Charley
Forum Replies Created
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I would recommend training on a 50mm over a 45 in the beginning simply because it does build your hand strength A LOT! I only consider a move "gotten" if I can do it on a 50 as well. I think it's good to train between the 2 because honeslty the 50 is still very common, more common than a 45. Chances are if your goals are to perform or compete you'll come in contact with a 50 – it's good to see how you'll do and some things are EASIER on it like basic body grip moves 🙂
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Oh me! I wanna go!!!!!!
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Awesome Amanda! I take it you are Siren Fitness? I'll be in touch as I get closer to the date 🙂 (May9th-ish)
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I imagine we will not be far behind in this. I have SO many opinions on this subject! I have been an independant contractor for various businesses in my life and some truly were IC positions and others resulted in the person using IC's turning into a bully and trying to leverage power and control over IC's as if they were employees.
My current IC position is very much a legal IC position and it's been a long time since I've had that kind of relationship and it's nice.
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If you want to teach for yourself you could maybe rent out cheap office space or you could you rent space from a fitness or dance studio. That's how I got started teaching. I only had 4 poles but I could take up to 8 people and classes were really fun. 🙂
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I airbrush tanned once and it got really splotchy within a day or two so I just deal with being white 🙂
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Sadly, the stuff I posted back in 2009 is no longer how that particular studio runs things anymore so I left.
The industry has been steadily changing over the last 5 years or so. I have so updated ideas to new instructors. Having been in good and bad instructor situtations I feel like I have some better insights for you girls.
It is not the end all be all to be a pole dancing instructor. Being an instructor says absolutely nothing about your talents as a performer. Being an instructor isn't for everyone and that's okay – I've been going back and forth lately thinking about if I want to continue teaching.
Because I'm going through some of the negative aspects of the business I hope it's okay to freely share those things too.
Pay. Instructors DESERVE good pay and pay should be based on your title, position and the work that youa r doing, plus certs if any apply. Instructors should get a flat rate and some times studios will offer a flat rate plus commision based on capacity of classes and resigning students. Please don't work soley based on commision because this gives the studio owner the option of not paying you or charging dirt cheap for classes and you not making the money you are worth.
If you are creating your own classes you should get a flat rate plus commision, if you are coming in and teaching someone else's syllabus you should atleast get a flat rate. If you are getting a flat rate and teaching what they tell you to teach you should have some kind of yearly review so that you can attain a raise, the studio should have inventives for instructors who book their classes, bring in new students and get certified.
If you aren't certified the studio should have a training program for you – sometimes these cost money but you will make all the money back on that investment – hte same goes for certification. Please don't work anyplace where you are the only one who has done a pole certification because the owner will only benefit from your experience and money and that's not fair to you.
Make sure the studi is clear with you about what is expected of you. Are you expected to market your classes? Are you expected to create classes? Will anything you create be owned by the studio and taught by other people besides yourself? Are you expected to work the front desk, check people in? Are you expected to share your knowledge of moves or teaching with others? Are you required to sign a non-competition clause?
Please, please find a fair situation where you are paid for all of your contributions to the company. I'll also warn that while I am always open to hiring exotic dancers I am seeing a trend now of hiring students and I am seeing a lot of places get a little snooty about the exotic dancer thing (makes me very sad.)
I urge anyone interested in teaching to ask questions and make sure they aren't being used for their talents and then thrown away. I worked on commission and I made very good money however no matter how hard I tried to fill my classes I wouldn't get full pay because of this coupon, that special, etc. I designed an entire program that is NOW extremely successful and the owner only yelled at me for an hour and a half about being involved with something that didn't include her and told me if everything I did, did not promote her company I no longer worked there. I was told other instructors were afraid of me, that I was mean and malicious, that I was self entitled and dramatic. It was such a hurtful end that I am still recovering from. Please be sure that you are being paid for your work and that you aren't building someone else's business because I am not left with nothing and being made to feel like the bad guy because I couldn't take being treated like an idea monkey for someone's business.
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I wish someone would have told me the importance of freestyling for sure, the importance of flexibility training and how important in person instruction is.
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I am keeoing the 40mm pole from the fest!!!!!!! YAY! I'll write review when I get it up = I'm still decompressing from it all.
I tried it for a nanosecond and was so pleased to be able to touch my fingers for the first time around a pole. TG lift = no problem! There is a reason Felix likes the thin pole 🙂 I hope it's as magical as I've heard!
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Thank you everyone for coming and for performing! I have so much to say and so little time – STILL (LOL!) I will be essback on tomorrow. You have all overwhelmed me with your kindness, talents and love for pole. xoxox
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I have an X-stage Lite and I love it!
X-perts aren't very likely to damage your ceilings though so don't be afraid to get a tension mounted pole. I've had mine up forever at 2 places and never had any issues with anything outside of feet marks on the ceiling and perhaps a ring from where it was placed.
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Hey everyone! We are sold out as I posted a couple of weeks ago – we will have some tickets available aft the 16th. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list please write me at getpolefit@gmail.com 🙂
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It's not that much more for an extension, so just get the extra extension – they will ship it to you in the box with your other things so it's not more on shipping or anything.
I wouldn't cut it down if you can avoid it because you never know when you'll want a 10ft pole 🙂
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We are SOLD OUT! I want to thank all of performers and sponsors for making this event already so successful! now comes the hard part – putting it all together.
Stay tuned…we might be able to release more seats however we are making sure all of our performers are able to get their special someone to the show first.
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Hi Lyme Lite! Visit http://www.mipolefestival.yolasite.com for more information.
General Admission tickets are all you need to watch the shows, workshops aren't required at all. I hope you can make it – it would be really great to meet you!