Lead

• WIL aka The Doctor, Co-Lead Terasa

Where the fun will be done

• In and around the new tent, main tent, and Ashram front lawn

When the shift is

• The shift is very early in the evening 8 PM to 10ish PM- and if you are inspired, you can go longer

Highlights of what’s involved

Playing one of the Ashram Galactica characters means you are the first sparkle in the night’s unfolding mischief. You’ll be roaming the hotel grounds at the start of the evening, setting the tone with your wild charm, twisted professionalism, and a deep commitment to nonsense. You’re not background—you are the show… before the show. These characters are eccentric staff members of the only five-star hotel on the playa: seductive, silly, offbeat, and unforgettable. You’ll be creating moments of surprise, laughter, awkward intimacy, and whispered magic. Your job is to stir up curiosity and make every guest think: “Where the hell am I—and how do I stay forever?” This is a role for the daring, the playful, the courageous—and above all, the creatively unhinged. If that sounds like you… welcome to the staff.

Choose your character

• Doctor Umami (gender fluid) think Frank-N-Furter
  • A flamboyant street-mystic A doctor of the soul. has a flair for improvised therapy. Prescribes mischievous actions, emotional medicine with maximum style. And always sassy
  • Lines: “Take this. Don’t ask what it is.” / “Tell me, when did you stop believing you were fabulous?”
• Nurse Penny Sillin (double act with Dr. umami.)
  • Deadpan, precise, and suspiciously competent. May or may not be a real nurse. Adds tension, wisdom, or surreal chaos to Doctor Umami’s rounds.
  • Lines: “Your results are inconclusive. Which means… you’re interesting.” / “Hold still. This will only be slightly metaphorical.”
• Chester
  • Hyperactive hotel fitness guru with delusions of beach workouts and Olympic cardio. Loud. Passionate. Absolutely full of it.
  • Lines: “Aqua Aerobics sign-up right here, baby!” / “Meet me at the cabana. You know—the invisible one.”
• Misty Grimes
  • HR Manager with no boundaries and a thirst for connection. Conducts inappropriate emotional check-ins and paperwork flirting.
  • Lines: “If you feel something, say something. Preferably to me.” / “We take emotional penetration very seriously.”
• Bonsoir Merci
  • Silent janitor with a sacred duty: remove all dust. Has a dusting brush. Obsessed with cleanliness. Moves like a whisper. Speaks rarely but kindly.
  • Lines: “ Bonsoir…Merci”. “Tsk tsk…“little dust upon you.”   “I tidy you up … a little?”

Ready to step into the madness?

Choose your character above and join the Ashram Galactica cast of misfits, mystics, and marvelous weirdos. Whether you’re diagnosing strangers, dusting off souls, or leading Aqua Aerobics into the void, your role is to spark joy, laughter, and just a hint of delightful confusion.

And yes, all of these characters are meant for inspiration only of course we want the same flow character showing up every night. But make it your own. This is your BURN and the more you bring to these characters the more you bring to everyone’s joy

FAQ

• Do we need costumes?
  • Yes, there will be costumes. We will have some things on hand. But if this is your shift, will encourage you to bring something of your own too. 
• Do I need acting experience or do I need to be a performer?
  • No, it’s not essential to play these characters. BUT it  would be preferred if you have or do enjoy acting or improvised comedy in particular.

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Area Lead(s)

• Rae 

Where the fun will be done

• Yurt Galactica 

When the shift is

• M >Thu, 9am-10am (full start of day reset)
• M > Thu 7pm-8pm (full start of night reset)
• M > Thu 8pm-11pm (guardian duties, periodic check-ins)
• M > Thu 11pm -2am  (guardian duties, periodic check-ins)

Highlights of what’s involved

• As Ashram’s own temple and sacred space on the playa, being part of the Yurt Guardian team is the perfect combination of physical and energetic service to our camp and wider community!
• Full morning and evening reset involves:
  • Clearing out space, removing moop and personal items (moving to lost at found)
  • Resetting floor seating areas, alters, and Yurt decor inside and at entrance
  • Lighting & AC reset: checking on AC &  lighting installations, testing and replacing candles batteries as needed, switching on lights/candles (night reset)
  • Energetic reset – sage, incense, prayer, chants, sacred song or dance!  – whichever practice calls to you, to clear and raise the vibration of the space, ahead of welcoming our day and night guests 
• Guardian duties involve:
  • Periodic evening check-ins to ensure guests are respecting the space, and others in it. With the popularity of our evening offerings, the yurt provides a place to restore, reset and connect, as the perfect balance of a quiet(er!) sanctuary to the legendary shows, sets and Gilded Lily shenanigans happening just outside. Our guardians help honor the yin to our yang, by ensuring no shoes or smoking inside, & encouraging activities happen elsewhere, if not in alignment with this space. 
  • Periodic quick moop sweeps of interior and entrance throughout the evening, and checking on lighting/AC
  • Periodic energy check-ins also welcome! Magic happens in this space (including lasting friendships and even couples who met here!). Help raise the vibration, chat, connect, offer a hug, share your light, as part of the 5 star service that makes us the Ashram Galactica family we are! <3

Ready to Help Make Magic Happen?

