Flipside Flame #8

Gray Mack

Some Sound Advice

Bass seems to be the biggest culprit for having sound complaints filed against Flipside. For some strange reason our neighbors in Blanco and Hays Counties get annoyed with the near-constant onslaught of oonce-oonce Flipside seems to produce. (or oontz, oonz, oonds, untz, or however it’s spelled in your particular region)

Looking for ways to make your bass stay tight and not incur the wrath of the Sound Marshals, Rangers, the LLC and the Blanco County Sheriff’s Office? Eric Griswold, a man who knows his chicken, offers the following advice:

1.Line arrays. Stack the bass drivers vertically as high as you can. You see this technique in modern venues, with the columns of stacked speakers hanging down from the ceiling. There are many other geeky benefits, like increased efficiency and evenness of sound field with distance. The sound goes where you point it.

2. Sound wall. Park several RV’s end-to-end against the back wall of your sound tent. Put the bass drivers against that same wall inside the tent, so you don’t get cancellations due to reflections. A 30-foot RV is a significant sound reflector down to 40 Hz. Make the DJ’s sleep in the RV’s :) We’ve used this technique at Snowflake Village to help insulate the Village from nearby loud camps. If you parked RV’s around three sides of your sound tent, you have basically created a nightclub. It can be loud as hell inside, with much less sound going off in unwanted directions.

3. Subsonic filter. These are recommended for use with ported cabinets anyway, but few people use them. Try a second-order filter set to 50 Hz or so. If anything, the bass will sound tighter and better-defined. It also protects your speakers. But when you walk out a couple hundred feet away, that annoying subsonic “tail”, the thumpa thumpa, will be greatly reduced.

4. When vocals are unclear, many people will turn them up. Instead, look for what is stepping on them. I’ve often put a little dip at 2kHz or so into the guitar and/or keyboard. Suddenly, you can understand every word, but the mix didn’t get any louder.

“Subtract first, add only as a last resort”. Many of these techniques come from the BBC/ORTF lexicon of mixing, a little different from traditional American practice.

Thanks, Eric!

Ghost’s Final Thought: This isn’t a screed on our new Sound Policy. I love big, clean, loud sound as much as the next Raver-in-Denial. As a member of the LLC, I don’t want to be fined or arrested for disturbing the peace. I want to enjoy the Flipside you create, especially the music. Whatamelon, the LLC, the Sound Marshals, and everyone else involved with the new Sound Policy have lost a lot of sleep trying to insure that we’ll be able to continue enjoying the music community that Flipside fosters while limiting our chances of getting in trouble by being reasonable, respectful, and responsible neighbors.

A note about Will-call tickets

Will call tickets must be picked up by the person whose name is on the ticket. There are no name changes allowed with will-call tickets.

Town Crier spells it out

How do I get the town crier to announce my kewl thing?

You got a thing you’re doing. It is sooo fucking badass it’s like...well, way fucking cool. Now you feel justifiably proud of this thing and you really want other people to know about it. Thing is, after all the scramble to get to Flipside, get set up and what all, dang if you ain’t got no time to tell anyone about YOUR cool thing!

Find the town crier to get your message out. Just flag me if you see me go by and I’ll note it down on my clipboard. Better yet write down something very short, witty and legible about your cool thing. Hand it to the town crier or take it over to PVC in the Grove.

Be generous with your scheduled timing. People don’t do chronometers at Flipside.  Dusk is better than 7:30ish. “Dark-thirty” is better than “between 10pm and midnight”. Don’t expect ANYthing or ANYone to be on time (except PETS).

The Town Crier is readily identified by being in a golf cart marked “Town Crier” and talking into a megaphone with one ear glued to a radio. They may be wearing a hat or perhaps be on stilts (you can also ask ANYone with a megaphone—Texas is a right to talk state.)

Two things to note: I do not announce DJs by name, only music style and I do not accept any announcements prior to the event.

