Charley
Forum Replies Created
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@Chemmie – I agree that sometimes people get really frustrated and move to shoes, boots and other grip aids because they are trying to get a zillion moves…and I know you're a sweetheart!
Another piece of advice as far as sweatiness (body sweat) is to look into getting some dry rosin or mighty grip. I use mighty grip when I get sweaty and slippery especially between the thighs and it feels similar to rosin that you get in rosin bags and that works better for than covering the area with a tacky strip of something. I have a student who sweats a ton between her thighs and rosin or mighty grip powder works really well for her.
The gloves work really, really well – I ordered them after Karol Helms came and let me try hers – I've even performed in them. One time I was performing outside and it was 50 degrees and I couldn't stick to the pole nor could I grip it because it was so cold and luckily I had my gloves – without those gloves I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all.
I don't use the gloves as much as I thought I would which is kind of a good thing actually but it's so great to have them in my bag for when I need that extra security! They also work great for other things like lyra and trapeze – FY! 🙂
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I have the gloves both tack and non tack – I don't use them as much as I thought I would because as Joel said you do want to have some grip on before using them and I still kinda slide a bit in them. They are great for learning when fear is making your hands sweat. I always carry them but like I said I don't use them as much as I use Mighty Grip Powder.
They are heavy duty gloves and can take a lot of abuse – a lot of students find them very useful. I have never had a complaint or heard a complaint about them.
I'm also considering getting the ankle protectors too just to have incase I get a silly idea to do something weird and I need the grip. I highly recommend all MG products!
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Registration for our Spring Showcase festival will open next month – no videos or submissions needed spots are on a first come first serve basis.
I felt like this a few years ago when pole was less common and known. I still somtimes have problems with certain types of people but in general I think having on hand demonstrations of what you can do is useful – I always have a video on my phone that I can show people of myself doing things.
I spent a good deal of my early 20's radio which means that all of the things I wanted to talk about were radio related and it was hard for my non radio friends to deal with me so I just found a group of friends who wanted to talk shop so when I wanted to do that I could. I really couldn't talk shop with my regular friends because they had no clue what I was saying or why I had the opinions I did – I kind of look at pole dancing the same – there is a whole language that we speak and it's like trying to speak french to an Indian….not going to work unless they are both fluent in one common language. My suggestions is to find more like minded individuals locally and on facebook. I spend more time talking to out of state gals sometimes than I do people locally but atleast I have a platform for which to share.
As far as performing, there are a lot of opportunites – you've only been poling for 6 months so you missed a lot of the performance opportunities this last year – but there will be even more in 2012. Yes, some of those opportunities are competitions and I'm not sure you are interested in going that route but that is a chance to be on stage. There will 3 Detroit Showcases this year – we will kick off our season with the Pole Festival which will feature up to 45 performances. There will probably be a midwest pole jam and showcase which will be it's 3rd year running outside of Chicago put on my Empowerment Through Exotic Dance – make sure youa re connected to Mary Ellyn Weissman on facebook to get frequent updates on events she's planning. Ascend is a new pole dancing showcase thing and you can check them out – I think they are by audition only but they plan to do some shows this year too.
And the very last piece of advice I have is you can make your own opportunities. I bought an X-stage and called a bar and hence was the first ever Detroit Showcase. You only need one pole and a place to do it. Start contacting places, bands and events to see if they are in need of your services – you'll be surprised how many peiople would love to have a pole dancer for their project and if money isn't an issue you can probably be performing every weekend. (MONEY *IS* an issue for me and I don't perform for free unless it's a pole community event so…thus I don't work a lot as a performer.)
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Most of my tall girls prefer the 50mm too. Maria – you seem MUCH taller than 5'5 – are you sure you're 5'5 I'm 5'5 and you TOWER over me!
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I really hope you can come Paulette!!!!
