Charley
Forum Replies Created
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Wild Lotus – if you contact Tiffany I am pretty sure she can do a special order on a pair of pleasers 🙂
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I just read this blog from Claire Sterret, I enjoyed her thoughts a lot. I think it's fitting for this conversation.
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I also want to add that competitions are relatively new to pole dancing. There will be growing pains with them. I think it's important to note that no matter how you might feel about a particular competition there are others out there, there will be more coming and in the end – all of these evens promote pole dancing in a good way.
There also lies a burden on hopeful competitors to research a competition, find out what the comp is about and what they are looking for. What is their criteria? So, if you just don't like dancing in heels – that's okay there are comps for that, there are comps for heel lovers, there are comps for tricksters, there are comps for dancers and everything in between.
For every one 1 thing that someone might not like about a particular competition – there is still rationale behind it and there are equally as many arguments "for or against."
I'd also point out that personal experiences with organizations will differ which makes it even more important for there to be lots of things to choose from.
I'd love to see more localized pole competitions too so that competitors can learn to compete – because that's something you do need to do – you can perform and dance all day long but putting on a smile and being judged feels really different.
It's also ok if competing just isn't for some people – again another great reason to have more comps ans some smaller comps 🙂
And I sincerely hope that none of these thoughts are offensive because it's important for us to share these types of thoughts because these events do impact our community internally.
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Let me begin my personal thoughts by saying that I am about to compete in 5 days and that this is probably my last competition because of the kind of person I have realized I am. Also let me commend Mary Ellyn on all of her hard work with Midwest, her generous spirit with us competitiors and dedication to building a great event – especially here in the midwest where it's much harder.
I don't think whether a competition is good or bad has any bearing on whether or not competitors and dancers will support it. There is a big need for many dancers to compete and/or perform and competitions used to be the only way to pursue performing. When I competed in USPDF ECR it was because I wanted to PERFORM not to compete. Then I was crushed at how badly I did.
Last year, I only tried out for Midwest to show my support for the event and was actually accepted which I didn't really expect. That internal experience was actually kind of good for me. This year I tried out for it because I felt I had to, like if I didn't people would get upset, I'd lose friends or something…
SO, I don't like competing because I realized I want to live in denial land where I can be the princess in my sandbox and I don't want to know how I stack up, I just don't – it's too hurtful for me.
BUT, if there are going to be competitions I think that there should be MORE of them with different types of rules, different aspects, different types of criteria in order to create as much oportunity for everyone. I'd like to see competitions take something that they as organizers would like to see (say artistry?) and create their competition to find that kind of dancer, perhaps another organization likes something else and they build their criteria to find that kind of dancer – this way each style and dancer has a fair shake at participating. Plus with more competitions it will give people an outlet so if an organization doesn't please them they can find a new one.
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I only wash my hair like once a week – I try to only shower every other day when I'm not doing a ton of poling (when I am I HAVE to shower daily. AndI know this sounds gross but my skin is a disaster if I shower daily so I do every other day but clean all the important parts daily ofcourse.) I get my hair wet when I shower and massage my scalp but don't use shampoo or conditioner and wear my hair up all the time. I have VERY oily hair so it's a bit inconvenient because I want to wash my hair because it looks so gross but the more you wash it the more oily it becomes.
I also use dry shampoo or baby powder and that stuff is really good just hard to work with if you have black hair and I do – you have to make sure you get it all absorbed up. I also try not to brush my hair much – I have fine straight hair so it doesn't tangle much and I'm lucky. and finally I leave it up in a clip. I've been getting more compliments on my hair since I started doing this than ever and much less breakage because I'm not fussing with it.
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It depends on their system – ask them what you will learn in beginner classes – not every studio has a super basic beginner program – some of them are rather tough and do include cradles, inverts and climbs.
If I were you – I'd tell them all of this – like has already been suggested and take a couple beginner classes and see how you feel – because it might just be good to work on polishing your basics and work on transitions while your body adjusts back to pole 🙂 There's always new things to learn at the beginner level – even if they are simple and you can do them easily – then you can perhaps work on combinations 🙂
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You can use instructors – that's usually the safest bet – that's why my websites for various events are covered in me – sorry, lol, but I know I won't sue myself – hahaha!