Special requests, birthdays, anniversaries, shout-outs and drive-bys are considered on a case by case basis. Priority of non “official” announcements is entirely at the whim of the on-duty town crier. Examples of “official” announcements: It’s gonna rain, high surf advisory, The creek is open again, We’ve solved that little labor dispute with the porta potty pumper guy y’all can poop now, Owner of the green Corolla that’s been blocking the porta potties plate #654LBG: Your car is now a cube., There seems to be a Catamount attached to my leg, please hand me that stick.

If you feel stalked by someone (or a big hungry kitty cat) who doesn’t seem to get “No” and want an escape pod just discreetly tell the town crier “sanctuary” and they will whisk you away no questions asked.

I’m also looking for new material. Short witty acerbic but good-natured soundbyte stuff. So if you think you got a good zinger, feel free to send it along: circusboytym@hotmail.com

Flipside Town Crier- El Mano

Asst. Town Crier- Oneirous

Art registration deadline

The deadline for registering your art installations is May 8th.

The Installation Art Registration form is lengthy. Please help us to help you by sharing as much detailed information about your piece and your requirements as possible. This will allow us to find the optimal location for your art. Please note: you must be logged in to register art!

New this year - if you have theme camp art, register it separately from your camp at “Register Your Theme Camp Art” to have it listed on the art map. If you hope to burn your art, contact safety08@burningflipside.com to gain the required permit.

More information at: http://www.burningflipside.com/art. If you would like to join the art placement team, please contact art08@burningflipside.com!

Lucretia

Art Area Facilitator & Art Placement

Marrvelous

Plant a flag

Want to:

• Help Pyropolis get to be a Functional city?
• Have fun with groovy people?
• Be familiar with where things are and what streets are called before the event?
• Be the cool person in your camp who can tell people where other camps are located?
• Feel good about yourself for Volunteering?

Help us lay out and Flag out our city!

Sunday the 18th (the Sunday before Flipside) at Flat Creek 12 noon. To sign up, contact Psyche at lilcpsyche@yahoo.com

Flag-waving

Calling all Themecamps or Unthemed camps  or Taking-the-year-off camps or otherwise-motivated-individuals! Do you have a Flag or Banner? A giant puppet or other Symbol of Your Enduring Glory?

If not Please Make One

and Join the Procession to the Effigy on Burn Night

Rally your peeps with pride in your community with you groups Flag and let us all come together under the ONE TRUE FLAG OF FIRE at the BURN!

Because you can’t conquer anyone without a Flag!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEx5G-GOS1k

A Conversation with Michelle

by Sigmund Freud (ghost written by someone from the Odd Ones Camp)

“So, my dear, tell me about your childhood.”

“My childhood? I thought we were here to talk about the radio station.”

“Right, please do tell me what it is you wish to speak of.”

“The Odd Ones camp is bringing the radio station back this year. ‘40 Watts at 40 feet.’ Our station will be broadcasting with a 40 watt radio transmitter launching our programming from atop a 40 foot tall bamboo radio tower.”

The symbol of a 40 foot spire emitting the huge load of 40 watts and spreading it over the entire area of Flipside was too obvious. These “Odd Ones” obviously are a group of individuals whose desires are most fervently repressed.

“100.1 FM, KFLiP! The call sign KFLiP inspired our symbol. You know, flippin’ people off?”

Ah, yes, the hand signal that not only represents the phallus but the associated attachments! And the number of the station itself, 100.1; two phallic symbols and two most female symbols in the zero.

“ANYWAY, back to Flipside and the radio station. We are encouraging everyone to bring radios so they can tune into radio station anywhere and everywhere. We’re even going to spread some radios out in public places, like food and drink camps to the port-o-potties. I’m sorry, are you choking?”

A few coughs cleared the surprise from my throat. So obvious was the link from oral to anal and genital stages; the girl would definitely need more counseling.

“Oh, and the Silent Dance Party! Saturday, 11:00 PM. Everyone with radios and headphones should tune in and dance! Anywhere at Flipside is the perfect place, though the radio lounge will also sport a dance floor for dancing and comfy seating for those not inclined to dance.”

