"Burner: Tales from the Playa" - Part Four

This is Part Four (and final episode) of "Burner: Tales from the Playa". Previous parts are available here on BURNcast.

-- OhTony

"Burner: Tales from the Playa" - Part Three

Hi again everybody. I'm Tony Edwards also known as "OhTony". This is Part Three of "Burner: Tales from the Playa". The last part, Part Four will be posted next Wednesday.

-- OhTony

"Burner: Tales from the Playa" - Part Two

Hi again everybody. I'm Tony Edwards also known as "OhTony" and I've been invited by DaBomb to be the newest contributor here on BURNcast.TV. This is Part Two of "Burner: Tales from the Playa" Parts Three and Four will be posted on the next two consecutive Wednesdays.

"Burner: Tales from the Playa" - Part One

Hi, I'm Tony Edwards also known as "OhTony" and I've been invited by DaBomb to be the newest contributor here on BURNcast.TV. This is Part One of "Burner: Tales from the Playa". Parts Two, Three and Four will be posted on the next three consecutive Wednesdays.

"Burner: Tales from the Playa" is a one-man show written and performed by me. It is the true story of a seven-time "Burner" and chronicles the joy, heartbreak, amazement and life lessons learned at Burning Man, the annual festival which takes place on Black Rock Lake, a remote, dry lake bed in Northern Nevada, lovingly known to Burners as "the playa".

"Burner" is a multi-media production, featuring images, video and sound captured by me at Burning Man. It is directed by Jerry Diner. The above video is from a performance which took place on February 2, 2008 at Abundant Sugar in Los Angeles.

And so, I present to you, "Burner: Tales from the Playa". I invite you to watch it and share it with your friends. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed it's creation. Much love to all of my dusty friends who supported me in this labor of love.

Well, that didn't take long..."Burner" extended!

Hi everyone,

For those of you asking when "Burner: Tales from the Playa" will be done again, I have the answer for you:

Thursdays, December 6, 2007 and January 10, 2008.

Apparently, so many of you called and emailed "The Bank Heist" that they begged me to do the show again just so that you would stop bugging them. Way to go, kids!

Actually, Jason the owner of the club, really enjoyed the show as did the guys from Crystal Method. So, "Burner" will become a monthly gig, with two performances to start.

I have posted updated information on www.ohtony.com and will soon be putting a new website up for www.thebankheist.com. Yeah, I'm doing their website now. Sneaky, huh?

Thanks to all of you who came to see the show on Thursday. You were there for the beginning. And for those who missed the show, I am so happy have another opportunity to tell my story to you.

Kisses and dust,

OhTony

"Burner: Tales from the Playa" - The Aftermath

Just thought that I would give you all a post-game report on "Burner: Tales from the Playa", which I performed on Thursday.

I'm very happy and grateful to all of you who came out to see "Burner" at Heist. I hope you enjoyed the show and our little get together afterward as well.

In case you are wondering, I think that the show went very well, considering that it was the first time ever presented. I wish that I had had a little less stress right before the show. As of 7:20 (the show was scheduled to start at 7:30), I had NO AUDIO coming out of the computer. Of course, Turo, Chris, Nadia and Quinn came to the rescue. What I would have done without you guys, I don't know.

Some of the people who saw the show gave me notes. If you have thoughts about how it went, let me know. I'm sure that this won't be the last time that I do "Burner", so your suggestions would be quite helpful.

Jason (owner of The Bank Heist) said, "You know, I didn't know what to expect. And I'm the kind of guy who, if I didn't like it, I would have been polite. But, I've got to tell you that I thought the the show was awesome. Really." Also, Ken Jordan and Chris Cox of The Crystal Method thought the show was great as well. Ken said that "we are going to put something together to involve you". Yeah, I don't know what that means either. It may be North Hollywood, but it's still Hollywood, and one thing I do remember about my show biz days is that you have to take stuff like that with a grain of salt until somebody signs something.

Still, chances are very good that "Burner" will return to the Heist, most likely in conjunction with "NoHo Massive". The biggest determining factor is whether we can draw an audience which is not comprised of mostly my friends. Would you like to help this happen? If you feel so inclined, you can send an email to Jason and/or Kat Johnson (managing partner, also saw and loved the show)...

jfeld@thebankheist.com
kjohnson@thebankheist.com

...telling them your feelings about the evening and, more importantly, that you have people who wanted to see the show, but couldn't make it or other folks that would enjoy it as much as you did. Please copy me, so that I can use your comments in future communications promoting the show, if that's okay with you.

"Burner" is a work in progress and will only get better as we go along.

I was wonderful to see all of your shining faces out there in the audience. I had a blast. Hope you did too.

Dusty Kisses,

OhTony

tony@ohtony.com
"Put your pants on!"