I wouldn't say you need anything as big as Veena's gallery because Veena exists as a resource site. But you should have a few pics of you or your team – maybe students if they've signed a release but it's easier to take snap shots of instructors. I would do a couple of advanced things like leg hangs or butterflies and the rest poses, spins or upright poses. I think that students want to see something aspirational but things like iron x's can be too hard looking. I think people like to see things that are achievable and pretty – because they are probably going to think a simple fireman isn't "achievable" make sense?
I love the idea of having reviews – maybe you can have a few students share their experiences in writing and use initials – no full names to keep it private.
the other thing that would be great to share is your studio's philosophy. Pole isn't just pole anymore what kind of pole dancing will new customers learn? More of the fitness side? More of the dance side? More of the tricks side? That can help people a lot 🙂
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I think videos and samples of what you learn are great. A small photo gallery with a variety of tricks – not just advanced moves.
Something easy to follow and read with out too much writing – this is my downfall always, lol!
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Aside from following your online lessons in order you should practice dancing and putting everything together. There are some routines in the lessons so you can practice those and then start putting your style on them and then eventually start freestyling.
Make sure you have lots of water, do a warm up and take lots of videos so you can chart your progress 🙂
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yoga body naturals has a supplement – I have not tried it. Joint Juice is good.
Honestly though for middles – it's not achieveable for everyone, have you been to a dr or chiropractor? Middles can depend on your hips, how they are shaped and tilted.
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No matter if you decided to routine or choreograph you have to love what you're doing and believe in it. I have come full circle into a place where if I LOVE what I'm doing then i'm happy – you can't please everyone because you can't read their minds – but you can please yourself because you know what you want, so dig deep and find that…be the dancer YOU want to be because everything else is subjective.
I'm feeling good lately because I stopped finally, after 5 years and 3 competitions , I stopped caring what other people want. I want to tell my story, my messages, my thoughts…there's no right or worng way to do that.
But I do agree with Pippi – rehearse, rehearse, rehears – my least favortie performances were when I hand't heard the song hardly and just went up there and tried…there's nothing worse than knowing you can do better – so make you happy and that's what matters 🙂
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I highly recommend students who are inverting to take atleast privates when they can so that they can be spotted. The largest draw back to being home taught is not having someone to spot and guide you in and out of complex moves safely. Once you're upside down nothing makes sense anymore. I am mostly self taught but I take as many lessons or privates as I can when I have money and someone is in town who can teach me.
At some point it will be beneficial to you to find someone locally who knows the moves, more importantly someone who is familiar with Veena's system if that's what you're using. Veena does things differently than most programs so an instructor should understand how she does it. I would be a bit put off if a studio didn't have atleast 1 person who knew about this site and Veena.
On a final note about online vs studios – I think the first thing you have to consider is cost, 2nd how YOU learn and 3rd if you can do both – so it, the more styles you get introduced to the better. Every instructor has her own way pf moving, transitionsitioning and doing things – the more you're around the better you will find your style. There are benefits to BOTH ways of learning with the best situation being able to use both for what they are. 🙂
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Oh more interesting to add…I'm just a broing, everyday pole teacher – not a pole star and I still can command up to $75/hour in a private depending on what I am doing. Like, I had girl who wanted to do handsprings for an entire hour – I charged her $75! That's a toll on my body for sure.
So for NON pole populars like myself we still need to math things out – like if a drop in is $30 on a group class, it's a shame to charge the same price for a private.
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I'm cheap and easy! lol!
I think that some of the pole stars are likely charging more because their time is getting booked up so fast and privates can be inconvenient when you are teaching 6 classes and only in a city for 2 days. It's more wear and tear on the body too. I think we will continue to see an influx in private training prices.
A couple of years ago $75 was the standard, $100 if youwere super famous. now I am seeing $100 as the standard, $150 and $200.
Private rates went by around $50 from this time last year as far as I can tell with my inquiries. I try to only do privates if I can but now I have to be much more budget concious about it.
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If it helps I charge 40 for current students abd 65 for non pole students, 75 on a duo and 100 for a trio. And I’m cheap.