So, the radio station would cause great arousal across all of this Flipside event; people will be moved to dance and gyrate and no doubt express their desires in more carnal ways. My thoughts are confirmed.

“And we are inviting DJs to come out and spin for everyone at Flipside. Live music folks or other unplugged entertainment are encouraged to come to the radio lounge and broadcast live.  And announcements every hour, anyone with something to plug or say should tell us before flipside, or just show up and share.”

“Folks should look for hand-held radios passing around Flipside; they have the radio information that you’ll need to tune in and the Silent Dance party day and time, you know in case you do something that will make you forget.”

My goodness, so extreme a case has never been seen. This child is advertising a veritable orgy of complex desires to possess a phallus and disburse its ‘broadcast’ to as many open receptors as humanly possible.

“Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.”

Bring Radios to Flipside. Tune into 100.1 FM for music, entertainment and hourly news and updates. Stop by the radio lounge and FLiP someone off, plug something, or entertain folks at Flipside. DJs or other entertainers sign up at: oddradio.pbwiki.com or contact michelle at michelle@justmichelle.com

MILF and cookies

Because people just never get tired of boobies...for the third year, Flipside’s hot MILFs will be serving up an after-school snack of cold milk and cookies. Look for us Friday at 3pm on the main field.

If you’re a MILF and you’re interested, join us 2:30 Friday afternoon at CARpal Tunnel, an auxiliary of Burning Glam. Bring a plate of cookies and your Grandma’s best apron. I’ll have the milk! Questions? Contact Burdizzo  elsyd@mail2.pvco.net

Wow! You Look Amazing!

So amazing, in fact, that BurninGlam thinks YOU should be in the Dr. Tiki’s Pyropolis Fashion Show!

Time: Saturday 24 May at 8:01 p.m.

Place: Effigy Stage

Contestants: You know it when you got it! Yes, everyone and anyone sporting groovalicious playawear is welcome to shake, rock, stomp and glam the runway as we search for the utmost in Pyropolis costume creativity!

Please arrive at the EFFIGY STAGE by 7:45 to fill out your costume and personal information, to be announced as you vogue the Effigy Stage.

The fabulously stupendous BurningGlam Mistresses and Masters of Ceremonies will use your notes to describe your most breathtakingly wonderful outfit as you sashay across the stage to the appreciative audiences’ ooohs and aaaahs!!!!

(ex: “Misty Dawn is wearing an outfit entitled ‘ What I did last summer’, entirely constructed of turnip leaves! The head piece is detachable as well as edible!”)

Judges: Will be hand selected from the most distinguished Flipzien fashion mavens and ravens.

Prizes! (Oh, yes, there will be Prizes!) Specialty TuTu by Miss Fondue and More!

Contact: JadeRumor with any questions:
amelias@swbell.net

Advice for your 3rd Flipside

Now you know what Flipside is all about, right?

Then you know it’s about learning new things each time. This year’s big lesson for you will be about overconfidence!

Maybe you think you’re over your over-commitment issues from your second year, and so you don’t have to guard yourself against feeling responsible for someone else’s experience. Guess what? Some of us have to keep a constant eye on that, and we still feel overwhelmed with responsibility every single year, for at least a little while.

Maybe you think you’re the expert on the various “Principles” of Flipside, and you’re just about ready to open your mouth and chew out a newbie on one issue, and they turn and beat you to it and lecture you on another principle that trumps your point. You might be surprised to realize they “get it” more than you.

Maybe you think you know how to pack for Flipside. You’re an old hand at that. Hee hee. Faster than you can say “Radical Self Reliance”, you realize that you’ve forgotten a very important ingredient to your camp, project, or experience. You might find yourself having to choose between leaving or borrowing gas for your genny, cash for your ice, or some fancy wires to connect your music up. (Hint - If you can find me, I usually pack a couple extra 1/8” phono to dual RCA plug adapter cables, just for you third-year burners.)

