The story of a semi-epic shenanigan feud in Black Rock City
BMIR 
DMV
As most of my friends and colleagues know, I’ve been attending the annual Burning Man event for the last 25 years. A week long arts event that takes place in the middle of a Nevada desert in “Black Rock City”, a temporary city of 70,000+ folks who come to share, engage and participate in a unique experience.
For the last 17 years, I’ve volunteered for the “Black Rock City Department of Mutant Vehicles”, the group that oversees the invitation of Art Cars to the event. The DMV works through the weeklong event inspecting and licensing Mutant Vehicles to allow them to drive at the event. Most of the folks out at Burning Man acquire nicknames, “Playa Names” we call them, and my playa name as one of the heads of the DMV is “Chef Juke”
In addition to the DMV, there are a number of other groups that perform different functions at the event, one of them being BMIR, Burning Man Information Radio, a small radio station that broadcasts music, talk and important information throughout the event.
One of the friends I’ve made at Burning Man over the years is Josh Cunningham who goes by the Playa Name of DJ Kanizzle. Kanizzle runs BMIR and is also an established Music DJ out in the “default world” as Burning Man attendees call everywhere outside of Black Rock City.
At any rate, two years ago at Burning Man, Kanizzle and I were chatting and the subject of “Shenanigans” came up. You know, pranks. He started telling me about some great shenanigans of his recent past (some kind of contest between the BMIR crew and another Burning Man team) and ended his story saying something to the effect of “You never want to mess with ME when it comes to shenanigans”. I looked at him and said…
“Well, you don’t know who you’re talking to…”
He looked at me, pumped up his chest and continued to try to more emphatically impress upon me his shenanigan prowess.
“I’m just saying, you don’t know who you’re talking to..”, I calmly replied with a smile.
Some more bluster and braggadocio ensued but the conversation moved on to other things, and I didn’t pay any more attention to the topic and had pretty much forgotten the discussion until a few weeks after I had returned home from the event.
Round One: Burning Man 2017
From the Embers a Feud is Born
Post-event every year, Burning Man department managers have to fill out these things called ‘Ember Reports’ for our interdepartmental interactions. These are basically reports of issues that happened with suggestions for how we can fix or improve when things go wrong. When an Ember Report is submitted, it is emailed to a representative of the target group. I am the representative for the DMV.
In October of that year, I received an email with the following EMBER Report:
Wed, Oct 4, 2017, 7:31 PM
You are receiving a copy of this EMBER Report because
"Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV)" was chosen as the Primary department associated with this topic.
- - BURNING MAN STAFF MEMBER INFORMATION - -
First Name: Joshua
Last Name: Cunningham
AKA/Playa Name: Kanizzle
Primary Burning Man department you are associated with: BMIR (Burning Man Information Radio)
Additional department you are associated with at BRC (if applicable):
Your role at the event: Operations Manager
Your role year round if different:
Number of years worked on playa and any additional departments you have been involved with: 12
- - TOPIC INFORMATION - -
Summary title of your topic:
DMV vehicle line is blocking our view
Primary department this topic is associated with:
Department of Mutant Vehicles (DMV)
Secondary department this topic is associated with (if applicable):
Kudos and what worked well on this topic:
We're convinced it's a conspiracy started by Sparky. Thanks to the long lines out the DMV, the crew at BMIR are not able to see the Man for half the event.
Constructive feedback for what didn't work well on this topic:
Ideas and recommendations for improvement on this topic: Move the DMV to the back of the city. :P
Heh. Okay, two can play at that game. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Kanizzle received an EMBER Report of his own:
Thu, Oct 5, 2017, 8:02 AM You are receiving a copy of this EMBER Report because "Burning Man Information Radio (BMIR)" was chosen as the Primary department associated with this topic.
TOPIC INFORMATION - - Summary title of your topic:
BMIR Obstructed View
Primary department this topic is associated with:
BMIR (Burning Man Information Radio)
Secondary department this topic is associated with (if applicable):
DPW: Special Projects
Kudos and what worked well on this topic:
BMIR does an amazing job of both entertaining and informing the citizenry of Black Rock City. As such we should do as much as we can to provide them as much comfort and accommodation as possible to help them accomplish their mission.
Constructive feedback for what didn't work well on this topic:
This year there was apparently an issue where the line of vehicles awaiting licensing at the DMV at times obstructed the BMIR Staff's view of the Man. As Members of BMIR felt that this interfered with the BMIR Staff's immediate experience, they've kindly requested something be done so that the DMV line doesn't harsh their mellow.
Ideas and recommendations for improvement on this topic:
As noted above, the DMV wholeheartedly agrees that the consideration of the BMIR staff is paramount. To that end, we would like to suggest a solution to the issue of the BMIR obstructed view.
