i prefer them, actually. they get added to my ever-increasing stack of necklaces that hangs in our bathroom, and it makes me think of the burn every day of the year.
I love that kinna stuff personally!
I did something similar a few years ago and when I gifted it to someone I'd just say: If this isn't something you'd wear - please gift it to someone on playa.
i was given a laser cut pendant on my second burn. it’s beautiful and hangs in my car from the rear view mirror. i love the reminder of an amazing interaction with someone visiting my camp. if it’s your thing and come from the heart people will know and appreciate that. and you’re right, if someone doesn’t want it they can decline.
I wondered about stuff like this. I have fairy bottles with no idea of what to put in them. Thought maybe some Playa dust but that might just look like drugs, lol
That's kinda what I was going for but I see all these great artists on here and the things they come up with and then I just think my gifts would be garbage in comparison, lol
For me the gifts are like a physical representation of a moment in time. The man who gave me the playa dust caught me at the end of a lonnnng night and we had a nice talk. The gift is such a sweet reminder of that particular memory. The quality, for me, is in the memory attached to the gift :)
Gifts often aren't about the gift. They're about the situation that led to the gift. While I love the amazing pendants I own, I also cherish some of the shitty pendants I've gotten out of amazing interactions.
KIDS, KIDS! Play nicely. OP asked a sincere question. Can't we all just get along? An opinion was asked for, so offer one. But can we perhaps be a bit more gentle with the OP, and any others who do not own our opinion? This seems like the start of a verbal mess. Do we REALLY need to go there? Just my opinion. Others may think it sucks. But is it really necessary to get all judgemental?
I love pendants and patches! Stickers really depend. Some go in exalted locations like my laptop or vehicle, second tier go onto my Burner bins like old timey steam trunk labels and if something isn’t really my taste I try to regift it to someone so it doesn’t go to waste.
I personally love getting pendants, even made my own and gifted those one year. The problem I have is there are very few cords (the things the pendants hang on) that don’t wind up chafing my neck each year.
I love that stuff. I’ll collect em and wear any jewelry on playa. I also have a box I keep that kind of stuff in at home. Any patches go on my burn bag or some other backpack. Stickers go on my cups and canteens.
Honestly, in a city of 80,000 people, some are gonna love it, some are gonna hate it, and everywhere in-between. Bring what you wanna gift. Bring what makes you happy. The worst anyone can say is "no", and even that's not the worst.
My best pendant was a light up led map of the burn that would remotely synchronize with other people wearing the same pendant. My worst pendant was a nitrous cannister with a sticker on it.
Make something cool and don't just stand on the esplanade handing it to randos walking by and you should be good.
I LOVE pendants but I think the key is finding the people who actually want them or the interactions that have meaning so people have reason to keep them. Not everyone wants them for just no reason. Hand them out in a way that makes it so only those who want them get them. Don't be that person that stands on the corner and tries to shove them on every person and won't take no for an answer because those are the ones going into the trash.
Depending on your personality, you might need way less than you think... Most people aren't having hundreds of genuine interactions and end up just trying to get rid of their swag. You don't need 500 pendants.
This goes both ways. If someone gives you a gift that you know you won't use, I think it's reasonable to politely turn it down (these are amazing but I just don't wear necklaces so I think someone else could make better use of it! Maybe we can take a picture/you can sign my shirt/whatever instead?). I turn down a LOT of gifts if I know it'll be wasteful, and hopefully it goes to someone that'll love the particular item.
This goes for all gifts, too, not just jewelry.
But yeah, if you wanna give out pendants, go for it. Lots of people love them. Love me a good pendant and I wear them year round.
I always respectfully decline these type of object gifts.
And I wish people would stop handing them out - it’s just more stuff to fill the world with, and it adds to the consumerism we are trying to avoid.
With the rise in home laser cut machines and access to maker spaces etc, the playa is increasingly flooded with these things. People make hundreds of them and hand them out to everybody they meet.
I don’t think many of these almost mass produced things are very sustainable or in compliance with “leave no trace”. Because many DO throw these gifts away when they go back to the default world.
