of course, we brought lots of t-shirts and contracts to buy people’s souls with.
Souls sure are cheap! We brought back 150 of ’em, each one purchased for a t-shirt, condom, and fortune cookie. Most of ’em we got pictures of in our book of souls, and all of ’em signed a contract as airtight as we could make it. Heck, if it weren’t for the dust storm, pretty naked girls, and other distractions, I’m sure we would have filled out all of the 300 contracts we took with us.
[Source]
I will pay a bonus reward of $500 for this one, but I am really looking for the original 1996 Helco one. If you have either contract please contact us.
Building Burning Man newsletter from Spring 1996