CONFIRMED: Hedo is our very first sponsor! You will have the chance to win a 4 day 3 night stay at Hedo! Can anyone say Dance Wicked For A Week? The amazing week of pole dance workshops put on by Mary Ellyn Weissman of ETED that features Karol Helms (who's gonne be in da house) Leigh Ann Reilly, Michelle Mynx, Fawnia, and Marlo!!!!!!!!!! That's when I'd be booking my trip to Hedo if I won!
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My first go around with a 45 was rough – I hated it but then I grew to love it and sadly need to get back to cross training on 50's. I teach on 50's a couple of days a week but just basic stuff…
I'm torn on what to recommend to students because it's mostly 50mm poles here in the studios only 1 studio I know of has 45's (this may have changed since there are a lot of placesI haven't been to) so I think for studio bouncers that maybe a 50 is better but 45's are so much nicer. I'd love for the 45 to become the new standard.
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Another thing…I'm hoping Veena will be able to come and perform for us! She has been at several of the showcases and an immense support. At the March one he and webby had little Veener buttons for everyone and it was awesome – that's a great way to identify yourself as a Veener. Another thing that might be fun is Studio Veena logoed name tags and you write your screen name on them 🙂
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Hi Paulette!
We do have a venue! It's at the Ukranian Cultural Center in Warren Mi (26601 Ryan Rd Warren, MI)
We have the entire 14,000 sq ft Center to ourselves with 2 upstairs pole studios, Grand Ball Room, Lounge/Bar & Grill and more. It's a huge space and I have finagled them to shut it all down and have a guarantee that there will no other events booked that day. 😀 😀 😀
I will also figure out something we can give you at the door to identify yourself as a Veener!!!!
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Also confirmed Miss Aerial Amy!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!
You will also see performances featuring everyday women from all over the midwest, pros and champions all sharing one stage! We have amazing talent including the Weird Sisters Circus, Detroit Circus AND IPDFA PoleFIT 2009 Champ Shadow and more, more more!!!!
If you can't tell I'm uber excited about this event!
We even have an award for Studio of the year!!!! the studio who has the most attendees wins! Special discounts for pole students and so muuuuccccchhhhhh more!!!!
I even heard a rumor that you can win a trip to Hedo II for Dance Wicked For A Week with Mary Ellyn, Karol, Michelle Mynx, Fawnia,?!?!? Whhhaaaatttttt?!?! Details coming soon!
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Annnndddddd….I get to add USPDF Co founder, Climb and SPin Co- creator and owner of NYPD Wendy Traskos, is the house and teaching workshops!!!!!!!
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Team Lulu!!!! I really hope you can get on the show – will you post the petition links so we can help?
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And….drum roll please….Karol Helms will be joining us!!!!!!!
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I will read everyone's repsonses in a sec BUT
Mcuellar – WHAT?!?!?! Are you serious?!?! OMG! that is soooo beyond rude! I started this thread because some of my plus sized students were making comments about themselves that made ME uncomfortable and I didn't like that they were feeling that way and wanted advice on teaching better and making those girls FEEL as beautiful as they ARE!
That makes me beyond angry!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sorry you are having to hear things and feel things that make you want to give up but PLEASE DON'T. Is there any place else you can go? Keep at your moves, it takes time – some things come easier than others but you CAN do it. I want to just give you a really big hug right now and I hope you walk away from this thread feeling the love and support you should be getting from your instructor!!!!!!!
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Oh goodness I did not articulate myself at all!!!
I meant that when a student is making comments like you can't spot me because I will squash you or I am too fat to do this and this or I will pull the pole down – is it then appropriate to later discuss this not like "I see you are struggling with pole because of your weight." But something more along the lines of "I understand from your comments made that you have concerns about your abilities and your weight, I'd like to talk to you about this…" That kind of a thing.
Sorry I did not explain myself well in all those words.
