BRC Saloon & Social Club

Hours of Operation 

Days of Operation for BRC Season:

Pre-Season: July 16th-August 8th

Post-Event: September 8th-October 5th

Black Rock Saloon Hours: 

Sunday through Thursday – 5:00 pm until 11:00 pm

Friday and Saturday – 5:00 pm till midnight or later, at the Manager’s Discretion

Black Rock Social Club Hours: 

Monday through Sunday – 8:00 am until Bar Close.

How to Sign Up to Bartend!

Check in with the Saloon Manager or Assistant Manager about open bartending slots. No experience?  That’s ok!  We love teaching on nights that won’t be super overwhelming for a first-timer.

How to host a night with your crew:

Check in with the Saloon Manager about being Saloon hosts for a night.  Or go renegade.  Bring a marching band through.  Recreate Skywalker and Vader’s last battle.  DO NOT come behind the bar without invitation, though.

Apothecary Etiquette

This will be a small blurb that will link to a write-up from Hormel.

Events

Check out the DPW Events Calendar!

This is a calendar that has already been created for the DPW season and in its ideal functioning state could be working with various DPW Managers to keep a running schedule of events relevant to DPW interest within DPW/NVO’s realm. The idea here is that each Manager in charge of a gathering space/event will be able to create events on their personal BMP google calendar and invite this dpw events calendar to it.

For this section I would like to see a suggestion of possible casual events that could be held, some kind of suggestions/request/signup-to-host google form that the results could be shared with DPW Council/NVO Senior Management, and possibly omitting mention of the shitshow weekend or talent show. 

Weekly, Bimonthly, Monthly Events (most confirmed):

Figure Drawing

Drink and Draw

Bonesaw Sculpting Workshops

Plantaholics Nonanonamous

Poetry Nights

Sober Hangout and Check-In (may be Tea House or off-site)

Learning Kitchen

High Desert Plant Magic

D&D Character building and design

Non-alcoholic and Alcohol Free Drink Workshop

Dark Sparkle Craft Night

Google Form coming eventually.

Incoming Requests

How do we get our indulgent delights into the Saloon?

For significant bar donations in bottle, box, or can form, reach out to Hoxsey@burningman.org (aka Honey Don’t!) to coordinate delivery/drop offs/etc.  Or just walk into the Saloon and leave your bottle or three with a staff member.  Unless it’s half a pallet of peppermint schnapps, all donations are welcome and sorely needed.

Communication of Black Rock Saloon Rules

Members are responsible for knowing, sharing, and adhering to these rules to remain a Burning Man Crew member in good standing.

 The Black Rock Saloon Manager, the Black Rock Saloon Assistant Manager, and the Shift Leads are responsible for the representation of the above rules and for enforcing the care, cleaning, and closing procedures at the end of each day’s activity.

Infractions of these rules by any member will be presented to the DPW Council and/or NVO Personnel Manager for investigation and appropriate action will be taken.

The Black Rock Saloon is a privilege not a right.

 Respect the facility that we may keep the doors open for all.

Property Etiquette

How to treat it, various rooms, and what they’re for.

All rooms are free for staff use at any time during open hours.  Respect these spaces and the folx who keep things clean and greased for your daily shenanigans.  These areas include:

• Media Room—this is where you’ll find computer stations and printers for general use; the Black Rock Saloon Library; space for holding department meetings and logistics planning

• The Parlor—bar-adjacent gathering space which includes the Black Rock Apothecary, performance stage, games, and art supply shelves.

• TV Room—quieter hang out space separate from the Bar Actual; TV and Roku system are free to use for informal and scheduled movie nights; luxuriate on the Best Couch In The World

• Tiny Kitchen—prepare meals and treats as you like; cleaning etiquette and rules below; schedule larger cooking activities with Saloon Staff

• Collexodus Hallways—find pantry goods here; DON’T BE GREEDY.  Remember you’re sharing with all your coworkers out here, and we lean heavily on the honor system for their continued, non-supervised accessibility

If you’d like to schedule an event in any of these spaces, talk to the Saloon Manager or Saloon Staff for availability and support

Rules, Back Kitchen & Off limits

General Rules

• The Black Rock Saloon & Social Club and its grounds are provided for the convenience of all Burning Man staff members in good standing.  

• The Black Rock Saloon is a decommodified social space - No money shall be exchanged for drinks, goods, or services on the premises. 