Are you interested in helping reset the Ashram Temple? Do you want to be a Guardian?

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Area Leads

• Hero and Just Dave

Where the fun will be done

• Front Lawn 

When the shift is

• Rehearsals commence in New York City during early August, and on playa during Build. 
• Shows shifts will be:
  • Monday and Tuesday
  • Wednesday and Thursday

Highlights of what’s involved

Hayloooo!!! FAAAANf*ckingtastic that you are joining us this year for Ashram’s BIG 20!!!

• In case you didn’t know, Ashram performs a SHOW. It includes dancing, acting, cavorting… and looking FAB on our stage for thousands of starstruck Burners.
• COULD THIS BE YOU???
• There will be two casts, so you’d only commit to two nights (Mon & Tues, or Wed & Thurs of event week).
• If you have any Theatre experience, please contact Hero. Or have your agent do it. 🎩

Ready to Help Make Magic Happen?

Are you ready for your close up? Let’s get you under the spot light and into the limelight!

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Area Lead

• Daniel Elkayam

Where the fun will be done

• Meet in Concierge shipping container (near Grotto)
• Roaming main tent and front lawn in the early evening to distribute raffle tickets
• Gather near right of stage during the show to escort guests to their rooms
• Assigned to one of our four glorious hotel suites to make wishes come true!

When the shift is

7:30p – Midnight (or longer if you please) 

• 7:30pm — Meet in Concierge Shipping Container immediately after dinner. Get dressed in our dapper duds and elegant eveningwear.
• 8:00pm — Concierge Leads will walk you through the basics and give you your assignments for the evening (either main tent or front lawn for handing out raffle tickets, and which suite you will be assigned to for concierging / wish granting)
• 8:30pm — Doors open / Hand out raffle tickets 
• 9:45pm — All tickets in raffle fishbowl delivered to the stage 
• 9:47pm Sharp! (playa time) — Hotel Suite Raffle!
• 10pm-Midnight — Make wishes come true for our guests!
• Midnight — Final check-in and outfit return with your concierge leads before leaving (you can stay as late as you want if you’re having fun)

Highlights of what’s involved

• Concierge is the heart and soul of Ashram. Although our parties are amazing (and they are) – lots of camps throw great parties. Ashram Galactica is the ONLY 5-star hotel on playa and the only camp with a dedicated concierge service. The spirit of concierge infuses everything we do. In fact, our camp motto is ABC – “Always Be Concierging!”
• Our mission is to make wishes come true in the most unexpected, whimsical, and delightful ways possible. This is our unique gift to the playa. Guests who win a room and are granted a wish will remember this night for the rest of their lives. Guaranteed.
• You are encouraged to get to know your guests and become their friend for the night – you are not a servant, you are a fun-loving genie of wish fulfillment.
• We want to go above and beyond. We are a 5-star hotel, and we are constantly reaching for that elusive 6th star. This may be the year we achieve it!

Ready to Help Make Magic Happen?

Help make wishes come true on Playa. You could be the the one who helps us get our 6th Star!