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Thank you guys sooo much for your feedback! I teach many class formats and one of the classes I teach is a beginner through advanced level pole tricks class. In the pole tricks class you have people working on a fireman and people working on a hadspring and everything in between. Sounds to me like most people – plus size or not, don't really mind mulit level classes so long as they are being taught well.
With the influx of plus sized girls I want to make sure they are feeling welcome. I had a student recently who I LOVED, plus size girl, struggling with everything…about 10 minutes in I realized much of it was her confidence, she actually asked if the pole would hold her!!!! She was with 2 friends who were getting everything and doing really well…this girl just stood there, I worked with her a lot one on one that class and she was able to get a grounded back hook and a grounded side spin. I told her "See, don't come in to my class and say you can't! I will prove you wrong! You're doing awesome!" She did better than anyone in class because she had to overcome her fears and insecurities to participate…just breaks my heart when I see someone so self concious because she doesn't need to be, she moved better than her 2 friends, her two friends were just able to do some tricks she wasn't…it's sometimes hard to get people to acknowledge that movement is just as difficult and should be as celebrated as tricks.
Is it okay for me as the instructor to addess her weight and talk to her about it? Can I tell her that I know of many, many talented plus size girls that are rocking the pole world and she her videos? Is it ok for me to discuss limitations and challenges that she will face but tell her the advantages she has? Is it ok for me to push her in a dance direction the way I would ANYONE else until she builds strength? The plus sized dancers I've taught have pretty much been very open personalitles who approached me and we figured out a plan for them. I have had some plus size dancers quit but I think it's because they were in TRICK classes and not dance classes. I have a ton of plus size dancers in my dance classes and they love every second of it, in fact many of them are using the dancey classes to get strong enough to come to tricks.
Sorry – a lot of questions. Just sometimes when I am working with plus sized girls that maybe the sheer fact I'm so little and standing in a bikini might be making them feel more self concious. Weight is a very personal topic for women and I try not to ever talk about but I think sometimes if avoid the fact that I am not giving the best customer service to my clients. On the other hand I don't want someone to feel offended because I took them aside to talk to them about it, or offer special modifications for it. Plus, how do I as an instructor make someone feel ok with their body when you can tell they are very self concious?
It's mostly the 25 and under girls that seem to the most self concious. The women 30 and over tend to be really open for discussion and want to try much harder. At one of the studios I work at *the class this thread is about* they don't even have a plus size instructor – everyone is tiny and rock hard bodies so that's kind of off putting too. There isn't a variety of shapes and sizes. Another studio I work at does have all shapes and levels of instructors which I think is more empowering because there is a plus sized instructor who is at an advanced level and not only is she a great instructor but she's a great dancer and motivator and asperational to dancers. I tell all of my plus sized girls that they should take a class with her because she really knows and understands their body type and between the two of us we've formed a great team.
Sorry this is sooo long. I just really love women and I hate when I see someone is feeling bad about themselves and not acknowledging all the things they CAN do and all the amazing things about them. Your feedback is so so so helpful! Thank you guys so much!
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I started teaching pole by teaching independently so hopefully I will be able to help a little bit.
1) you really need to incorporate yourself as a business because as I have been told by my business consultants at ETED – if for some reason you are sued, you can lose everything, if you are a business and are sued you can simply close up shop and open the next day under a different name. Having a business will protect your personal assets.
2) If you are doing in home teaching, do it at the clients home not your own – see the above answer. You don't want to lose your house because someone decides to sue you…which you could if you are teaching out of your house.
3) Yep, you'll need insurance, check with http://www.insurance4poledancers.com for that.
4) It's a good idea to be certified in something as well – I recommend pole dance certification but you an also look into ACE or AFAA – this will also help you get a discount on your insurance.