• All Staff Members are required to assist in keeping the Black Rock Saloon and its facilities clean and organized.  Your full cooperation is expected (if you make or see a mess clean it up or you will not be welcome back).

• The Black Rock Saloon Manager and Bar Staff are responsible for requiring compliance with all of the house rules and all closing procedures.

• Overnight storage of any personal items is not allowed.

• All members are entitled to reasonable use of the ice machine. Please inquire with the Saloon Manager and Assistant Manager before taking ice and show consideration for other members by taking only the minimum needed.

• Any intentional destruction or defacing of Black Rock Social Club or any of its contents is grounds for eviction from the premises and disciplinary action.

• Excessively loud, arrogant, and boisterous behavior will not be allowed.

• No drinks on the pool table. No sitting on the pool table. 

• Conserve bandwidth, do not stream or download.

• Be respectful of our neighbors. This includes keeping conversations on the porch and on your way home at a reasonable level. When in Gerlach, you are perceived as an official representative of Burning Man. Please conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner. Gerlach is not Burning Man. Dress Respectfully and appropriately while on the porch, deck, and parking lot of the Saloon.  Shirts for men and women are required at all times in town.

• Absolutely no distribution or consumption of illegal substances is permitted on the Saloon Property, including but not limited to the front porch, parking lot, and dog run. This also includes marijuana and CBD, regardless of if it is via an electronic device.

• Smoking of tobacco and tobacco products is only permitted inside of the bar area.  Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products, including vaping, are prohibited in the rest of the facility.

• DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.  Period.  If you need help securing a sober ride home unexpectedly, the DPW Rangers and Saloon Staff are available to assist you in finding one.

Minors

• Minor dependents of any member will only be permitted in or on the property while accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

• No unsupervised minors or dependents of any member will be permitted in or on any part of the property. 

• No alcohol will be served to or consumed by persons under the age of 21.

Pets

Click here for the full DPW Staff Dog Program page

In summary: 

• All pets must be on a leash and under supervision at all times.

• Pets are discouraged but permitted inside the Black Rock Saloon when the bar is open, but always allowed on the outside deck, back yard, and in the dog run.  Please keep your pets out of the parking lot unless going to and from your vehicle. 

• Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets; pets will be barred from premises if repeated messes are not taken care of.

Guests

• Guests and other Non-Burning Man Staff may not enter nor remain at the Black Rock Saloon & Social Club without the accompanied sponsorship and supervision of a Staff Member in good standing. All Guests must comply with Burning Man Project COVID protocols

• Members and their sponsored guests are required to sign in to the bar log.

• Members are responsible for the conduct and actions of their sponsored guests.

Shift Managers & Closing Procedures

Shift Managers (which may differ from the Saloon Manager and Ass Man; everyone needs a day off, y’all) are responsible for keeping the Black Rock Saloon clean and organized and should enlist Bar Staff and patrons to assist them. At the closing of each shift the Shift Manager will oversee:  

• Clean/clear and wipe down all surface areas

• Sweep/mop/vacuum all floors as needed

• Clean and restore all dishes, ashtrays, sinks, and shelves

• Empty and line all trash cans

• Restore all furniture and artifacts to their proper place

• Clean and stock the bathrooms and kitchen

• Clean and restore all deck/yard areas

• Turn off all lights and appliances 

• Lock all doors

 Damage and Repairs

• Members are requested to report faulty equipment, damages, or needed repairs to the house manager, shift manager, or NVPrepairs@burningman.org. The sooner we know about a problem the sooner we can get it fixed.

• Damages to the Black Rock Saloon, its outside property, and any furnishings must be paid for by the member responsible for the damages. Any intentional destruction or defacing of any part of the building or any of its contents is grounds for eviction.

Kitchen Rules

• Personal use kitchen is the BACK kitchen…the industrial kitchen is not available for personal use. 

• Kitchenware and cooking utensils are available for use; replace them clean (and sanitized) where they belong after use.

• Basic cooking needs, spices, oils, etc are available for use. Seal them, wipe them down clean, and put them where they were found. 

• Sanitize and clean the cooking area after use, including the floor. 

• Seal and remove ALL trash. Do not leave open trash in the kitchen as it encourages flies, pests, etc. 

• Turn off all appliances before leaving the kitchen.

• Pack it in, pack it out! – you must clean up after yourself or your privileges will be revoked. 

The walk-in is absolutely off-limits at all times to non-kitchen and non-Saloon staff.  Just don’t do it.  If you think you need something in there, ask Saloon Staff for assistance in retrieving it.