Burning Man 2024 came and went but not without some turmoil , which a PR expert sees as a bad sign for the future.
The week long annual event finished this past Monday, September 2 and started on Sunday, August 25. On the very first day of the event at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, a death happened. A 39-year-old woman, identified as Kendra Frazer , was found dead. Authorities did not suspect any foul play but her death is still being investigated and nothing has been confirmed yet.
Following that came a series of arrests within the duration of the event. The charges for the five arrests were drug possession, assault, sexual assault, use of a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and abduction. A woman also fell from a climbable art sculpture . The weather on the last day caused delays up to ten hours in getting out of the site after a strong dust storm that decreased visibility and had swirling bits of sand as well as grit everywhere. Bad weather played a role in turning last year's Burning Man into a mess when the pouring rain led to bad muddy conditions.
Michael Levine, a leading U.S. media expert and founder of Boundless Media USA told The Mirror how the "once-iconic event" this year was a "P.R. disaster." He brought up all the incidents that eclipsed the event and made it so.
"Burning Man 2024 was a P.R. disaster!" Michael said. "A series of unfortunate events overshadowed the festival, typically a beacon of creativity and community. Tragedy struck when Kendra Frazer, 39, was found unresponsive on the first day, with emergency services unable to save her."
"The final day saw a massive dust storm, causing traffic delays of up to four hours turning the exit into a chaotic mess. To top it all off, unsold tickets—a first since 2011—suggest a waning enthusiasm for the once-iconic event," the best-selling author continued.
"Burning Man's 2024 missteps are a stark reminder: even the most established cultural gatherings aren't immune to the harsh realities of public relations. For an event that prides itself on resilience, these setbacks are a blow that may take time to recover from," he added.
As the media expert detailed the incidents, he highlighted some beginning issues that occurred before the event started such as allowing last minute tickets to be purchased which was unprecedented. Another new change was the decision to release the music lineups two weeks ahead of the start date of the festival. Many fans thought those two new modifications may indicate signs that Burning Man is trying to rebuild an audience and garner sales again.
The event has also been chaotic for non-Burners too, specifically the ones who pick up Burning Man attendees. A 61-year-old grandmother named Susie Holland recently shared her story about being swarmed by three undercover agents from the Nevada Transportation Authority when she intended to pick up Burners when one answered her Craigslist ad. The person who allegedly responded was an uncover official. It's illegal in Nevada to receive cash for ride services without the proper certifications. This has happened similarly to other Reno residents which have people accusing the NTA of doing a sting operation.
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