The Great Circle is that area surrounding the Man, and it’s reserved for the Fire Conclave on the night of the Man burn. The Fire Conclave’s focus is burn night. While we have some rules and thoughts pertaining to fire performing elsewhere in the city we do not regulate fire performance across Black Rock City.
What follows is a general guide to help you get oriented if you’re feeling called to perform in the Great Circle. It offers an overview of expectations, and responsibilities for anyone who wants to participate. It’s not every single detail, but it’ll definitely help you and your crew plan for an amazing experience.
If you’re planning to Shin, or lead a fire group through the audition process, this guide should be read alongside So You Want to Be a Shin, which covers the additional roles, responsibilities, and commitments involved in leading a fire group in the Fire Conclave.
I. Getting into the Great Circle: The Must-Haves
We’re dealing with 800 to 1200 fire performers and crew, so we have a few simple rules to keep things running smoothly:
- Groups Only, Sorry! We can’t handle individual performers, so you must be part of a pre-formed group to be invited into the Fire Conclave. Communication of Intent to Perform must be received by March 1st, and there is a form for shins to fill out.
- The “Shin”: Your group needs one main point person, the “Shin.” They are the person who communicates with the Fire Conclave (FC) Council. Even if your group has multiple leaders, only one of you can be the Shin and they need to be able to take responsibility for the group.
- Choreography is Key: Your group will produce a choreographed routine at least 15 minutes long. Each group operates a little differently but no matter the source of choreography, a collaborative effort from all members to showcase the skills and creativity of your group is a must.
- Group Size: Your group needs at least 11 performers plus a safety team and some crew for a total of at least 15.
- Time in the Circle:
- Your choreographed performance needs to be a minimum of 15 minutes.
- The total time we give your group in the circle is about 25 minutes, which includes some time for “chaos” (that’s free spinning!) at the end.
II. Dates to Put on Your Calendar
Don’t miss these important milestones as you get ready:
- Communication of intention – Your Shin must communicate intention by March 1st.
- Mayday video submission – a review of works in progress due by May 1st.
- Audition – A video of the entire performance that will be due in the middle of June.
- Group form submission – Every group will receive a link to a form. This allows us to help you get discounted tickets and vehicle passes (VPs) along with Great Circle Access Passes (GCAPs) which get you into the circle to perform. This is due around the Middle of July.
- Checking in on Playa – Every Performer, Safety, Musician, and Crew member must check in on playa by 6pm on Friday of event week (although some Shins require their group to check in before our deadline).
III. Basic Fire Safety & Fuel Rules (Seriously, Read This)
Safety is the most important thing out here. You and everyone in your group need to follow these rules, in and out of the Great Circle.
Fuel Storage Info
- Keep it Safe: Fuel stays in its original container or one that is clearly marked. Never use a water bottle or anything anyone might accidentally drink.
- Keep it away from structures: Keep your fuel far away from any open flames, burn barrels, anything that could start a fire, or any structure that could be ignited.
- No Spills: When you pour fuel, use a secondary container (like a 5-gallon bucket) to catch any drips or spills.
- Pack It Out: Do not dump any excess or unused fuel on the playa. Leave No Trace!
- You can find more detailed fuel storage info from Burning Man here.
Fire Performance Guidelines (In and Out of the Great Circle)
- Be Aware: Always know what’s happening around you and respect the space and boundaries of nearby camps and campers.
- Be Sober and Responsible: Fire is no joke—it can cause serious injury and damage. Everyone spinning fire must be sober and acting responsibly.
- Check Your Gear: Before you light up, double-check your equipment for damage. You don’t want a flaming prop flying into the crowd or a camp!
- Suppression Ready: Have the right safety gear right next to you:
- Clean, wet towels or duvetyn for putting out a performer who catches fire.
- A separate clean, wet towel or duvetyn for extinguishing props and tools.
- At least one BC rated extinguisher for fuel fires. BIG NOTE: Never use a dry chemical extinguisher on a person—the chemicals make burns way worse and cleanup is torture. BC rated extinguishers include CO2 extinguishers.
- Leave No Trace Fire: Do not leave flames burning on the playa surface (the BLM will ticket you).
- Manage the Drip: Don’t shake off or spin off excess fuel onto the playa. Use a spin-off bucket or zip-lock bags to catch it. Burning those fuel trails on the ground is a strict no-no.
- If you are a solo performer, outside of the Great Circle: Always spin with a safety. If you don’t have one, please look for an active fire circle and ask to set up with them. The more performers and safeties in one circle the better. More performers and safeties in one area means fewer chances of someone breaking your perimeter.
The Fire Safety Person (Your Sober Buddy)
- Safety is Mandatory: Every performer must have a second person acting as a sober fire safety for them.
- Establish a fire perimeter: If the perimeter is close to people make sure to go around and quickly explain that there will be fire performers in front, behind, or next to them and to be cautious of the fire… or better yet watch!
- Safety’s Job: This person is your guardian angel. They should be ready to:
- Put out tools with flame-retardant material (duvetyn).
- Put out your costume with that second piece of wet, clean, natural fiber (a cotton towel).
- Keep an eye on the environment and deal with any weirdness you can’t see while you’re spinning. You need someone sober and focused!
IV. Quick Note on Nevada Law
Nevada state law does not require special permits for fire performance at Burning Man, Black Rock City. However, safety always comes first. The Black Rock Rangers or Emergency Services can and will ask anyone performing unsafely to stop and fix the issue.
V. How to Find a Group
If you are looking to join a performing group, a list of groups open to new performers will be made public after March 1st. These groups will have already submitted their intentions to perform.
To be connected with a group, please contact the Fire Conclave Council at fireconclave@burningman.org. An introduction between you and the appropriate group will then be facilitated.
To receive Fire Conclave announcements, you can subscribe to the Fire Conclave Announce list by sending us a request.
Did reading this make you wonder how to run a group? Make you think… hmm, I wonder what it takes. You can check out this document “So you want to be a Shin” to get a better understanding of what it takes, which can be found here https://fireconclave.org/resources/
Independent Fire Spinning on the Playa
If you’re not part of an organized group but plan to spin fire on the playa, please ensure you follow the basic safety guidelines outlined previously. Your caution is essential for your safety and the well-being of those around you. Keep fire dancing unregulated on playa.
Images by Battle Bjorn & Kevin Levezu