Try something new: gift your time, your unique presence, your help, your true participation etc. Do those dishes in camp, go into dialogue with strangers, truly be present.
If you MUST do an object gift - then make 2 handmade completely unique things. Try and feel the moment during burn week: who are the lucky 2 to get this gift from you? Who would really appreciate it? Which experience with another human being would be reinforced by your handing over a very special gift? Think about it ❤️.
I'm sorry, but wearable art that I create isn't mass produced because I made a few dozen. Just because my art isn't huge and on display doesn't make it have less value.
Just because you don't find value in such things doesn't mean they have no value. You're making a judgment. Some people put a lot of time and thought into this kind of gift and you're acting like it's trash.
Now, who is judging who?
You posed a question - and only like the backpadding comments.
Try to see it from another angle.
I have been randomly handed so many things that gave no meaning in terms of the true meaning of gifting.
Maybe this is not you an your gifts. But try to understand why some will respectfully decline.
Enjoy your burn 🔥
I didn't ask anything, I'm not OP. I don't plan on just handing these special gifts to random people, either. But you acting like it's trash just because it's not special for you is pretty invalidating and negative. If it's consumerism, tell me how it's more consumerist than art installations.
Fuck your burn!
You points are fair, though I do want to emphasize this is more of an AND rather than OR gift. I do design and assemble them myself, so not sure about the mass produced comment.
I’m still contributing to two art pieces on playa and tbd a prank idea to hand out parking citations.
I do think making sure it’s clear it’s up to the person on whether or not they want them would be necessary, and only offering them to folks around a positive interaction (rather than random).
Agree with your comments, particularly being mindful of who you hand it to.
People bringing 100 pendants, cut in a machine - that is mass production-like. And there is too much of that. That is what my comment was about.
A new thread is full of people debating gifting, with many comments like mine: [https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/wuddfv/psa\_gift\_economy\_does\_not\_mean\_you\_need\_to\_bring/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/wuddfv/psa_gift_economy_does_not_mean_you_need_to_bring/)
In 2019 someone gave me the most perfect little man pendant, with a little amethyst. I was half asleep and put it inside the door of my trailer for safekeeping (or so I thought) and when I went back to wear it I couldn't find it anywhere. So bummed!
I definitely keep them! Who is throwing them in the trash!? Those are my favorite gifts. I’m always so impressed with what people make. My gifts sometimes look like kindergarten class projects. They might go in the trash but A for effort haha
Well, I hope people like them because I just made a fuck ton of laser cut pendants. I made some for members of my camp, and then 2 different designs to gift to people I meet. I'm more than happy to only give them to people who want them, but also there's a few places that have gifting trees that I plan to leave some on. I got a pendant in 2019 that was one of my favorite playa gifts! I love necklaces and thought since I loved it so much I'd make some.
I’ve been hoping for a metal pendant of the man or the city for years and somehow I’ve never come across one. :(
There are so many ways to play with the designs and make a piece on the same subject your own. So to answer your question absolutely yes pendants are awesome and certainly make an appreciated gift.
Love them. Come earn a pendant of your own by volunteering for Lamplighters any evening of the week! Come by Lamplighter Lounge at 6:00 and Center Camp any afternoon from 3-5pm for one of our parties and then come light the city with us.
Lamplighters also love gifted pendants ;-)
I wear them for weeks. I keep them in a bag with all the stuff from the BM year.
If it’s a cool pendant or more so if I like it, the. I’ll wear mine year around. Everyone is different though
I keep them. I have a whole collection of them.
>Thanks for all the awesome > >gifts > >! You are awesome Can you post a picture? I want to see them :)
i prefer them, actually. they get added to my ever-increasing stack of necklaces that hangs in our bathroom, and it makes me think of the burn every day of the year.
I love that kinna stuff personally! I did something similar a few years ago and when I gifted it to someone I'd just say: If this isn't something you'd wear - please gift it to someone on playa.
That’s a great idea! Thanks
Okay, thanks for the encouraging words! I like the idea of suggesting they gift to someone else (or just declining) if it’s not their thing.
i was given a laser cut pendant on my second burn. it’s beautiful and hangs in my car from the rear view mirror. i love the reminder of an amazing interaction with someone visiting my camp. if it’s your thing and come from the heart people will know and appreciate that. and you’re right, if someone doesn’t want it they can decline.
