OMG Sale is Coming! Here’s How It’s Gonna Work

Hi, it’s Burning Man. Did you notice this post was for 2016, i.e. a year that already happened? No? Well, it was, so this information is out of date. Info about the 2017 OMG Sale can be found at tickets.burningman.org.

Love,

Burning Man


The OMG ticket sale is around the corner, and we’re modifying the process just a little to make ticket buying less stressful and more fair.

The short story: In this sale you will not be gaining access to the sale and purchasing your ticket at the same time. You will know immediately, in real time, whether you have guaranteed access to tickets or not. If you do, you will have 24 hours to purchase your ticket(s).

The details: OMG Registration is from July 27 at 12 pm noon, PDT through July 29 at 12 pm noon, PDT. You must be registered to participate in the OMG sale. There is no limit to the number of people who can register for the sale. Anyone with a complete Burner Profile (who hasn’t already bought a ticket in a previous a sale this year) can register anytime during the registration period.

When registration opens, you’ll have 48 no-stress hours to log into your Burner Profile to register for the sale by clicking on the Register button on the right side of your Profile page.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 12 pm noon, PDT.

On the day of the sale, log in to your Burner Profile a bit ahead of time and make sure all of your information is accurate (including email and mailing addresses) Note: do not go to the Ticketfly website. You must go to Burner Profiles (profiles.burningman.org).

By 11:55 am PDT, you should be logged into your Burner Profile and ready for the sale to begin. There will be a countdown clock. At exactly noon, the timer will be replaced with a button that says “ENTER OMG SALE”. Click the button!

Those who get tickets (determined by first-come, first-served in the order that people click the button) will see an immediate status of “You’re IN!” (and a link to purchase — note: You don’t have to purchase right away!). If you don’t make it in to the sale, you will receive a message that says “There are no more OMG tickets available.” Either way, you will know in real time if you are getting tickets. You will have the option of buying one or two tickets, and the option to buy a single vehicle pass.

You’ll have 24 hours to complete your purchase, so there’s no rush if you need to wait a bit. (You will also be sent an email soon after you get in with your link to buy tickets. It’s the same link that shows up right away in your Burner Profile). Your purchase must be completed by 12 pm (noon) PDT Thursday, Aug. 4.

We’ve heard your frustrations from past ticket sales, and we’re taking steps to address them. We believe this new process greatly improves fairness and gets us as close as possible to a “first-come, first-served” system.

If you are not among those who get tickets via OMG, don’t give up hope. Every year hundreds of tickets surface in the weeks leading up to the event.

If you have any questions about ticket stuff, visit the Ticket Support website.


Top photo: Burner talks to the G in OMG. (Photo by Mark Nixon)

About the author: Burning Man Project

Burning Man Project

The official voice of the Burning Man organization, managed by Burning Man Project's Communications Team.

79 Comments on “OMG Sale is Coming! Here’s How It’s Gonna Work

  • Kylie says:

    First come first serve tickets sales ensure that tickets are only available to people with high speed internet access, thus skewing the type of people that gain a ticket to be those in wealthier countries who pay for better internet access. I’ve tried to purchase tickets for the past two years from countries with Internet access that just doesn’t compete with the U.S.A and I’ve never been fast enough. A lottery system would ensure a fairer result

    Report comment

    • Ark says:

      A lottery system would not work, because people will then register fake BM accounts to increase their chances.

      Take a look at Glastonbury festival. Where purchased tickets are attached to the name & photo of the buyer and can’t be transferred.

      But BM can be even better. If a person can’t go – he would return the ticket to BM and it would be passed on through STEP.

      Report comment

      • Ark says:

        This would kill ticket scalping. And alot of tickets would resurface in August from people who can’t make it. Add a heavy cancellation fee ($50-$100 to get your $380 back) and people will stop buying them “just in case” leading to a fair and balanced system.

        Report comment

    • Gary M Raydon says:

      I’ve attempted to buy tickets for the last several years on a high-speed high-volume internet connection which services a multi-million dollar company less than 500 miles from Burning Man HQ and 200 miles from the event, and have failed to purchase tickets every time. Your internet connection and economic status have little to nothing to do with whether you get tickets or not.

