What
is Radio Free Burning Man? |
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RFBM can
be a full-time, 24-hour operation, radio broadcast station serving the
temporary community of Black Rock City, NV. The station interacts
with visitors via a customer service counter which happens to also be
the on-air studio. This open-to-the-public approach to broadcasting
is intended to bring citizens of BRC as close to the medium as possible
while maintaining a professional sound over the air. The station
complies with FCC Part-15 rules for intentional radiators. |
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What is served to the
community?
 Most
citizens of Black Rock bring some sort of broadcast receiver to the
playa; it is recommended in the survival guide. There is little-to-no
useful FM coverage in northern Washoe County, and none of what is
there is of much use to people living for the week in this unique
city. A forum for broadcast of news, general information, specific
announcements and cohesive entertainment from the center of this community
is vital for the well being of all who attend. RFBM loosely
follows various models and ideals of community broadcasting as practiced
by non-commercial stations in the default world. It is hoped that
with a liberal, open-door policy to the community of Black Rock, most
people’s ideal of what a radio station should be, can be satisfied.
For many listeners, RFBM is their first encounter with non-commercial
community broadcasting. Air time is neither bought nor sold. There
are no advertisers or commercial interests. The open-to-the-public
design allows Black Rock City to serve itself.
Unlike
commercial radio, we think it's Okay for you to adjust your radio's
volume control, or to even change it to a different station if you
want to hear something else.
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F.A.Qs |
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I just tuned into 99.5 here
at home. How come I can't hear your station?
Because,
we are only on the air at Black Rock City, Nevada when the annual
Burning Man event is taking place.
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I bought a Burning Man ticket,
so I paid for your station, right?
Wrong!
Although RFBM was originally invited to be the official station of
BRC in 1994, and long-ago received some transportation help from the
Organization, that well ran dry many years ago. Our staff must buy
their own BM tickets, contribute to the station's operating and capital
needs, and follow the rules like everybody else. RFBM is a themecamp
and is not funded or even rudimentarily assisted by Burning Man. Your
BM ticket purchase funds BMIR94.5,
with its lousy audio, poor operators, and lack of focus. Now, who
would you rather listen too? Your donation is appreciated.
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If I contact you now, will
you schedule me to get on the air?
RFBM is
looking for people to become staff and who will camp with the station
themecamp, participate in the setup and take-down of the camp, and
help to fill the air with their own idea of "quality" programming.
This means an approximate 10-day commitment. We don't cater to guest
DJs; we expect people to participate.
email:
staffing at rfbm.org
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Can I get something announced
over the air?
Yes, please
come to our station in Black Rock City, NV. We'll be happy to put
you on a microphone and interview you. If you're shy, we can read
your timid scrawl for you. If you have a pre-recorded ad for your
playa thing, we would like to play it on the air, over and over again.
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I am a musician. Will you
play my band's CD on the air?
We dig
a certain shameless, tounge-in-cheek promotion of music and performance.
If you are a musician, your talent is wasted if you don't perform
something live at our station. 18 out of 10 musical acts don't even
consider the penetrating power of RFBM when it's time to promote themselves.
Yeah we can play your CD and interview you about it, but think outside
of the jewel case. We have a daily staff and all-comers meeting at
12-noon, every day behind the station. Come to us and we'll hook you
up.
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Can I be critical of Larry
Harvey on RFBM?
Yes. He
likes to drop by the station on hot afternoons, and take on his challengers
in mammoth debates.
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