Burning Man attendees speculate that numerous factors have hurt ticket sales. The organizers’ latest announcements continue to fuel their theories.
Last week, Burning Man‘s unusual OMG Ticket Sale gave more weight to the perception that two difficult years and a tepid global economy have hurt demand for the 2024 gathering in Nevada‘s Black Rock Desert. Now, the Burning Man Project has sold tickets in person for the first time since 2011 and advised sound camps that they’re allowed to post their lineups a week earlier than usual.
Every year since 2011, Burning Man tickets sold out in the main sale as even Burners who didn’t plan to attend purchased in hopes of getting more of their campmates to the event. Typically, they’ve had no trouble selling them on the second-hand market.
After an especially hot 2022 edition, however, 2023 ticket sellers greatly outnumbered buyers. Many speculate that 2023’s unprecedented rainstorm didn’t help correct this trend as 2024 tickets can be found far below face value in online forums.
On Friday, Burning Man shared that tickets were “up for grabs in person” at three locations: The Midway and Five and Diamond PopUp in San Francisco, and The Melting Pot in Reno. “Whether you’re grabbing a ticket for yourself or inviting those curious friends who’ve always dreamed of the playa, this is your golden opportunity,” reads the announcement, which encourages Burners to “co-create Black Rock City with us this year!“
Then, over the weekend, organizers sent an email the heads of sound camps giving them permission to post their music lineups this week — a week earlier than usual. Typically, they’re required to hold off as a way of encouraging participants to follow Burning Man’s principle of immediacy.
“We’re trying this out this year in the spirit of greater transparency and providing the community earlier information (like we’ve done with other parts of the Placement process),” reads the email. “The work we all do for Black Rock City deserves to be seen and enjoyed.”
Bay Area DJ and producer Syd Gris, who runs the sound camp Opulent Temple, voiced his skepticism in a Facebook post. “I’m sure on the face of it there is sincerity there, but I can’t help but read it as an ‘Oh Shit we haven’t sold enough tickets, unleash the Sound Camp line ups to drum up interest,'” he wrote. “The step child Sound Camps are often the go-to when things get rough around BM town.”
The Burning Man Project did not immediately respond to EDM Identity’s request for comment.
Burning Man 2024 takes place from Sunday, August 25 – Monday, September 2. Tickets and additional information can be found on the event website.
