Shifts

We’re using a tool called Sling to keep track of shifts. All campers will be invited to join the app over email in late July, so please keep an eye out for it.

Sling has a mobile app as well as a web interface. Once you’ve received your invite and logged in, please navigate to the proper dates (Aug 25-Sept 3, 2024) and follow these instructions to apply for the shifts you’d like to work no later than Aug 5.

How many shifts should I sign up for?

  • Everyone is required to sign up for 2 shifts on the ¡AXOLOTL! Art Car, regardless of your other contributions around camp.
  • For Camp Shifts (e.g. kitchen, bikes, domo, etc.), everyone starts with 3 shifts.
    • If you were at the Work Party in Empire, you have one less shift.
    • If you come to Playa early for Build (i.e. there and working on Friday morning or earlier), you have one less shift.
    • If you stay and help for Strike, you have one or two fewer shifts. There will be at least four “Strike Shifts” (Sun morning + afternoon, Mon morning + afternoon, possibly a Saturday afternoon and Tuesday shifts). For every 2 “strike shifts” you sign up for, you have one fewer camp shift.
  • If you want to work more shifts than required, great! Please do, in fact – we need as much “Communal Effort” as possible!

Note: if you are a therapist/healer signing up for shifts with Las Bruja’s Healing Domes (our sister camp), Zendo – or other important volunteer outside jobs – we consider your work as part of Camp Axo’s contribution to Black Rock City. Please reach out to the camp leads to explain your outside contributions so we can work with you to determine a fair contribution.

Interested in more information about the Healing Domes? These are sacred spaces, open Monday-Saturday during the burn, from 11am-5pm. One dome is dedicated to 1:1 treatments where practitioners offer reiki, massage, shamanic work, astrology, tarot, and crystal healing, among other medicines. The second dome (our group dome) is dedicated for practitioners who offer group workshops for breathwork, sound healing, art experiences, yoga, and meditation among other experiences. If you are an individual or group practitioner/healer and want to contribute work to our healing domes, please message Dana from Brujas directly to be included in the orientation and learn how to sign up.

Before selecting shifts, please read & review all the job descriptions below. It’s helpful if everyone understands the basics of all roles – even if many require experience and/or technical knowledge. Sign up for any jobs that you think you can and would like to fill, and rest assured we will provide training sessions – especially for Art Car jobs.

Kitchen Shifts:

  • Hot Breakfast Shift - Responsible for setting out and maintaining breakfast availability from 8-10am -- e.g. get the grills hot and ready for people to prepare their own food OR if people are present, cook an appropriate amount of food.
  • Breakfast Cleanup - Responsible for cleaning up from breakfast from 10-11am and ensuring the kitchen is ready for dinner prep.
  • Dinner Prep - Responsible for preparing and serving dinner between 5-7:30pm.
  • Dinner Cleanup & Close Kitchen - Responsible for cleaning up from dinner and prepping Lupita for the next morning's breakfast starting at 7:30pm.

Camp Shifts:

  • DOMO + Snacks Shift - DOMOs help keep our playa home clean and cozy. You will help keep the veranda and Lupita tidy, our solar panels clean, water system running, our snack supply stocked, and our nap yurts cooled down. In addition, DOMOs are responsible to make sure everyone has the necessary supplies to make themselves lunch (e.g. grilled cheese sandwiches, ramen, cereal, etc.) from 12-2pm.
  • Bicycle Maintenance - Responsible for repairing broken vehicles, ensuring camp bikes are in working order, and providing mechanical support to campers in need, between 5-7pm. Training will be provided if you have no prior bicycle repair experience.
  • Compost Crew (NEW!) - This year, we’ll be hosting a compost collection site for surrounding camps. It’s a fantastic green initiative that we’re excited to be involved with this year. There are three different positions folks will be rotating between during this shift: Greeter (checks people in), Sorter (collects and sorts compost), and Fluffer (keeps everyone happy and hydrated). You’ll be working alongside campers from our sister barrios: Friendly Society and Las Brujas, so it’s a great chance to get to know more of the village!

Art Car Shifts:

Every day, there are three (3) six-hour shifts on our art car, ¡AXOLOTL! The Earth Guardian (you can call it "Axo!"):

  • AFTERNOON: 2pm - 8pm
  • EVENING: 8pm - 2am
  • MORNING: 2am - 8am

Don’t worry that they seem long! Axo shifts are fun, and most of the time you are on-shift is not too demanding. It’s really just Partying – with a Purpose!

  • The Afternoon shift is a bit different from the others, as it begins at 2pm with cleaning and decorating the Axo, making repairs, checking systems and provisioning it – essentially prepping the vehicle for its long night of programming. Around 3pm the Axo usually heads out for a late afternoon tour – including sunset – and is back by 8pm for a late dinner.
  • The Evening Shift starts after dinner, and continues until 2am – when the Morning Shift crew relieves them. Shift change will usually occur at 3 & Esplanade – just a few blocks from camp – and Shift workers always can ALWAYS place their bikes on the trailer.
  • The Morning Shift ends at 8am and crew will be returned to camp.
  • The Helter Skelter Shift: On most mornings (but definitely Mon/Weds/Fri), a Skeleton Crew will leave at 8am to refuel the vehicle at Hell Station.