FAQ

• So what exactly does the concierge do?
  • The concierge role can be split into three main aspects:
    • In the early evening, we will be roaming the party, handing out raffle tickets to all attendees and explaining the raffle. We will also give prospective guests tours of the rooms they might win, and fill them in on the (very true) history of Ashram and the various hotel suites (“Did you know Winston Churchill stayed in the Cambridge suite on his first Burn back in 1923?”). We will also explain the concept of our wish fulfillment and get guests fantasizing about what their possible wish might be…
    • Immediately following the raffle, escort the winning guests to their room, provide them with champagne and charcuterie, explain the wish fulfillment once again, and get them thinking specifically about what it will be…
    • Work with the guests to come up with a fun, creative, and truly memorable wish – and then make it come true!
• What are these hotel suites that guests can win?
  • There are four glorious hotel suites. Each with their own unique charm and story (which tends to change based on the concierge). They are:
    • The Cambridge Suite – a sophisticated English hunting lodge for the discerning Ashram guest.
    • The French Boudoir – an elegant and refined lair of silk and sumptuous sexiness. Get ready to be pampered.
    • The Hindu Honeymoon – a romantic and exotic escape to the enchanting subcontinent. Perhaps there will be a tiger in attendance?
    • The Shanghai Suite – a realm of adventure and intrigue, transported from the mist-covered cairns of the orient. A favorite of rogues and pirates.
• What exactly is this WISH you keep talking about?
  • It’s like, the main thing we do! Every guest who wins a hotel suite will be granted one wish by our wish-granting concierge genies (that’s you!). This wish could be anything – and we will figure out a way to make it happen.
• What kinds of wishes are we fulfilling?
  • Oh man. It could be anything. We encourage our guests to be as creative as possible and think outside the box. Past wishes have included:
    • A live performance of a famous scene from a popular sitcom
    • A private music session from one of our talented Ashram DJ’s
    • A magic carpet ride
    • A literal wedding on playa – complete with a DJ, art car, wedding dress, and guests!
    • A sushi platter served on a sexy human
    • An ice sculpture crafted in the image of our guest
    • A plane ride above playa with one of our resident pilots
• What if I am asked for something I’m not comfortable with?
  • No one will be expected to do anything that they are uncomfortable with. If a guest has a wish that feels inappropriate we will work with them to modify the wish or choose something more in line with the spirit of gift-giving we want to embrace. You will work with your concierge leads to find the most fun way to make your guest’s wish come true. Sometimes this means interpreting the wish in a creative and unexpected way…
  • We are not pimps or drug dealers. This is not to say that sometimes wishes can’t be risque. But consent is everything – yours as well. If a wish feels inappropriate, we will work with our guests to either find a new wish that still satisfies their desire, or modify their wish to make it fun and enjoyable for everyone.
• What if I am asked for something I don’t know how to do?
  • You are not fulfilling the wishes yourself – you are here to facilitate the wish. We have a deep roster of talented and creative campers who come to Ashram specifically to help make these dreams come true. We have DJ’s, masseuses, fire dancers, chefs, actors, musicians and more, all at our disposal. Your concierge leads will have a list of Ashram campers who have skills that they are eager to gift to our guests. As wishes are made, you will consult with your concierge leads to find just the right person to make that wish come true.
• How late will I be working?
  • First of all – it’s not work! Concierging is one of the most fun aspects of camping at Ashram. Unlike some other shifts, the concierge shift is all-volunteer. You are here because you want to be! That said, you are not expected to spend your entire night concierging. By midnight, all wishes will be fulfilled and once you have a final check-in with your concierge lead, you are free to go off on your own playa adventure. However! If you have made friends with the guests in your suite and are having fun, you are more than welcome to continue the night with them in whatever way you like, either as their concierge or their new best friend. This happens all the time!

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Area Lead

• Hero

Where the fun will be done

• LA to Reno to Playa

When the shift is

• 8/17-18 – load cube truck in LA
• 8/19 – drive to Reno
• 8/20 – 1st arrival on playa/return to Reno
• 8/21 – 2nd arrival on playa
• 9/1 – return to Reno
• 9/2 – dump run

*** if you can do even some of the schedule, we can probably make it work and have you on the crew.

Highlights of what’s involved

• Ashram Freight Logistics is looking for a few experienced Alpha-build peeps, who are up to the task. 
• It entails starting your Burn a few days before everyone, loading in LA, loading in Reno (twice), the most excellent fast food, and living dat Ashram trucker LYFE.
• Oh, and you get a free hat. 
• If this sounds like you, please let me know soon, and I’ll give you more deets. Keep on keepin on, dude. IT’S OUR 20th!!! 🎩 

Ready to Help Make Magic Happen?

The bacon isnt going to move it’s self from LA to playa. Are you a YES to getting a free hat and hauling bacon across state lines?

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Area Leads

• Andrew & Sam Kalicki (Everything & Mrs Beans 🫘)
• Might be someone else depending on night (we run Sunday & Thursday)
  • (Cassidy, etc)

Where the fun will be done

• Inside the main tent!

