Participate in the
2013 Flamethrower Shooting Gallery!
The Flamethrower Shooting Gallery™ lets people shoot real live flamethrowers at little statues of the Man. It is hot, exciting, and lots of fun.
The Flamethrower Shooting Gallery is run entirely by volunteers, and we want you!
Range crew are needed for a variety of roles, mostly on the Playa, and some before and after, as described below.
Please note that for any of the Operations roles (Gate, Range Safety, etc.) training on either Monday or Tuesday is required along with a commitment to work at least two shifts. Of course, it would be great if you can do more. We need for you to be sober and safe during operation.
Crew starts arriving Wednesday, August 21, pre-event and set up work will be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We must be completely set up by sunrise on Sunday, August 25. Early Arrival passes are available for crew working setup.
Tear-down and packing for departure will happen on Sunday, September 1st.
The Flamethrower Shooting Gallery will be in operation each night, Monday-Friday during the event from dusk until about 2:00AM. We might also have a “bonus round” after the Man burns on Saturday, if the crew feels up to it.
The Current Shift Schedule is on the web at: http://tinyurl.com/fsg-schedule-2013
If you would like to volunteer to participate, please apply to join the Crew group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/flamethrower-shooting-gallery-2013-crew
In your application please include information about:
- Your phone number and good times to call you.
- How did you learn about the Flamethrower Shooting Gallery? (referred by friend, etc.)
- What role(s) you are most excited about. Learn about the available roles and look at the current work schedule and make sure to tell us which one(s) you are interested in.
- What year(s) have you attended Burning Man?
- What dates can you be available?
- What projects (including the Flamethrower Shooting Gallery) have you worked on at Burning Man in the past? What did you do?
- What fire safety and/or first aid experience and training do you have?
- Where do you live? If in the San Francisco Bay Area, might you be available to help us prep the shooting gallery before the event?
- Do you already have your Burning Man ticket?
Crew Roles
Role | Description |
Loading | Helps load the truck in San Francisco on Tuesday, August 20. Note that we’ll welcome your help even if you are not going to the Playa. |
Build Team / Setup | The Flamethrower Shooting Gallery must be completely set up before sunrise on Sunday, August 25. Only people arriving on or before Thursday, August 22 and working on the setup can get on the early-arrival list, and that list is limited in size, so please sign up early for these roles if you want them. |
Gate Captain | In charge of the Gate and the Gatekeepers. Need: One person each day of operation. |
Gatekeepers | Works the gate at the shooting gallery. Screens potential participants (both shooters & judges) and performs initial orientation of shooters. Requires range safety training session. Need: Two people each night of operations. |
Fuel Supply | Visits the DPW fuel supply during the daytime and draws 20 gallons of fuel. Fills several dozen fuel bottles and stores at range. Need: Two people each day of operation. |
Range Master | The Range Master is the Flame Effects Operator and has overall responsibility for the operation and safety of the range crew and participants. Must have permit issued by the Fire Arts Safety Team. Matisse Enzer is the Range Master of the Flamethrower Shooting Gallery. |
Range Safety Officer | Responsible for guiding participants through the safe participation in the Flamethrower Shooting Gallery. Requires range safety training session. Need: At least four people each night of operation. |
Fuel Operator | Responsible for maintaining a steady supply of filled fuel bottles to the shooting table, and storing and refilling the empties. Need: One person each day of operation. |
Lighting & Sound | In charge of setup and operations of sound and lighting systems. Requires range safety training session. Need: One person during setup and teardown and each night of operation. |
Master of Ceremonies & Judge Wrangler | Keeps the crowd informed of what's going on and generally amused. Selects possible participants from the audience for screening by the Gatekeepers. Selects and manages the judges. Requires range safety training session. Be prepared to talk loudly for several hours. We do have wireless microphones and an amplifier, but it is still something of a strain on the voice. Need: One person each night of operation |
Teardown | Assist in teardown and packing of the Flamethrower Shooting Gallery. Need: 8-10 people on Sunday, September 1st. |
Unloading | Helps unload the truck in San Francisco between Wednesday and Saturday September 4-7. Note that we’ll welcome your help even if you are not going to the Playa. |
Crew Chiefs
For 2013 the Flamethrower Shooting gallery has a 4 person “Executive Team” each with particular areas of responsibility.
- Matisse Enzer - Rangemaster, responsible for safety and flame effects operations. Came up with the original idea and designed and built the flamethrowers. Matisse is our point-of-contact with the Burning Man organization.
- Roxie - Audio/Lighting/Electrical Systems Manager, responsible for the fine hardcore music soundtrack and all setup and troubleshooting of power for audio, electrical, and lighting apparatus. Is the point person for the shutdown of all power in case of emergency.
- Scott “Smash” Ashkenaz - Gate Captain, responsible for making sure that only safe participants (not drunk, stupid, or flammable) step up to the shooting table. Scott helped with FSG in 2008, and joined on the playa in 2009, where he experienced the awesome power trip of working gate, and also fed the crew BBQ that had been smoked over bits of the 2007 Green Man.
- Jeremy - Master of Ceremonies, the Fiery Evil Clown responsible for crowd enthusiasm & careful choosing of participants and judges. As the voice of FSG he maintains the safety perimeter around the Gallery. Jeremy’s first glimpse of the FSG was on Playa in 2008. Wildly enthused by its fiery throwers and already a fan of carnival games, it was irresistible. He quickly volunteered for the 2009 crew and this year he is back in force, with more surprises.