I would never encourage anyone to knowingly leave any “necessities” at home, but when it happens accidentally, it can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. Maybe all the activities you planned that needed that thing really are optional. If you don’t fire up that genny, buy that ice, and get that cable, you can drink warm beer in the dark and make conversation instead of music - and still have a great Flipside.

Or maybe you can make seeking your objects into a “quest”, and along the way you might discover that your “grail” isn’t as important as you originally thought. Like most good quests, the real value may in all the adventure you have along the way.

Nobodobodon

Dog Day

Here is a resource for kennels in the Austin area, all recommendations by your fellow citizens of Pyropolis. As you all should know by now (you did read your Survival Guide, right?), no pets are allowed at Flipside. This should help you find a nice place for your pooch or kitty to stay while you party your ass off on the Grassy Playa!

South Austin Area (Closest to the event)

Wayward writes:

There is one I used to use in Driftwood on the way to the Salt Lick...was run by two younger women. They were amazing! And well priced. Dog Camp www.dogcamp.net

Ghost writes:

The owners of Driftwood Kennels (out near Dripping Springs) work for the Volunteer Fire Department out there and are a very sweet British family; might be out of the way though. www.driftwoodkennels.com

Nancy Lazarczyk writes:

We use Doug Johnson-he’s awesome! He has 8 dogs of his own and an acre of land on riverside drive where he will care for other dogs-no cages/kennels. All the dogs hang together, he treats your dogs like his own, they get integrated into the pack and get to run around the fenced in acre of land! If your friend uses him, please let him know that I highly recommended him. www.dougthedogwalker.com

Carrin W writes:

Stay-N-Play out on 290, on your way to Flatcreek. They are an all natural facility, and they board cats, birds, ferrets, rabbits and fish. http://staynplaypetranch.com/

Shane T writes:

Happy Mailman is great. It’s on the way to Flipside for me, and most likely you even if live on the South Side, it’s probably still on the way. www.happymailmandogs.com

Elgin (East of Austin)

Ellen (our resident vet) writes:

I have a kennel I like out here in Elgin- Gold Dust Kennels- Richard and Darlene Harper. 512-281-2757. It’s a mom and pop operation, very clean, and not affiliated with a vet clinic. Indoor and outdoor runs. Not where you’re asking for, I know, but I really like them.

North Central Austin

Carrin W writes:

I usually board at Camp4Paws. They are awesome and Maddy loves it there. They are on Burnet, near 45th. http://www.camp4pawsaustin.com/

Many thanks to all who contributed to this!

Jen/Ice Queen

Greetings!

Attention Flipizens!

THIS CHURCH NIGHT!!! May 7th, 8pm at the Warehouse: there will be a Greeter Info Session the likes of which were seen before (because I held them last year with great success)! We will go over the Greeter Training Guide and the Greeter Cheat Sheet. The Greeter Lead will also be taking any suggestions or concerns. We can practice our brand of insanity on DaFT as they slave away on the effigy! So if you’ve signed up for a shift or you want to learn more, come on down to the Warehouse Wednesday May 7th at 8pm, and Wednesday May 14th at 7pm and bring your own chair! This training will take no more than 1 hour.
http://www.burningflipside.com/warehouse

Open greeter shifts are available on Saturday! This is the perfect opportunity to get out and meet your freaky friends! Ham it up, create your own mini theme. Greeter shifts are perfect for theme camps to take their madness to the masses. Check the wiki and sign up before they’re full! Don’t forget to read through the Training Guide and Cheat Sheet while you’re there, it tastes just like chicken!

http://www.burningflipside.com/OpsWiki/index.php/Greeters

Email me if you have questions: greeters08@burningflipside.com

Heather the Great

Greeter Herder 2008

Walkabout

We are still looking for about 6-8 volunteers for the Labyrinth Resonance Walk. The walk will be Saturday at dusk Saturday at the labyrinth. Participants will rehearse Friday at sundown and should be at the labyrinth at sundown Saturday for a final rehearsal.