Its simple....we welcome new burners into the Root Society family.

That's what Root Society is. Someone told me about Burning Man is 2001. I didn't come till 2003. 9 of us built our first theme camp/club in the desert. It was a yellow and white wedding tent. Not cool. But over the years we've learned.

Our camp is organized with captains, workers. And our set up and tear down team is really a separate/yet coordinated effort. We have a group meal plan meaning we provision and care for the camp as a collective...and we expect our team to pull their weight.

Generally we ask people to join the crew either the beginning of the week or the end of the week. Meaning come mon/tuesday and jump early(sunday) or you can come later but stay through monday. This is flexible but the reasoning is that you will help load in or load out. Set up takes about 3 days. We relax and party for 4 days and teardown is about a 2 day activity. A lot of our team stays 8-9 days.

Everyone has jobs every day. Moop, cook, wash dishes, work security dance and explore then dance some more...sleep and start all over again.
We have community meals. Everyone helps and we eat/drink well.

We have 20 Tipi's. But most new comers sleep in tents or rv's on the perimeter. 2nd year in camp you may slot into a tipi.

Do you have a special talent? Body paint, hoola hoop, have an in the rangers, cook a mean burger....all good!

Our music is loud. We are one of, if not the largest sound camp. The playa vibrates and your teeth rattle. Welcome the bass. It is your friend. It will attract 1000's of people, add LED's and strobes and its like "moths to the flame".

Still curious-send me an message and ill have someone buzz you. We are not vegan, barely vegetarian. We eat chicken, thai food from reno and Dinty Moore stew and canned corn during teardown. We are just a family of burners that love and care for this camp. Nothing fancy.

If this isn't you....don't email :)
If this is you, it will change your life. I promise.

Jefr

I can't believe how good your parties were this year. By far the biggest daytime turn outs and killer vibe. The dust storms made your parties better...amazing. Now what....I will reach out to Clark but I'm curious to see who's paying attention.

Root Society is looking for 3-4 more solid captains and we'd like to double our camp size in 09. We haven't even begun to plan. I have a rule....more of an agreement with my wife....that I will move on to other "more important" things than Burning Man for 6 months. That means no discussion, no funky craft projects, no old couches picked up on the side of the road and put into storage....no no no. You get the idea.

But we have an idea. Let's do something bigger....together. I realize some of your team is tired. Same with our team but we're not done. Seizure dome will live another day...but we're going to change it up.

Reach out to me if you're interested.

Jefr

The Moop Map is posted.
Root society is NOT red, NOT yellow but green--glorious green!!!!!!!!!!

For those who don't get this, it doesn't matter. But if you do understand....maybe you have always liked our camp but....last year our 200x200 foot plot at 10:00/Esplanade was pronounced redder than red-the worst trash(moop) rating there is... despite our best efforts. It's been nearly impossible to manage the trash and micro-trash from 1000's of people who visit our little corner. The dome structures are an invitation to moop--tuck a cup in the corner, abandon a heavy knap sack, gift a dusty sweatshirt. And the sheer volume of people just grinds trash into the playa....the wind blows and its gone.

Not this year!
Its amazing to watch what 3 magnetic rakes and 50 man hours of raking dust can do. There really is a hidden moop world under foot.

What worked well?
--We rented a truck that had one role. Carry out over 100 bags of trash. All of "your" trash. Hmmm....more on that later.
Thanks Reed!!
--We have our own version of a Moop Lord-we lovingly call him Oscar. He organized Moop sweeps. Brought sexy Moop buckets and those gripper/tong like moop tools. He made it fun and ruled!!!
Thanks Rod!!!
--The captains(our most senior members in camp) stayed an extra day. This team stayed longer than the general camp exit. That kept the spirit of the project in high gear and moop was top of mind. The team was determined... "we will rock this" Thanks to Reed, Jim, skywalker(daniel) and Jefr
--We had a Moop designated driver....literally someone who would stay and carefully moop the cleanup crew as the big dome came down. He was so tired he went home to california, slept and showered and then drove back to black rock city and mooped for a whole day. Wow....big hugs and thank you's to Oke(chris)

I think our biggest accomplishment this year was producing a "complete complete" theme camp. We are blessed with a fantastic crew that believes, an infrastructure that creates great stages and sleeping quarters- our domes and tipi's. Global DJ's that volunteer their skills and time, and 80+ in the root family that come from all over the globe. Trash shouldn't be one of our biggest challenges...but it seems to come with the territory.

Just an idea....we have a lots of support from burners but there seems to be this lapse of judgment from many--when it comes to a beer bottle, or a camel with a hole in it or a costume bobble that falls off--it ends up on the ground in our camp. There is no maid, no elves that show up in the morning and make all your trash disappear....its just our small group. 80 against 50,0000. Doesn't seem fair-does it? Lots of you are careful and responsible BUT the full trash truck is proof positive that we become the de facto "ass end" of the gift economy. We need your help next year.