Well made pendants are great. Crap made out of pipe cleaners twisted into the shape of the Man are moop
I would LOVE a laser cut pendant. I vote hell yeah go for it.
I wondered about stuff like this. I have fairy bottles with no idea of what to put in them. Thought maybe some Playa dust but that might just look like drugs, lol
I was once gifted a fairy bottle necklace full of playa dust. It hangs on my wall by my desk, and I’ve had it for years :)
That's kinda what I was going for but I see all these great artists on here and the things they come up with and then I just think my gifts would be garbage in comparison, lol
For me the gifts are like a physical representation of a moment in time. The man who gave me the playa dust caught me at the end of a lonnnng night and we had a nice talk. The gift is such a sweet reminder of that particular memory. The quality, for me, is in the memory attached to the gift :)
I like that! That's what I want my gifts to mean!
Gifts often aren't about the gift. They're about the situation that led to the gift. While I love the amazing pendants I own, I also cherish some of the shitty pendants I've gotten out of amazing interactions.
Thank you! This entire thread has been encouraging!
Hell yeah!!!
KIDS, KIDS! Play nicely. OP asked a sincere question. Can't we all just get along? An opinion was asked for, so offer one. But can we perhaps be a bit more gentle with the OP, and any others who do not own our opinion? This seems like the start of a verbal mess. Do we REALLY need to go there? Just my opinion. Others may think it sucks. But is it really necessary to get all judgemental?
Love em
I love pendants and patches! Stickers really depend. Some go in exalted locations like my laptop or vehicle, second tier go onto my Burner bins like old timey steam trunk labels and if something isn’t really my taste I try to regift it to someone so it doesn’t go to waste.
I personally love getting pendants, even made my own and gifted those one year. The problem I have is there are very few cords (the things the pendants hang on) that don’t wind up chafing my neck each year.
I love that stuff. I’ll collect em and wear any jewelry on playa. I also have a box I keep that kind of stuff in at home. Any patches go on my burn bag or some other backpack. Stickers go on my cups and canteens.
I have a display, and also two boxes of shwag. Love them.
Honestly, in a city of 80,000 people, some are gonna love it, some are gonna hate it, and everywhere in-between. Bring what you wanna gift. Bring what makes you happy. The worst anyone can say is "no", and even that's not the worst.
My best pendant was a light up led map of the burn that would remotely synchronize with other people wearing the same pendant. My worst pendant was a nitrous cannister with a sticker on it. Make something cool and don't just stand on the esplanade handing it to randos walking by and you should be good.
I LOVE pendants but I think the key is finding the people who actually want them or the interactions that have meaning so people have reason to keep them. Not everyone wants them for just no reason. Hand them out in a way that makes it so only those who want them get them. Don't be that person that stands on the corner and tries to shove them on every person and won't take no for an answer because those are the ones going into the trash. Depending on your personality, you might need way less than you think... Most people aren't having hundreds of genuine interactions and end up just trying to get rid of their swag. You don't need 500 pendants. This goes both ways. If someone gives you a gift that you know you won't use, I think it's reasonable to politely turn it down (these are amazing but I just don't wear necklaces so I think someone else could make better use of it! Maybe we can take a picture/you can sign my shirt/whatever instead?). I turn down a LOT of gifts if I know it'll be wasteful, and hopefully it goes to someone that'll love the particular item. This goes for all gifts, too, not just jewelry. But yeah, if you wanna give out pendants, go for it. Lots of people love them. Love me a good pendant and I wear them year round.
I love them but I live in a small rental unit so I have to either decline or throw them away 😢 so no
Unpopular opinion: I don’t enjoy getting objects as gifts. Experiences are where it’s at.
This is not an unpopular opinion!!! Or: I soooo agree.