      Report comment

      • Chrispy says:

        “Internet connection has little to nothing to do with…” Having good connection and failing to get a ticket only tells you conclusively that you had a good connection and still didn’t get a ticket. It doesn’t tell you that a good connection didn’t improve your odds.

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    • Both Balls says:

      Sorry, but the US doesn’t even rank in the top 10 when looking at access speeds. Stop making excuses and admit you’re just not lucky.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Internet_connection_speeds

      Report comment

      • Alabandit says:

        Your distance to the server does help, and the servers are in the USA.

        A loto wouldn’t work but you can still create a fake profile for this system.

        Would love to hear a better solution though.

        Report comment

    • Mike says:

      You can afford $1,000 or more in air tickets from that poor country but can’t afford high speed internet?
      And BS, not all internet in the USA IS HIGH speed.

      Report comment

  • Morgaine says:

    Does anyone know if omg tickets are mailed to you or if you have to pick them up at will call?

    Report comment

  • David Qrady says:

    The one thing that makes tickets rediculously unavailable and sours the experience is scalping. Two things will end scalping: 1. make tickets non-transferrable, with STEP up to the last minute and 2. dump ticketfly in favor of a system that doesn’t have known scalper cheats and is more compatible with festival ticketing (like ticketfairy).

    Hey org, it’s time. I know you don’t want to make this change, but think about people outside of your exalted circle who don’t have guaranteed tickets.

    Report comment

    • Ark says:

      I agree. Fu*k Ticketmaster.

      Report comment

    • Sherpa says:

      Hear hear!

      This is what, the 4th consecutive “it’s a lottery this year” “oh shit it didn’t work”, “it’s a click-race this year” “oh shit it didn’t work”, “it’s a lottery this year” “oh shit it didn’t work”…

      And this time (unlike the main sale the same year) it’s a click-race again… but with a slight tweak…that will undoubtedly result in 1500 2-ticket purchases, duhh.

      Report comment

    • Mike says:

      People have been saying that for years. Tickets will always be transferable and scalpable.

      Report comment

  • Dmitry Word says:

    (who hasn’t already participated in a sale this year) – so if I participated in other sales and did not get a ticket I can’t participate in this sale?
    Wut?!

    Report comment

    • Jon Mitchell says:

      Sorry, Dmitry, just updated to clarify: If you already got a ticket in a previous sale, you can’t enter the OMG sale. If you didn’t, you’re more than welcome.

      Report comment

      • Eduardo Garcia says:

        Hi Jon,
        What about those that already bought tickets but need a vehicle pass? I was lucky enough to buy two tickets but didn’t get the chance to get a vehicle pass, so what do I need to do now?

        Report comment

      • Jon Mitchell says:

        Hi Eduardo. Unfortunately you won’t be able to get into the OMG sale if you purchased tickets in a previous sale. VPs are usually fairly easy to come by as people shuffle them around prior to the event. Try sending a message out to your networks.

        Report comment

      • Eduardo says:

        Thanks, but I was able to enter to a Vehicle Pass only registration, where they said I was going to receive an email from ticketsupport@burningman.org and that since this was a vehicle pass only registration, it would not be reflected in my burner profile.. however, I did not received this email.. Do you know something about this? Thanks again!!

        Report comment

      • Jon Mitchell says:

        Oh, sorry for the inaccurate info, Eduardo. That’s not what I was told. The people at ticketsupport@ can tell you what’s going on for sure.

        Report comment

  • …or you could just send me a promo link so this 6th year Burner can finally grab a ticket after failing, despite trying, at both the regular sale and STEP. :)

    Report comment

    • Jessie says:

      Your veteran status doesn’t make you any more worthy of a ticket, sorry.

      Report comment

      • Ten years consecutive attendance and two volunteer says:

        Veteran status actually works against you! BMOrg’s disingenuous attempt to prove its lack of elitism! Why else is this info included in a “Burner Profile”? Why are there “profiles”?