We would like the DPW to construct an art installation as follows.
A large reflective surface in a frame that would function as a large mirror, approximately 45 feet in length and 20 feet in height placed just across the Esplanade from the BMIR encampment.
This "Radio Mirror" would reflect the far more pleasing to their eye image of BMIR back at them throughout the day so they would not have to suffer the unpleasant view of the Mutant Vehicles.
This would also provide additional light for their encampment in the late afternoon as the sun's reflection would help brighten their otherwise dingy camp.
This art installation would also serve to shield the Mutant Vehicle and Disabled Persons Vehicle owners and riders from having to look at BMIR during their wait in the DMV line, it not only helps the fine folks at BMIR, but other participants as well. A win-win.
As we like to say, BMIR should be heard but not seen.
Shots fired. Shots answered.
Later that day, after the two Ember reports had been posted to Social Media, Kanizzle responded:
“You won this round. Definitely won this round……”
Yet I knew this would not be the end of hostilities.
Round Two: Burning Man 2018
Upping the Ante
So, after this initial exchange, it was clear to both parties that a gauntlet had been thrown down and an initial response had been offered. With the event over, both sides retired for the off-season (the 11 months until the next Burning Man) to consider their next moves.
That fall between the two camps, there were, as one might expect, some little jabs at each other on Social Media, but beyond that, things were quiet during that off-season, but just because things were quiet, does not mean that nothing was happening. Somewhere, behind closed doors ideas were being considered, plans were being hatched, and materials and equipment were being assembled.
On the boats and on the planes…
During that fall I envisioned a few stunts that would give Kanizzle and the BMIR team a run for their money. Having friends with some significant technical skills and knowledge of how the radio station tech worked, we figured out how we could patch into their radio feed. This led to the plan for a flash mob of DMV Volunteers, decked out in matching gold sequined shirts, appearing out of nowhere singing a bastardized version of the Neil Diamond song “America” with lyrics modified with Burning Man references
“On the boats and on the planes, They’re coming out to Burning Man”.
This idea in mind, I sent an email to the DMV volunteer email list asking if folks wanted to help with an undefined prank on BMIR. A few folks started responding, but little did I know that among the 120 or so DMV volunteers, we had some folks that ALSO volunteered for BMIR….and that their sympathies might lie on the other side. Pretty soon I found out that Kanizzle had been tipped off. We had a mole in our organization…and realized I needed to pull back my plans to something far more surreptitious.
I have some friends who are radio hobbyists and in talking with one of them, he noted that, with the right kind of transmitter, I could, for a limited area, be able to override BMIR’s signal.
Hmmm….
Radio, Radio
A visit to ebay and two weeks later, I had what I needed. A small FM transmitter with antenna and an even smaller MP3 player with a repeat function.
My first day at Burning Man 2018, I went by BMIR to pay my respects. Said hi to Kanizzle….we hugged, eyed each other suspiciously…made a few ambiguous comments about it being a nice year for shenanigans, and went on our merry ways. I immediately went over to the DMV about 300 feet away and began setting up my equipment….
If you attended Burning Man in 2018 and happened to have a radio tuned to BMIR at 94.5, you would have heard their normal mix of music, humor, information, etc. EXCEPT if you came within 25 feet of the DMV Kiosk. THEN this is what you would have heard:
I have to admit, I was a bit proud of this one. A dig at BMIR, coming in from a vector they wouldn’t expect, a bit clever and a bit techy, and subtle. My kinda prank. My intent for the reveal was to get Kanizzle into my staff vehicle, play the radio and then pull up to the DMV.
Now on the other side….not sure WHAT they were up to…until…
I get a message on the radio a few nights later that something had happened at the DMV Kiosk shade. Someone had taken all of the benches and tables, piled them together and wrapped them, and the entire shade building in Pallet Wrap….basically large sized plastic wrap. Later, I was given leaked photos from an anonymous BMIR Staffer that showed the event in progress:
Apparently one of my colleagues in the DMV, Sparky, had come across this prank right after the BMIR team (led by Kanizzle, you can see him in the first picture on the left) had completed their prank. He radioed me and other DMV folks and they went to work undoing the mess. By the time I got to the DMV, all had been put right. In the process of cleaning things up, we noted that one of the benches had been broken and some table legs bent.
So, to sum up, while this prank was well-conceived, the execution was a bit lacking. Had they done this later in the evening (or better yet, in the wee hours of the morning) the prank would not likely have been discovered and cleaned up until well into the next day, thus being on display for more folks to see and appreciate. And the damage to the items in the DMV was really bad form. There is a thin line between pranksterism and vandalism, dont’cha know.
Following the 2018 event, some additional jabs were made on Social Media. Someone from the DMV side MIGHT have shared a somewhat derogatory (but damned funny) image to social media…
Shortly after the event, Kanizzle messaged me with a note about another prank plan that he failed to execute against: The DMV Logoed Butt Plugs.