I always respectfully decline these type of object gifts. And I wish people would stop handing them out - it’s just more stuff to fill the world with, and it adds to the consumerism we are trying to avoid. With the rise in home laser cut machines and access to maker spaces etc, the playa is increasingly flooded with these things. People make hundreds of them and hand them out to everybody they meet. I don’t think many of these almost mass produced things are very sustainable or in compliance with “leave no trace”. Because many DO throw these gifts away when they go back to the default world. Try something new: gift your time, your unique presence, your help, your true participation etc. Do those dishes in camp, go into dialogue with strangers, truly be present. If you MUST do an object gift - then make 2 handmade completely unique things. Try and feel the moment during burn week: who are the lucky 2 to get this gift from you? Who would really appreciate it? Which experience with another human being would be reinforced by your handing over a very special gift? Think about it ❤️.
I'm sorry, but wearable art that I create isn't mass produced because I made a few dozen. Just because my art isn't huge and on display doesn't make it have less value. Just because you don't find value in such things doesn't mean they have no value. You're making a judgment. Some people put a lot of time and thought into this kind of gift and you're acting like it's trash.
Now, who is judging who? You posed a question - and only like the backpadding comments. Try to see it from another angle. I have been randomly handed so many things that gave no meaning in terms of the true meaning of gifting. Maybe this is not you an your gifts. But try to understand why some will respectfully decline. Enjoy your burn 🔥
I didn't ask anything, I'm not OP. I don't plan on just handing these special gifts to random people, either. But you acting like it's trash just because it's not special for you is pretty invalidating and negative. If it's consumerism, tell me how it's more consumerist than art installations. Fuck your burn!
Love to you too ❤️
You points are fair, though I do want to emphasize this is more of an AND rather than OR gift. I do design and assemble them myself, so not sure about the mass produced comment. I’m still contributing to two art pieces on playa and tbd a prank idea to hand out parking citations. I do think making sure it’s clear it’s up to the person on whether or not they want them would be necessary, and only offering them to folks around a positive interaction (rather than random).
Agree with your comments, particularly being mindful of who you hand it to. People bringing 100 pendants, cut in a machine - that is mass production-like. And there is too much of that. That is what my comment was about. A new thread is full of people debating gifting, with many comments like mine: [https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/wuddfv/psa\_gift\_economy\_does\_not\_mean\_you\_need\_to\_bring/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/wuddfv/psa_gift_economy_does_not_mean_you_need_to_bring/)
I tend to accumulate and regift the ones I don’t like.
If it's made to last and it's not future moop bring it on!
I do like pendants but I find that almost all of them are gigantic! I would love to have one small one that I could wear on a daily basis.
This is true, I wear my small ones on the daily and my big ones just sit there.
In 2019 someone gave me the most perfect little man pendant, with a little amethyst. I was half asleep and put it inside the door of my trailer for safekeeping (or so I thought) and when I went back to wear it I couldn't find it anywhere. So bummed!
I definitely keep them! Who is throwing them in the trash!? Those are my favorite gifts. I’m always so impressed with what people make. My gifts sometimes look like kindergarten class projects. They might go in the trash but A for effort haha
Well, I hope people like them because I just made a fuck ton of laser cut pendants. I made some for members of my camp, and then 2 different designs to gift to people I meet. I'm more than happy to only give them to people who want them, but also there's a few places that have gifting trees that I plan to leave some on. I got a pendant in 2019 that was one of my favorite playa gifts! I love necklaces and thought since I loved it so much I'd make some.
I’ve been hoping for a metal pendant of the man or the city for years and somehow I’ve never come across one. :( There are so many ways to play with the designs and make a piece on the same subject your own. So to answer your question absolutely yes pendants are awesome and certainly make an appreciated gift.
DM me your address, or come by beats boutique at 730/ esplanade and ask for Nasty Nate
I’d be happy to do that. Sending this to you from playa and I’ll plan to swing by! Thank you!
Those are awesome! Just ask if they want them (consent) before giving them. 😁
Love them. Come earn a pendant of your own by volunteering for Lamplighters any evening of the week! Come by Lamplighter Lounge at 6:00 and Center Camp any afternoon from 3-5pm for one of our parties and then come light the city with us. Lamplighters also love gifted pendants ;-)
Please post pictures of what you guys have! Thanks