Burning Tongue Principles

Self Expression. Come to Burning Tongue as the person you really want to be. Dress as you wish, express or perform something for everyone, bring your art, bring your spice, and fear not. Well, maybe fear the No Mercy table. But that’s it!

Growth “Burning” isn’t for everyone, but the only way to find out is to try it.  Burning Tongue will be fun for all, with nothing too scary. We promise. Mostly. After all it wouldn’t be a burn if your boundaries weren’t pushed a little tiny bit.

Celebrate Now While we never like to admit it, our time here is short, and we must celebrate with those we love while we can. Seize the day, hug the person to your left, and do something crazy. Right now.

Cooperation   Burning Tongue can’t be pulled off by one person, two, or three. Maybe four, but it will be much better with more! If everyone pitches in, either before the event, during or after, guaranteed fun will increase for everyone. Don’t be afraid to help if you are asked! Volunteer for early entry and help us set up! Be a greeter for an hour! Come after the event to help put everything away. Remember, if you are reading this you help make the event awesome for everyone else!

Accountability You are responsible for your own experience! You are also responsible for the experience of the person next to you – recognizing this helps create a community of people that can work, play, and help each other. Everything you do changes the universe – so why not choose to change it for the better? Create positive integers.

Leave No Trace, Take Only Memories A core Burner principle is Leave No Trace. That means that when the event is done, there’s no MOOP (Matter Out Of Place) to be cleaned up by the event organizers. Burning Tongue isn’t any different than typical burns in this regard. Leave No Trace is so important to the Burner culture that we’re asking every participant to bring their own cup! The other side of this what you take from this event – which should only be memories, and the empty versions of the full things you might have brought, and the gifts you were given…

Anything else should stay where it is.

(Unless of course it has your name on it.)

Consent & Boundaries Another core Burner ideal is a saying that “No Means No” and “Kinda” means “No” and “Sorta I guess OK” still means “No”. Only “Hell Yes” means “What the hell are you waiting for!!!” Self expression pushes boundaries, and the rational check against this is someone saying, “No” or even just not answering. Not only should you respect that, but you should be willing to set your own personal boundaries, and be comfortable saying “No” if you need to. After all, you are surrounded by people that believe that personal consent is inviolate – so be strengthened by that.

Children All minors should be accompanied by someone with legal authority to make decisions for the child. Please let the organizers know before hand so your child can meet Doggo properly. As at all burn events, there may be activities at this event which you may feel are not suitable for the children in your care. It is YOUR responsibility to monitor your child and their environment. Participants are never asked to censor their art, behavior, or self expression when children are present.

What to Bring

Yourself, No Really, Bring Yourself Burning Tongue is a place and time where you can truly be yourself. You may transform into something new, or simply uncover what is already there. Costumes are highly encouraged! Go look-up “Burning Man Costumes” to get ideas, but we do ask that you cover your naughty bits since the event will be held in full view of the neighbor’s yard and windows. Whatever you wear, it is summer in Arizona, so don’t be the dumb, ok?

Food Preferably a dish for the No Mercy table (really spicy). Or something for Little Mercy (mild spicy). Or the cooling table (ice cream, etc.). Or a bottle of vodka for the Space Bar. Its also a camping potluck.

A Cup Two of the core principals at burn events are Radical Self Reliance and Sustainability. In keeping with these principals, Burning Tongue will not have any plastic disposable cups – please bring your own non-disposable cup to imbibe with. In a real pinch an old Doritos bag makes a usable cup. If you want to bring something liquid to share, bring it in bulk, and prepare to leave with your empty container!

Art An important part of being a Burner is to participate, and not spectate, at Burn events! If you have any art you’d like to bring, big or small, please bring it to the event. It might be wise to bring it before event for proper placement, lighting, or other particulars that will show your art in the best way. Your costume can certainly be your art!

Gifts Many participants choose to bring small gifts, trinkets, food, drink, or other things that express their generosity. You don’t have to bring something for everybody, and you aren’t expected to give a gift in return for receiving one. Accept a gift gladly even if you have nothing to return but a hug. But, consider that your time can be the most precious gift of all – volunteer to set up a week or friday before, or perhaps join the Greeters table during the event, bartend the SPACEBAR, teach art, hold workshop, play an instrument.

Policies, Safety, & Important Stuff

Hugs The typical Burning Tongue greeting is a hug, even for someone you have never met. If you would rather shake hands as a greeting, this is completely fine, just offer your hand out first. If someone offers you their hand as a greeting, take it with joy and respect their wish to shake hands for their greeting. In this way, every meeting of friends, old and new, starts with consent and a level of intimacy comfortable for everyone.

Photography, Recording and Social Media Pictures and other recording are permitted as long as each participant recorded gives their permission first. If anyone asks you to delete or remove a photograph, we ask that you please accommodate their request. The default world, in some cases, is not yet ready for the events and activities at Burning Tongue and some participants may be seriously and adversely affected by their images appearing on book of face or other social media.