Burner: Tales from the Playa

I'm OhTony. I'd like to invite you to come see "Burner: Tales from the Playa" on Thursday, November 8th at The Bank Heist in North Hollywood.

"Burner: Tales from the Playa" is my true story as a six-time "Burner" and chronicles the joy, heartbreak, amazement and life lessons learned at Burning Man, the annual festival which takes place on a Black Rock Lake, a remote, dry lake bed in Northern Nevada, known to Burners as "the playa".

"Burner" interweaves my own, deeply personal accounts of survival, lust and enlightenment with insights into the beautiful insanity that is Burning Man. I take a wickedly funny aim at the citizens and the culture of Black Rock City, but I save the sharpest barbs for myself. More than anything, "Burner: Tales from the Playa" is a loving tribute to Burning Man and the citizens of Black Rock City.

People who have never been to Burning Man will be introduced to not just the sights and sounds, but also the spirit of Burning Man. And for the experienced, "Burner" is just like going home.

"Burner" is a multi-media production, featuring images, video and sound I have collected during my trips to BRC. It is directed by Jerry Diner.

After the show, you are invited to stay for The Bank Heist's weekly electronic music event, "NoHo Massive". "NoHo Massive" is presented by Chris Cox and Ken Jordan of The Crystal Method, pioneers of the "big beat" electronic dance genre. Every Thursday, Chris and Ken bring superstar DJs such as Rabbit in the Moon, Freddy Be, Sandra Collins, as well as themselves to The Bank Heist for an evening of the best electronic dance music in Los Angeles.

The Bank Heist is North Hollywood's newest nightspot. Housed in an old bank building built in 1926, the club features a restaurant (Bank), and a two-story nightclub (Heist). The upstairs lounge provides the plush and intimate setting which will host both "Burner" and "Noho Massive".

Show-time for "Burner: Tales from the Playa" is 7:30 p.m. and runs for approximately 80 minutes. "NoHo Massive" kicks off at about 9:30.

So, you get to see "Burner: Tales from the Playa" and dance to superstar DJs at "NoHo Massive". What's it going to cost you?

$10. Can you dig it?

The upstairs lounge at The Bank Heist is very comfortable, but intimate. There is seating for about 80 and there is standing room as well. This show will sell out. So, to insure that you are able to get in, you can reserve a space by using PayPal to pay for your cover charge in advance.

This is a lounge and seating is not reserved, so get there early for a good spot. You can even get something to eat at Bank before or after the show.

The Bank Heist is located at 5303 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA. The club is across the street from the the Metro Red Line subway station. If you are interested in taking the Metro Rail, the last train from North Hollywood to Downtown L.A. leaves at 12:45a. Valet parking is available at the club and there is also parking on the street.

For information and reservations, go to www.ohtony.com, and click on the "Burner: Tales from the Playa" link.

It's gonna be fun. Seriously.

OhTony

P.S. Playa wear is highly encouraged.

SF Decom Recap

Disclaimer: I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray.

As some of you may have heard from my previous audio post from SF Decom, it was going off! If you're a virgin reading this, here's a primer: Decom's are the after parties of Burning Man and take place within local communities (drink!). I love'em! Lots of music, art, performance and freaks!

While I was there, I got an opportunity to speak to a lot of folks and heard a few rumors. And boy, wow. Some them just crack me up. But some of them make you go "Whoa!"

What's the goss, you ask?

Well...it's all unconfirmed of course...but I heard that BMorg does not intend to last another decade and that they are really looking to pass the torch to the regional network.

This is really no news as it was reported in that Business 2.0 article last July. But the question is: why? Why can't Burning Man as we know it continue in perpetuity?

Aaahhh...well...there's the secret, dear BURNcast readers. There's the secret!

Shhhush! Zip it!

Let me start by saying, a friend of Bill W's once told me this important tenet in AA: you're as sick as your secrets. Emphasis on the word "sick".

But far be it from me to tell tales, especially those that don't have a happy ending. As some of you may know, it was at SF Decom last year that I learned that my father had terminal cancer and two weeks later he had passed from this existence. So stories of the kind I heard are to be taken seriously and with respect.

I will say this (cue sound): Dust in the wind. All we are is playa dust in the wind.

So enjoy it while it lasts. And remember: I was dreamin' when I wrote this, so sue me if I go 2 fast. But life is just a party and parties weren't meant 2 last.

Neither, for that matter, is Burning Man.

Love & Rockets,
DaBomb

BURNcast #043 - Burning Love

In this episode, Istari steps up to produce her premiere podcast for BURNcast entitled “Burning Love” about love and romance on the playa from the guy’s perspective. In fair Black Rock City where we lay our scene star-crossed lovers, fire breathing temptresses and disappearing art cars tempt the fates in a whirlwind of dusty tales of love. Get ready to travel via Cat Bus, Magic Carpet, and an Irish pirate ship in search of that burnin', burnin' love.