When the shift is

• We have multiple shifts throughout each night
• The longer evenings (Sunday and Thursday) have extra shifts:
  • 1st shift (9pm – 12ish)
  • 2nd shift (12ish – 3ish)
  • 3rd shift (3ish – closing)

Highlights of what’s involved

• Arguably the most fun thing at camp!
• You get to bartend and make magic while having a blast
• Have an incredible time making core memories for our guests each night
• Get to put on your resume you’ve worked at the best bar in the universe
• Do you need bartending experience? Absolutely not

SHIFT TO-DO’s

• No glass in trash — somebody has to fish it out and blood has literally been spilled for such sins 😛
• No glass in the bar ice. Chill the chardonnays in the cooler, because any breakage of glass in ice will decommission the whole ice container for the night. 
• Never scoop ice with guest cups, must use the scoopers
• Max out at 4ppl behind the bar because otherwise there’s no room for the ballet of drink making to take place. Anybody else on the shift? Go into the crowd with your offerings and tag in and out of the bar area (please also see next bullet point if you’re in the crowd offering shots, saki, or other libations)
• We ID EVERYONE who looks under 30 — we can’t serve anyone under 21! This could potentially get us shut down and or could result in a personal fine from law enforcement. We can be playful when we ask…but we have to also take it seriously
• NEW this year for ID-ing are space themed stamps I’ve bought. Check someone’s ID and if they’re good, stamp them on their upper forearm (that’ll be Ashram’s special spot)
• Look out for your fellow bar team (bartenders, bar backs, and manager of the night) — it gets chaotic behind the bar and HOT. Make sure people are taking breaks to hydrate or popping out of the tent to cool down/get some air. 
• Also keep an eye out for any handsy or non-respectful guests
• No trashed or out of control guests or campmates on the bar! We highly encourage Shramily and other guests to get up on the bar to dance and shake it – but need to make sure it remains safe (it’s a judgement call – so if you need to ask someone else or your manager of the night, please do). Please also help people up on the side of the bar…don’t let them climb up anywhere else or alone and make sure to wipe down the bar top if you see a spill so people dancing don’t slip (we’ll have rags and towels behind the bar)
• If needed, the camp has Narcan in the office; your bar manager of the evening will have access to it for emergencies
• Make sure to HAVE FUN! The Gilded Lily fucking rocks and 11 out of 10 intelligent people consider our bar THE GREATEST BAR IN THE UNIVERSE!

Ready to Help Make Magic Happen?

If getting dressed up fancy/sexy and creating magical experiences while serving free drinks at our bar (which is fucking fun, and a great way to experience Ashram’s gift to Black Rock City) sounds like a good time…this is the gig for you!

FAQ

• What if I have no bartending experience?
  • Doesn’t fuckin’ matter!
  • Experience or not, this role is open to anyone in camp (who is above 21)
  • Part of the magic of The Gilded Lily relies on this 🙂
  • You’ll see there are very ornate, elaborate menus on the bar early in the evening that have drinks listed, with incredible descriptions, but no ingredients…but why? Because when someone orders something off the menu, you get to make them anything/whatever you want! 
  • But what if they order the same drink from another bartender? Maybe they’ll by chance get the same drink you made or something completely different! 
  • But what if the same guest comes back to you later in the night and orders the same drink, but you don’t remember them/what you make them? Who knows! That’s part of the magic!
• What if a guest orders a real drink not on the menu and wants something specific?
  • Ask your follow bartenders or Bar Manager of the night (we’re usually actual bar tenders)
  • If they don’t know…tell the guest sorry, ask them whats in it and make it, or make them something completely random/different (that’s part of the Burner snark)
  • Example; some rude guest (they exist) asks for an espresso martini? Give em Jose Cuervo on the rocks and move onto another patron 😀
• What if I can’t make my shift?
  • Two solutions…
  • 1. Be a radically self reliant adult and find someone to switch with or cover you (please let Andrew or Sam know ASAP)
  • 2. Let Andrew or Sam know ASAP and they’ll sort it out (only AFTER option 1 doesn’t work)
  • Please NEVER just not show up…that fucks the people working that night and you don’t want to do that to a fellow camper 🙂
• What do I wear for bartending?
  • Whatever you want! But you’re encouraged to get a little classy and sexy since we are the not only the best bar on playa, but in the universe
  • Keep in mind everyone has a different idea of what classy and sexy is/means…so make sure you feel these things first and foremost (we’re all about self comfort)
  • You will get a little messy and sweaty though 😛
• What if I have someone too drunk ordering drinks or a creeper hitting on me?
  • If you’re not comfortable dealing with it yourself, grab your Bar Manager of the evening or if it’s something serious and Andrew is around, grab him!
• What if someone is on something too much and needs assistance?
  • Grab your Bar Manager or an Owl (both will have access to Narcan)