        Report comment

  • Shalakazam says:

    What happens if you can’t complete the sale in 48 hours?

    Report comment

    • SJ says:

      I was wondering the same thing. What if some people that get a ticket link never purchase their tickets, those tickets are lost and forgotten forever?

      Report comment

  • Das Cheddar says:

    Our camp has been there in force since the 90’s but we’re now folding up, just for lack of tickets the last two years. For me, it’s a sad way to end my 15 years of BM.

    Report comment

    • David Braun says:

      Our camp has seen the writing on the wall and we have transmogrified ourselves into a camp that thrives on those who are in alignment and who have a ticket. Our population mix is now 1/3 returning members, 1/3 veteran burners but new to our camp, 1/3 Virgins. It works great and provides a strong degree of resilience for whatever the org comes up with next.

      The days of having a camp made up of a set group of friends who return year after year is over.

      Report comment

    • Mike says:

      Thanks for your service. 15 years was a very very good run. More then the 99%.

      Report comment

  • Brian says:

    The FAQ says OMG tickets can be delivered by UPS 2nd Day Air. Does that mean this delivery option will mail paper tickets like you’d get from the main sale?

    Report comment

  • Joe Schmoe says:

    The most important thing is DO NOT HIT REFRESH! This only puts you further back!!

    Report comment

  • Fiddy says:

    Trying to find a fair and balanced way to sell and distribute tens of thousands of tickets to people who want them is a Herculean task at best, and I understand and appreciate the impossibility of the situation. And I agree that the first come, first serve method is probably the best way to go. It does tend to favor the prepared burner with a fast internet connection over someone who logs in late from their iPhone. And although this could be argued as unfair, I also agree that it’s better to appease the “motivated buyer” over the “spur of the moment buyer”, in essence giving the nod to the folks who REALLY WANT TO GO. I know from experience how frustrating it was to take off of work to go home where I have a clean and open connection, enter the waiting room 1 sec after it opened, and lose out to someone who logged in 14 minutes after I did cause they just happen to read about it on Facebook.

    Here’s my suggestion.

    Why not queue up everyone in the General Sale who DID NOT get a ticket, and at that very moment, give them an option to be queued up in the STEP Process and the OMG Sale IN THAT VERY SAME ORDER? I would feel better about getting hosed in the General Sale if I knew that I’d be close to the top of the STEP list, and even closer to the top of the OMG Sale list. For example, if there are 35000 tickets available in the General Sale, and you’re the sad sack queued in at 35001, missing out by the slimmest of hairs, it just seems right that you should be at the top of the STEP list. And if you’re the unfortunate sole who missed out on the STEP process by the same slim margin, it feels equally fair that you be at the top of the OMG sale. That way, the chances of some doofus, who had never even heard of Burning Man until watching that episode of Malcolm last week, beating you out of OMG tickets in August after you’ve been preparing all year by, in effect, cutting the line, is greatly reduced. And Mr. Doofus, if he still REALLY WANTS TO GO, can log into the General Sale next year and get in line with everyone else.

    Just a thought.

    Report comment

    • Hope says:

      I like your idea

      Report comment

    • Sherpa says:

      I too like your idea.

      Report comment

    • Jo says:

      I like your idea too!!

      Report comment

    • Irene G says:

      Now this is FAIR.
      I spent an hour for each sale waiting online to see if I got tickets, and have been devastated each time. If I don’t get OmG tickets, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ve already taken time off work, purchased flights, and spent numerous hours preparing. Placing people like us in the queue first would ensure that most people who really are prepared and genuine get to go home versus some randos that are just going last minute to party.

      Report comment

      • Fiddy says:

        I would also solve the problem with leftover OMG tickets. If there’s still a handful of tiks that didn’t get claimed in 24 hrs, or cause some burners only bought 1 instead of 2, just keep walking down the queue until they’re gone!

        It’s a beautiful thing!

