There's a 'Burning Man for the 1%,' where the tech elite dance and sleep in luxury pods

Further future 20
Stacie Hess

In a patch of desert 50 miles outside of Las Vegas, the tech elite and ravers gather for a networking opportunity like no other.

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Further Future is a desert dance party that's like TED meets Burning Man  a hippy, future-focused festival hopped up on organic juice and ecstasy that costs $350 to attend (not including extra amenities).

The three-day festival, which went from April 29 to May 1, caters to the Silicon Valley crowd, with its tech installations, glamorous camping (aka glamping) accommodations, and abundant Wi-Fi.

This year's attendees included Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Alphabet; Stan Chudnovsky, head of product at Facebook Messenger; and Bob Pittman, the founder of MTV.

Here's what it's like to attend the so-called Burning Man for the 1%.

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"This is a high percentage of San Francisco entrepreneurs, and they tend to be winners," Schmidt told The Guardian. "It's a curated, self-selected group of adults who have jobs."

Here comes fun. #team #silver #ff002 #furtherfuture #festival

A photo posted by Ted Weiss (@ted_dub) on May 3, 2016 at 4:04pm PDT

 

Source: The Guardian

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The festival's show-runner described the aesthetic as “steampunk futurism.”

#furtherfuture @furtherfuture #ff002 #ff02

A photo posted by @isoshira on May 3, 2016 at 5:20am PDT

 

Source: The Guardian

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A light-up robot stands at the heart of the grounds.

#latergram #furtherfuture #ff002 #robotheart

A photo posted by Ashley Scorpio (@ashleyscorpio) on May 4, 2016 at 12:16am PDT

 

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Festival passes feature a drawing of a robot.

#furtherfuture 2016 #ff #robotheart

A photo posted by Sanya Obsivac (@sanyaobsivac) on May 2, 2016 at 11:23pm PDT

 

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Images like this one serve to remind partiers that they make the future possible.

 

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What would a tech gathering be without demos? This guy gives a hug while wearing a VR headset.

Virtual reality [hugs]. 😀 #FurtherFuture

A photo posted by Biz Martinez (@bizmartinez) on Apr 30, 2016 at 12:49am PDT

 

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Hanson Robotics' humanoid bot Sophia, who was the talk of SXSW this year, made an appearance.

Say hello to #sophia the #robot I had a conversation with at #furtherFuture #FF002 #robotHeart #cyborg

A photo posted by Marc Lassoff (@bloksta) on May 3, 2016 at 9:17pm PDT

 

Source: MacWorld

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While networking certainly happens, one attendee tells Tech Insider that few people go into the event looking for that kind of interaction. Relationships form organically.

Spice up yo life 👯🚀☀️ #itsthesequinweekend #furtherfuture #FF02

A photo posted by 🌛 Manon Desources 🌜 (@manon_desources) on May 4, 2016 at 11:05am PDT

 

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Eamon Armstrong, creative director of festival community site Fest300, says a downpour forced him into a tent with the founders of a successful company.

Visions of the Future 📷: @jacobiat 🎪: @furtherfuture

A photo posted by Eamon Armstrong (@eamonarmstrong) on May 3, 2016 at 1:23pm PDT

 

They cuddled, swapped stories, and clapped along with the thunder. The intimacy of the space and shared vulnerability fostered a personal connection.

Next weekend, he plans to visit the founders in Los Angeles as a result of their serendipitous meeting.

"You come away with a certain type of trust that is far more valuable than something where, I pitched my company and gave you a business card at a conference," Armstrong tells Tech Insider.

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Further Future is as much a dance party as a networking opportunity.

Future perfect @kunnahaan

A photo posted by Christian Lamb (@cthelamb) on May 1, 2016 at 4:54pm PDT

 

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Musical performers this past year included Nicolas Jaar, Four Tet, Caribou, and Andy Stott performed.

Gently landing the spaceship of 💗 on Monday morning, just after a magical sunrise set by DJ Tennis. 📷 by @rocknrory #FurtherFuture #RobotHeart

A photo posted by Anton Tumas d(-°-)b (@antontumas) on May 3, 2016 at 9:56pm PDT

 

Source: GQ

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Unlike Burning Man, where partiers pride themselves on detaching from the digital world and "roughing it," the accommodations at Further Future are ultra-luxe.

Desert shade 🌤 #furtherfuture #latergram

A photo posted by Jesse (@jessehuang13) on May 4, 2016 at 7:19am PDT

 

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Airstream trailers are also available for almost $6,000. The reservation comes with access to a 24-hour concierge service.

From tent to geodesic dome to RV. This was our first experience staying in an RV and it was glorious.

A photo posted by Humai (@humai) on May 3, 2016 at 3:24am PDT

 

Source: Further Future

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The food isn't too shabby, either. This year, Nobu hosted a tasting-menu dinner where guests sat on floor pillows (cost: $250 a head).

Setting up for #furtherfuture the dining tent is going to be amazing! #echoandrig #nobu

A photo posted by Monet Rogers (@livemo82) on Apr 29, 2016 at 2:22pm PDT

 

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Would you like a side of lobster with your green smoothie?

That's a wrap!!! Thank you @furtherfuture and the team @districtonelv and @lephodtlv @whyrelish couldn't have done with without you guys!

A photo posted by Khai Vu (@cuisinedekhaivu) on May 1, 2016 at 11:57pm PDT

 

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After a long night of dancing, partiers could pop an Over EZ, a dietary supplement that claims to cure hangovers.

 

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A wellness area offers face-painting and IV drips that pump people full of vitamins.

Spa in the desert #oasis #spasalon #desertlife #furtherfuture #furtherfuture2016 #desertspa #surreal #futurism #believeinunreal

A photo posted by Sveta🌵 (@serendip.iti) on May 3, 2016 at 2:36pm PDT

 

Source: The Guardian

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Others detox with a morning yoga class.

 

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"At Further Future, you might be more likely to have a conversation with someone who built a robot because they brought their robot," he says.

Thank you @furtherfuture for the weekend of visionary exploration. #furtherfuture #ff02 #robotheart

A photo posted by Fest300 (@fest300) on May 2, 2016 at 12:44pm PDT

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