Apparently, Philip Rosedale, Second Life’s creator, found that Burning Man stimulated his imagination and creativity. This was one of the topics Vaneeesa Blaylock and I chatted about when we were becoming acquainted. And it was Vaneeesa who stimulated my curiosity about what it was about Burning Man that was so meaningful to Philip as he formed ideas about what SL could be.

I’m still not sure what Burning Man is. I know it’s an event that is held in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada and coincides with Labor Day weekend. I know the event began as a place for radical self-expression in 1986 and included the burning of wooden effigy. However, since its inception it seems to have gone through several important changes while keeping its basic purpose, and remains a place for radical self-expression. I’ve done some research but still don’t know what that means.

The closest I’ve ever come to Burning Man is Burning Life in 2008. I knew Burn was a big deal but I was just a minari at Yoshiwara Okiya at the time. I had been asked by my Onesan to perform at the okiya’s pavilion at Burning Life. This was a great honor for me and as a side effect I was a nervous wreck as I prepared for my part in my first geisha show. Then came another performance. I was also asked to serve in our display’s  ochaya (tea house). And other times when I was at our display, I acted as a greeter. I just never really made it out of our area and into Burn while it was running.

That’s me right in the center during my first performance in a geisha show.
I performed exactly as I should, but I was a nervous wreck.

It’s now 2012 and I’ve been giving a “BURN2 Press” tag. I’m getting to where I like this “Press” thing. I know I’m not “real” press but I enjoy the role play part of it all.

That’s me in my jacket, the desert cold yanno,
preparing for BURN2 Press day 2012.
Hopefully I’ll have some fun stuff for you tomorrow.

BURN 2 starts October 20th and runs to the 28th. Stay tuned and I’ll try to give you some interesting insights into this year’s BURN. Who knows, maybe I’ll even learn something. Stay tuned.