Finally, no excuses. Mission accomplished.
Thanks to everyone who helped us Rock the Moop.

Jefr

We planned, we planned some more...we showed up-well oiled and really big....we partied like it was 1999, and then we mooped and mooped some more.

And now we decompress.
I love the afterburn tremors. I wake up in the night....and I'm literally still in the desert, groping the playa...looking to flip the sign on my bathroom doorknob to "in use".

I love my email box. Burners of all shapes and sizes expressing their love and sincere thanks for "changing my life thursday nite in your domes" or "I was the cuddle bunny who you offered water to at 6am friday morning, your crew was wonderful". I love the one I got yesterday. "My boobs and your bloody mary dust storm party rocked it huge"....funny-i didn't remember her boobs but I sure remember oke's dusty face, skywalkers warm smile, Ktron's "I know there's ice here somewhere, jelo and hatiras going off concert style with 13 people dancing/diggin holes in the playa on Saturday during the massive dust storm. The storms brought R-family together like no other year.

I love our captains and their messages come through to me like clockwork. Jim says "I miss you" before we start our regular banter, Derek says"life feels downright boring after the burn" Skywalker and I hit stride thinking about life in a deeper more thoughtful way. Blake is holding mannequin boxes near panicked about quasi-female companion adoptions that must happen quickly....no surprise....skywalker hogs all of them! Reed is wondering where the SAT phone ended up, Greg/Bryan are unloading Tipi poles and can't stop talking about the fact the Oke went home to California and then drove back to the burn for the final MOOP.
Awesome!!

Our DJ's are all checking in....with the kind of pictures that pump careers, with stories of partners that had as much fun as they did and plans for bigger, better next year. The DJ's want to express their love for the camp and our people....and as always we "need more cowbell" in 09.

Our 80+/- outdid themselves in every way and I'm proud to run herd on a group that have become my most important friends....

Post your pictures....tell your stories....you have changed. The desert is now your "secret" power. It makes you better at your job, better in bed(who knows) better in your pursuits all around.
Somehow....you must put out your power into the world. Do not hide your light, keep it burning, keep dancin', keep gifting of yourself..."

Hello Lover:)

Jefr

We had a hell of a year at Root Society 08. The feedback has been overwhelming. People love our little dome party in the desert. One of the odd/best comments so far. "My tits and your domes make a fantastic party". Well, I don't know about her tits but I do know our music cut through the clutter of sound camps and overly loud art cars(who am I to talk :).

Some highlights in no particular order: -me/jefr kicked off the Wed night opening party with a 60's mashup set that paid off the graphics, mannequins, and set up our "american dream" theme GOGO-60's. It went over big with comments like "I wasn't quite sure what we were walking into and next thing I know, all my friends are transformed--gogo playa bunnies rockin out to hocus pocus by focus. Loved it!!!"

-Hatiras who I met first time in the desert, filled the dome wall to wall wednesday nite and then just built wave after wave of energy with his own desert sound. It went over huge!!!

-Jelo coming "home" for his 2nd year and just being Jelo-knobbing the music to 0 and yelling his signature "1,2,3,4"--one of the most energized party dj's out there tearing our domes wide open.

-in order on thursday night we had DJ Icon, Dylan Rhymes, Lee Coombs, Fort knox5-a dream lineup for any bash--they fed the crowd-- building the domes...preparing for the mind bending(scaffolding bending-pics up on the myspace page) feature artist Bass Nectar who literally created what one person described as "heaven in the desert" In his 11th year, I'd say he is our resident rock star--including his challenge to "whomp like this" motioning his classic arm move to the tourists and his "do something productive-with your energy-for our planet" talk to the hungry crowd.

-ant ten-ae and his female partner?-continued the energy(almost an impossible task) with some desert beats that many felt was the best beat set of the week!

-joachim gerraud from france/monday night dj from space was a surprise hit! The boy has serious skills and dropped a juicy desert housy thing featuring joachim on his keyboard guitar. I couldn't get enough of his hits, loop beats and tear it up style all while dropping some ibiza classics.

-Seth Dillan Gavin, back for his 2nd year, playing 3 sets with his biggest instead of rabbit to the moon(my only no show-maybe my fault- on Saturday Am) and people just lovin it! Great comment...dj with the most potential on our team!!

-watching Syd from Opulent Temple set up our after burn party and me rippin' a great set Thursday night@OT this exchange made people smile and realize the desert really is a family.

-DJ Dan stayed in one our Tipi's. A highlight for me. He stopped by 2 years ago, played a 20 minute set last year and played 2 epic sets on the Roots stage this year....his words, "I played my best sets surrounded by the sea of people at root society. That party was going off!!!"

