NEVER buy ANY ticket that is not being sold at face value. This is a basic principle of Burning Man, and anyone selling any ticket over face value should be reported, and that ticket number will be invalidated by the Burning Man org.

STEP is always a good idea. Register there. Have your money ready. It is the only 100% absolutely sure way to buy a ticket second-hand, because it is run by the Burning Man org.

For me, I just do a lot of stuff with my local Burner community. I know a lot of people, and let people know that when they hear of a ticket, to let me know about it.

By the first of August, tickets should be pretty easy to find. Keep cash on hand, set up email alerts, and watch your facebook posts closely, and jump as soon as you see a ticket available. Shit happens. People break legs, get new jobs and lose their time off, and Family Things come up that prevent people from going.

There is also a seriously woo-woo hippie aspect to this that plays out for me, every.single.year, and that is, if you are supposed to be there, the World will sort out making sure you find a ticket. I know. It's silly. But it's true, and has been true for the last decade, in my experience.

People overcome the most unlikely circumstances because the universe has decided they need to go this year. Other people are totally prepared, and fail to get there due to some insane circumstances.

So. Make sure you are connected with your local community. You go to the local events, and volunteer to help out in some way. When people participate rather than attend, they are much more welcome.