5) Try checking out local dance studios, fitness clubs, gyms, etc and see if they have a space and are interested in having pole classes at their location. This is how I got started. I bought 4 removeable poles and I taught out of a yoga room at a fitness studio – it was a pain having to set up and take down poles but it's also the most amount of money I've ever made teaching. Teaching out of an establishment is the best situation you could ask for if you are teaching solo because you have ready made clients. I eventually went from a fitness studio and added a yoga studio and while I had to cart around poles all the time – it was very rewarding to be able to do things MY way and teach the way I felt best. Most of these types of places won't do much marketing for you so you will still have to advertise classes but chances are some of the students already attending the facility will want to try it. Most places will either do a rental with you or a 50/50 split. When I do a 50/50 split with an establishment I expect them to help with recruiting and advertising, if I just pay rent – that's all on me. In this situation you are limited in the times you can teach and won't be able to do onsite privates however it's the best and safest situation for you. Once you get in someplace and are teaching pole independently you will be able to offer other things such as in home privates, home parties, etc. One establishment liked me so much they had me add additional classes and let me even add a chair class. I even got some leads on privates and was able to teach in people's homes. Another option in this situation is to see if you can take privfate clients to the studio you are currently teaching at – maybe come up with a rental deal.
Good luck and hope this helps a bit 🙂 It's so hard when it's just you, I totally understand but you are going to love it if you can find the right situation 🙂
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New directions on LM installation?!?! I think that's what my problem with my LM pole was – I used to adjust it while it was still up :O
I just took down one yesterday for a student of mine and I noticed everything was fine and in tack for her.
I had an LM up for a little over a year – I never had it come down once and this was way before the new installation process.
On another note – I've also noticed that newer LM stainless poles grip MUCH better than they used to. My friend/student has one and I have to say I was really impressed with the grip seeing as it hadn't been used very much. Good work LM on product improvements! *have always liked the powder coated poles*
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Just sent you my pics 🙂 via email!
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Yessssss That's it Marle!!!! That's the one!!!!!! OMG! Thank you so much for clearing that up – for the life of me I couldn't remember what it was called!!!!
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Hi Calbear! I teach spin mode weekly 🙂 The absolute best way to start spin mode is to get a feel for it – so this means doing simple things on spin. One of the first things I have students do is lift into a spin and go directly into a pole sit – from here stretch your legs out and tuck them back in and get a feel for what the pole does based on your momentum with the legs out then how it speeds up as you tuck in.
On of the problems I had with spin mode was that I kep trying to do all of these advanced moves and inverts on spin without really getting a feel for how to gain and loose momentum. I would get scared and sick and then put it aside and not work on it.
Instead of trying to invert right away – think of spin mode as a new apparatus, you will work it differently.
I recommend working all your basic spins, climbs and upright poses on spin before going inverted simpley because by working on those things you'll begin getting a good feel for how fast or slow you have to enter things and you'll also learn how to keep momentum by moving with the pole instead of against it – which I still do a lot in inverted spin mode work.
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You can get pole specefic insurance at http://www.insurance4poledancers.com 🙂
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I have to echo the sentiments of everyone else here. I get really dry legs in the winter but have really sweaty hands (sucky combination) and last winter I was so frustrated – I could not even demonstrate a pole sit in class. I bought Pole Physics from ETED and it worked like a charm. I can put it on just a couple of hours before class and be sticky. Corn huskers is great for instant grip and doesn't rub off on the pole. if you use too much will come off on the pole – so have to let it dry pretty good before getting up there, i-tac I like in small doses and never my hands because it turns into a slick but I put a bit between the thighs and knee pits and it works great – you also wanna give that aminute to dry too.
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Shelly – I would LOVE to hear your opinions on anything – whether unpopular or not…most of my opinions aren't too popular – that's why I started a blog, lol! You are definitely someone I admire in this community. 🙂
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I'm subscribing to everyone! Thanks for the links. I have a blog too but it's not updated often.
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I just surfed netflix and I can't find it either! I'll try to find the DVD today maybe it isn't called Divine Movement – although that is the name of the studio the woman who filmed the DVD's is from. From what I remember it's all off the pole moves but it was a really great DVD. I'll be back with more info soon I hope.