    • On the day(s) of your shifts, be sure to check the Programming Calendar Poster in camp, ask Axo leadership any questions you have, and pay close attention to announcements in case there’s any important shift change information you need to be aware of.

    Axo Job Descriptions:

    Please carefully read the Axo Jobs descriptions below! Each role is essential and requires some training and deep commitment – so consider sticking with the same job for a few shifts, so you can become comfortable in it and don’t have to keep learning new ones. Remember we have peoples’ safety and happiness in our hands! Fortunately, these jobs only require intense concentration when the vehicle is preparing to move and while moving, which is not so often. Much of the time the Axo is parked and playing music, and the jobs are much less demanding.

    Do not worry -- you will have a ton of fun while on shift! In fact, Axo staff are treated like rock stars by the public – because we are! But do keep in mind that we need you to be relatively sober, and always attentive while on shift – especially when the vehicle is preparing to move and in motion.

    • Deck Mates - Deck Mates are the least technically demanding role – but are important and the most in number. Stationed on the upper deck, they make sure no one is bothering the DJs / Musicians / Fire People – or their equipment – and that no one is being excessively dangerous on the howdah (upper canopied deck). They also inform Stern Mates when the deck has reached full capacity, and may be asked to descend and become “Walkers”, leading the Axo through dense crowds when we’re moving. Importantly, Deck Mates also serve as “Fluffers” who make sure the vehicle has sufficient water / drink / blankets / trashbags at the start of a shift – and place Moop and trash in its proper location – especially at the end of a shift. There will be between 3 and 5 Deck Mates at all times.
    • Dr. Axo - Dr. Axos are ANY Deck Mates who are committed to a VERY special additional role: to teach fellow Burners the astounding story and profound lessons of our beloved and miraculous Axolotl – including its history and its genetic secrets of regeneration which could one day lead to curing cancer and slowing aging. All Deck Mates can also be Dr. Axos while on duty – and it’s fun! Dr. Axos often wear white Axo lab coats and have a giant flip-book to aid in their lessons. Whether or not you want to be a Dr. Axo, we would ask everyone to watch this TEDx video about the Axolotl so that you know its story. Axolotls: The salamanders that snack on each other (but don't die) - Luis Zambrano and if you want more (especially budding Dr. Axos!) – watch this longer one too: The Insane Biology of: The Axolotl.
    • Stern Mates - Stern Mates are the Leads of Public Safety and manage public access to the vehicle. Stern Mates are stationed on the Rear Platform at all times – which is the Axo’s only public entrance and exit. Stern Mates can command Deck Mates and communicate emergency safety issues to the Driver – including by operating the rear Emergency Stop/Start Button. When informed by Deck Mates that the roof platform has reached its capacity, Stern Mates will close the entrance and allow people to enter only as others leave. We take great pride in being welcoming and allowing as many people as possible onto the Axo, but these individuals also need to be stern when necessary (pun intended). There are ALWAYS at least two Stern Mates, and often three or even four, so you will never be without companions in this essential safety role.

    While anyone in camp can participate in the above roles, there are a few very specialized roles on the Axo which are limited to those who have prior experience on the Axo or a similar type of art car / bus. If you think you are qualified to be one of these individuals or would like to shadow someone this year in order to learn, please email the Camp Leads.

    • Cap’n - aka The Captain, the Chief, the Big Kahuna. Experienced Axos only; minimum 2 years as a Navigator and/or working Build or Strike. Captains are tasked with ensuring that their entire Crew is present for their Shift and all jobs are fulfilled during the Shift. There will be one Cap’n on board at ALL TIMES. When a Shift ends or begins from Camp, the Cap’n also ensures the Axo has been properly “fluffed” (e.g. sufficient water / drink / blankets / trashbags on board or Moop / cleanup is complete and equipment is properly shut down and left protected from the elements).
    • Navigator - Effectively the first mate in charge of getting us to any destination. Must be an experienced Burner (>4 years) with strong knowledge of Black Rock City 2023 layout and major installations / events. The ability to navigate at night using landmarks is essential, including identifying desired locations (such as bathrooms). Must be committed to understanding our programming schedule during their shift but is also the key consultant to on-the-fly destination decisions. Works closely with the Driver and Cap’n. There will be one on board at all times.
    • Driver - Only very experienced drivers of bus and/or large vehicles can apply. This is the single most important job from the perspective of not killing anyone. Deep and sober attention is an absolute requirement. There will be one on board at all times.
    • AV Mates - The lead AV technicians, these Mates run our sound, our lights, and support our amazing lineup of DJs, Musicians, and Performers. Only one might be needed in the day shift, but we prefer to have at least two at night – especially when dealing with complicated productions. This role requires having some previous experience with AV equipment and somewhat significant on-Playa training. But it is an amazing job and we urge skilled people to learn! When the vehicle shuts down, AV Mates must ensure equipment is properly turned off and protected from elements.
    • Fire People - For experienced Pyrotechnicians only. If you know propane and love making big fire, this is the job for you.

    If you have any questions or think there’s a different role that you’d be a good fit for, feel free to reach out. We look forward to seeing your sign-ups on Sling no later than Aug 7.