Statement of Intent

What is the Statement of Intent (SOI)?
Why do returning camps need to fill this out?
When is it due?
Where is the SOI?
What is considered a returning camp?
What is considered a new camp? Why don't new camps complete a SOI?
Most of my camp wants to take the year off but we have a solid core interested in returning. Would we be considered returning or new?
In the past, we could get tickets in the Stewards Sale and not bring our camp. Is that the case this year?
What if our camp purchases Stewards Sale tickets, and we can’t fill out the Placed Camp Questionnaire or our camp can’t make it to playa?
What if we drastically reduce the interactivity or population we told you about in the SOI when we fill out the Placed Camp Questionnaire?
I’ve been my own theme camp for years and would like to form a village with other returning theme camps. Do we fill out the SOI as a village?
What if one of the camps in my village wants to split off to be a stand-alone theme camp or a new or returning theme camp wants to join my village?
If I complete the SOI, will I be guaranteed placement?

SOI and Stewards Sale Questions

If I don't complete the SOI, but do fill out a Placed Camp Questionnaire, will I be eligible for Stewards Sale tickets for the upcoming year?
Can I expect the same # of Stewards Sale tickets as my most recent allocation?

Stewards Sale Tickets

If my theme camp does not receive as many Stewards Sale Tickets as I need, what can I do?
How can I make sure my camp is eligible to buy tickets through the Stewards Sale?
How are Stewards Sale allotment numbers determined?
Our camp took a year off, but we used to be in good standing. Are we still eligible for the Stewards Sale next year?
My camp is new, how do I get tickets?

Statement of Intent

1. What is the Statement of Intent (SOI)?

It is a form that launches in late November - early December for the forthcoming year for returning theme camps and villages to complete who intend to be placed at Burning Man for the upcoming year. The SOI must be completed to receive a Stewards Sale ticket allocation.

Theme camps seeking placement for the first time do not need to complete the SOI, nor do new or returning art/mutant vehicle/work support camps.

2. Why do returning camps need to fill this out?

This allows Placement to award Stewards Sale ticket allocations based on the needs of the camp for the upcoming year and allows Placement to inform camps that they will be placed earlier.

3. When is it due?

In 2023, it is due on Wednesday, January 18 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm GMT. Future years will see a similar deadline.

4. Where is the SOI?

You can find all the forms in your Burner Profile under "Participate" > "BRC Participation". Here's a quick link to that page.

5. What is considered a returning camp?

A returning camp has been placed in BRC within the last 3 event cycles (2018-19, 2022) as a theme camp or village with continuous leadership (including passing on the camp lead by emailing placement to change the lead). Theme camps who were not placed in the last 3 events but were placed previously will be considered new and will be ineligible for Stewards Sale tickets.

If a camp’s lead has changed with a new lead, you’re still a returning camp. A returning camp can change its theme/name/interactivity as long as what they are offering is equivalent to the last time they were placed.

6. What is considered a new camp? Why don't new camps complete a SOI?

A new camp to the Placement Team is one that has not been placed in the last 3 iterations of Black Rock City (even if the camp has existed before in open camping). If part of an existing placed camp chooses to spin-off and create a camp with a new name and interactivity, they would be considered a new camp if they applied for placement.

The SOI is to determine Stewards Sale ticket allocations for returning camps. New camps are not eligible for Stewards Sale tickets through the SOI. (Please see "My camp is new, how do I get tickets" under Stewards Sale Tickets below)

7. Most of my camp wants to take the year off but we have a solid core interested in returning. Would we be considered returning or new?

Camps that significantly reduce or change their interactivity will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if they are a returning camp (and can access the camp’s Stewards Sale allocation), or if they are a new camp (and are not eligible for the returning camp’s Stewards Sale tickets). Please provide as much information as possible in the SOI about the changes.

8. In the past, we could get tickets in the Stewards Sale and not bring our camp. Is that the case this year?

No. Receiving a Stewards Sale tickets assumes that you will bring your camp in the coming year and seek placement. If you do receive Stewards Sale tickets for the forthcoming year and do not bring a placed theme camp, your standing with Placement will be in jeopardy and your camp may be ineligible for tickets or placement for the future.

9. What if our camp purchases Stewards Sale tickets, and we can’t fill out the Placed Camp Questionnaire or our camp can’t make it to playa?

We know life happens and plans fall through, so please inform Placement as soon as you are aware that you cannot attend the forthcoming event. Unlike previous to 2022, receiving a Stewards Sale allocation assumes that you will wish to be placed in the coming year so we will review each case to determine whether it will affect your camp’s standing. Email placement@burningman.org ASAP to go over the situation.

10. What if we drastically reduce the interactivity or population we told you about in the SOI when we fill out the Placed Camp Questionnaire?

Things happen and we are understanding. Because the Placed Camp Questionnaire comes later in the event cycle, it gives you an opportunity to update Placement about any changes you foresee. If your camp does plan to provide less, we need to know. Because Stewards Sale tickets are offered based on anticipated interactivity and camp size, any reduction may impact your standing with Placement for future years. Email placement@burningman.org ASAP to go over the situation

11. I’ve been my own theme camp for years and would like to form a village with other returning theme camps. Do we fill out the SOI as a village?

Each returning theme camp should fill out an SOI as a theme camp to receive their own allocation of Stewards Sale tickets. Any new camps that are joining your village will not be able to fill out an SOI and will not receive Stewards Sale allocations as a returning theme camp.

In the spring, whoever is picked to be the mayor of the village should fill out a Placed Camp Questionnaire (PCQ) for the whole group to be placed as a village. Select “Village” when you fill out that PCQ. Each camp within the village should also fill out a PCQ as a "Camp within a Village," selecting that option in the PCQ. All the camps within the village are expected to have a similar amount of interactivity and population as they communicated in the SOI.