Scum Frog-played the sunrise set on friday am. First time on Root society decks. The scarecrow red hair set up a dark tech set that morphed into the most euphoric sunrise set I've personally experienced (that's what no sleep for 6 days will do) I would love to see a set list from this moment.

The Fillmore-stage right- had this crazy combination of great dj's. The vibe ended up being so cool. Dolce vita, billy c, smoove, and some others I can't think of did great work. It was a dj crowd in that room. Our chill dome of last year morphed in a rippin' little desert club with big bass and bigger moments for a great group of dj's.

I'm honored to host all of you. I find it easy to make friends in the desert and immediately miss the intense immediate bass pounding experience. Thanks for doing your part to create a desert club experience like no other.

Jefr

There are lots of requests to put up your mixes on the root society page. If you send me a mix or link to a mix I will present it on the myspace root society page. Last years dj mixes were downloaded about 1000 times a month all year long!!!!

The man burns in 46; but Root Society opens in 42. For 4 nights of Burner Bliss

Come find us on the playa and travel back in time as you enter either our domes in the desert to a time of the GOGO-60's.

The world in a frenzy...go-go mania grips popular culture. The looks-the music-define the 60's with staggering cultural penetration...forever serialized into the American Dream. The 60's are the core that creates all that follows. Hipsters unite!!

With two stages pumping music into the night it is going to be better than last year.

More to come as we get closer,
Frizzz
Root Society

Great showing of Root Society support at Doug's wake and funeral. I was pumped to
see all of you there....Brenda commented on all the support and we all miss Doug and
will have him with us in spirit for this years effort. I'm just waiting for the
right moment to invite Brenda to be with us again this year as she was in 05 and 06.
(Maybe i just did :).

Its time to crank it up a gear. Id like to invite all of you to our:

FIRST official Green Man kick off party tuesday-june 12 @6:30pm
57 High Street charlestown MA
hm 6172423436. Cell 9787601103.
Bring what you want to drink-we'll supply everything else. Steak Tips, big salad,
etc.
Mike-im hoping after your "Sundance" film debut at David kim's in boston that you'll
be ready for the big screen showing in charlestown.

Ill have a calendar of events for all, a copy of the application and flight options
at the party. Hoping all that are around will come and kick off the summer buzz
campaign for root society 07.
Jefr

Time is flying. Lots to do. I keep thinking and drawing the same thing as last year
but a little bigger. I loved the outdoor space and want to improve it. Maybe 2 big
Red lights....a better sign in the big dome. DJ lineups posted during the day and
while people play.

I took a flyer last fall and offered Harley and Frog-the chief placers at "corporate
BM"to help with placement at BM07. They reached out this past week and asked if I
was serious about my offer to help.(Gulp) They've moved the application deadline up
a month to the last day of may. So I threw my hat in the ring. Not sure of the time
commitment at HQ which is in california. And Anna is luke warm to the idea but I
feel it could be an important contribution and a great investment to our future
growth if I lean into this whole project. Anyone else curious? More on this as it
unfolds.

Green Man is the BM 07 theme. We burn a lot of fuel between our tractor trailor,
airplanes, rental truck with domes, tipi's and pole and bathroom unit from
wahington. Rental vehicles from reno, trips back n forth for pick ups. Propane for
cooking and heating water for our showers, 2 generators, ice consumption and all the
wood we burn. Would anyone like to do the research and the estimates and we'll
somehow raise the funds to buy trees in guatamala to offset our wonderful party. One
of the hogan's heroes said "I know...nothing" which is me on this subject but some
of you might want to take this on as a leading contribution. I would love to post
our plan and calculations on this blog.

If the big dome becomes what the sixty foot dome was last year...that leaves the
60foot dome open for new ideas. The only early idea I have is to set it up like a
miami pool bar with canopy beds lined up all around the perimeter that become these
fantastic mini parties. We could line the dome with 12-14 beds, with some funky
canopy drapping and call it "Bed" maybe you put a huge bed in the center for group
"chill" Based on the "chill" dome last year it could end up with a huge vibe and be
a big feeder base for the main room. I was thinking we could show 1920's black and
white vaudeville/soft "chill" on the wall of the dome and have killer light effects. I
was also thinking about featuring a "rope/ribbon dancer that would come down from
above and dance. This idea is open for interpretation, new twists or can be flushed
as other ideas emerge. If you like it I might ask for queen and king mattresses/box
springs because most of you could use a new bed anyway :) what would we cover the
beds with? Hmmmmm.

This then leaves the 30 foot dome that could create a VIP dome that was for Roots
people and their guests only.

Lots to do.
Jefr