So, for 2018 season, DMV had a subtle, clever prank that, while not many folks may have experienced, those who did got a hit of fun…and BMIR had two fairly simple ‘pranks’, one that bordered on vandalism and the other….well, it’s hard to say what the other one was, as it was never fully realized. I’d have to say, from my prejudiced view, the DMV was still ahead on points.
HOWEVER…
This last piece of information, did give me some inspiration…
Round 3: Burning Man 2019
The Final Countdown
This year, there wasn’t much chatter between DMV and BMIR factions during the off-season. After letting me know about the supposed Butt Plug prank, nothing much was heard from Kanizzle after that. But that was okay. He was free to contemplate other things. I was busy getting my plans in order.
For 2019, the DMV wanted to do something more than just an on-playa prank. We wanted to stretch our wings, as they say. Reach out to the larger world. Take it higher. So, in the months leading up to the event, we planned, purchased supplies, and came up with our pièce de résistance.
Funny thing about the internet…you can find almost anything you want on it. And I mean ANY thing. If you are willing to pony up some cash, submit a few photographs, you can get custom things. Things that look just like someone you know. We did. And what we ended up with was….
L’il Kanizzle
Yup. A custom made, um… “personal item” featuring the likeness of Kanizzle himself. Yeah, I went there. Crass? Certainly. But remember, I was dealing with BMIR – the folks who resorted to vandalilsm and Butt Plugs…this at least had some character.
Now, what to do with this little fella? Well, we know that eventually he will have to meet up with his larger counterpart…so….let’s document that adventure.
Thus was born, “The Adventures of Little Kanizzle”
https://lilnizzle.travel.blog/blog-feed/
Yes, a travel blog….that’s what was needed here. Tracking the trek of L’il Kanizzle as he made his way out to Burning Man to find his ‘Father’.
We started out at Burning Man Headquarters taking a few pics as L’il Kanizzle learned a little about this place his larger counterpart worked. Photos with Burning Man ephemera of years past. Then we moved on a little to the journey out to the playa. Then, finally, to the event itself.
The first few days I spent taking photos of the little guy with some of the more iconic art installations at the event, and in the evenings, would write a little copy to go along with. By Wednesday of the event, I had enough to post the blog in full.
The Reveal
Now that the blog was ready, it was time for the reveal. I created a few simple flyers and posted them around BMIR. A picture of L’il Kanizzle (face only) with the caption: Help L’il Kanizzle find his dad!
with the link to the website underneath.
I also printed up little slips of paper with the note about helping L’il Kanizzle and the link and handed them out to everyone in the station’s studio and the lounge below.
I usually passed by BMIR any number of times during the day on my way to the DMV. After I put up the posters I began cruising my car (which has a big DMV Logo on the side) slowly right in front of their lounge area, waiting to see if there was any response. The second time I went by after posting the flyers, one of the crew ran out…and they were laughing as they ran up to the car:
“OH….MY…GOD! THAT IS BRILLIANT!!!”
“Has Kanizzle seen it yet?”
“Not yet…he hasn’t been into the station yet”
“I’ll be back”
Through the day, I made a few more passes by BMIR….each time I looked for Kanizzle and handed out a few more slips with the link to the blog. And each time another BMIR staffer came up and gave me kudos for the blog.
Finally, later that afternoon, I saw Kanizzle leaving the station. I pulled up and hailed him. He came over to the car and we chatted for a moment… He asked me if I had put up the posters…and I admitted that I had. He said they were great, but I quickly found out that he hadn’t actually gone to the website. I told him there was this little fella looking for him….
Heh. Yep. Later. He’s gonna check later.
I drove off, chuckling softly to myself.
Finally….
The next day, on another driveby, I drove up and there was Kanizzle, sitting on a sofa in the BMIR lounge facing away from me, surrounded by a group of BMIR folks, in the middle of telling some story. as described in the final blog post, Kanizzle got up and walked slowly over to me, clearly having now seen the full blog.
I pulled L’il Kannizzle out of his bag and held him up….
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Kanizzle acknowledged that I had trumped him…the DMV had won!
I left L’il Kanizzle with Big Kanizzle to do with what he wanted. I hope the little fella shows up again next year in some form….would love to see him take his place in BMIR lore.
As for me and the DMV….we’ll have to turn our efforts toward something else fun for next year….unless….
Well, knowing Kanizzle, it’s possible our victory and subsequent armistace may be short-lived…we’ll have to see..
As my friend, the late Ken Kesey used to say, “Never Trust A Prankster…”
Cheers,
– Chef Juke
ENCORE !! ENCORE !! BORVO !! BORVO !! That’s why you’re a leader.