        Report comment

      • lou says:

        If u need a ticket i have an extra davinci ill sell at face value $990.00 its yours im taking a loss…i paid 1158.00 with all fees taxes

        Report comment

    • Bleurose says:

      That would then bias the late OMG sale against people who can’t even decide at the time of the regular sale because of life issues and then finally decide they can go. Obviously fewer of those get a ticket because there are fewer available but at least some of those have a chance. Nothing they do is going to be “fair” to everyone and obviously anyone who doesn’t get a ticket will feel deprived but that is just the way it is with an event that now has greater demand than supply. One suggestion: if you DO get a ticket, then pick a volunteer job and volunteer enough hours to guarantee yourself a 1/2 price ticket the following year (or better a staff ticket if you work enough). It is fulfilling to help with the event and you meet new people AND you get to avoid all this nonsense next year. But if you have significant others, make sure they volunteer also because volunteers can’t get 2 tickets just 1 for themselves.

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      • Fiddy says:

        Absolutely correct. If you haven’t made up your mind and squirreled away money to enter the General Sale, it would greatly diminish your shot at getting tickets at the OMG Sale. But that kind of makes my point. If you had only one ticket to sell, and had to choose between someone who was still on the fence just last week, or someone who had been involved and ready for four months, it seems fair that the latter be awarded the ticket.

        At the end of the day, there is no fair way to sell tickets to Burning Man. But this way feels MORE FAIR than any other. And that’s probably the best we could hope for.

        Report comment

  • Jessie says:

    How do you know how many tickets each person is going to buy? It says there are approx 1000 tickets and 1500 vehicle passes, so how did you decide how many people to give access to buy?

    Report comment

    • David Braun says:

      I have long had a suspicion that the OMG sale is a HUGE ticket dump of all the tickets that were not claimed in the DGS sale, cancelled due to fraud, doubled up on the same credit card, etc. I know they say 1000 tickets, but I suspect that may be more like 5000 based on the success rates I have seen amongst my friends.

      If you need a ticket, definitely attempt this sale. It is historically very productive.

      To answer your question, they may be allowing for some slop. An imprecise cut-off in which the org would be happy with the results regardless of the final quantity of tickets sold after the 24 hour window. They may also kick the extra tickets to some favored camps in need. It happens. Not fair, but it happens.

      Report comment

  • I have the same question as above regarding how many spots will be allocated as some people might only need 1 ticket while others might be buying 2 tickets.

    Also for those that only need a vehicle pass…if their queue says NO MORE TICKETS in the OMG Sales….can they stay in the sale to just get a vehicle pass?

    Report comment

  • Aze says:

    There’s a lot to like with this new system. Depending on the technology used, it would actually be possible to equalize the playing field for people with slow internet connections by using calibrated local timestamps rather than arrival times of the network packet. But that would require a higher level of programming to make it unhackable, a level which hasn’t yet been widely in evidence from Ticketfly.

    The interesting question is where do the tickets that don’t end up getting bought within 24 hours go. The cynic in me suspects this is another way for BMORG to get extra tickets for insider “VIPs” but they could and should prove me wrong by publishing a detailed accounting of where the tickets go.

    At any rate, I’m fully ready to move to a system where tickets are based on photo ids and transferable only under STEP. The only serious issue would be checking photo ids at the gate, which would slow down the already out of control lines, and making the gate volunteers have to act a bit more like security than welcomers. But by printing a name and picture on the ticket, this could be made pretty efficient.

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    • Zach Wasserman says:

      Aze – I work in computer security, and cannot see any way that your proposal to use local timestamps will result in a more secure or fair sale. There is just no way to trust the timestamp reported by the individual computer.

      As for tickets requiring an ID and only transferable by STEP… Yes, yes, yes and YES!! IMO this is the only way we are going to stop scalping of Burn tickets. The box office is already used to checking IDs, and there could be a box office stage of entry for every car (like the way greeters is another “stage” of entry after gate) before they get to gate.