12. What if one of the camps in my village wants to split off to be a stand-alone theme camp or a new or returning theme camp wants to join my village?

Returning villages fill out a SOI for their village as a returning village option, including all interactivity expected for any remaining and new camps for the upcoming year within the village. Camps in villages should not complete a SOI if they are planning to return within the village, and should talk to their village mayor about any ticket needs.
Any returning TCs in good standing should fill out an SOI as a returning TC and then fill out a PCQ as a CiV. Returning TCs that are joining the village will receive their own Stewards Sale allocation.
If a returning theme camp within a village wishes to split from the village to become a stand-alone theme camp (TC)...
- The CiV must have a previous year PCQ and can become an independent TC by filling out an SOI as a returning theme camp.
- If the CiV does not have a PCQ, Placement will check with the mayor about their involvement with the village and capture any information they would need to review the CiV's SOI as a returning TC.
- Placement will ask the Mayor if they are in good standing within the village.

Important

Communication with Placement is paramount to making sure that camps receive Stewards Sale tickets. If returning camps are splitting off from a village, please email placement@burningman.org before the SOI is due to assure that we have the information needed for an easy transition.

13. If I complete the SOI, will I be guaranteed placement?

Guaranteed placement was only planned for returning theme camps and villages in 2022. If you chose to take 2022 off, we will carry over that commitment for 2023. For future years, we cannot guarantee placement for all returning theme camps and villages, though an SOI will be required to access a Stewards Sale allocation. All camps seeking placement will still be required to complete a Placed Camp Questionnaire that opens in February.

SOI and Stewards Sale Questions

1. If I don't complete the SOI, but do fill out a Placed Camp Questionnaire, will I be eligible for Stewards Sale tickets for the upcoming year?

At this time, we cannot assure any Stewards Sale tickets to returning theme camps and villages beyond the SOI process. If you have an extenuating circumstance, you can always email us at placement@burningman.org to explain it.

2. Can I expect the same # of Stewards Sale tickets as my most recent allocation?

If you were placed in 2018, in good standing, and did not access your previous DGS/Stewards allocation in 2019 or 2022, you are guaranteed Stewards Sale tickets to bring your placed camp back in 2023. If you took these years off, 2023 is the last year you will be able to access your previously promised tickets and placement will not hold the allocation beyond 2023.

Camps that were placed in 2022 and are in Good Standing will no longer be automatically guaranteed a set of Stewards Sale tickets as a returning camp. Good Standing will be required to be eligible for Stewards Sale tickets, and final ticket allocations will be determined after review of the Statement of Intent.

Stewards Sale Tickets

1. If my theme camp does not receive as many Stewards Sale Tickets as I need, what can I do?

Remember that the Stewards Sale is not intended to fulfill 100% of your camp's needs. As in all other years, there will be other ticket sales including a main sale where you can acquire tickets. More information will come out about these sales in January/February of each year.

2. How can I make sure my camp is eligible to buy tickets through the Stewards Sale?

After each Burning Man event, all placed theme camps will be reviewed on the Camp Placement Criteria and Criteria to be in Good Standing. A couple criteria we pay special attention to are:

MOOP score. If a camp receives a red MOOP score, it may affect their access to future Stewards Sales. The Placement team expects the camp to be proactive in addressing the issue in future placement questionnaires.
Strain on resources. This refers to whether a camp requires extra BRC infrastructure support, which could include undue communication or interactions with Placement, Rangers, DPW, or the Playa Restoration team. This could also include the processing of negative feedback from other departments and theme camps.

If a theme camp attracts negative attention by violating principles and cultural norms, this will similarly strain resources. If a theme camp meets all of the criteria they remain in “good standing” and may be eligible to receive access to the Stewards Sale. Exemplary camps are the most likely to be invited to the following year’s Stewards Sale.

Good standing is required to receive access to the Stewards Sale. Camps not in good standing are expected to make substantial changes and improvements to their camp operations to qualify for future placement and the Stewards Sale.

3. How are Stewards Sale allotment numbers determined?

The Stewards Sale is intended to support the core crew of BRC theme camps. These are the critical team members required to get the core functions of your camp built so that your camp can operate and participate at Burning Man. Factors considered include size of camp, complexity and uniqueness of interactivity and build, record of Good Standing, among others.

Placement introduced the Statement of Intent in 2022, which changed how Stewards Sale tickets are allocated to returning and new camps. Please go to this Burning Man Journal post to read more about what changed for the Placement Process.

4. Our camp took a year off, but we used to be in good standing. Are we still eligible for the Stewards Sale next year?

Yes, you are still eligible if you took a year off and did not purchase Stewards Sale tickets allocated to you during that off year. Camps in Good Standing are able to maintain their standing without returning to BRC for 3 years.

If your camp plans to return after time off, you simply need to complete a Statement of Intent for the forthcoming year. Placement will check to see if your camp is still within the 3 year window of good standing and eligible for Stewards tickets. Your camp can also contact the Placement team and let them know of your plans including any changes to camp leadership before the Statement of Intent is due.

5. My camp is new, how do I get tickets?

New camps should advise their campers to purchase tickets in one of the non-Stewards ticket sales.

A small pool of tickets is available to supplement tickets for newly placed camps. To be considered for this pool of tickets, new camps must complete the Placed Camp Questionnaire. If selected for placement, the Placement Team will determine which camps are eligible for tickets and will reach out with further instructions by the end of May.

New camps should not solely depend on this opportunity to access tickets. Receiving placement as a new camp does not guarantee access to this pool of tickets, and if granted, only a limited number will be available per camp.

We also recommend that new camps consult the Camp Resource Guide, attend the Camp Symposium, and access the Camp Support Team’s resources in planning their camp.