People often ask who runs Dragon Burn, and how they can get involved. Since the Burn is entirely volunteer-driven, the answer to both questions is simple: YOU. If you see a gap, you fill it. A Burn is a Do-ocracy.
Why We’re Volunteer-Run
Burning Man is an experiment in a community-driven event, and the Regional Burns have also adopted this idea. Burns aim to be completely volunteer-driven, showing the power of community Participation, one of the core principles of a Burn. This leads to events that are filled with workshops, music, art, and so many things you wouldn’t find at a normal festival.
We often describe a Burn as a Do-ocracy. In a Do-ocracy, if something needs doing, then YOU do it. There are No Spectators at Burn, only participants.
So how do you get involved with organising a Burn? It’s actually pretty simple:
- Show up.
- Look for a gap.
- Do the thing that fills the gap.
Of course, you won’t be able to fill every gap (or maybe won’t want to), but if you show up enough, and keep your eyes open, you will find yourself contributing before you’ve even realised you’re already on the team. Even helping with ice distribution, kitchen setup, or hugging people at Greeters is a form of participation. Every role matters.
How I Got Involved
All I did for my first year at Dragon Burn was attend meetings. That’s it. I’d go, I’d listen, and I wouldn’t say anything. I would attend events they organised, and help out with those, but in the grand scheme of things I was more of a volunteer than an active participant.
At one meeting, someone mentioned the website needed updating. For the first time, I spoke up: “I’m actually a web developer.” I went away and I spent a few weeks designing and developing a new website for the Burn. When I had finished I offered to present it at the next meeting.
After previewing the site, I was given the go-ahead to make the switch to the new website. And that’s how I ended up getting involved in running the Burn.
Other Examples
I’ve seen countless examples of this happening at a Burn. I could fill a book with these kinds of stories, so I’ve only included a few of them below.
One time at Dragon Burn a DJ complained that there wasn’t enough Electronic Dance Music (EDM). I told him that he should bring it himself. The next year he and a group of his friends brought EDM to Dragon Burn.
One person suggested that there should be signs at Dragon Burn, so people know their way around. She then created Dragon Burn’s Wayfinding group, and gathered up a bunch of people to paint signs for the event.
Another organiser noticed that the website wasn’t fully translated. So he organised a small group of people to help with translations, set up a system to translate page-by-page, and now we have a fully bilingual website, as well as a team of volunteers willing to help with any translations in the future.
At Burning Man I was shown a book full of plans for various potential crises that might happen at a Burn. It was all paper printouts and notes, but well organised. I was told that it was made by a random Burner who realised that there were no plans for any of these situations, so took it upon himself to create a book that could be used as a reference. He saw a gap, and volunteered himself to do it.
The Burner Express Bus (BxB), the official bus to Burning Man, was started by someone who wanted to help people get to the Burn and reduce fuel emissions from people travelling to the Burn. It worked so well, the BxB is now an integral part of Burning Man, and they have a couple of nice benefits for people who ride them.
How You Can Get Involved
All of these stories have one thing in common. Someone saw a gap in the organisation, something that wasn’t being organised, and volunteered themselves to do it. This is the essence of a Do-ocracy. No spectators, only participants.
If you are interested in helping with a Burn, start by showing up. Go to planning meetings, theme camp gatherings, or any Burn event. Pay attention to what’s missing, then step in and make it happen!
So come find us. Step into the circle. Help shape the magic. A Burn is what we make of it, all of us, together.