      Report comment

    • Omar says:

      Gate (and black rock Rangers)
      are security now. Inept clueless incompetent security. Greeters are welcomers

      Report comment

  • Ambrose Aban says:

    I think that first time burners like me should be guaranteed a ticket via STEP. Am just saying, if you have been to BM in the last 15 years, give us a chance to experience it. Please.

    Report comment

  • Katie says:

    Yes please! More clarification for folks seeking only a vehicle pass. What prompts should we look for? Should we ignore/bypass any messaging that tix are sold out? Is there a different process we will use? Please and thank you. xoxo

    Report comment

  • MEP says:

    My boyfriend and i were able to get one ticket each in the main sale, but vehicle passes were sold out. Will either one of us be able to register in the OMG sale just for a vehicle pass? Or are we excluded because we already got a ticket in the main sale? Scalpers are selling vehicle passes for $200….

    Report comment

  • Gerflash says:

    Hey – how about an OMG sale on vehicle passes. Several of our campers got tix, but a couple forgot to get the car pass. What can be done in such a case?

    Report comment

  • Jason says:

    Once one is “in,” one has the option of buying 1 or 2 tickets. How can the computer know when the tickets are sold out if it does not yet know how many people are buying 1 ticket? Did they pre-pick a total number of profiles that will get tickets, based on the number of single ticket sales there usually are? (I would imagine it’s a pretty small percentage.) So really, we’re all competing for 500 and change spots.

    Report comment

  • Eduardo says:

    More info on vehicle passes for those with tickets.. What can we do?

    Report comment

  • Robert says:

    I have a ticket already for this year, but no vehicle permit. Is it possible to buy ONLY vehicle permits during the OMG sale?

    Also I see parking permits available at StubHub. These are listed by “Rows”, and a Row is GA, NA, Pass, GA32, etc. What do those mean? And is StubHub a safe place to buy a vehicle permit?

    This will be my first time at Burning Man. Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer these questions!

    Report comment

  • Eleni says:

    I’ve been registered and asked for tickets since last month and it’s past 12 pm.. so I’m good on the preregistration for today? There’s nothing else to do until August 5 right? Then hopefully I get a link.? Instructions please

    Report comment

  • as says:

    There doesn’t seem to be this “countdown” clock – as mentioned above in the original posting. Is anyone else seeing this?

    Report comment

  • steven nemeth says:

    I am in Australia(Perth) . This system seems incredibly unfair for those of us making the trip . I have spent thousands to make this trip (selling my car to do it) and I have to participate in what is essentially a lottery in the early hours of the morning, my time, on a work day. There really should be a reserve of tickets for those making the journey from far flung places .

    Report comment

  • t says:

    ……6 of us all on different accounts on different IP addresses spread across Oregon and all any of us got was a “database error (‘ + r.error + ‘) when we all clicked the link.

    Will there ever be a hassle free ticket experience?

    Report comment

  • Josh says:

    The OMG Sale Was A Complete Joke. Looks I’ll be buying inflated Ebay tickets again.

    Report comment

  • Steve Wruble says:

    I’m still sitting here with a spinning icon…do I still have a chance that I am in line to get a ticket in the OMG sale?

    Report comment

  • Clint says:

    Still sitting here as the the ticket sale circle is still spinning in my burner profile.. I clicked for the sale at exactly 12 PDT, which was over an hour ago … Should I still wait? It’s processing something because others I know tried to go on and it said the OMG tickets were sold out. Is anyone else having this problem??

    Report comment

  • Burning Man says:

    OMG Sale is over and all codes are issued. Server load at the beginning caused error messages for many users (sorry), but preliminary analysis shows it did not affect first-come, first-served access to tickets.

    Report comment

  • Suzi Saunders says:

    I logged in early, then waited for nearly 30 minutes after the official opening time, didn’t ever even see the timer OR the “buy now” button. Super disappointing. Of course the server was too busy to even attempt to re-log in. So sad.

    Report comment

  • Sala says:

    Thanks! Got tickets from a low speed Internet cafe in Guatemala.

    Report comment

  • Molly says:

    Just wondering when the OMG tickets will ship?
    Thanks

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  • Comments are closed.