No Pets For the saftey and comfort of the resident doggo and his humans and friends, please don’t bring your pets.

Greeters The first people you meet at Burning Tongue will be The Greeters. The Greeters table will have a large metal gas cylinder bell – just like Burning Man… RING IT WITH WILD ABANDON! Your greeter will likely offer a hug, and check to see that you have read the Survival Guide (you will be given a quiz), and check to see you have brought your cup. Once inside Burning Tongue you can be a Greeter too! Just listen for that bell.

Mutant Vehicles Burning Tongue unlike other regional burn events, takes place on a very small tract of land, about 55’ x 220’ or basically in our backyard. Mutant vehicles must therefore accommodate this restrictive space – and take up no more room than the approximate size of a piece of carry on luggage (like a remote controlled car) or a fabulously decorated bicycle! If your mutant vehicle is a more normal size affair, it must be legally allowed to drive on city streets and parked out front. Please alert the Burning Tongue organizers and we’ll even reserve you a super close parking spot!

Law Enforcement We sincerely hope our friends who also happen to be members of our city’s fine police force will attend Burning Tongue and with that in mind all local, state, federal, ethical, moral, and yes even physical laws (read the Principia by Newton if you need to brush up) should be followed. You are responsible for your own experience, and your actions, at Burning Tongue.

Burnable Art We will be making mini effigies and buring them when the man burns while watching the live stream of the big burn, but if you want to make somethig before and burn it, make sure it fits in a 2ftx2ft square and talk with organizers before hand.

Flora and Fauna It’s a back yard in the high desert, there might be spikey things, please wear shoes. Dangerous fauna include scorpions, spiders, and snakes, but it’s mainly the tiny mosquitos that are sometimes annoying. You are encouraged to pet the doggo (just ask the organizers permission to feed him please).

In and Out Policy Burning Tongue is so much smaller than a typical burn event that you may come and go as you please, especially if you are running out to replace supplies.

Lasers Laser effects are allowed as long as you generally just follow the “don’t be a douche” guideline – keep laser light pointed away from people’s eyes, and especially away from the neighbors windows.

Nudity Burning Tongue is held in a backyard within full view of the neighbors, so in order to  maintain good relationships with them and respect their boundaries, we expect everyone to dress and costume accordingly.

Amplified Sound Burning Tongue will arrange for all of the sound equipment needed. At larger burn events, amplified sound equipment and the people responsible for operating it must be registered with the Sound Lead. For Burning Tongue we’ll probably just have two speakers anyway and maybe a megaphone to troll with and we will be broadcasting BMIR and K-HOLE radio on HDRS to other radios set up around the property. The Container will have an iPad where you can tell Lady Anna Yeti to add anything you want to the queue. Midnight we turn it a little down for sleepy people (and neighbors).

Drones Ace will have his drone for you to fly with a screen for people to watch, so leave yours at home and fly ours.

Parking Just park out front somewhere. please dont block the street. Be smart and watch for cars, DONT DRIVE HOME INEBRIATED, your welcome to stay.

Trespassing Anyone found at Burning Tongue behaving crosswise to this Survival Guide will be politely escorted to the front gate. This is a private event on private property and attended only by our invited guests.

Staying the Night Burning Tongue is like most burn events which are multi-day, camp out affairs, but has limited overnight facilities. If you are coming from outside of the area, contact us for a camping spot or other accommodations. We have extra couches in the container, hammocks under the dome, sleep pads in the Kuddle n Tea Kodiak. We also have some spots in the houses if you need AC. Car camping and tent camping can be arranged as well.

Facilities Burning Tongue is held at a private residence and has the facilities you’d expect. We also have wifi. Burning Tongue briefly considered having our electricity and water cut off for the event to make it seem like a real burn but decided that idea was Burnitos.

Ejection Burning Tongue reserves the right to eject any person for any reason, without any prior warning. So behave yourself or Larry will take your ass out.

Firearms & Weapons Ask us first and make sure they’re out of sight and unloaded, clear… until we go to the shooting range the next day before we livestream the temple burn from Black Rock City. Bring your own ammo or ammo to share.

FIRE SPINNING We have a designated fire spinning area that will be coned off. please stay within the cones if you are spinning and no more than 2 people spinning at one time. MUST HAVE A SPOTTER READY when anyone is spinning. We will have saftey equipment but bring extra gas. MAKE SURE YOUR TOYS ARE SOLID! no flying fireballs into the neighborhood. If your not spinning PLEASE be aware of people spinning when you walk by, evryone be alert and spatially aware, saftey 3rd!

Exodus You can’t stay forever even though we would love you to. Monday morning (or whenever we wake up) we will begin working to have the land completely restored to its pre-event state by 5pm for the Radio show. Please volunteer for this important effort. We will reward you with hot dogs and beer at our Live from the Mesa radio show at 5pm!