Burning Man Cashout

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
1	Burning Man Afterburn's compiled to spreadsheet form:
2	Year	Afterburn Source URL:	Salary/Payroll	% Increase	Outside Contractor+Services	The Man	% Increase	Art	% Increase	Total Budget	Comment
3	2001	http://afterburn.burningman.com/01/financial_chart.html	$607,000		$710,000	$37,000		$270,000		$5,255,200
4	2002	http://afterburn.burningman.com/02/financial_chart.html	806,000	33%	958,100	45,000	22%	279,000	3%	5,624,200
5	2003	http://afterburn.burningman.com/03/financial_chart.html	1,047,528	30%	1,328,255	94,725	111%	288,560	3%	7,287,335
6	2004	http://afterburn.burningman.com/04/financial_chart.html	1,493,476	43%	774,223	109,414	16%	255,028	-12%	8,557,308
7	2005	http://afterburn.burningman.com/05/financial_chart.html	1,759,934	18%	580,507	136,304	25%	437,973	72%	8,397,178
8	2006	http://afterburn.burningman.com/06/financial_chart.html	2,205,000	25%	548,000	183,000	34%	420,000	-4%	10,278,000
9	2007	http://afterburn.burningman.com/07/financial_chart.html	2,802,000	27%	1,628,000	292,000	60%	476,000	13%	13,497,000
10	2008	http://afterburn.burningman.com/08/financial_chart.html	3,134,000	12%	3,168,000	292,000	0%	476,000	0%	14,091,000
11	2009	http://afterburn.burningman.com/09/financial_chart.html	2,858,000	-9%	1,435,000	106,000	-64%	362,000	-24%	12,317,000	Why the major reduction to the art grants and the man?
12	2010	http://afterburn.burningman.com/10/financial_chart.html	7,283,000	155%	1,699,783	156,000	47%	453,000	25%	17,515,083	Suddenly payroll rises by 4.4 million dollars!
13	2011	http://afterburn.burningman.com/11/financial_chart.html	7,103,000	-2%	2,574,000	162,000	4%	591,000	30%	20,668,000
14	2012	http://afterburn.burningman.com/12/financial_chart.html	$7,787,787	10%	$1,710,495	$237,581	47%	$591,000	0%	$22,111,580
15	2013	http://afterburn.burningman.com/13/financial_chart.html	7,051,041	-10%	1,143,348	407,055	71%	830,280	40%	26,810,724
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18		What happened in 2010?
19		In 2010, according to the Orgs official numbers, there was a $4.4 million payroll increase. According to website, they have around 30 employees. The huge boost in cannot be explained by hiring - the org did not dramatically change in size in 2010. If the average job at Burning Man HQ pays $100k a year (for a non tech SF company this seems generous), then:
20		In 2010, according to the Orgs official numbers, there was a $4.4 million payroll increase. According to website, they have around 30 employees. The huge boost in cannot be explained by hiring - the org did not dramatically change in size in 2010. If the average job at Burning Man HQ pays $100k a year (which is likely higher than average for a non-tech company), then:
21		[Total Salaries paid] - ( [avg salary $100k] * [number of HQ workers 30] ) =						$4,283,000.00
22		This means that the board is taking 4,000,000+ dollars as their payments every year, while at the same time spend a mere 591,000 in art grants.
23		As it turns out, a New York Times article asked these same questions back in 2011, before the most damning numbers (highlighted in red above) were out.
24		http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/business/growing-pains-for-burning-man-festival.html
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26		The New York Times article also addressed questions raised by the numbers highlighted in yellow: why the huge cut in spending on the man in 2009? In a quote attributed to Larry, its because they lost money betting on stocks in the crash of 2008. But no where online does it address a stock ownership program or detail anything about a loss. They spent almost $300,000 dollars in 2007 & 2008 on the man - and even after the markets recovered, they never brought spending back to the same level.
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29		Temple Builder Ross Asselstine wrote on a related subject: his grant application for Temple of Descendants was announced as the selected entery, but he refused to sign the contracts for moral reasons. Ross posted on his website:
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31		"The [Burning Man Organizations] contract appears to seek to purchase the display and use of the piece the same as any piece of radically expressive art, not what many consider it is: a community service and a gift. This could change very, very simply. People need to ask for it for it to happen.
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33		After a while it was all simply too much. I asked for help from those best able to do so. I was told: “we want to support you in any way we can” but they still required an unlimited license to the art, me to buy all insurance and take every risk related to 60,000 people using and experiencing the piece. Of the entire community, only about 700 people donated two years ago, maybe 1700 people donated last year with a good portion of the funds raised post-event.
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36		After considerable efforts, struggles and loss of sleep, I confirmed I was unable to risk and gift to the extent of the grant contract language.
37		I think the community is not aware of the back story and does not expect this of any temple builder nor want them to risk so much. If you share this sentiment, I ask for your voice. This could be improved and be equitable in very, very simple ways."
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39		Ross is leading the way to show participants how badly Burning Man treats artists - check out his website and boost his message:
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41			http://www.temple2014.net/
42		Source for employee headcount and organizational structure: http://burningman.com/whatisburningman/organization/index.html
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48		The Burners.Me post with the initial comments:		http://burners.me/2014/05/09/the-great-bmorg-cash-out-of-2010-to-2016-28-million-to-45-million-est/
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